Oak Ridge Elementary News
4350 Johnny Cake Ridge Road
Eagan, MN 55122
(651) 683-6970
www.district196.org/or
“Educa ng our students to reach their full poten al”
May/June 2015
Gree+ngs, Oak Ridge Families!
May is an exci+ng +me at Oak Ridge, with many opportuni+es for field trips and special events. It is also a +me to celebrate a
successful school year. I would like to take this opportunity to share apprecia+on, inform you of staffing changes for 20152016, and call your a7en+on to important upcoming events.
Thank You!
Oak Ridge has the most amazing volunteers! Your support and dedica+on is outstanding. First, thank you to Beth Ristow for
her work as volunteer coordinator this year. Beth has organized countless volunteers to assist classroom teachers and social
events with cheer and enthusiasm. Second, thank you to our PTO. Your commitment to strengthening our school community and fundraising is outstanding. Third, thanks to all who par+cipate in Advisory Council. This group meets several +mes
each year to discuss school-related ma7ers. They serve our school community well by sharing their ideas and perspec+ves.
Their input is important and valued.
Last but certainly not least, thank you to all volunteers who step up to support teachers and students on a daily basis. Your
efforts to assist with literacy and math tutoring, special projects, and field trips are truly appreciated.
Staffing Changes for 2015-2016
As you are aware, I have decided to return to the classroom as a teacher. It has been an amazing privilege to serve as the
leader of this wonderful school. A commi7ee of district leaders, school staff, and parents is involved in a hiring process for
the next principal. You can expect to learn about the new administrator in early June.
We will have several staffing changes next year.
Mrs. Wylie is re+ring. She is an amazing educator who has developed caring rela+onships with countless students and
families. Please join me in wishing her the very best for a happy re+rement.
Ms. Abby Herman will join our kindergarten team. She is currently teaching kindergarten at Red Pine.
Ms. Bosch and Ms. Deltour will join the first grade team.
Ms. Jacobson will join the fourth grade team.
Mark Your Calendars!
The Spring Fling will be on Thursday, May 14th, from 5:00-7:30 PM. Thank you to Susan Bazanno and Shannon Mar+n for
organizing this fantas+c event, and to all volunteers who will help. I look forward to this opportunity to celebrate the school
year, and can’t wait to see all of you there!
Finally, I would like to provide a note of encouragement to stay on track at the end of the school year. Although the sun
shines into the evening hours and spring can be a busy +me for families, remember that each school day is important. Strive
to keep bed+me rou+nes in place, and remember that +me should be set aside for reading and homework each night. Set
high expecta+ons for your children, and communicate those expecta+ons as oGen as possible.
Thank you for your partnership in educa+on,
Kris Scallon
Principal
Page 2
Spring Track and Field Dates
PTO Spring Fling Help Needed
5th Grade—Monday, May 11 (alternate date
5/18) from 9:45 a.m.—2:00 p.m. at
Eastview High School
4th Grade—Thursday, May 21, from 1:30—
3:30 p.m. (alternate date 5/28)
3rd Grade—Thursday, May 21, from 9:45—
11:45 a.m. (alternate date 5/28)
2nd Grade—Friday, May 22, from 1:30—3:30
p.m. (alternate date 5/29)
1st Grade—Friday, May 22, from 9:45—11:45
a.m. (alternate date 5/29)
Kindergarten—Tuesday, June 2, 2:00 p.m.
The PTO Spring Fling is scheduled for Thursday,
May 14, from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m., rain or shine.
The event will be free of charge and will include
lots of fun ac+vi+es like music, pizza and jumpers. Many parent volunteers will be needed to
make this a success. You may sign up to volunteer at the spring fling by going to the Oak
Ridge website and clicking under volunteers.
Band for 2015-16
Seventy-three fourth graders have selected an
instrument to play in the Oak Ridge Band!
The summer lesson schedule and informa+on on
comple+ng band registra+on will be sent home
with students on May 1st. Most parents will need
to come to Deerwood Elementary either May 6 or
7 between 4:00 and 6:45 p.m. to rent an instrument from a store and pay for supplies.
IMPORTANT: Beginning band is only offered in
fiGh grade in District 196. If you would like your
child to be in band in middle school, they need to
start now. Please contact Mrs. Wya7 with any
ques+ons at angela.wya7@district196.org or 651683-6969, extension 92665.
News from the Media Center
We cannot believe another school year is coming
to a close! It has been a great year and we love
having your students check out books from our
library. The last day for checking out books will
be Friday, May 22. All library books will be due
on Friday, May 29. Star+ng on Monday, June 1,
we will send home no+ces for money owed for
lost books.
Watch for no+ces about Summer Reading Programs at the public library, local book stores and
here at Oak Ridge. We want your students to
have books to read all summer long!
Mrs. Jacobson and Mrs. S+rmlinger
Images of the World
"Images of the World" is an assembly that has
been scheduled for all students to see on May
13th. The program is called “Rainforests and Mayan Ruins.” The husband and wife team of Bruce
Junek and Tass Thacker will be puOng on this
dazzling slide presenta+on, along with fascina+ng
stories. These world travelers and teachers will
be s+mula+ng and challenging students to view
the world from a mul+-cultural perspec+ve. The
program they will be sharing with us will take us
to rain forests and the Mayan ruins. We will be
able to learn about interes+ng customs and tradi+ons along the way. Their bicycle adventure
takes us to many exci+ng places. They inspire
students to pursue their own dreams.
Emergency Storm Procedures
In the event of severe weather, students will
take cover in assigned areas within the school
building. Students and teachers will remain in
these areas un+l an all-clear signal has been issued. Parents are urged not to call the school
during severe weather to help keep phone lines
free. We encourage parents to listen to the radio or television for updates on the weather.
Busses will not leave and dismissal is delayed if a
tornado or severe weather warning is in effect.
School Supply Lists for 2015-2016
Next fall’s school supply list will be sent home
with your child’s final report card on the last
day of school. We will also have the list available on our website this summer as well as have
copies at local stores later in the summer.
Page 3
Important Dates
April 23—May 12
MCA Math Tes+ng Window Grades 3-5
May 1
Grade 3 Field Trip to Mill City Museum 9:30 a.m.—2:30 p.m.
May 4
Grade 5 Student Orienta+on at BHMS for
the 2015-2016 School Year-6:00 p.m.
May 5
Parent Mee+ng on School Choice Survey
and Magnet School Process—6:30
p.m.—Media Center
May 6 & 7 Band Registra+on for 4th Graders and
Parents at Deerwood Elementary —
4:00—7:00 p.m.
May 7
Grade 5 Bus Patrol Field Trip to MOA 9:30 a.m.—2:15 p.m.
Kindergarten Open House for 2015-16
Kindergartners—6:30 p.m.
May 8
Grade 1 Music Concert—2:30 p.m. Gyms
May 11
Grade 5 Track & Field Day at EVHS
(rain date 5/18)
May 13
Images of the World Lyceums for
students
May 14
PTO Spring Fling (rain or shine) - 5:00—
7:30 p.m.
May 19
PTO Mee+ng—6:30 p.m.—IMC
May 21
Grade 3 Track & Field Day—9:45 a.m.
Grade 4 Track & Field Day—1:30 p.m.
May 22
Grade 1 Track & Field Day—9:45 a.m.
Grade 2 Track & Field Day—1:30 p.m.
Kindergarten All Day Field Trip to MN
Zoo
May 25
NO SCHOOL—Memorial Day
May 26
Grade 1 Field Trip to Como Zoo—9:30
a.m.—2:30 p.m.
May 27
Dakota County Library Presenta+ons
June 2
Grade 5 Bikes to MN Zoo– 9:30 a.m.—
3:00 p.m.
Kindergarten Track & Field Day-2:00 p.m.
June 5
Last Day of School—Report Cards Sent
Home with Students
All School Variety Show and Grade 5
“Just One More Time” - 9:45 a.m.
July 27—August 13 Oak Ridge Camp Propel (for
Registered students)
August 25 & 26 Summer Literacy Assessments
Oak Ridge Summer Office Hours
Monday—Thursday, 7:30 a.m.—3:30 p.m.
(Open Fridays in August)
Important End of Year Informa2on
Library Informa2on—The last day students
will be allowed to check out library books is on
Friday, May 22. All library books must be returned by Friday, May 29.
Medica2ons at School - Prescrip+on medica+ons will not be returned to a student to take
home per district policy. If the medica+on
remains in the nurse’s office and is not picked
up by a parent or guardian, it will be destroyed by July 5, 2015.
Non-prescrip+on medica+ons, inhalers and epi
-pens can be taken home the last day of
school by the student if we have the signature
of the parent or guardian. This is a parental
decision and you may decide that you want to
pick up the medicine yourself. A permission
form will be sent out in May. If you have any
ques+ons, please call the school nurse at 651683-8593.
Bus/Daycare Informa2on—If you will no longer need daycare or your daycare changes for
the 2015-16 school year, please complete a
transporta+on form available in the office. If
you currently have a transporta+on/daycare
form on file, it will con+nue through 2015-16.
Welcome New Physical
Educa2on Teacher
Hello Oak Ridge friends and
families!
My name is Mr. Sandman and I’m the new
physical educa+on teacher here at Oak Ridge.
Not too long ago I finished my undergraduate
at Iowa State University with my degree in Kinesiology and Health, along with my teaching
cer+fica+on for grades K-12 (PE and Health). In
my free +me I like to play golf and fish, so if
you’re ever in the mood to talk about either,
I’m your guy! Earlier in the year I was teaching
at Red Pine Elementary in ISD 196 un+l the
posi+on opened here at Oak Ridge. I’m really
happy to be here, as it is such a posi+ve environment for both students and staff. Go Falcons!
Page 4
FRIENDLY REMINDER FROM THE LUNCHROOM
It has been a pleasure serving your child(ren) school meals this year. I would like to thank everyone for
their support and patronage of the school meals program. The end of the school year is quickly approaching, and I want to stress the importance of maintaining a posi+ve monetary meal account balance.
Beginning **Monday, May 18th** and through the end of the school year, the cafeteria will be offering a
cheese sandwich, fruit and a carton of milk to the children who owe for past meals eaten and who do
not maintain a posi+ve meal account balance. To avoid this situa2on for your child, it is impera2ve
that you monitor their account balance and assure that adequate funds are available. Payments can
be made to FeePay for Free or a check/cash can be sent in with your child at their school.
For elementary schools, the school lunch costs $ 2.30, breakfast costs $1.45 and a carton of milk
purchased separately or in addi+on to the meal is $.40.
You may check your child’s meal account balance on SchoolView/Fee Pay Account or by calling Oak
Ridge at 651-683-6875.
Please know that, at the end of the year, any nega2ve or posi2ve meal account balance will be carried
over to the next year. Students moving from any District 196 school to another District 196 school will
have their meal number and balance transferred to the appropriate school. This includes any elementary school 5th grader transferring to a middle school or any middle school 8th grader transferring to a
high school.
Again, I appreciate the opportunity to serve your children, and I thank you for their par+cipa+on in our
school meals program.
Geri Doane
Oak Ridge Elementary Food Service Manager
The Oak Ridge PTO is excited to host
The Spring Fling!
Jumpers - Music and Dancing - Pizza - Co7on Candy
Scholas+c Book Fair
Thursday, May 14th from 5-7:30pm at Oak Ridge
This is a FREE event for Oak Ridge students and their families.
Please let us know how many people will be a7ending by May 6 on the
yellow form sent home with students.
Page 5
FUNDRAISER INFORMATION
Take Charge of Educa2on Fund Raising
Update
Box Tops for Educa2on
Remember to keep saving those box tops
throughout the summer. We are reimbursed 10 cents for every box top that we
turn in. We will s+ll be collec+ng them next
year and can get a head start if you keep saving them while your children are out of
school. Thanks so much for your help with
this project. Each li7le bit helps!
Milk Fund Raising Programs
Just a reminder to keep a look out for all the
specially s+ckered caps from plas+c gallons and
1/2 gallons of milk, proof of purchase symbols
for paper 1/2 gallons of milk, or the top strip of
plas+c bags of milk. These are worth 5 cents
to Oak Ridge for each one collected. We are
collec+ng from a couple milk companies right
now. It really adds up throughout the year.
We have collec+ons for Kemps and Nature’s
Touch (Milk Moola). Please keep on saving
from any of these milk companies over the summer for us. Thanks so much for your help!
It’s really working! Thanks to you and other
parents we have received $4,832.37 from
Target for using their Target VISA. We also
have another $656.39 in our account since
the August pay out. We have a total of 116
families signed up with Target to support
Oak Ridge every +me they use their Target
VISA to make purchases. It you are interested in applying for a Target VISA, you can
pick up an applica+on at any Target store or
apply online. If you already have a Target
VISA, call 1-800-316-6142 and sign up to
have our school receive the dona+on if you
have not already done so. Enroll your card
to Oak Ridge online under Take Charge of
Educa+on. Thank you so much for your
support with this program. It really is an
easy way to earn extra money for Oak
Ridge.
Oak Ridge Elementary Fundraiser Income for 2014-2015
Chip Shoppe
Read-a-thon
Target
(PTO)
(PTO)
(School)
Scholas2c
Book Fair
Boxtops for
Educa2on
Kowalski’s
Market
(PTO)
(School)
(School)
$913
$677
$762
Kwik Trip
(School)
$15,593
$3,3
$4,832
$3,298
$162
Page 6
Tes2ng Dates for Next Year
The following table details the tes+ng ini+a+ves many Oak Ridge students will be involved in during the
2015-2016 school year. If you are scheduling a family vaca2on for next school year, please try to
schedule your trip around the following dates:
Test
MAP (Fall Administra+on)
Who
Grades 2-5
Date(s)
September 16—October 23
NNAT2
CogAt
ACCESS
MCA Reading
Grade 1
Grades 3 & 5
ELL Students, K-5
Grades 3-5
December 1-17
December 1-17
February 1—March 18
March 7—May 6
MCA Science
MCA Math
Grade 5
Grades 3-5
March 7—May 13
March 7—May 6
Defini2ons
MAP:
MCA:
NNAT2:
CogAt:
ACCESS:
Stands for Measures of Academic Progress. These computerized tests show academic growth in
reading and math over +me.
Stands for Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments. These state mandated tests measure student performance rela+ve to state-defined standards in reading, mathema+cs, and science.
Stands for Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (second edi+on): NNAT2 uses progressive matrices to
allow for a culturally neutral evalua+on of students’ nonverbal reasoning and general problem
solving ability, regardless of the individual student’s primary language, educa+on, culture or socioeconomic background.
Stands for the Cogni+ve Abili+es Test (CogAt) measures students’ learned reasoning abili+es in
the three areas most linked to academic success in school: Verbal, Quan+ta+ve and Nonverbal.
Stands for Assessing Comprehension and Communica+on in English State-to-State for English
Language Learners. This large-scale test addresses the academic English language proficiency
(ELP) standards at the core of the WIDA Consor+um’s approach to instruc+ng and evalua+ng the
progress of English language learners.
Will you be leaving Oak Ridge?
Please complete this form if you are planning to move out of District 196, or to a7end another school
within our district, or are enrolling in a private school at the end of the school year.
Please be advised that my child/children _____________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_____ will be moving outside the district to
_____ will be a7ending another school in our district, to
_____ will be enrolling in a private school at
Please return this form to the office as soon as possible. Thank you!
Page 7
SUMMER IS COMING!
Summer is a great time for children and their parents to relax and have fun! Without the
help of their parents, children often have difficulty structuring their time during the summer
months. They often become bored quite quickly and can easily turn into “couch potatoes”. Following are a few suggestions to make your summer a healthy, fun and rewarding season.
Branch out! Help your child cultivate new friendships. This can be accomplished by having
your child invite new friends over to play. Remember to reach out to those children who might be
new to the neighborhood or to those who your child might not have invited over during the school
year. Get to know the neighborhood parents, as well – adult supervision and guidance is important
to your children and their friends.
Keep your children reading during the summer. Don’t forget an occasional trip to the county
library, which is a wonderful outing for children (and parents) who love books! Also, encourage your
child to keep a summer log or journal. This is a good way to keep up writing skills as well as providing a memorable keepsake of their special summer activities.
Summer camps offer a rewarding and enriching experience for children. Camps offer children a wonderful opportunity to learn about themselves, others, and a whole new world to which
they might not have otherwise been exposed. Camps can be purely recreational, or can provide an
educational setting in which children can learn new skills. Some camps are set up to offer special
and/or therapeutic experiences for children, helping them mature and learn to be more responsible.
Your family budget and your schedule will guide your choice of the camp you may choose. Some
wonderful camp experiences are available through community education, the YMCA and Scouts.
Some offer financial assistance and scholarships. A key indicator of readiness for a camp experience is the amount of excitement and enthusiasm that is expressed by the child. A day camp is a
good first experience for a child.
During the summer months, whatever your activity, remember to drink plenty of water, as
it is easy to become dehydrated. Wear sunscreen, wear a helmet when biking or skating, protect
your eyes with good sunglasses and wear insect repellent. While staying up late can be a fun part
of summer, plenty of restful sleep continues to be important. Some children sleep in while others
awaken at the same time regardless of the bedtime. Know your child and what works best – but
ensure that they get enough sleep to handle the extra physical activities that come with summer
break.
I wish you a fun and safe summer!
Alisha Kaul, School Social Worker
Ps. Don’t forget to check out the Parent Resource Board (located outside the nurse’s office in the main hallway between the office and the lunchroom.) Current info on the board includes a schedule of free meals in
the community, support groups for parents of children with mental health issues, and various financial resources. As always, if you need further information, feel free to call me! (651) 683-6970 vm
94822
Page 8
Meet the Advisory Council Candidates
Three parents submi7ed their names as candidates for the open posi+ons on the 2015-2016
Oak Ridge Elementary Advisory Council. They
will be serving a two-year term on the Council.
It will not be necessary to have an elec+on since
three parents are needed to fill open posi+ons
according to the bylaws.
Informa+on provided by each candidate is as
follows:
David Chris2an
I am a high school teacher in a neighboring district and have been ac+ve in the Oak Ridge Elementary community with my own children for
the last 7 years. I would like to use my experience in the field of educa+on to help our school
transi+on to a magnet school.
Carissa Dahlen
I am on the PTO Board and I would like to be
involved in the school to know what is going on.
I am happy to offer assistance and advice the
best I can. I want to help con+nue Oak Ridge to
be the excellent school it is.
Nicole Geffre
Prior to returning home to be a home maker, I
served as a paralegal in a law office that prac+ced family law, employment law and special
educa+on law. Through my educa+on and employment I learned a lot about working with
others, policy and the importance of community. In the fall of 2013 I returned to school at
Hamline University pursuing my Master’s in Educa+on with an Au+sm cer+ficate. My children
and educa+on advocacy are my passion. I
would be honored to serve on the Advisory
Council at Oak Ridge.
Meet our PTO Officers
Elec+ons were held at the April 21 PTO mee+ng
for officers for the 2015-2016 school year.
We look forward to another great school year
and want you to know you have their support.
You may contact our PTO by clicking in the link
on the Oak Ridge web page.
Officers are:
President—Shannon Mar+n
Vice President/Volunteer Coordinator—
Beth Ristow
Treasurer– Carissa Dahlen
Secretary—Susan Bazzano
Next Year’s Calendar
To help with your planning, here is a par+al calendar
for next school year.
2015-2016 School Calendar
First Day of School
NO SCHOOL—Data Analysis &
Instruc+onal Alignment Day
Oct. 15-16
No SCHOOL—State Teachers’
Conven+on
Nov. 5
Conferences– 4:00—8:00 p.m.
Nov. 6 & 7
NO SCHOOL—Conferences
Nov. 26-27
NO SCHOOL—Thanksgiving Break
Dec. 4
NO SCHOOL—Staff Development
Day
Dec. 24-Jan. 1
NO SCHOOL—Winter Break
Jan. 18
NO SCHOOL—Mar+n Luther King
Jr. Day
Jan. 22
NO SCHOOL—Data Analysis &
Instruc+onal Alignment Day
Feb. 10
NO SCHOOL—Conferences—
4:00—8:00 p.m.
Feb. 11-12
NO SCHOOL—Conferences
Feb. 15
NO SCHOOL— Presidents’ Day
March 11
NO SCHOOL—Staff Development
Day
March 22-25
NO SCHOOL—Spring Break
April 22
NO SCHOOL—Data Analysis &
Instruc+onal Alignment Day
May 30
NO SCHOOL—Memorial Day
June 8
Last Day of School (Elementary)
Sept. 8
Oct. 9
The Oak Ridge Calendar/Handbook is published in
the summer and will be distributed to parents in August during Assessment Days.