Weaver Lake Family Newsletter
February 2022
Message from the Principal
Greetings Weaver Lake Families,
I am so proud to be part of a school community that supports each other no matter what. We know the transition to online learning and then back again is hard on everyone. I’m happy to report that during online learning Weaver Lake had incredible attendance, both in Google meetings and in work completion. We have proven that we are resilient under any conditions.
February is I Love to Read Month and February 1st is the beginning of our school Read-a-thon. Whether or not you raise money, we are hoping you will take some extra time this month and cuddle up with your child(ren) or have them cuddle up with a good book. If you’re looking for ideas of what to read or books your child might be interested, contact their classroom teacher or our library media specialist, Lesli Skarphol. Thanks to our PTO, Mrs. Skarphol has been able to order new non fiction and fiction books!
Please continue to reach out with any concerns, questions or comments. May your February be filled with love, health and kindness!
Lena Christiansen, Principal
Important Dates
Tuesday, February 1
Read-A-Thon Begins (PTO Sponsored Event)
Thursday, February 10
PTO Meeting 7-8:30pm
Tuesday, February 15
ParentVUE Conference Scheduling Site Opens @ 4:30pm
Monday, February 21
No School - President’s Day
Tuesday, February 22
ParentVUE Conference Scheduling Site Closes @ 4:30pm
Monday, February 28
Read-A-Thon Ends (PTO Sponsored Event)
For additional information regarding PTO events or other school related activities click: Peachjar
End of Day Transportation & Student Pick-Ups
Please call the Office before 3:30pm if there is a change to your student’s end of day routine. Families may dial 763-420-3337, press #0 to speak with the Office Staff to have a student placed on the End of Day Pick Up List.
Student Absence, Vacation or Late Arrival
Winter Conferences
Winter conferences will be held on the following dates:
Tuesday, March 1
7:50-9:10 a.m. (Virtual Conferences)
4:30-7:30 p.m. (Virtual Conferences)
Thursday, March 3
7:50-9:10 a.m. (Virtual Conferences)
4:30-7:30 p.m. (In-Person Conferences)
Tuesday, March 8
7:50-9:10 a.m. (Virtual Conferences)
4:30-6:30 p.m. (In-Person Conferences)
Families schedule conferences via ParentVUE. Parents are able to schedule their student’s conference beginning on February 15 at 4:30 p.m. and it will close on February 22 at 4:30 p.m.
After Tuesday, February 22, ParentVUE will not allow families to schedule any conference times and you will need to contact the Office or your student’s teacher for scheduling. If you elect a virtual conference time, your child’s teacher will contact you after Tuesday, February 22 with a Google Meets code for the conference.
If you do not have a ParentVUE account, please contact the Office at (763) 420-3337.
We look forward to seeing you during conferences!
Recess
With the winter weather, please make sure your student is dressed appropriately to be outside for 30 minutes at recess. Most days this will include boots, snow pants, winter coats, hats and mittens/gloves. Please mark all winter clothing items with the student’s name. ALL students will go outside for recess unless they have a note from their physician stating the reason they need to stay inside and the duration of the limitation.
Indoor recess will be held with the temperature at lunchtime is below 0 degrees and the wind-chill falls below -5 degrees.
School Mascot Voting!
The Weaver Lake PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) Committee would like to invite all families of Weaver Lake to participate in the final voting for our school mascot! After narrowing the choices down from previous school community votes, we have two final options. We are either going to be the Weaver Lake Wolves or the Weaver Lake Explorers! Our mascot already has a name too- Smartie. We want to know if you think it should be Smartie the Wolf or Smartie the Explorer. Kids all got to vote in school before winter break but we know that Weaver Lake is about the whole community so we want your input too!
Use the QR code or click HERE to send us your vote. Voting will be open through February.
If you have any questions please reach out to one of the PBIS Co-Chairs - Libby Lough, School Social Worker (loughl@district279.org) or Maria Andersen, School Counselor (andersenm@district279.org).
Thanks so much for being an important part of our Weaver Lake community!
Community Spotlight: February
Sweet Repeat Boutique is a clothing and small household goods shop run by CROSS Services. Sweet Repeat Boutique offers new and gently used clothing, shoes, jewelry, winter gear, linens, towels, games, toys, and small household items. Sweet Repeat Boutique offers items at a low cost. For example, clothing is $1.00 per pound. CROSS Services is located at 12915 Weinand Cir, Rogers MN 55374. No appointment is needed to visit. Please visit their website for current hours and additional information at crossservices.org
Order 4 free at-home COVID tests through USPS
Limit of one order per residential address
One order includes 4 individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests
Orders will ship free starting in late January
Use the website https://special.usps.com/testkits to order
Give Kids A Smile
Each year, dental professionals from across the state participate in Give Kids a Smile, providing free dental care to children in need. The purpose of the program is to provide free care to low-income children in need. The event takes place on the first Friday and Saturday of February. Use the website listed below to search for a dental clinic participating in this year's event. Call the clinic directly to schedule your child an appointment.
For more information go to https://www.mndental.org/events/give-kids-a-smile/
Ms. Lough’s “Beat the Blues” Challenge
During the winter months, it can be easy to find ourselves stuck on the couch. The “winter blues” affects people of all ages and is also known as seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. SAD is typically mild and can be cleared up in a short amount of time. One way to beat SAD is to spend time outdoors, even in the colder months. Getting outside can help improve overall mood as well as boost vitamin D. This month I am challenging students to spend time outside with friends or family to fight the winter blues. Complete 7 activities to earn a prize from Ms. Lough!
How many can you complete in February?
⬜Go on a squirrel hunt
⬜Build a snow creature
⬜Make snow art by adding food coloring to water in a spray bottle, watering can, or a pop bottle with a hole poked in the top
⬜Build an outdoor obstacle course with items you have at home
⬜Search for animal prints in the snow. How many can you find?
⬜Go ice skating
⬜Gather outdoor items such as pine cones, twigs, dried grass and pebbles to use for an art project
⬜Shovel someone else's sidewalk as a random act of kindness
⬜Create a Valentine's Day message in the snow
⬜Collect rocks to paint and place around your neighborhood to spread positivity
⬜Go sledding without a sled. Use your creativity, what else could you use?
⬜Go on a winter photography walk
⬜Play outdoor tic tac toe with items you find outside
⬜Have a snowball target practice. Find different things to aim for. What happens when the snowballs are different shapes and sizes?
Weaver Lake Elementary
Website: https://wvr.district279.org/
Location: 15900 Weaver Lake Road, Maple Grove, MN, USA
Phone: 763-420-3337
Twitter: @wvrstem