Fall 2015
Highland Scottie Dogs Newsletter
Highland Elementary School
14001 Pilot Knob Road
Phone: 952-423-7595
Fax: 952-423–7665
Apple Valley, MN 55124
Web address: www.district196.org
Bond would address needs at Highland Elementary
School District 196 is conducting a bond referendum and School Board election on Tuesday, Nov. 3. If approved, the bond referendum would provide safety and security improvements at all district schools, additional space needed for learning and increased
access to technology for all students.
Specifically at Highland Elementary, the bond would provide:
•
A modified main entrance/office to route visitors directly into the office;
•
Updated security cameras, exterior door controls and emergency response button in the office;
•
Changes to our parking lot and student drop-off and pick-up area to improve traffic flow, pedestrian safety and lot capacity;
•
Additional space gained from magnet school additions/enrollments and attendance-area adjustments for a new elementary school;
•
•
Upgraded technology infrastructure and interactive classroom equipment, and
A district-owned mobile learning device for all students in grades 4 and 5, and a 3-to-1 ratio for students in pre-K through
grade 3.
The bond referendum would cost approximately $12 per month to the owner of the average-value home in the district. More information and videos about the bond referendum are available at www.District196.org/Bond2015.
Vote early by absentee ballot
You don’t have to wait until Tuesday, November 3 to cast your ballot on the bond referendum and School Board Election in District
196. Absentee voting is available by mail and in person up to Election Day.
Absentee voting in person is available during regular business hours at the District Office in Rosemount (3455 153rd St. W.) and at
the Dakota County service centers in Apple Valley, Hastings and West St. Paul.
To vote absentee by mail, download the application at www.District196.org/Bond2015 and mail the completed application as directed online. Once the application is processed, an absentee ballot will be mailed along with instructions for completing and returning their ballot in the postage-paid envelope that is provided with the ballot. For more information about voting absentee, call
the District Office at 651-423-7725.
Our first Data Analysis Day of the 15-16 school year was very productive. Teachers had a chance to
learn more about the multiple resources our district provides to support literacy instructional practices while
analyzing different student writing samples. They also deepened their
understanding of how Reader’s Workshop and Writer’s Workshop look
while teaching a Unit of Study. These days provided at regular intervals throughout the year help teachers analyze student achievement
data, collaborate with colleagues and align instruction and interventions
to meet the needs of our students.
Highland Mission Statement:
“Parents, community and staff working together to develop lifelong learners and contributing members of our society”
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Reminder:
Parent-Teacher Conferences & Scholastic Book Fair will be held on Wed.,
Nov. 5 from 4:00-8:00 p.m. & Thurs.,
Nov. 6 from 12:00-8:00 p.m.
Sign up for Conferences on Highland’s home page under Quick Links.
Coats for Kids
Each year the number of kids
without winter coats increases. You can help!
Here’s how:
You can bring new and gentlyused coats to the collection bins at HIGHLAND
ELEMENTARY and the Student Forum will bring
them to the main collection site.
Donations are not limited to children’s coats. We
will accept any new and gently-used adult AND
child sized coats, boots, mittens, gloves, and hats.
Thank you for your generosity!
Dates of collection: October 7 – Oct. 23, 2015
Please contact Adrien Buzzo @ Highland Elementary if you have any questions.
Highland’s
Super Heroes showed up
at September’s
ABC Celebration!
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Highland Mission Statement:
“Parents, community and staff working together to develop lifelong learners and contributing members of our society”
Ben B., Daphne S., Allyson S.,
Annika C., Virinchi N., Kyle E.,
Michael C., Ka’Veaun J., Ava M.,
Deirdre T., Ahadu A., Eva N.,
Annika O.
Elections were held September 21st to
23rd. Thank you to all students who
chose to run for class representative.
LOST & FOUND
REMINDER:
Picture Re–take Day at
Highland is
Tuesday, October 27!
Many clothing items are already showing
up in the Lost and Found Box in the
foyer. If your child has lost an item of
clothing, please request that they check
the Lost and Found area in the classroom, as well as in the foyer. When you
are at Highland, you are also welcome to
check these areas for clothing that may
belong to your children.
Fall Festival Parade
The Fall Festival Party for
Highland students will be held
on Friday, October 30, 2015.
A costume parade will be included in the
party activities. The afternoon school
wide parade will begin at 1:00 p.m.
Parents, other relatives and friends are
invited to come and join us at Highland
for the parade. Classroom parties will
begin as soon as each class finishes the
parade.
Each year, we ask parents to assist us
in making sure your children wear appropriate costumes in the parade.
Props which are unsafe, including look
-alike weapons such as toy guns,
swords, knives, etc., will not be allowed at school. Parent costumes
should adhere to these same guidelines. Also, large props cannot be
brought to school on the bus. Students have the option to not dress up
for the parade.
Parking Reminder
You may park in the
Scott Highlands parking
lot or the grassy areas
next to the playground
which are on the northeast corner of our
school property.
Highland Mission Statement:
“Parents, community and staff working together to develop lifelong learners and contributing members of our society”
Page 3
Highland Elementary Lego League Teams for 2015!
Lego League engages students in hands-on robotics design, programming and authentic
scientific research. Teams will work together to design and build a robot that must
complete various theme-based missions and create/present an innovative solution to a
problem correlated to the yearly theme at the competition. This year's theme is “Trash
Trek.”
This team-based, hands-on, competitive robotics program provides challenging and exciting learning opportunities for young people. It spurs innovation, develops teamwork and
leadership skills and promotes excitement in science and technology. Visit the hightechkids website for more program details.
This year’s coaches are
Michelle Clendening (Gifted
and Talented Specialist),
Katie Youngberg (fourth
grade teacher), Myles
Knutson (fifth grade
teacher) and Ryan Meyer
(fifth grade teacher).
Highland 5th graders learn hands-on about MN ecosystems
5th graders got a chance to learn about MN prairies, soil, agriculture, water and fall
phenology at the Dakota County Outdoor Education Field Day put on by the Dakota
County Soil and Water Conservation District.
This valuable field trip
provides hands-on learning stations which supports our MN State
Standards in Life Science.
We will continue to explore MN ecosystems
and biomes further in
October.
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Highland Mission Statement:
“Parents, community and staff working together to develop lifelong learners and contributing members of our society”
“Team Up For Fire Safety”
The week of October 4-10 was Fire Prevention Week.
Special thanks to the Apple Valley Fire Department for conducting
safety demonstrations for every grade level at Highland.
Highland Mission Statement:
“Parents, community and staff working together to develop lifelong learners and contributing members of our society”
Page 5
Winter Conference date change:
The Wed., Feb. 10th Conference Date & Kinder-
garten Registration will be moved to Tues., Feb. 9th due to Feb. 10th being Ash Wednesday. Winter Conferences/Kindergarten Registration will look like this for February 2016:
Tuesday, February 9th
Conferences/Scholastic Book Fair
4:00-8:00 p.m.
Thursday, February 11th
Conferences/Scholastic Book Fair
12:00-8:00 p.m.
2016-17 Kindergarten Registration
Tuesday, Feburary 9th
8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
Thursday, February 11th
12:00-8:00 p.m.
Healthy Snack Procedures
District 196 elementary schools follow our Wellness Policy and federal
health guidelines. Grade levels choosing to utilize snack options for their
students will require families to only send fruits and/or vegetables for their
snacks. Snacks such as crackers, nuts, chips, etc. will not be permitted.
Treats (Birthdays), Snacks Policy
Children may not bring food or small gifts such as pencils or stickers to share with other students. The primary reason for this
change from the past practice is to comply with our district’s
wellness policy on making healthy choices as requested by Section
204 of the Child, Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of
2004. The change also addresses increasing concerns about students affected by food allergies, childhood obesity and economic disparities. Classroom teachers will recognize students in
special ways on their birthday.
Highland Garden Club
Highland’s Environmental teaching areas are approaching 10
years!
Thank you to the following families and groups who helped
weed, mulch and water the gardens at Highland this summer:
Traeger Family
Girl Scout Troop #55493
Goodman Family
YMCA SAC Program
Paulsen Family
Please continue to volunteer in our outdoor areas.
Let’s keep our students connected to the natural world.
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Highland Mission Statement:
“Parents, community and staff working together to develop lifelong learners and contributing members of our society”
Highland Specialists’ News
Brian.Ackland@district196.org
Linda.Hansen@district196.org
Karen.Benson@district196.org
Michelle.Ehlers@district196.org
Chad.Wentzel@district196.org
MUSIC NOTES
My name is Michelle Ehlers, and I am the music specialist
at Highland Elementary. I have taught in the district for
thirty years My husband, Dave, and I have three children, Lauren, working out in Washington D.C., Nicholas, a
senior at the University of Minnesota and Drew, a freshman at the University of Minnesota.
Students in grades 4-5 meet for 50 minutes of music
instruction every four days. Students in grade 3 meet for
50 minutes of music instruction every five days. Students in grades K-2 have two twenty-five minute lessons
in five days. Students participate in a variety of activities, including singing, movement, playing instruments,
composing and listening to a variety of music.
CONCERT DATES
February 8, 2016 6:30 p.m. Second Grade Music
Participation Night
February 25, 2016 6:30 p.m. Fourth Grade Music Concert
February 25, 2016 7:45 p.m. Fifth Grade Music Concert
April 21, 2016 6:30 p.m. Third Grade Recorder Concert
May 6, 2016, 1:30 p.m. First Grade Demonstration
RECORDERS
Third, Fourth and Fifth Grades will be playing recorders
at variable times during the school year. Recorders and
recorder books may be taken home to practice, but students should bring them back each day so that they are
available for use at school. Fourth and Fifth grade students should now have their recorders at school to use in
music.
LISTENING TO MUSIC
I encourage students and their families to listen to a variety of music at home. Students will be learning about a
variety of composers, musical styles and music and instruments from around the world.
LIBRARY NEWS
I LOVE BOOKS!! I am Karen Benson, Highland Elementary Media Specialist. Mrs. Lanier, our library
clerk, and I are very excited to talk about books
with your child(ren)! This is my 4th year in the library (but, I have been here at Highland since 1996!)
My husband, Brett, and I have 2 children, Natalie, a
junior at LSHS, and Grant, an 8th grader at McGuire
Middle School in Lakeville.
Students in grades K through 2 come to the library
for 25 minutes, twice every five cycle days. They
see Mr. Wentzel for PE the same day they see me.
They only have book return/check-out on the day
they come to my class for the second half of their
specialist time. Students in 3rd grade meet for 50
minutes every 5 days while students in grades 4 and
5 meet for 50 minutes of library instruction every
four days. Please ask your child which cycle day they
have library and help them remember to return their
book(s). You may also visit the library webpage
https://sites.google.com/a/apps.district196.org/hllibrary/ and click on “library schedule” to find the
check out cycle day. I really appreciate your help in
making sure the books are loved and kept safe at
home!
The Scholastic Book Fair will be held during conferences on Wednesday and Thursday, November 4
and 5. Since this is close to the holidays, perhaps
this is a good time to shop for gifts. All profits go
towards the purchase of books and materials for the
library. Working at the book fair is a blast! Please
check our sign up to see where you can help! http://
www.signupgenius.com/go/70a094daeaf2ea13november1 We really appreciate your support!
(Continued on next page)
Highland Mission Statement:
“Parents, community and staff working together to develop lifelong learners and contributing members of our society”
Page 7
Highland Specialists’ News - continued
LIBRARY NEWS (Con’t.)
Information Resources are available online at the media
link (look for the magnifying glass!) of Highland’s home
page, http://www.district196.org/hl. You can browse
our library’s collection and access subscription sites
that are great for research, projects, and completing
homework. We also have a subscription to Tumblebooks! You can find the link on the library webpage.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Welcome back! Another new year is upon us, and like all previous years, we are off to a fast start. Students in grades 4
and 5 will have one 50-minute class in each four-day cycle,
while 3rd grade has two 50-minute classes in five cycle days.
Grades K, 1 and 2 meet for 25 minutes four times in a fiveday cycle. Grades K, 1, 2 and 3 are taught by both Mr. Ackland and Mr. Wentzel, while grades 4 and 5 are taught by Mr.
Ackland.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Here is a quick overview of the year’s events.
Grades K-2
Kindergarten, first, and second graders will be practicing
various locomotor movements such as galloping, skipping, hopping, jumping and leaping. They will also be introduced to
skills like throwing, catching, kicking, punting, dodging, dribbling and striking. All of these skills can be blended into basic
activities that resemble soccer, softball, basketball, volleyball, bowling, etc. The emphasis of the primary years is to
experiment with what the body can do and to have fun! Building the proper, positive foundation of enjoying exercise is a
vital component of making it a part of your life forever!
Grades 3-5
Grades 3, 4, and 5 will be working on skill development and
incorporating those skills into game situations in the team
sports of soccer, football, volleyball, bowling, basketball,
Page 8
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
(Con’t.)
tennis and hockey. These students will also be participating in many team-building activities and challenges
during their classes. Grades 3, 4 and 5 will also be
roller-skating from November 30 – December 18 in the
gym. The Scottie Fit Club is also open during recess
so that students can get fit while earning “mystery
prizes” for themselves. A program called Fuel Up to
Play 60, which goes hand in hand with the Scottie Fit
Club, will be another optional program for the intermediate grades. Please check out our website and follow
Highland PE on Twitter @AcklandPE to see many examples of what your son/daughter is learning in our
class. Good sportsmanship (and sportswomanship) and
character development is always stressed.
Students in grades one through five will again be going
through fitness testing in the fall and spring. Reports
will NOT be sent home, but you can view scores on
School View. We will send instructions on how to view
the reports as they become available.
If for any reason, your child cannot participate in our
physical education activities, please send a note to
inform us.
On a final note, we will try to be outside as much as
possible. We would appreciate your support in making
sure your child is dressed appropriately for the
weather. We would also appreciate your help in making
sure your child has the appropriate shoes on all physical education days.
Track and Field Days:
Grade 1-May 25, 2016 (p.m.)
Grade 2-May 25, 2016 (a.m.)
Grade 3- May 26, 2016 (p.m.)
Grade 4- May 26, 2016 (a.m.)
Grade 5-May 9, 2016 @ EVHS
(Alternate date is May 16th)
Highland Mission Statement:
“Parents, community and staff working together to develop lifelong learners and contributing members of our society”
Highland Specialists’ News - continued
Experience ART!
“Education through Art may be especially
important not so much for turning out artists or art products, as for turning out better people.” Abraham Maslow
Welcome to the new school year and art program!
My name is Linda Hansen and I am honored to be in my
twenty-third year of teaching at Highland. I live in
Eagan and have two grown children, Jensi and Dane.
I will be teaching art to Kindergarten through 5th
grade students for 50 minutes once each cycle. We will
work with drawing, painting, fibers, printmaking and
sculpting with a variety of media and materials. We will
use art supplies such as clay, paint, pencil, charcoal,
markers, ink, fabric and yarn. With these, they are
learning skills for weaving, drawing, painting, sculpting
and printmaking. We have fun learning about other artist's work and how they use composition and elements
of line, shape, color, texture and space to communicate
ideas and celebrate cultural traditions.
The art curriculum is based on the D.B.A.E.
(Discipline Based Art Education) model, which teaches
art through four disciplines of history, aesthetics,
criticism and production. My goal is to provide the children with enriching, positive experiences that encourage self-expression and creative problem solving. Art
enhances visual literacy, creative thinking, cooperation,
and communication with insights into world cultures and
history!
Communication
Please feel free to call any of us if you have questions or concerns during the year. You may contact us through email or voice mail by dialing
(651) 683-6969, then the appropriate extension.
Brian Ackland
Karen Benson
#92717
#94697
Michelle Ehlers
#93846
Linda Hansen
#94626
Chad Wentzel
#94613
IXL MATH
Highland’s
third,
fourth and
fifth graders will be
using a
website
called IXL for math practice this year. IXL is a
comprehensive math review site with practice
questions covering a multitude of skills that are
aligned to the state standards. Real world math
problems are included so that students can see
how math fits into their every day lives.
One of the best things about IXL is that it is webbased; it offers your child year-round access to
math practice from any computer at home. Just go
to https://www.IXL.com/signin/scotties or go to
the grade level link on the HL homepage. Enter the
username and password your child’s teacher gave
him or her. Click on Math at the top of the page
and navigate to your child’s grade level. Your
child’s teacher will let you or your child know which
skills to work on and expectations for home practice.
In the Awards section, each grade level presents
challenges for your child to conquer and virtual
prizes to be uncovered. Place your mouse over any
challenge to begin.
In addition to making math practice exciting, IXL
is designed to help your child learn at his or her
own pace. The website is adaptive and will adjust to
your child’s demonstrated ability level. The site
also saves all of your child’s results, so you can
monitor your child’s progress anytime by clicking on
Reports at the top of the page.
We hope that you will encourage your son or daughter to use IXL at home. Let’s work together to
make math fun for your child.
Highland Mission Statement:
“Parents, community and staff working together to develop lifelong learners and contributing members of our society”
Page 9
FALL 2015 ArtLinkletter
A big arty welcome to everyone involved with the Highland Elementary Art Program for 2015. This
is a concise newsletter to share a general description of what the students are doing in art. I hope
if you ask them they can give you some background, but I know sometimes they forget! Now you will
both know a little about the layers of things we learn when making art at Highland.
The first few weeks, kindergarteners through second grade reviewed, practiced and learned about
names of lines and shapes. I tell them everything in the world is a line or a shape. If you know the
names and learn to draw them, it’s easier to make creative choices in your work. We also talk about
using original ideas, even if you see an idea you want to copy, it’s a challenge to change the idea to
make it yours.
Third through fifth graders start the art lesson with a few minutes of drawing time. To help them
get comfortable accessing the kind of thinking that is open, has no direction, and lets them explore.
This can be relaxing for some and make others anxious if they have no idea what to draw; therein
lies the opportunity to grow.
This trimester we will host the Hmong Art Exhibit, a mobile art exhibit representing some of the
highly skilled stitchery and traditional items of the Hmong Culture. Fourth and fifth grade student
docents will be trained to give tours during November conferences, so be sure to stop in the library
for a quick tour.
All art students will be involved in a folk art unit with a different project in each grade level. Kindergarteners are learning about cave painting and using their new skills in lines and shapes to draw
on their “wall” and tell about themselves. First graders are learning about wax resist on Adire Eleko
cloth, a Nigerian folk art. Students will invent interesting patterns by rearranging their own collections of lines and shapes, after observing prints on fabric and clothing. Second graders are learning
about the ancient skills of Aboriginal painters in x-ray art and dot painting. Third grade is learning
about Mexican Amate Bark painting and choosing to create a beautiful painting with bright colors
and animals or scenes of their daily life. Fourth grade students are weaving a mat in a simple tabby
weave pattern with colored strips of cloth. This can be decorative or functional in any way they like.
In the Caribbean this is a custom and skill using varied materials like grasses and palm leaves that
are sold to tourists. Fifth graders are learning about illustration and looking at different illustrators. Grandma Moses is a classic example of folk art painting. They will use their drawing skills to
interpret a fable or folk tale, adding new skills with ink and colored pencil.
Students will also be creating some paper versions of colorful Hmong themed art this trimester, and
looking at American Indian art and artifacts in November.
Thank you for your support and for encouraging your student in their creative experiences as
emerging artists. As always, if you have some time and would like to help with displays or preparing
materials, give me a call!
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Highland Mission Statement:
“Parents, community and staff working together to develop lifelong learners and contributing members of our society”
Meet Mr. Ackland
Highland Elementary Physical Education Teacher
Interviewed and photographed by fourth grade GT students Aarush Bellena and Kyle Eull.
1. What is one word you would use to describe Highland?
-Caring.
2. What is your favorite gym game?
-I really like to play “Spiders and Flies” with the kids.
3. What do you like to do when you are not at
school?
-I enjoy traveling with my family.
4. What is your favorite food?
-My favorite food is Orange Chicken.
5. What types of things do you like to do with your family?
-I like to go on bike rides and play tennis with my family.
6. What is your favorite sport?
-Ice hockey.
7. What special talent do you have?
-I can juggle!
8. What did you dream about doing when you were a kid?
-When I was a kid I thought about being a vet or a
professional athlete.
Highland Mission Statement:
“Parents, community and staff working together to develop lifelong learners and contributing members of our society”
Page 11
Volunteer Coordinators’ News
Dear Highland Families,
Did you know that ALL of Highland’s volunteer opportunities are now online? Visit
Highland's home page, and click on Volunteer Opportunities under Quick Links. Sign
up now for Picture Retake Day, Book Fair, and Special Friend Day!
HIGHLAND DAY @ CULVER’S
Our next Highland Day @ Culver's is Tuesday, December 1st. Please note that Culver’s designates
the entire day (10 am-10 pm) to Highland. Don’t forget to mention Highland when ordering so 15%
of your order goes to our school! The 2nd Grade Teachers will be serving meals from 5-7 PM. We
look forward to seeing everyone there!
FALL SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR
Our Fall Scholastic Book Fair will be held on Wednesday November 4th, and Thursday November 5th
during Parent-Teacher Conferences. All of the profits from this book fair will benefit Highland’s Media Center! Mrs. Benson works hard to make this a successful event for our school. She is looking for
volunteers to help! Sign up now under the Volunteer Opportunities on Highland's web site!
SPECIAL FRIEND DAY
Finally, please mark your calendars now for “Special Friend Day” at Highland. It will be held on
WEDNESDAY, November 25th. You will receive a flyer with all the details regarding this event as it
gets closer!
Thank you so much to those who have already volunteered and are signed up for future events. Our
school events are successful because of people like you! As always, if you have any questions or concerns about volunteering, please don't hesitate to contact either DeeDee Melander, or myself!
Thanks again & Happy Fall!
Stacy Kronberg 952-220-7383 and DeeDee Melander 952-423-7595
Can you help? Our Booster Club would like to become a 501(c)(3) entity.
We’re looking for an Accountant or someone with tax expertise who may be
able to help us out. Give us a call in the Highland Office at 952-423-7595.
Box Tops Update
Our Box Tops collection got off to a great start with our classroom contest. Thanks to all of
you, the contest earned us over $650.00!!! It was great to see such strong participation
across all grades. A HUGE congratulations to Ms Youngberg's 4th grade class for bringing in
over 1100 Box Tops! We’ll schedule your classroom popcorn party to celebrate your success
and to thank you for giving back to Highland.
Keep clipping and collecting, each Box Top really does add up!
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Highland Mission Statement:
“Parents, community and staff working together to develop lifelong learners and contributing members of our society”
Highland Mission Statement:
“Parents, community and staff working together to develop lifelong learners and contributing members of our
Page 13
DAKOTA COUNTY GUIDELINES
FOR CHILDREN BEING HOME ALONE
No children under the age of 8 years old can be left home alone for any time.
Children ages 8 and 9 years old can be left home alone for up to two hours.
Children ages 10,11,12, and 13 years old can be left home alone for up to 12 hours.
Children ages 14,15,16, and 17 years old can be home alone for more than 24 hours if there is adult back-up
supervision.
Also, besides the age of the child, the following
will be taken into consideration:
The maturity level of the child or children
Being able to reach the parent, guardian, caretaker or responsible adult by phone or in person
The physical or mental health condition of the children
The behavior history of the children
Can a child use a stove, iron or appliance which poses a danger because of their age
Does the child know of an escape plan in case of fire or what to do if there is bad weather
Does the home have a smoke detector
Are there any unusual hazards in the home
What is the child’s reaction to being left alone
The reliability of the person the parent has chosen to provide supervision is important
BABYSITTING
It is acceptable for children ages 11, 12, 13 and 14 years old to babysit with the plan that the parent,
guardian or caretaker will be returning to be with the children later that day.
A child age 15 years old and older can babysit children more than 24 hours if they know where the parent is
and how soon the parent will return home.
Has the child completed a babysitting clinic?
What are the ages of the children they are babysitting?
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Highland Mission Statement:
“Parents, community and staff working together to develop lifelong learners and contributing members of our society”
Highland Mission Statement:
“Parents, community and staff working together to develop lifelong learners and contributing members of our
Page 15
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Highland Mission Statement:
“Parents, community and staff working together to develop lifelong learners and contributing members of our society”