Please read this important information from the school. Fadlan akhriya warkan muhimka ah ee ka yimid PRATT PRESS March 2015 Dear Families, Upcoming Events March 11-13: Scholastic Book Fair (see more details inside) March 12: Culture Night 5:30-7:30 March 17: PTO Meeting. Pizza at 5:30, Meeting at 6:00 March 18-20: 5th Grade overnight trip to Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center March 23: Bus Stop and Walk begins After Spring Break students in grades 3-5 will begin taking the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs) in the areas of reading (grades 3-5), mathematics (grades 3-5), and science (grade 5). The MCAs are state standardized tests that measure a student’s proficiency on grade-level standards. Families looking for more information about the test or ways to prepares, may go to the Minneapolis Public Schools website: http://tl.mpls.k12.mn.us/mca_ready After the February Breakfast and Books event, the State of the School information was presented to families. This is an update of our progress toward our school wide goals. If you want more details, the presentation is available on the Pratt website. March 27: Record Keeping Day (no school for students) Thursday, March 12 is our Pratt Culture Night and Scholastic Book Fair. See the Bulletin for more information about this event. We hope that you will come to school to celebrate the cultures of our families. March 30-April 3: Spring Recess and Spring Break Academy Kind regards, April 6: Students return to school after break Desperately seeking pants The health office at Pratt needs pants donations, size 4T- 8. Also, a reminder to Hi-5, K, and 1st grade parents: please send an extra pair of pants, socks and underwear to keep in your child’s locker. Tweet Tweet Pratt School is on Twitter Follow us: @MPS_Pratt for updates and news Nancy Vague Principal, Pratt Community School March 23: Bus Stop and Walk Pratt is proud to offer the opportunity for more students to experience the benefits of walking to school through Bus Stop and Walk. Buses will drop students at Seymour and Melbourne where they will be met by Pratt Staff and Parent Volunteers. Children will continue along the designated route, accompanied by staff, volunteers, and safety patrol. Parents and children who do not take the bus are also encouraged and welcomed to join. Volunteers needed Contact Lynn McMahon at [email protected] Pratt is a Minneapolis Public School I http://www.pratt.mpls.k12.mn.us I Phone: 612.668.1122 March 2015 Fun Facts about Ms. Whaley: New Faces Anne Whaley, ELL Teacher I recently spent the past year and a half living in Oman where I studied Arabic---I love Arab culture, food, and language. My husband and I are also a Friendship Family to new international students studying at a University in St. Paul and we love welcoming and helping new students to the United States. I love different cultures and adventures and have traveled to over 20 different countries. I also enjoy biking, reading, writing, cooking, barbequing in the park with my husband or friends, and trying different ethnic restaurants around the Twin Cities. I am a new ELL teacher at Pratt Community School this year. I have enjoyed the helpful and welcoming staff and leadership at Pratt school. I also love working with the 3rd and 4th grade ELL students. I have my Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and Master’s Degree in Education (ESL) both from the University of St. Thomas. I have taught elementary, middle, high school and adult ESL students in St. Paul and also overseas in Egypt and Saudi Arabia. I have also worked with international students in a Higher Education setting. I am very thankful to be teaching in the Minneapolis Public Schools. 100 Mile Club News Students have been working really hard, adding miles and fitness. Congratulations to those who earned their t-shirts by making it to the 25 mile acheivement in January. According to Ms. Hoppe, many more students are will be awarded their t-shirts soon. Specialist Update Music with Ms. Wiskus This month in music in we are focusing on playing different instruments as well as creating and composing music. All classes will be learning how to play instruments properly and accurately. In addition, grades K-2 will be learning how to follow a conductor by watching tempo changes and dynamic changes. Grades 3-5 will be using instruments to create 4 beat and 4 measure patterns as well as creating their own compositions. Specialist Update Physical Education with Ms. Hoppe Students finished the Basketball /Ball Skills Unit . We jumped right into the Rope Power unit . Students H-5 -5 will be working on jumping with short and long ropes. They will learn multiple ways to jump, partner jumping, long rope rhymes and games, and also working to improve the number of jumps in a row they can do. We will be doing a Jump Rope for Heart event on March 26. Information will be coming out in the next couple of weeks. On March 10, we will be starting our YumPower kick off event. Students will then track the number of veg/fruit servings they eat for the next three weeks. Special kudos to Kai Lind for Pratt School will be starting a Health and Wellness Committee that will be made up of students, parents and staff. If you would like to be part of this committee, please email me at [email protected]. I hope to have our first meeting in April. making it to 50 miles in January. Pratt is a Minneapolis Public School I http://www.pratt.mpls.k12.mn.us I Phone: 612.668.1122 March 2015 Annual Scholastic Book Fair March 11 to March 13 Our Scholastic Book Fair is a reading event that brings to school the books kids want to read. It’s a wonderful selection of engaging and affordable books for every reading level. Please make plans to visit our Book Fair during culture night and be involved in shaping your child’s reading habits. Wednesday, March 11: Students visit the book fair with their teacher. Thursday, March 12: Students who bring money from home can shop during their lunch time. The Book Fair will be open at Culture Night from 5:30 to 7:30, we will have a raffle for two baskets filled with new books (each above $50 in value). Tickets will be $1 each. Spring Break Academy After a successful launch in 2014, Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) is expanding its K-8 Spring Break Academy. Pratt is scheduled to host four sections (Grades K, 1, 3 and 4) during the week of March 30-April 3. The goal of the K-8 Spring Break Academy is to accelerate academic progress for qualifying students and provide an engaging, educational experience during the school holiday. The academy is intended to help reduce the learning gap and accelerate academic outcomes for students. Focus areas will include reading and math, preparation and tips for test-taking, and developing a mindset to work hard and smart in school. Students also will participate in engaging activities provided by MPS Community Education. Students must be Area Learning Center eligible to participate. Pratt school staff have contacted eligible students and families directly. Friday, March 13: The book fair will be open at dropoff time (9:20 to 10:00) Our online Fair is available from March 4, 2015 to March 16, 2015 at http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/ homepage/prattschool. We look forward to seeing you and your family at our Book Fair. Remember, all purchases benefit our school. Pratt PTO Special thanks to Talent Show volunteers The talent show was a big success due in part to the hard work of the following parent volunteers: Georgy Kearney, Brinsley Davis, Beth Isensee, Sarah Lovan, and Riikka Borg. Also, thanks to Ms. Hoppe for her flexibility in giving up the gym. The Pratt School Parent Teacher organization welcomes Pratt students, parents, staff and friends to their monthly meetings. Please join us on the third Tuesday of each month. Meetings are held in the school cafeteria. We start the meetings with free pizza and socializing from 5:30- 6:00 pm. The business meeting begins at 6:00, and childcare for Pratt-aged students will be provided. Pratt is a Minneapolis Public School I http://www.pratt.mpls.k12.mn.us I Phone: 612.668.1122 March 2015 See you at Culture Night! 5:30 – 6:30pm Main floor hall •Cultural Display Tables and Passport activity 5:30 –7:30pm Main floor hall •Scholastic Book Fair 5:30 – 7pm Cafeteria •Community meal 6:30 – 7:30 Gymnasium •Performances A Culture Night extravaganza March 12th 5:30 – 7:30pm Pratt is a small school by Minneapolis standards, but it is also one of the most diverse. We are lucky to have children, families, and staff representing many different cultural traditions from all over the world. At the upcoming Culture Night event on Thursday, March 12th from 5:30-7:30, the extended Pratt family will have a chance to gather for a meal, learn about each other’s culture, and celebrate with music and dance performances showcasing the cultures our families and staff. The evening will begin with displays of 9 cultural traditions: African American, Costa Rican, French, Korean, Irish, Mexican, Norwegian, Somali, and Swedish. Kids can learn about each of these while doing a passport activity challenge. These displays are put together by Pratt families, and will be set up on the main floor as you come in the front door (door 1). Please take time to learn and appreciate our school’s great diversity. Before you head downstairs, make sure to spend some time at the Scholastic Book Fair, also on the main floor. There will be hundreds of great books for kids that you can buy, a $1 raffle for two generous book packages, and the proceeds benefit Pratt. A light meal will be served down in our new cafeteria. Families are encouraged to sit down and share a meal and visit. Following the meal, head to the gym for performances of music and dance from some of our students’ cultural heritages. Parent Andy Martin, will be kicking off the night with a group of kindergarten students sharing their new African drumming talents. We’ll continue with a performance by the Spanish Club, a Somali dance, an Ecuadorian dance, a Chinese dance, a Chinese Folk song, and a Native American dance. Pratt is a Minneapolis Public School I http://www.pratt.mpls.k12.mn.us I Phone: 612.668.1122
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