Here's the Scoop
Hamilton Ridge News and Events - March 2024
A Note from Mr. Fredrickson
Happy March!
Technically, it’s still winter, but spring has been in the air nearly all winter!
You’ll hear a lot about March Madness this month. Book challenges, a March Madness book bracket and a dress up day on March 28. Look for more information from your child’s teacher.
March is also the time of year we tend to reach out to stakeholders with a survey. PLSAS is committed to listening and responding to your experiences with our district. Our hope is to continuously improve our services to you and your children. Our partners at Studer Education are providing an opportunity for you to give anonymous feedback.
Your feedback will be used to celebrate our successes and to create action plans for improvement. Your input is valuable; please take a few minutes to complete the survey.
Please take a few minutes to complete the Parent/Caregiver Experience Survey at this link: PLSAS – Spring 2024 Parent/Caregiver Experience Survey
Additionally, the QR code above links to the survey. On some phones, the survey appears best if you switch to “desktop site” in your mobile browser.
The survey will remain open until Friday, March 15.
Thank you for your commitment to our success!
Your partner in education,
Mr. Fredrickson
New Security Process for Events with Guests
Next time you visit Hamilton Ridge for a grade level or whole school event (during school hours) all guests will be asked to be pre-registered. A link will accompany an invite in Seesaw that will ask your name, number of guests, the student for whom the event is for and the names of each of the guests entering the building. At the event, you will be "checked in". Guests who are not registered will be asked to scan a QR code and fill out the form before they enter the building. The first event where this process is being implemented is for the 5th Grade Donuts with Grownups on March 8. Thank you in advance for your patience and assistance while we become familiar with this process.
March Book Madness
March Book Madness is coming to Hamilton Ridge! To celebrate the joy of reading, 8 books will compete against each other till there is 1 champion left standing. Students will see Hamilton Ridge staff reading these books during the month of March and then voting on their favorite. The championship will be tracked on a large book bracket located by the gym. Students are also invited to dress like their favorite book character on March 28 to celebrate the end of the competition. Be sure to ask your child which their favorite book is and may the best book win!
We need your input! Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools has begun a strategic plan review and is seeking input to help establish a shared vision among community members.
To participate, families, staff, students and community members will have an opportunity to provide feedback during community meetings being held February - April. Input gathered from these meetings will be reviewed by a Strategic Plan Core Team of diverse community members who are working together to form a draft that identifies key priorities and defines the roadmap for learner success in PLSAS. The draft plan will then be reviewed by the School Board in May.
Please consider attending one of the remaining community meetings outlined below.
March 23, 9-11:00 a.m. @ McColl Pond ELC, 13550 Dakota Ave S, Savage
March 26, 9-11:00 a.m. @ Club Prior, 16210 Eagle Creek Ave SE, Prior Lake
April 9, 6-9:00 p.m. @ Prior Lake High School, 7575 150th St. West, Savage (RSVP for dinner to mwalz@plsas.org)
State Wide Assessments - MCAs
Hamilton Ridge third, fourth and fifth grade students will be taking the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) tests following Spring Break during the last three weeks of April and the first 2 week of May. A complete schedule for each grade level will be communicated in the coming weeks.
Once published, please schedule appointments and vacations around testing dates. Participation in statewide assessments is important as it provides both the school district and the state with information regarding how students are learning. This information can serve as a guide to any grade levels or subject areas where additional support may be needed.
Additional information regarding participation in these assessments can be found on the Minnesota Department of Education website here.
Please contact your child's teacher or Kirsten Schoeller (kschoeller@plsas.org) with any questions.
From the Health Office
Hello! It's getting to be that time of year again where students will be running around more and with that can come injuries.
Just a reminder that the health office has to approve all medically related restrictions (if a student has to refrain from PE/recess or needs elevator access.). Once the restriction has been approved, the health office will scan a copy of the doctor's note into the student file and inform all teachers who might need to be aware.
All doctor notes pertaining to illness or injury should be sent to the health office.
Thank you in advance!
Welcome to the Class of 2037!
Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools' kindergarten enrollment for the 2024-25 school year is now open. Visit our website to enroll your child: click here.
The following are some resources you may find helpful as you prepare for your child's entrance into kindergarten at PLSAS.
- View our Kindergarten Information Night December 12 recording.
- Click here for ideas to help prepare your student for kindergarten.
- Check out our kindergarten brochure with helpful information.
- Sit down with your soon-to-be kindergartner and watch our new video that highlights the fun learning that lies ahead at PLSAS!
Attendance Matters
Please be sure to call the attendance line if your child is or will be absent from school for any reason. If a student's absence is not reported to the school, it will be recorded as unexcused in Infinite Campus. For safety reasons, the attendance monitor will then be required to call a parent/guardian to determine the absence reason for the student. Program 952-461-7801 into your phone for easy access.
Policy Highlights:
Students are allowed up to 10 total absences a year, or 5 days in a row, due to illness. A doctor’s note must be provided if there are more than 10 illness days.
5 Days vacation are allowed
Five unexcused tardies are equal to 1 day unexcused absence.
Students under 18 years of age who have any combination of 7 unexcused absences will result in a referral to Scott County Human Services for educational neglect.
If your child has missed 10% or more days in a given time period you will receive a letter in December, February, and April. This letter is informational and meant to keep you up to date as to the status of your child's attendance.
Call the Dean of Students, Kristin Stier, at 952-461-7809, if you have any questions or concerns about your child's attendance.
Hamilton Ridge Music Performances
2nd Grade Music Concert
Thursday, April 25th at 10:00 a.m. in the Hamilton Ridge Gym
3rd Grade Music Concert
Thursday, April 25th at 2:00 p.m. in the Hamilton Ridge Gym
1st Grade Class Performances
Week of April 29, during music class (1:15-2:05 p.m.)
Choir Concert
Tuesday, May 7th at 7:00 p.m. in the Hamilton Ridge Gym
(only 4th and 5th grade students that are participating in choir through Community Ed)
5th Grade Graduation May 31 at 10:00 a.m., HRE Gym
Kindergarten Graduation May 31 at 2:30 p.m., HRE Gym
Hamilton Ridge PTC Update
Butter Braids:
Thank you to everyone who supported our Butter Braid fundraiser. We earned $2700. The money will be used for the projector in the gym, movie nights, some goodies for the staff lounge, and iPad holders for teachers to turn the iPads into document cameras (think overhead projectors) that will help support the math curriculum and more.
Don’t forget Butter Braid pick-up is on March 5th from 4 to 6 p.m. Please plan to pick up, as we do not have freezer space for leftover braids. Butter Braids will not be available to be picked up before 4:00 p.m. as parent pick-up of students is in progress until that time. After parent pick-up is complete, you may park in front of the building and enter through the main entrance.
Family Fun:
We are selling tickets to the Twins game against the Detroit Tigers on Sunday, April 21st at 1:10 pm.
Sundays are Kids Day at Target Field and tickets are only $22 and include a hot dog & soda!
Tickets will be distributed to the students before the event. A portion of all ticket sales go back to our school!
Families are responsible for their transportation to Target Field. There are no refunds. Tickets are limited, so buy your tickets soon. Registration will close on Thursday, March 21st, 2024.
Spring Movie Night is March 15th @ 6:30
The movie is: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
SAVE THE DATE: The Spring Fling is May 17
Upcoming Events:
Restaurant Night: Leeann Chin: Tuesday, March 19 from 11:00 am-8:30 pm
March meeting: 3/7 @ 6:30 Facebook Event
Yearbooks:
We would love your help uploading your own photos to be added to the yearbook. Just visit this link, upload your photos, and enter our student's info.
Examples of good pictures are first-day-of-school pics, homework pics, playing with friends on the playground, etc.
Also, don't forget to order your yearbook! Choose Order Pictures and Yearbooks, and use the online ordering code YB28300. The deadline to order is April 5.
Planning for 2024-25
We are in the process of planning for the 2024-25 school year. If parents have input regarding their child's needs, please send an email to kschoeller@plsas.org for a link to the required electronic form. Thank you!
Legacy Book Club
Dear Hamilton Ridge Families,
Hamilton Ridge is offering an option for families to purchase books in honor of students and help our library grow! It is called Legacy Book Club. This is a positive way for your child to give a unique gift to all students at Hamilton Ridge.
If your family chooses to purchase a book to donate to the Hamilton Ridge Media Center, we will place a book plate in the book with your child's name, and he or she will be the first student to check out the new book. Click here for more details.
Thank you,
Amy Schwingler
Important Dates
- March 6 2-Hour Early Release at 1:50 p.m.
- March 29 No School; Grading Day
- April 1-5 No School; Spring Break
- April 10 2-Hour Early Release at 1:50 p.m.
- May 1 2-Hour Early Release at 1:50 p.m.
- May 27 No School; Memorial Day
- June 5 Last Day of School; 3-Hour Early Release at 12:50 p.m.
Contact Us
Student School Hours 9:20 a.m. to 3:50 p.m.
Main Office Hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Attendance Line 952-461-7801
Main Office 952-461-7800
Fax Number 952-461-7849
Health Office 952-461-7806, Tiffany St. Michaels, LPN tstmichaels@plsas.org
Social Worker/Counselor, Andrea Carin, MSW acarin@plsas.org
Sam Fredrickson, Principal sfredrickson@plsas.org
Kristin Stier, Dean of Students kstier@plsas.org
Kirsten Schoeller, Administrative Assistant kschoeller@plsas.org
Emily Connelly, Administrative Assistant (attendance) econnelly@plsas.org
IT Help Desk 952-226-0048 or ithelpdesk@plsas.org
District Transportation 952-226-0050 or jswedberg@plsas.org
Prior Lake Bus Company (after hours) 952-440-1166