Alice Smith Weekly Connections
October 30, 2020
Alice Smith Families - Message from Principal Navidad
Alice Smith families and scholars,
My vision at Alice Smith is to create a school family where we can amplify the voices of our scholars.... Now it's your turn. Make your voice count on Nov 3rd and VOTE!
It was nice seeing and connecting with some parents this morning during my weekly virtual google meeting with families called "Cafe con Navidad". In hopes to increase the access to our families to this opportunity, I will host this every Friday now from 3:15-3:45pm (English) and 3:45 - 4:15pm (Spanish).
Thank you for your collaboration
952-988-4201A closer look at our new leader:
Important Dates - November 2nd - November 6th
Tuesday November 3rd - Election Day (No School)
- Please check out the latest in Novmeber calendar updates.
- Lots of great sponsors, check them out, they have lots to offer
- The Fun2Raise school store will have limited offerings each month, so make sure to check them out and click to order.
- Print your monthly calendar. Just click to print!
Picture Retake Days Coming Soon
Hybrid students will receive their photos from the teachers next week. Distance Learners may pick up their photos from a box in the front entryway starting Monday.
If you are not satisfied with the October photos, please return them on Picture Retake Day and your student will be photographed again. If you missed our October Picture Day, order forms are available in the Front Office or order online. Parents can take advantage of this link, which will allow you to sign up to receive updates via email regarding your student's school portraits. These updates include promotions, additional deals and the ability to order more pictures at a later time. When entering student information, parents should be sure to enter the student's name as it is on file at the school.
Alice Smith Nurse's Corner
With Halloween on Saturday, some families may be wondering what activities are considered safe. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has offered guidelines for a safe celebration of Halloween this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The CDC has categorized Halloween activities by level or risk. Please consider modifying your plans to fit into a lower risk option. Our ability to continue to provide in-person learning depends on all of us.
Health Screening
As students begin to experience back to school illnesses, we are getting more questions regarding when a student needs to stay home or if they are okay to be in school.
The information below may be helpful to families as a summary of how illnesses will be managed this school year following COVID-19 guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health.
Simplified Covid-19 Decision Tree
Free Testing Sites
Visit the Minnesota Department of Health COVID-19 Community Testing webpage for free testing locations. This site is updated weekly. "Barrier free" testing means no cost, and you do not have to be experiencing symptoms. Appointments recommended but not required.
COVID Dashboard
We're excited to reveal the first phase of our COVID-19 Dashboard, which is designed to help families, staff, and the community understand the data points that most impact our learning models. These data points will be updated on Fridays. We will add local district health data and specific staffing data in the coming weeks.
Get Ready for a Virtual Book Fair
Our annual book fair is going virtual this year, from November 9th - 22nd: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/alicesmithelementaryschool2
This is a great time to buy some great new books for the upcoming holidays, and every purchase made through this site benefits our school library.
Information Sessions for Spanish, Hmong and Somali speaking families
The Hopkins cultural liaisons will be holding weekly information sessions for Spanish-, Hmong-, and Somali-speaking families to keep them better informed. Families will have the opportunity to ask questions and to seek clarification about recent news and correspondences from Hopkins Public Schools. The schedule is as follows:
Spanish(Elisa Dorfman)
Fridays from 10AM - 11AM (starting 10/16)
Google Meet joining info: https://meet.google.com/bpx-tpvr-ebh
Somali(Mona Yusuf)
Mondays and Fridays from 9AM - 10 AM (starting 10/16)
Google Meet joining info: https://meet.google.com/now-vnnu-ums
Hmong(Panou Xiong)
Thursdays from 2PM - 3PM (starting 10/8)
Google Meet joining info: https://meet.google.com/gqk-rrah-svw
School Nutrition News
The lunch menu for the next few weeks is: Hopkins Menu October 26 - November 6
CRITICAL Information NEEDED!
In order to better support our scholars' academic and nutritional needs, this year will be critically important that ALL of our families take a few minutes to complete the Free & Reduced Lunch Application. This application is completely CONFIDENTIAL and if you do qualify, it does bring funds to our school that will help me better provide academic supports for ALL of our scholars!
All digital applications are done through your Infinite Campus Parent Portal.
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!
Resources for Families
ICA is open and ready to help you! Please call our front desk to make a food appointment or to speak with our case managers or employment consultant: 952.938.0729.
During this time, we are adjusting the way we provide food. We are now offering pre-packaged bags of food. When you come to the food shelf, check in at the front door, and then return to your car. Volunteers will pack your food and then bring it out to your trunk. We are trying to minimize physical contact to keep everyone as safe as possible.
Teaming Up 4 Teens
Support Packs
The Support Packs contain a variety of items needed for day to day hygiene as well as other necessities as needed throughout the year. These care packs contain full size products such as shampoo, soap, deodorant, laundry detergent, toothbrushes, toothpaste, lotion, tissues, feminine products etc.
Please contact Kristin Lutz-School Counselor 952-988-4214 kristin.lutz@hopkinsschools.org or Gjenifer Ghodge-School Social Worker 952-988-4588 gjenifer.ghodge@hopkinsschools.org if you need help with Winter Warm Wear, Support Packs, and/or Weekend food from ICA food shelf.
Winter Warm Wear Help
Support Packs for Families
Local Food Shelf
Bring Winter Warm Wear to School Every Day
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Stretch Your Food Dollars!
SNAP is intended to supplement food and nutrition needs for people of all ages. Eligibility is based on your household size and income. With SNAP, you can stretch your monthly food dollars and choose your own food.
Second Harvest Heartland SNAP Outreach Specialists assist with eligibility screenings, applications, and finding resources in your community. If you have an active card, we can assist with the recertification process. For more information and for help applying for SNAP benefits, call the Second Harvest Heartland SNAP Outreach Team at 651-209-7963 or click below to take a SNAP Referral Survey.
Second Harvest Heartland SNAP Referral Survey
SNAP/EBT Referral SNAP/EBT Referral
SNAP_Outreach_Flyer_English.pdf
Alice Smith PTO Corner
Alice Smith PBIS/SEL Corner
Electronic Backpack Flyers & Forms
1st grade drummers
6th graders hard at work
4th graders learn about sinking & floating
Kaleidoscope PreK: learning is so much fun!
We all understand the importance of masks
Kindegarten dance competition between Mrs. Sjolie's & Ms. Wu's classrooms
Alice Smith Elementary
Website: https://hopkinsschools.org/schools/elementary-schools/alice-smith-elementary
Location: 801 Minnetonka Mills Road, Hopkins, MN 55343, USA
Phone: (952) 988-4200
Facebook: facebook.com/AliceSmithElementarySchool
Twitter: @AliceSmith270