Meadowbrook News
May 21, 2021
From Mrs. Sawatzky
Good afternoon Meadowbrook,
One of the best parts of my week was Tuesday when DJ Victor joined us for recess. It felt so good to smile, laugh, and dance with our students! I am equally as excited for tonight's playground night with our Distance Learning students and families.
How is it even possible that we only have 9 days of school left?!
In partnership,
Natalie
Personalized Math Lab Experience
Are you interested in learning more about what personalized math could look like in Hopkins elementary schools? Hopkins teachers demonstrated a model currently being explored at Alice Smith Elementary. An in-person experience was held on May 10, but attendance was limited due to COVID. The virtual experience is available. This screencast and slide deck capture the experience digitally.
We appreciate your continued engagement on behalf of your Hopkins learner. If you have questions, please contact Director of IDL Ann Ertl at Ann.Ertl@hopkinsschools.org.
Attention 6th Grade Caregivers
Last Week to Donate Books!
Thank you to those who have already donated gently-used, elementary books for the Meadowbrook Carnival book walk. Books will be collected in the Meadowbrook office until Friday, May 28th.
The Carnival will be held this fall on Friday, September 17th. Email meadowbrookcarnival@gmail.com with any questions.
End of Year Materials Collection
- All library books are due in the Media Center by Friday, May 21. If you still have library books at home, please return them.
- Beginning Friday, May 28, student technology for In Person students will remain at school. Please locate the iPad charger that was provided to you and send it back to school with your student.
- For Distance Learning families, materials collection will take place on Friday, June 4 from 1:00 pm-3:00pm and again on Monday, June 7 from 8:30am-1:00pm. Please drive through Lot A and staff will assist you with the return of all materials, including student iPads. Additionally, some students will have materials to pick up from their teacher.
Multi-Age Classrooms
Thank you for reaching out with your questions about multi-age classrooms. By far the most common question is "what type of student would do well in a multi-age classroom?" The answer: All students can do well in this model!
If you would like to learn more but were unable to attend the information session, you can view it here.
Class Placement Forms
Today is the last day for caregivers who wish to provide input in the placement to submit the form below. Please share any information that you believe is helpful and important in your child's placement. Forms can be returned in person, to the office or through email: natalie.sawatzky@hopkinsschools.org
Please note that we are not able to accept requests for a particular teacher for your child.
Notes from our Nutrition Department
End of School Year Pizza Party Packs
Hopkins Nutrition Department is excited to help you celebrate the end of this challenging school year by offering Pizza Party Packs in place of our final meal distribution on June 2nd. These pizza meal kits are FREE and available to all Hopkins scholars — one kit per child. This is a great chance to support our department and bridge the gap between the end of the school-year meal service and the start of our free summer meals program.
Please note: the curbside Pizza Party Pack distribution is on June 2. There will be no other meal distribution for that week, and you must be able to pick it up during the allotted time 3:00-4:30pm.
To order your Pizza Party Pack, click here.
Free Weekly Family Meals from Minnesota Central Kitchen
In addition to free summer student breakfasts & lunches that will be provided through Hopkins Public Schools Nutrition Services, Hopkins Public Schools is exploring a potential partnership with Minnesota Central Kitchen and Second Harvest Heartland that would provide Hopkins Public Schools families the opportunity to pick up a free, pre-cooked family dinner meal (feeds 4-6) to support weekend and household nutritional needs. Pick-up location TBD but it would be a Hopkins Public Schools or Parks site. If your family is interested in this opportunity to pick up a free family to-go dinner meal once a week, we would appreciate your help in completing this very BRIEF form. Thank you!
Mingle Celebrations
You may remember that we set fundraising goals tied to school-wide celebrations for the Meadowbrook Mingle. With the overwhelming success of the Mingle (raising $32,000), we have a lot of celebrating to do!
- Friday, May 21 - Distance Learning Playground Night from 6:00-7:00pm. We welcome all DL students to come play on the playground. We'll serve popsicles!
- Wednesday, May 26 at 3:00pm we will have Mr. Lawson dump a bucket of ice water on Mrs. Sawatzky, as he won the free throw contest! Stay tuned for live streaming details.
Legislative Action Coalition urges parent advocacy - it's not too late!
HEF Gratitude Gifts
The order deadline for Gratitude Gifts has been extended through Sunday, May 23 at noon!
Gratitude Gifts are a great way to wrap up an extraordinary year. Send your thanks to ANY Hopkins staff member. As you can see, (even under the mask) Gratitude Gifts generate many smiles from grateful, hard-working, innovative, and adaptive staff. For a $25 donation to HEF, we’ll deliver a sleeve of delicious cookies from Great Harvest Bread Co. in Minnetonka, along with your personal message.
If COVID prevents us from hand-delivery, we’ll substitute with an equivalent gift card to Great Harvest.
Remember, you can order a Star Card anytime for a donation of just $5; it’s a fun quick shout-out to any staff member.
To order now, visit www.HopkinsEducationFoundation.org
Important COVID-19 Reminders
Important information regarding mask mandate
Governor Walz lifted the mask mandate for indoor spaces for those who are fully vaccinated. Please note that schools are still required to follow the guidelines in the School Safety Plan, which remain in place through the end of this school year.
Masks are required through the end of the school year for our scholars and staff in all of our indoor spaces — this includes busses. Masks are no longer required for outdoor activities and are “optional but encouraged” for students engaged in outdoor recess, outdoor physical education, and other outside learning activities. We will share guidance for our summer programming as soon as it is available.
Additional Vaccination Information
Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is safe and easy. Everyone in your family 12 years old or older is eligible for vaccination. Anyone may sign up with the State by using the Vaccine Connector online or over the phone at 833-431-2053. Translations are available in Spanish, Hmong, and Somali. You may also sign up with the County by registering here: COVID-19 Registration Form. Many healthcare providers and retailers with pharmacies also now provide vaccination. They include Cub Food, Hy-Vee, Thrifty White Pharmacy, and Walmart / Sam’s Club.
The state has expanded its vaccination services by offering vaccination at the state fairgrounds. From now through May 4, the state has included walk-in vaccinations, with no appointment needed. For more information, please see this MDH website.
Fun Summer Youth Programs through Community Education!
Hopkins Community Education is offering a great variety of summer programs for youth, including our new and FREE Royal Connections Summer Parks Program. Learn more from our Community Ed Staff Leaders and ask questions at our Fun Summer Programs information session on Wednesday, May 26 from 6:30-7:30 pm on zoom.
Kids & Company School-Age Care Program
Registration for the summer of 2021 and school year 2021 - 2022 for the Kids & Company program is now open! This summer and school year will be full of amazing programming that will include theme days, club days, service learning, leadership opportunities, maker space fun, STEM, and special events.
Click HERE for registration information and to register your scholar.
Limited grant funding is available for tuition assistance for “summer only” (June 11 - August 18) Kids & Company/Stepping Stones. After March 1st, connect with ResourceWest for details:
- To speak in Spanish or English: call Kirsten at 952-322-0882 or email at kirsten@resourcewest.org
- To speak in Somali or English: call Yasmin at 952-322-0357 or email at yasmin@resourcewest.org
Fall Preschool Information and Registration
We are excited for scholars ages 3-5 years old to join us next year for preschool! Please visit our preschool link to learn more about programs, locations, and virtual tours. If you have questions about our programs or registration, please call our Harley Hopkins office: 952-988-5000.
Resources
Is your first language Hmong, Somali, or Spanish?
Join our weekly Zoom calls and get your questions answered in Hmong, Somali or Spanish. Details are as follows:
Spanish Families (elisa.dorfman@hopkinsschools.org, 612-282-2728)
Every Friday, 10am to 11am
https://zoom.us/j/99813852785?pwd=TVVJS3ZxbUlhbGhhcmRMdDk5WnJGQT09
Somali Families (mona.yusuf@hopkinsschools.org, 612-221-0148)
Every Monday, 9am to 10:30am
https://zoom.us/j/98106831551?pwd=SEpsYXl4V1hoZXRFWlY5aUZHRlRpdz09
Hmong Families (panou.xiong@hopkinsschools.org, 612-282-2632)
Every Thursday, 2pm to 3pm
https://zoom.us/j/95200173134?pwd=R0QwWUNOcmtwMnhuT05YWnhLWGpJQT09
Would Your Family Benefit From Having More Funds For Groceries? If so, please read on...
Pandemic-EBT Benefits for Families
Students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals may be eligible for Pandemic-Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) to purchase food for days they are not in the school building. To be considered, households must submit an application for free or reduced-price meals for the 2020-21 school year or be approved for Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
Families who received P-EBT benefits last summer are not automatically eligible; eligibility is based on the current school year. Benefits may be retroactive to September 2020, depending on when eligibility for free or reduced-price meals is determined. To ensure you qualify for the most benefits, please submit your application as soon as possible. The School Nutrition Department is still accepting applications from families - apply today to see if you qualify for these additional food access benefits.
Have you moved?
If you’re address has changed, please contact the school office at 952-988-5100 to update your address on file. This will ensure that you receive any potential benefits.
Free Home Internet for Qualifying Families
If you are having internet connectivity issues at home, I want to let you know of a new opportunity for Hopkins School families in need of alternative or more affordable internet services for their households. This internet service is much stronger and faster than a hotspot.
If you would like to know more, please reach out to ResourceWest.
For English/Spanish: 952-322-0882
For English/Somali: 952-322-0357
PTO Corner
PTO Meetings
Our last PTO Meeting of the 2020-2021 school year will be on Thursday, May 27 at 7:00pm using this link.
Restaurant Nights
Please join us for an upcoming Restaurant Night! Sales from these events directly benefit Meadowbrook PTO, so tell your family, friends and neighbors.
Upcoming:
Wednesday, June 2: D'Amico & Sons of Golden Valley
- 7804 Olson Memorial Hwy, Golden Valley, MN 55427
- 4:00-8:00pm
- Take-out only, online orders preferred: https://damicoandsons.alohaorderonline.com/
- Mention Meadowbrook or bring in the flyer and D'Amico's will donate 15% of your order to the PTO!
Donation Drive:
We really appreciate all of the generous donations we have received! The Donation Drive is officially over, but you can always donate electronically at: http://tinyurl.com/mbpto.
Online Directory:
To connect with other families at Meadowbrook, please register with our Meadowbrook Online Directory
How to Help: How can you support Meadowbrook with things you are already buying?!
- Sign up for Amazon Smile and have a portion of your purchases go to Meadowbrook School PTO. Now works in the mobile app!
- Download the Box Tops for Education app and scan your receipts after shopping. Any qualifying purchases will go directly to Meadowbrook PTO- no need to 'clip' anymore!
Any questions? Reach out to us at meadowbrookelementarypto@gmail.com or visit us on Facebook , Twitter, Instragram, or our PTO website
2021 Important Calendar Dates
May 21: All materials due in the Media Center
May 21: Distance Learning Playground Night 6:00-7:00pm
May 27: 7:00pm PTO Meeting
June 2: PTO Restaurant Night D'Amico & Sons
June 4: Last Day of School for Students
June 4: Distance Learning Materials Collection 1:00 - 3:00 pm
June 7: Distance Learning Materials Collection 8:30 am - 1:00 pm
Meadowbrook Elementary
Main Office Line: 952-988-5100
Attendance Line: 952-988-5110
https://meadowbrook.hopkinsschools.org/families/attendance
Online Student Directory: www.meadowbrookpto.ptoffice.com
Email: natalie.sawatzky@hopkinsschools.org
Website: https://hopkinsschools.org/schools/elementary-schools/meadowbrook-elementary
Location: 5430 Glenwood Avenue, Golden Valley, MN 55422, USA
Phone: (952) 988-5100
Facebook: facebook.com/HopkinsMeadowbrook
Twitter: @MeadowbrookGV