Capitol Hill Headliner
December 3, 2021
For your Calendar
DECEMBER 6-10: HUMANKIND Donation Drive (see info below)
DECEMBER 9: Band Concert, 6:30pm
DECEMBER 17 - last student day before winter break
DECEMBER 20-31: No school, winter break
Note! 20 and 21 December are additional days added by the school board last week
JANUARY 3: Classes resume
JANUARY 17: No school, Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Daily Health Screening Expectations for Families
*** Families should conduct a health screening for COVID-19 symptoms every morning before sending their student to school or the bus stop.
*** DO NOT send your child to school if they are exhibiting any of these symptoms: chills, sore throat, headache, fatigue, nausea, muscle pain, vomiting or diarrhea, new runny nose or congestion, new or worsening cough, difficulty breathing, or loss of taste or smell.
*** Please report the absence to the attendance line at 651-325-2599 and submit a report to the COVID-19 Reporting System as soon as possible.
1st Grade "Humankind" service project December 6-10
The 1st grade students are beginning a unit called "HumanKind,” learning what it means to be a good community member and human being. We will use the following pillars to learn about HumanKind: kindness, gratitude, respect, empathy, celebrating differences, leadership/service, social justice, and activism.
We would like to invite the whole school to join in on a joint service-learning project between first graders and the 8th grade WEB team to benefit Project REACH and the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center. See below for more information. Thank you!!
Middle School "Save the Turkeys" contest :)
Picking up earlier than 4:15 dismissal time?
Please, to the extent possible, be mindful that students are still engaged in learning until dismissal time. We have many families picking up early this year. If you must pick-up early, please see the notes below.
- Facemasks are required.
- Check-out by a parent/guardian in the main office is required - as was our policy before the COVID pandemic.
- All changes should be called into the office (651-325-2500) no later than 3 pm
- Please plan accordingly. Students move throughout the day into different classrooms and spaces. We ask for your patience while we find them for you, which can take some time.
- We will not call your child(ren) to the office for early dismissal to wait for pickup. Because we are still in a pandemic, we are limiting the number of people in our main office.
- Use the Blue C doors and buzz Capitol Hill to come in. After signing them out, go to the lobby to wait.
- Students should not be calling home to get picked up early without being seen by an adult first, such as the nurse, counselor, or an administrator. If your child is not feeling well, they should be seen by the nurse and the nurse will call you if your child needs to be picked up.
- Students are not allowed to leave the building without being signed out or checked out by the front office. Student safety is our top priority and always need to be accounted for.
December Support Staff Newsletter
Wondering what the Capitol Hill counselors will be up to this December? Looking for ways to give back to the community this holiday season? Searching for opportunities to give your families a special holiday this year? Do you struggle with your mental health during the winter season? Check out the support staff December newsletter!
Know a family who's interested in Capitol Hill? Tour dates are set! Share this link with them!
Lost & Found! Much has been lost - please come find your things!
Please inform you scholars to look in the lost and found for their misplaced items! Items not claimed prior to winter break will be donated to a local charity. The lost and found is in the hallway outside the kitchen on the first floor.
Winter sports began November 22 - there's still time to join!
**Seeking more wrestlers!**
Winter Sports 2 (January - March) Boys Basketball
Students are required to complete 2 forms prior to be eligible to participate in our Middle School athletic program:
- Sports physical (good for 3 years) https://drive.google.com/file/d/14hFWR0kDRU6j467TgMkQOPJGj7_0FwSh/view
- Middle School athletics registration form https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Q5CWejaOqGDKHxGzPJlimYKv1mHASPCJ8hYu_qCOyws/edit
Dylan Wakefield-Dagen, Athletic Director, Capitol Hill
PTO UPDATES
Capitol Hill Merchandise Interest Survey
Fill out this survey to let the PTO know your preferences for Capitol Hill merchandise. The data will help us in ordering the merchandise and planning for the distribution.
Thank You!
Thank you to all who donated to the Fall Fundraiser during Give to the Max. Over $7,000 was donated toward the $10,000 goal. Thanks to your donations we will be able to fund classroom needs, field trips, and additional experiences for Capitol Hill students.
If you didn’t get a chance to donate, donations can always be made via cash/check to the office, at GiveMN or PayPal (treasurer.capitolhill@gmail.com).
Capitol Hill Directory
Please register your family in the school directory to receive PTO communications. Each grade has a PTO representative to help foster community through grade-specific updates and periodic meet-ups. Sign up at https://capitolhilpto.membershiptoolkit.com using this how to video. Contact ptodirectory.capitolhill@gmail.com if you have questions."Honk" If You Like Musicals!
Book Fair Final update and thank you!
Thank you so much for supporting Capitol Hill’s Scholastic Book Fair! Despite the numerous challenges we faced this year, we had possibly the most successful fair on record at Capitol Hill! We sold quite a few more books this year than at previous fairs in recent years, continuing a positive trend of growth. Quite an achievement during a global pandemic! We saw many smiling faces at the fair and we love that so many students got to take home a new favorite book to enjoy.
Not only did many of us donate for a total of over $2,300 ($600 from the Coin Drive!) in All for Books funds to give books to students, we earned over $6,500 in Scholastic Dollars to buy even more books for students and teachers.
Well done! With the money we raised, we were able to cover the tax during the fair for students who came up just short of the total. And we’ve given away some books already, but we’re just getting started! We are still coordinating the purchase and distribution of hundreds of new books to as many students and staff as possible.
So parents, don’t be surprised if your student comes home with a new book. And Students, you may see a new book or two in your classroom library over the school year. Whether you contributed to the fair or not, our hope is that every student and teacher who could attend had a positive experience at the fair, and that every person involved increased their appreciation of reading at least a tiny bit.
Thanks again for your hard work, your support, and your commitment to building a community of generous and compassionate readers!
Sincerely,
Jeff Hellenbrand
Capitol Hill Parent & Book Fair ChairpersonA message from SPPS regarding COVID vaccines
We are excited that the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine has been authorized for children ages 5-11. The vaccine was authorized by the FDA and CDC after clinical trials found that low-dose shots are safe and provide strong protection for children of this age group. This means that all Minnesota residents ages 5 and older are now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
SPPS Vaccine Clinics for Ages 12 and Up:
Vaccines for ages 12 and up are available at the Health Start Clinic held at Gordon Parks High School (1212 W. University Ave.) on Fridays from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Booster shots are not available.
Ramsey County Vaccine Clinics for All Ages:
St Paul-Ramsey County Public Health also has vaccine clinics at the following locations:
- Arlington Hills Community Center (1200 Payne Ave.)
- Consulate of Mexico (797 E. Seventh St.)
- Oxford Community Center (270 Lexington Pkwy. N.)
- New Brighton Community Center (400 10th St. N.W., New Brighton)
Appointments are required. Register at ramseycounty.us/COVIDvaccine. Booster shots are available at these clinics for those who are eligible.
Other Vaccine Resources:
- Contact your child’s primary health care provider, local public health or a local pharmacy.
- Check the Ramsey County COVID-19 Vaccine website for community and mobile clinics in and near St. Paul.
- Walk-in or schedule an appointment through Minnesota’s Community Vaccination Programs at Mall of America or MSP Terminal 2. You can also get connected to a vaccine through Minnesota’s Vaccine Connector.
- Use the Vaccine Locator Map to find vaccine locations near you.
SPPS will continue to keep families informed about available vaccine resources. Find the latest information on spps.org/covidvaccine.
Every Meal - now Partnering with Capitol Hill to provide weekend meals
Every Meal focuses on the food gaps when children aren’t able to receive free and reduced meal programs. Every Meal provides weekend and other food gap programs serving over 10,000 children across 400 locations
Here is a snapshot of the weekend food program:
- https://www.everymeal.org/what-we-do/weekend-program/
- Free for all families and schools to participate.
- Children receive a weekly food bag that includes 4-5 pounds of nutritious, non-perishable food.
- No qualifications required for enrollment. Every Meal does not collect information from families.
- Families may choose from five food bag options tailored for dietary preferences.
- A thoughtful partnership model- see our Overview
If you are interested in more information and/or registration information, please contact the Capitol Hill office or email Lisa Larson lisa.larson@spps.org
Free and Reduced Meal Applications
The Free/Reduced Lunch Application is very important for you! Even though meals are free at this time, it may help qualify for discounted internet service, discounted transit for your whole family and the P-EBT program. It is very important for us - some of our funding is based on the families that could be served by the Free/Reduced Lunch Program, even if you don't think you qualify or wouldn't use the service! Filling out the form benefits the whole Capitol Hill community. www.schoolcafe.com/spps
Questions? Please contact the Nutrition Services team at 651-603-4950 or ns@spps.org.
Paper forms are also available at the Capitol Hill office.
Parent Drop-off and Pickup Procedures
DROP-OFF PROCEDURE:
- Parents/guardians drop off students on Concordia Avenue, no earlier than 9:30am.
- Please do not cut in front of other cars already in line.
- When you get close to the front of the line, pull up as far as you can to Mackubin Street.
- NO PARKING on Concordia: this a pull up and drop off quickly area. If you must park your car, please park safely on another street to take care of your drop-off needs.
- There is no parking for drop-off in the MLK or Lung Association lots.
- DO NOT BLOCK PARKING LOT DRIVEWAYS. Avoid stopping at the stairs as well.
- Students get out on the right side (curbside) on Concordia.
- Parents/guardians stay in the car. Once your student is out of the car, please safely pull out of the line.
DISMISSAL TIME PICKUP PROCEDURE:
If you are driving, park safely along Makubin, Carroll, Igelhart, or Marshall - not in the MLK or Lung Association lots
- Please do not stop in the middle of the street
- Please do not park in the cross walk
- Please park and pick up your scholar on the sidewalk
- Be mindful of student safety
Elementary students will be grouped inside by last name, with 3 pickup lines outside on Makubin: Student last names starting with A–G, H–O, and P–Z.
Staff members will be outside calling Elementary student names on the radios. Middle school students will continue to exit the Green Doors on Mackubin.
All changes should be called into the office (651-325-2500) no later than 3 pm. Please, to the extent possible, be mindful that students are still engaged in learning until our 4:15 dismissal time.
Capitol Hill OFFICE NOTES
Office Hours: 8:30 - 4:30
Morning Drop-off Time
We want to ensure each child is safe when arriving for school. Staff supervision begins at 9:30am. Please do not drop off your child earlier than 9:30.
Attendance/late arrivals:
Please make sure to always report your child's absences. You can do this in two ways:
- Dial the attendance line directly at 651-325-2599 -OR-
- Email us at capitolhill.attendance@spps.org.
Please include your child's name, grade, the reason for their absence, your relationship to the child, and a return phone number that you can be reached at if we should have questions.
Calling Your Child
When calling the school to speak to your child, the office staff will deliver your message to have your child call you back. Teachers are teaching during the day and we are trying our best to lessen the interruptions during instructional time. Thanks for understanding.
Dismissal
Dismissal is at 4:15. We appreciate you making every attempt to honor this time. Students are still actively involved in classroom instruction up to dismissal time.
Please call the Capitol Hill office at 651-325-2500 if you are picking up your child early or letting your child go home any other way than their normal routine. Sign-out in the Main Office is required again, as was our policy before the pandemic struck.
***Please make sure to call the office no later than 3:00 pm if you have to make changes. If you call later than 3:00, we cannot guarantee that your child will get the message.***
Have you completed the iUpdate?
The iUpdate process is very important for you and for us – it’s an easy way to streamline all the forms and information that your students need: Free/Reduced Lunch form, the Media Release form, and the use of Internet form. Please go to https://www.spps.org/onestop to complete the iUpdate for your SPPS student(s) if you've not done so already.