Woodcrest Spanish Immersion
See translation information below / Consulte la información de traducción a continuación.
May 31, 2023 - NEWSLETTER
Estimadas familias de Woodcrest,
I hope everyone enjoyed the Memorial Day weekend and the unofficial start to summer – the weather cooperated this year and the weekend definitely had a summer vibe!
It’s hard to believe we are approaching the end of the school year. We wrap up on Thursday, June 8. We have some fun events planned to end the school year. Over the next week, we have a theater performance for all students, a band assembly, track & field day and individual classroom celebrations. It’s been a year of hard work and fun, and we can’t wait to celebrate with our students!
In Partnership,
Jaime Nymann
Principal
Book return/fees
If your student still has Woodcrest Spanish Immersion Media books checked out, please make sure they return them to the Woodcrest Spanish Immersion Media. If you need to pay a fee, please come to the main office, you can pay using cash and/or a check (made out to Woodcrest Spanish Immersion).
Preparing student iPads for the summer and next year
As we near the end of the school year, it's a great time to assess the status of your student's school-issued iPad and complete a little easy maintenance. Here are three steps to getting your student's iPad ready for summer - and next school year.
- Prepare your iPad: Student iPads are required to be wiped, set up and updated. This will free up storage and ensure the iPad's software has been fully updated. Follow the instructions at our iPad Resource Hub to make these updates so your student will be prepared and successful for next school year.
- Report iPad issues: Let us know if your student's iPad is damaged, lost or stolen, or if you are having issues with accessories not working correctly. We want to get any issues resolved prior to the new school year. If accessories are lost, a fee will be applied online on Campus Parent Portal. Learn more in the iPad Repair and Fees Frequently Asked Questions.
- Use these best practices for summer: We're compiled these recommendations for the best way to care for, clean and use your school-issued iPad this summer. It's also a great time to review the district Technology Responsible Use and Safety Policy. Families have full control when and how iPads will be used over the summer. Find out how to block access to certain websites and set up Screen Time here.
- Please view our district iPad use, care and expectations document.
For technology support visit the iPad Resource Hub or contact the Technology Services Department at techsupport@district16.org or 763-600-5555.
Keep the learning going this summer
Summer provides opportunities for families to share in learning experiences together. We're offering some ideas to keep the learning going over the summer months. Your student's school-issued iPad can help support summer learning experiences.
- Ideas for reading and writing this summer: Look for books or articles that build on a family or child's interest or upcoming event. Set some time each day or week, find a special location, and read aloud with the whole family. Talk with your child about what is being wondered about and learned in the reading. Each family member might keep a journal or write letters to others to keep and share experiences.
- Where to find reading materials for children: Visit a public library to check out books or magazines, including electronic books you can download and read on an iPad through Sora. MackinVia is Spring Lake Park School's digital library. Students can log in to the app on their school-issued iPad and check out a variety of electronic books. More information is available about Sora and MackinVia in the digital toolkit under Student Online Resources.
- Math at home: Our grade K-5 resource, Bridges in Mathematics, offers Math at Home. This is available to students on their school-issued iPad and includes ideas to engage students in deep mathematical thinking that also includes some reading, writing and speaking. Access is free.
Have fun learning together with friends and family this summer!
Construction Complete
There was a buzz of excitement and pride as students, families and staff gathered for a BBQ in front of the brand new 2-bedroom, 2-bath house standing in the parking lot of Spring Lake Park High School. They were the first guests at the house the students just finished building. Students were sharing it with their families before it moves into the community to become a home.
More than 40 students in the Construction Trades course spent most of the school year learning construction trades through the hands-on experience of building a single-family house.
The Construction Trades course was a new course this year at Spring Lake Park High School. It was designed based on student interest and industry needs and is part of the Technology, Engineering and Design Pathway at Spring Lake Park High School. It is one of three Career and College Pathways that help students explore different career paths as they gain high school and even college credit.
Read more about the building journey.
Leadership transitions (include leadership graphic)
As one school year wraps up, preparation is well underway for next year. Four leaders are making moves effective July 1.
- Judi Kahoun, long-time Northpoint elementary principal, shared with the Northpoint community in early May her intention to transition into retirement. She is stepping away from the principal role as the year ends.
- Tyler Nelson, associate principal at Westwood Intermediate and Middle School, will become Northpoint’s new principal.
- Steve Brady, a current associate principal at Spring Lake Park High School, will be transitioning to the associate principal role at Westwood focused on grades 5 and 6.
- Angie Shea has requested to return to her role as high school counselor after spending two years as associate principal at Westwood focused on grades 7 and 8.
Read more about the leadership transitions.
Free Book Fair!
This week, students have been able to shop for books for FREE!
Thanks to the WCSI Literacy Committee, the SLP Lions' Club, Urban Air and generous donations from Woodcrest Spanish Immersion families/friends, ALL students at Woodcrest are having the experience of shopping and "purchasing" four books at the last Book Fair of the school year. We are very excited to be able to provide this opportunity to our students!
BAND!
After many great years on Konstella, WCSI PTO is moving to a new platform called BAND. Just like now, BAND is an app that provides a space where we can post sign-ups, conduct polls, have calendars that can link to your Google or Apple calendar, and have text/chat space for committees...all in one place! You can download the app to your phone, use a web browser or both.
Why change? Konstella is no longer free. Also, the look of the BAND app feels like facebook and is easy to use. Westwood PTO started using BAND earlier this year, so you will have a smooth transition when moving to 5th grade and beyond!
To join the main PTO group, go here!
On the main page, create a login. If it asks to create a page-skip that and click the link or connect through QR code again - to be taken to the BAND and then click join.
Please also join any committee "BAND" that you are interested in to get more details about it. There will be specific sign ups created as needs arise, this is just to keep you in the know about activities you care about most...just like committee spaces on Konstella. See descriptions in the below list or review the attached committee descriptions and QR list. You can also search for our BANDS by typing WCSI PTO in the search window, it should bring up our entire list.
Please join soon as our subscription to Konstella will be expiring. Thanks for joining us!
Current committees include:
Art adventure is a program that engages students with works of art from the Minneapolis Institute of Art's collection. Volunteers attend training from the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and discuss art pieces with classes during the school day.
This committee takes turns designing the monthly Birthday Bulletin Board near the cafeteria. Lots of supplies and past photos available for ideas.
This committee plans and runs at least one (usually two) Scholastic book fair(s) during the school year at Woodcrest. Volunteers are needed to set up, cashier, provide customer support during open hours, and pack the fair away at the end of sale.
Community Action and Engagement:
Coordinate community outreach/service opportunities for families. Previous activities have included community singing, spirit wear collection drive, Feed My Starving Children events, etc.
This committee plans an evening Woodcrest family event to meet and get to know each other and build community.
Assist with environmental activities through school wide recycling and gardening. Responsible for planning and implementing the annual school wide Prairie Garden Relay.
Help create and plan activities throughout the year to support literacy at Woodcrest in all grade levels. Organize and distribute Scholastic Book Club materials. Opportunities for volunteers during the school day, at home preparing supplies, and after school, depending on the activity.
Monitor and periodically organize items in the lost and found area, keeping them tidy and easy for parents to look through, as well as checking labels to assist in the return of lost items.
This group begins in April and runs about six weeks for three days a week. Coordinators plan any extra incentives, prepare barcodes/lanyards for students, and run reports to keep track of toe token distribution. Volunteers are needed during each session to hand out toe tokens, help track miles, and cheer on participants. Students participate by walking/running laps during recess. Laps are recorded and at predefined increments, students earn toe tokens to go on their lanyards. The purpose of mileage club is to have fun, motivate students to exercise, burn off excess energy, learn responsibility and build self esteem. Participation is optional for the students.
This committee keeps fun items available for students to use during recess. Each classroom is provided with a bin of indoor activities and a mesh bag with outdoor activities. There is an emphasis on fall set-up and spring clean-up, but members can check in throughout the year to refresh games, pump up balls, organize/sort items, and fix/replace broken items.
Social Emotional Health Engagement:
This committee will plan ways to enrich Social/Emotional Health and Education for students and/or student guardians.
The spirit wear committee plans an online store and advertises how to take orders in the fall. When these items are ready, help distribute them to students/staff.
This committee organizes and implements what PTO will do to celebrate staff throughout the year including, fall Conference Meals, winter Conference Meals and Staff Appreciation Week in May.
This committee supports innovation and creativity through PTO funded grants submitted by staff or student/staff teams. Co-chair(s) get applications to staff and communicate criteria/deadlines. The committee meets to discuss which grants and how much money for each should be awarded based on criteria.
This committee meets at Woodcrest from 9:15 a.m.-noon on Wednesdays to help with projects and misc. work for staff. Drop in at whatever time you can, on whatever days you can. Children are always welcome!
This committee plans an evening Woodcrest family event during the winter months to continue to get to know each other and build community.
- June 1: CLIMB Assembly (rescheduled)
June 5: Pep Band Assembly
June 6: All School Track and Field Day
June 7: Kinder Celebration, 2 p.m. Parents, please see update from teachers for more info.
June 8: Fourth Grade Celebration and Fun Lab Field trip
June 8: End of Tri 3, last day of school
June 9: Class of 2023 graduation ceremony at Roy Wilkins, 7 p.m.
June 26: 10th Annual Panther Foundation Panthers for a Purpose Golf Fundraiser at Victory Links
- Celebrating our 2022-2023 retirees
- Action needed: Insurance coverage renewal (for families who have health insurance through Medical Assistance, MinnesotaCare and Minnesota Family Planning Program)
- Free meals available this summer
- Appreciating SLP staff
Interns for the upcoming school year
First, we are very excited to invite Amity interns to our program once again next year. Interns join us from Spanish speaking countries and come here to increase their teaching experience and become part of our learning community for the year. We have work to do to prepare for their arrival in August. One of the biggest aspects of their experience is their host families. We will need host families for our interns starting in late August. Some details to consider if you are interested in hosting an intern:
Hosting is usually for half the school year, to give the interns different experiences with different families throughout their stay here.
You must have a spare bedroom for the intern; they cannot share a room. A shared bathroom is fine.
The host family provides three meals a day to the intern.
Interns are usually recent college graduates or about to complete their teacher preparation program in their home country.
We currently have three interns to place for next year, two females and one male. All are from Spain.
At school, the interns will act as language ambassadors and apprentices to the teachers with whom they work.
Please reach out directly to Sra. Nymann if you are interested in hosting an intern.
Translate This Message / Traducir Este Mensaje
To translate this information to another language, please click anywhere on the message to open it in a web browser and at the top of the page, select your language from the dropdown menu.
Para traducir la información a otro idioma, por favor presionen en cualquier lugar del mensaje para abrirlo en un navegador web y en la parte superior de la página seleccione su idioma del menú.