The CL Courier
March 4, 2024
Principal's Post
Crooked Lake Families,
Thank you so much for the great winter conferences turnout. It is great to have so many families committed to talking about the learning, and celebrating the many successes that our students are having in their classrooms.
The recent book fair was also great success. A special thank you to our media staff for all of the hard work that went into making it a success for many. We will be able to upgrade the media center collection with some of the funds raised.
The March school calendar is a little different this school year. Tomorrow March 5, is a voting day, and there will be no students in the building. We have spring break through March 18. And, school starts up again on March 19. Then March 29 is a professional development day with no students in the building. We are looking forward to a stretch of five day weeks coming up in April and May.
The end of the trimester is this Friday, March 8. Report cards will be available again online for viewing. The directions on how to access them are listed below.
Our March focus and purposefull pursuit is Cooperation. Cooperation means working together to reach shared goals. This focus closely aligns to our school phrase, "Together Everyone Achieves More".
Thank you for all you are doing to make this school year a success for your child. We truly appreciate all of the support.
Take care.
Sam Anderson
Crooked Lake Principal
763-506-2101
Parking Lot Procedures & Expectations
Please remember to follow the posted signs appropriately in our parking lot while using the exits and entrance to help ensure a safe arrival and dismissal experience for our Crooked Lake community. Remember, the connected road to the Legacy parking lot is a one-way exit. The routes for our arrival and dismissal procedures are outlined in the maps below.
Thank you for your continued support!
Parent Engage 360
New: Report Cards Are Only Online This Year
New for the 2023-24 school year, elementary school report cards will be available online and will no longer be sent through postal mail or student’s backpacks. Families will be able to access report cards by logging into A-HConnect or viewing it on the ParentVUE mobile app.
The switch to online report cards means that information is available to review at the conclusion of each trimester. Schools will notify families when the report cards are available to view. Parents, guardians and any person with educational rights to a student will be able to access the student’s report card online.
To ensure access to the report cards when available at the conclusion of Trimester 1, families are encouraged to make sure they have their login information now. Currently, report cards from last school year are available for viewing.
How to view report cards from A-HConnect (view detailed instructions):
- Login to A-HConnect.
- Click on the ‘My Student Information/ParentVUE’ icon.
- Select a student from the dropdown menu.
- Select ‘Documents.’
- Select and view the applicable report card from the ‘Documents’ window.
- The report card will open in a new tab where the capabilities to download or print will be available.
View from the ParentVUE app (view detailed instructions):
- Go to the AppStore or Google Play and search for the ParentVUE app.
- Enter your zip code when prompted, and select “Anoka-Hennepin School District” from the menu options.
- Confirm ‘yes’ and select ‘Already Activated,’ if prompted.
- Use login/password to login.
- Select a student from the student list.
- Select ‘Documents.’
- Select and view the applicable report card.
- Click the share button to save or share the PDF.
If you need assistance logging in or forgot your password, call 763-506-HELP (4357) or email 506help@ahschools.us. For questions about the report cards, please contact the main office.
Upcoming Events
- March 1: Women's History Month begins!
- March 5: No School, Staff Development
- March 8: End of Trimester 2
- March 11-15: No School, Spring Break
- March 18: No School, Staff Planning
- March 29: No School, Staff Development
- April 2: Kindergarten Registration Night
Follow this link for more upcoming events:
https://www.ahschools.us/Page/16#calendar11/20231203/month
You can also find more information when you visit the Crooked Lake Elementary website here:
Reedy's Report
Hello Crooked Lake,
So winter never actually happened. Weird. Anyways…
There have been several conversations and questions about screen time and its impact on child development. The research literature on this topic is growing by the day. Some things we used to fear are proving to be less of an issue (i.e., video games do not increase violence), and others are more of a problem (i.e., increased screen time generally leads to decreased social skills and increased loneliness). For most parents, the main question is how much screen time is appropriate for their child. Many reputable organizations have issued guidelines. Here is one helpful set of guidelines. It is important to keep in mind that each child is unique. If your child struggles with attention, motivation, or social connection, limiting screen time even more than the guidelines suggest may be helpful. Some of the harm from screen time results from the brain's reward system being rewired to match the unnatural speed of the games or videos. The other half of the harm comes from the lost real-life opportunities that the child misses out on while on the screen. Childhood must be filled with a variety of physical and mental activities that cannot occur on a screen.
If you feel your child does too much screen time and would like some support weaning them off, please reach out, and we will gladly help with the transition to a more well-balanced life.
Finally, if you are grappling with mental health issues, please tell someone or call 988. Someone will be there to talk to you and find you services. If it’s an emergency, please call 911.
Thanks,
Tyler
Tyler Reedy
MSW/LICSW
763-506-2164
- If you have immediate concerns for the physical safety of a friend, a family member, or yourself, call 911.
- Dial **CRISIS from your cell phone to be connected with county mobile crisis services.
- Anoka County Mobile Crisis: 763-755-3801
- Hennepin County Children (up to 18): 612-348-2233
- Hennepin County Adults (18+): 612-596-1223
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 (English) or 1-888-628-9454 (Spanish)
- Crisis Text Line: “HOME” to 741741
Nurse's News
Sickness has hit Crooked Lake hard in the month of February. Please remind your child to wash their hands often and cover their cough! As a reminder, students cannot return to school until they have been fever/vomiting/diarrhea free for 24 hours without medication.
Also, with melting snow and spring rain showers, students often get wet during recess. Please have an extra pair of pants/underwear in your child's backpack.
If you have questions, please call the health office!
763-506-2204
Thank you!
Katelyn Salwey
Licensed School Nurse, PHN, BSN, RN
Amanda Kerns
RN, School Nurse
Cook's Corner
The state’s Free School Meals program begins in 2023. Families will still need to apply to qualify for more educational benefits. Starting Sept. 5, 2023, every student may receive one breakfast and one lunch at no cost during the school year. The state’s Free School Meals program will cover the cost of one breakfast meal and one lunch meal for every student daily, however the cost of a la carte items, such as milk, other drinks, or extra meal items will not be covered. Students will need to have funds in their meal accounts to purchase any additional food items. If your family needs access to any other educational benefits available to your student, please visit ahschools.us/freereduced to complete an application.
The enrollment window for the 2023 Applications for Educational Benefits begins Aug. 1, 2023. Anoka-Hennepin asks that all families complete an online application to provide additional school funding to support all students in the district. By filling out this application, your school can earn funding and you can save money. Educational benefits include:
- Athletics fees: Eligible students may qualify for fees to be waived or reduced.
- SAT, ACT, AP Fees: Students may be eligible for discounted fees for academic tests and some lab fees.
- Other high school activities: Students may qualify for discounts on speech, debate, theater, band and others.
- Additional benefits and cost savings: Chromebook device protection, Comcast Internet Essentials discount, Amazon Prime membership discounts, discounted bus fares with Metro Transit, Xcel Energy account assistance, discounts at museums and theaters.
Thanks!
Lauren Green
Child Nutrition Site Supervisor
Library's Latest
Hello Crooked Lake Families!
Thank you to everyone for your amazing support and participation during our I Love to Read Month and Scholastic Book Fair! A super, special thanks to all of our AMAZING volunteers throughout this last month. We could NOT have done it without you!
Our Scholastic Book Fair was a great success! Although we did not reach our initial goal of selling 1,600 books, we came very close to about 1,417 books. Yay! Our portion of our Book Fair profits will directly support building our library's collection. At Crooked Lake, we are continually working to inspire a love of reading in our students, and based on the excitement and participation we saw throughout our I Love to Read Month and Scholastic Book Fair, we are 100% succeeding!
Everyday Business: Makerspace is in need of donations! If you are able, please take a moment to look at our current list of needed supplies. All donated supplies can be delivered at Door 1 in the box provided. Thank you so much for your consideration!
Shoeboxes or boxes similar in size
Cardstock - all colors
Elmer's school glue
Pipe Cleaners
Aluminum Foil
Cardboard - Toilet paper rolls / Paper towel rolls
Cardboard - Cereal boxes, Cracker boxes, etc.
Duct Tape (regular and decorative)
Masking tape (regular and blue/green)
Any crafting supplies you no longer want.
Kristin Zelazny
Library Media Specialist/Core/ITT
Amy Postigo-Kocak
Library Media Assistant
Volunteer Voice
Volunteer News
February was a busy month! Our awesome volunteers gave 341 hours to our school. They assisted students and families with the book fair, gave supplemental support, chaperoned field trips, participated in elegant lunch, and helped teachers with various projects. Thank you for everything you do for our students, staff and school! Without the help from volunteers, like you, many of our events would not be possible.
March Volunteer Opportunities
Whether you enjoy planning, organizing, sharing ideas or meeting new people, the carnival committee is a FUN opportunity for all. Crooked Lake PTO is hosting a carnival planning meeting on Sunday, March 3rd at 7:00 pm at Margie’s Kitchen. Hope to see you there!
Please take a moment to view the upcoming volunteer opportunities at Crooked Lake and sign up if you’re available to help.
This opportunity allows volunteers to help from home. Job duties include cutting, pasting, hole punching, etc. Supplies are provided and most projects can be sent home with your student.
Volunteers will display artwork on tack stripes and/or walls. Volunteers must be comfortable using a step stool. This opportunity may also include taking down old art projects.
Volunteers will straighten and organize the bookshelves. Volunteers must be okay with working around students.
Volunteers will help teachers and support staff with projects such as coping, laminating, stapling, etc.
ALL volunteers are required to complete/update the 2023 - 2024 Crooked Lake Elementary Volunteer Application form and Criminal History Record Release form.
Thank you!
Melissa Hayek
Volunteer Services Coordinator
763-506-2130
Crooked Lake PTO
Thank you to everyone who came out to School Spirit Night at Urban Air Tuesday, February 13th!
Urban Air invites us to come on out every year and take advantage of this fundraising opportunity for our school. They generously donate 20% of the proceeds from the event directly back to our school. This amount goes into PTO's general fund which helps meet the needs for extras for our students and staff such as academic tools, materials, games, books, field trips, and more!
Who wants another movie night at CLS!?!
Stay tuned! We are working to set another date soon.
Parents NEEDED!
For the School Carnival to happen this year in April, we NEED parent volunteers to help plan and execute this event. If that's something you are interested in feel free to reach out to the PTO
Need for New Board Members for next school year. Join us now!
New PTO Board Members are needed for next school year to continue to carry on the CLS PTO legacy! We'd love to have you join us. If that's you, feel free to reach out to PTO. Formal communication to follow.
Crooked Lake PTO
Angie Siddons - Chairperson
Nicole Rutt-Livgard - Co-Chairperson
Sandra Anderson - Treasurer
Jen Melsha - Board Member
Community Education
New Class: Ninja Warriors
Join us! Community Ed is happy to offer a variety of new and fun classes for students this Spring. Register your student today:
- 3/21: Archery
- 3/21: SWE Next: Introduction to Engineering
- 3/25: Kindness Rock Painting
- 3/26: Soccer Camp
- 3/26: Fencing
- 3/27: Bricktopia Wild Ride
- 3/29: Schools Out: Multi Sport Camp
- 4/8: Grandmasters of Chess
View Crooked Lake offerings and register here!
See you in class!
Rachel Smith
763-506-1712
Late Arrivals & Absences
Bus Information
What if my child's bus doesn't come in the morning and/or my child doesn't get off the bus in the afternoon and I am unable to reach the school? This is rare, but if this does happen, please call your child's bus company. The bus company will assist you in the morning and also take the lead and contact you in the afternoon when they locate your child.
Kottkes' 763-755-3100
Busses: 08 68 87 501 533 535 544
First Student 763-421-3199
Bus: 301
Transportation App: FirstView
Attention Crooked Lake Families! There is an app called FirstView! This app enables families to get real-time information on regular bus routes - in the palm of your hand! Features include email, push, and text notifications of any route changes.
Simply download FirstView from your device's app store. On-screen directions walk first-time users through the easy set-up process. Choose Minnesota and then Anoka-Hennepin from the drop-down menus. After doing so, the app will direct you to A-HConnect. Log in with your parent/guardian username and password (if you've forgotten your parent/guardian username or password, please call 763-506-HELP), the app will then automatically populate your student's information.
Crooked Lake Elementary is on Facebook! Get the latest news by following:
@https://www.facebook.com/crookedlake/?ref=bookmarks
Follow Crooked Lake's PTO too at:
Crooked Lake Elementary School
2939 Bunker Lake Blvd. NW | Andover, MN 55304 | P: 763-506-2100 | F: 763-506-2103 | crookedlake@ahschools.us | Translate
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