Friday, May 27, 2016 The Wilshire Park school newsletter, Words From Wilshire, is sent via email to all of our families. If you are not receiving the email version, please email Cindy Ridge to be added to the contact list: [email protected]

Dear Families, The end of a school year can be quite a busy time. Students in grades 3-5 finished their MCA and NWEA tests. It is always rewarding to talk to teachers about the progress that their students have made from the fall to the spring. The information from the MCA tests will be shared through a mailing from the Minnesota Department of Education with information regarding your student(s) scores and more details about what the scores mean sometime in the future. Report cards will be coming home on Friday, June 10th – the last day of school. Along with the report card will be the individual student progress reports from NWEA for all 2nd-5th graders If you would like more information regarding your child’s progress, please contact their teacher. I have enjoyed seeing the year-end performances and look forward to being a part of Fifth Grade Recognition on Thursday, June 9th. Photo courtesy of Tammy Peterson.

Wilshire Park students did a fabulous job raising over $5,000.00 for playground improvements through last week’s walk-a-thon pledges! Our top three fund-raising students were thrilled to be allowed to put pies in the faces of three staff members: 4th grade teacher, Mr. Peterson; Nurse’s office aide, Mr. Winter and me! Would you like to see the video? Click here: Pie in the Face (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5Mtk9XRzsqTmZMNkZJVmZUdU0/view?usp=sharing )

Kari Page, Principal [email protected]

NOTE: St. Anthony Community Services Child Care is closed for child care after school on Friday, June 10th. Please email your child’s teacher and/or the school office with information regarding alternate arrangements or to request a bus pass to a different location. Important Phone Numbers: Wilshire Park School Office: 612.706.1200 Attendance Line: 612.706.1204   Bus Company: Metropolitan Transportation Network: 763.571.1541

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2016-17 School Supply List & School Calendar Attached.

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 Thank you to all the grandparents and families who attended the Grandparents’ event combined with the Ice Cream Social and Art Show on the evening of Tuesday, May 10th. We could not have done it without the help of the WPPA and parent volunteers who were present in classrooms to welcome grandparents, scooped ice cream, assisted with bike helmet sales, the Scholastic Book Fair, book swap and yearbook sales.  Thank you to Culvers for providing and delivering the custard, toppings and serving cups for the ice cream social. We are so fortunate to have community businesses who are willing to step forward to support our kids. Please let Culvers staff know that we appreciate their support of our school. Thank you, Julie Philbrook, for providing and selling bike helmets at the ice cream social. We are so excited that families were able to receive assistance in purchasing the appropriate sized bike helmet for their child for summer time fun! Thank you to Lona and Bob Doolan for all that you have done to make our courtyard/Living Classroom such a welcoming place and for maintaining the office aquarium. Thank you to several parents who participate in the Wells Fargo Community Support Campaign through their employer. Wilshire Park periodically receives checks through their payroll pledges and then a matching amount from Wells Fargo. The gifts are greatly appreciated and used to provide the materials our students and teachers need for competency in literacy, math, science and the arts. Thank you to year book editor Sarah Ksiazek, Tera Gilmore and our team of parent photographers for putting together an outstanding yearbook! Students were thrilled to receive their copy! Thank You to Amy Wyland and all who volunteered their time and energy for the Minneapolis Institute of Art’s Art Adventures program. If not for these volunteers, teachers and staff, we would not be able to bring this program and the beautiful works of art to the classrooms. The volunteers had a lot of fun presenting pieces of artwork to the K-4 classes on this year’s theme, “Sources of Strength”. The program culminated in tours of the Minneapolis Institute of Art, so the students could see these works in person. Remember to visit the Minneapolis Institute of Art – always a great way to spend time with your family! Thank you to our 5th grade crossing guards who are finishing up fulfilling their duties for this school year assisting students safely through the crosswalks. We appreciate your dedication, attentiveness and safety you have provided our students each day. Congratulations to our 4th graders who have completed multiple steps to be awarded the opportunity to be a 5th grade crossing guard for the 2016-17 school year. These steps included a parent permission form, an essay, an interview and a signed patrol agreement. The students who completed all these steps were awarded a certificate of completion this week and will receive further information at the beginning of the school year. Thank you to these 4th grade leaders for your interest in fulfilling crossing guard duties next year. Welcome to the team! Thanks, Mrs. Nagle & Mrs. Siggelkow

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Announcements: Polaris Donation to STEM Program Mrs. Cartwright, STEM Specialist, and Mrs. Page visited the Polaris Company on May 12 to thank them for their generous donation of $5,000.00 to the Wilshire Park STEM program. Dawn Busch, Polaris employee and parent of Alex and Ava, treated Mrs. Cartwright and Mrs. Page to lunch and they met with the contribution committee. The committee was shown examples of student work with the newly purchased iPads. Please check out the video that was shared with the committee. Information was shared from the engineers of the type of learning experiences Polaris is looking for when students leave college. We are proud to call Polaris a Wilshire Park Partner! We are looking for more business partners who would like to donate to STEM/Technology. If you work for a company that is interested, please contact Mrs. Cartwright or Mrs. Page. Thank you to POLARIS! We appreciate you!

Track and Field Day: Volunteers Needed For Friday, June 3rd Track and Field Day is coming up and we will need adult volunteers! We are emphasizing the importance of sportsmanship so we can all remember to have fun and encourage one another. The 2nd-5th grade students are practicing thirteen different events for Track and Field Day. We are looking for adult volunteers to give us a hand with grades 2-5 for half the day or all day.  AM shift from 9:30 a.m. – Noon  PM shift from 1:00-3:15 p.m. For more information on helping with grades 2-5, please contact Mrs. Egan at [email protected] or at 612.706.1238. If you plan on joining us for lunch, please indicate your choice of lunch: (Adult lunches are $3.80 each, deducted from your child’s lunch account). __ Hot Dog on a Bun or __ Smucker PB&J Sandwich The Kindergarten and First Grade Track and Field Day is also on Friday, June 3rd. Younger students will participate in six events. (See the following schedule for times). If you are available to help, please email Mrs. Egan [email protected] or at 612.706.1238. If you plan on joining us for lunch, please indicate your choice of lunch: (Adult lunches are $3.80 each, deducted from your child’s lunch account).  10:00 – 11:00 a.m. (First Grade)  1:30 – 2:30 p.m. (Kindergarten) __ Hot Dog on a Bun or __ Smucker PB&J Sandwich Track and Field Day Colors We encourage students to wear a shirt color that shows their grade level pride AND makes it easier for parents and onlookers to find the group they are looking for. Color shirts are not required.  Kindergarten: Yellow  Grade 3: Green  Grade 1: Red  Grade 4: Orange  Grade 2: Blue  Grade 5: Black/White Mrs. Egan and Mr. Yang, Physical Education Specialists [email protected] 3   

End of Year Grade Level Picnics Coordinated by Grade Level Parents

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Join other students & their families to socialize and reminisce about the school year! Bring a dish to share and something to drink for your family. Children must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult. Picnics Held Rain or Shine! Kindergarten – Thursday June 2nd from 5-7 p.m. at Central Park Pavilion o Contact person: Jessica Pearo/Taylor's mom o Email: [email protected] 1st Grade – Wednesday June 1st from 5-7:30 p.m. at Central Park Pavilion o Contact person: Kyra Dunn/Eli's mom o email: [email protected] 2nd Grade – Wednesday, May 25th from 5-8 p.m. 3rd Grade – Monday, June 6th from 5-8 p.m. at Central Park Pavilion o Contact person: Danielle Bogucki/Josie’s Mom o Email: [email protected] 4th Grade – Thursday May 26th from 5-8 p.m. 5th Grade Recognition - 5th Grade parents!  

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Fifth Grade Events: 

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Fifth Grade Activity Day on Monday, June 6th The 5th Grade Activity Day has been scheduled for Monday, June 6th from 11:45 a.m.-3:15 p.m. at the Shoreview Community Center. They will be enjoying an afternoon at the Tropics pool and the climbing area. Students will have lunch at school then go to Shoreview for their activities. Students need to bring a swimsuit, towel, and socks for climbing area. Wilshire Park Fifth Grade Recognition Ceremony Thursday, June 9th at 1:30 p.m. Ceremony in the Wilshire Park Gym With Reception to follow in MPR Parents, guardians and immediate family members are invited to join the fifth graders and their teachers as they celebrate their academic achievements. The afternoon is a celebration of the students; the 5th graders will sing, receive their achievement certificates and enjoy a special slide show highlighting their years at Wilshire Park. There will be a reception immediately following in the multipurpose room. If students wish to bring a change of clothes for the ceremony, they may change before the program. We wish our fifth graders the very best as they begin the next stage of their school experience.

Parent Communication Directory Have you ever wanted to talk with another parent about activities your kids are planning? Have you ever hesitated to make that phone call because you didn’t know the parents or wondered how they would respond? The Parent Communication Directory (PCD) has been developed to make it easier for parents to connect with other parents to check that their children’s activities are chaperoned and chemically free. By submitting this pledge form, you will be part of the parents’ phone and address directory. All parents in this listing have agreed to take calls from other parents about plans their children are making. PCD parents agree that they do not want their children using alcohol, illegal drugs, or prescription drugs not as prescribed. They agree to supervise gatherings and parties at their homes and to work with schools and public agencies to enforce policies and laws. Furthermore, parents state that all firearms in the home are stored properly. 4   

The pledge: I agree to talk with other parents about young people’s activities and welcome calls from other parents. I will supervise gatherings and parties at my home and sponsor ONLY alcohol free and chemical free activities for youth. I will communicate a “no-use” message to my children about using drugs and alcohol; and I will work with the schools and public agencies to enforce school policies and public laws related to alcohol and drug abuse. I also agree that firearms are stored out of the reach of children. When parents visit the site, they can click on "Add Your Family/Manage Your Listing/Login" to do just that. You can go online today and register. Reminder…this means that you have agreed to the terms of the pledge set forth stating that you will:  Talk with other parents about young people’s activities, welcome calls from other parents.  Supervise gatherings and parties at your home. Sponsor only alcohol and drug-free activities for youth.  Communicate a “no-use” message to your children about using drugs and alcohol.  Work with the schools and public agencies to enforce school policies and public laws related to alcohol and drug use.  Store any firearms out of the reach of children The link to register is: http://parentdirectory.isd282.org/ you will be sent a PDF when all families have had the opportunity to register. Thank you! Kari Tholkes [email protected]

End of the School Year Information  The last day of school is Friday, June 10th. Dismissal is at the regular time: 3:35 p.m. for grades K-5. All regular dismissal buses will be here to transport your child from school.  Students may wear their favorite or most unusual hat to school on the last day of school.  Report cards will be sent home with students.  Your child’s lunch account balance, whether positive or negative, will carry over to next school year. It would be very helpful if you could plan ahead and put a little extra money into your child’s lunch account to carry them through the first week or two of school in the fall.  Fifth Graders: Lunch money carries over to Middle School. Incoming 6th graders will receive a mailing during the summer with their NEW lunch account number that will be used throughout middle and high school.  The office staff will return Monday, August 1st. Office hours will be from 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. during August. Mid-August: Back-to-school information will be emailed to families in mid-August. Please check your Infinite Campus parent portal to make sure email addresses and other contact information is current.

Bus Transportation for the 2016-17 School Year All students MUST register to receive bus service for the 2016-17 school year. Students who will not be riding the bus must also return a bus form declining bus service. The Transportation Registration form was emailed to families. If you have not yet 5   

returned the form, please contact the school office to request a transportation form. If you have questions, please contact Todd Niklaus, Transportation Director at [email protected] Bus route information for the 2016-17 school year will be included in the mid-August mailing to families.

Are You Planning to Move? If your child will not be attending Wilshire Park School next year, (or in the case of fifth graders, St. Anthony Middle School), please let us know. It is helpful for our planning and as we order materials. We will prepare your child’s records to forward on to his or her new school. Thanks for your help!

Meet and Greet/School Photos for 2016-17 School Year on Tuesday, September 6th from 11:00 a.m.- 5:45 p.m. Meet and Greet will be held on Tuesday, September 6th, the day after Labor Day from 11:00 a.m.-5:45 p.m. Families will visit school on a staggered schedule with three different time slots available. Student photos will also be taken on September 6th. This is an opportunity to meet your child’s teacher, have your child’s photo taken and deposit money into your child’s lunch account. You do not need to stay for the entire time. Back-to-School information will be emailed to families in mid-August. Please make sure that your family’s contact information is up to date through your Infinite Campus Parent Portal.

Meet and Greet Schedule & School Photos for Tuesday, September 6th:        

10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m.-12:45 p.m. 12:45 p.m.- 1:15 p.m. 1:15 p.m.-2:15 p.m. 2:15 p.m.-3:45 p.m. 3:45 p.m.-4:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m-5:45 p.m.

Staff Planning Time Families visit Staff Lunchtime Team Planning and Curriculum Meetings Families visit Break Families visit

 FYI: the first time period (11:00 a.m.-12:45 p.m.) is typically the most crowded.  St. Anthony Community Services will have childcare available all day on Tuesday, September 6th. Please call St. Anthony Community Services to arrange for care: 612.706.1166. th  Wednesday, September 7 will be the first day of regular classes. School buses will be available to transport students to and from school. (Students must be registered to use a bus stop.  o School Hours: 9:05 a.m. – 3:35 p.m.   Thursday-Friday, October 20-21: Education Minnesota – No School   Thursday-Friday, November 24-25: Thanksgiving Holiday   December 22-January 2: Winter Break; School resumes Tuesday, January 3rd   March 13-17, 2017: Spring Break   Thursday, June 8, 2017: Last Day of School 

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Looking for Lunchroom/Playground and/or Special Education Paraprofessional Substitutes Do you have a little time during the day and are willing to substitute occasionally at Wilshire Park? We could use some additional on-call substitutes to work in the cafeteria and playground supervising children at lunchtime. The hours are approximately 11:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. We can also use additional substitutes to assist students with special needs. If interested, please visit the district website (“Our District”, then “Employment – Job Postings”) (http://www.stanthony.k12.mn.us/employment-opportunities ) to complete an application. Please let Cindy or Helen (612-706-1200) in the school office know when you have completed your online application and we will work with you to complete the process.

Safety Hazard: Highcrest Road as Drop-Off/Pick-up Location Please do NOT drop your child off for school on Highcrest Road in front of school or use Highcrest Road as a pickup after school unless you have parked your car in a safe location located southeast from the building on the east side of the street. We are concerned for the safety of students being dropped off on either side of Highcrest directly across from the school with cars stopping and children crossing. Please use the parking lot, Elmwood church or 36th Ave (alongside the playground) for student drop-off.

From the Nurse’s Office: Happy end of the school year! We will be sending medications home on the last day of school with your students unless we hear from you that you would like to pick them up. Please check your students’ backpacks for medications. Students in K4th Grades who currently have medications available in the Health Office will have forms for next year sent home during the last week of school. Remember that we need new forms each year. If you do not receive forms, please note that they are available on the school website under the Health Services tab. Have a safe, happy summer! For day-to-day concerns regarding your child, please contact the Health Office at 612-706-1205 or email Cameron Winter and Sandra Rabine: [email protected] and [email protected] Lori Watzl-King RN, LSN District Licensed School Nurse ISD 282 St. Anthony-New Brighton Schools [email protected] 612-706-1205 at Wilshire Park 612-706-1107 at SAMS/SAVHS DID YOU KNOW? Wilshire Park is a Weather Bug station! Click here to get local weather directly from Wilshire Park! (Or go to Weatherbug.com and type 55418 in the zip code area and save Wilshire Park as a “Favorite”. Bus Company Information Metropolitan Transportation Network is the bus company contracted for our student transportation. Occasionally delays in student pickup or drop-off may occur for a variety of reasons. Our office staff is always available to assist during office 7   

hours but please note our office does close at 4:00 p.m. Please make your first call to the bus company at: 763.571.1541 and ask for “Dispatch”. This transportation phone number is also listed on the home page of the Wilshire Park website. After School Change in Plans We understand that after-school plans for your child may change occasionally. Please send a note with your child or email the teacher, when possible. On those occasions when plans change during the school day, please call the school office as early as you can. Many times, the office staff is inundated with calls and visitors at the end of the day. Some grades have late-afternoon recess which makes it challenging to deliver a message to your child. If Your Child is Absent or will be arriving late. . . Please call the attendance line at 612.706.1204. Please call before 9:05 a.m. You may leave a message 24 hours a day.

Community News School Supplies Fundraiser for students entering K-8 for the 2016-2017 School Year Through St. Anthony New Brighton Education Foundation (SANBE) LEAVE THE SHOPPING TO US - Order Deadline is June 30, 2016 (Flyer Attached) We lead busy lives and when a new school year approaches, we could all use a little help with the items on our to-do list. SANBE would like to help you cross one item off your list by providing the convenience of pre-packaged school supplies. No more hassles running from store to store trying to find the proper items! SANBE will provide you and your family with cost effective, high quality; name brand school supplies and at the same time, raises funds for our organization. SANBE’s mission is to provide additional financial support for teachers and staff in the form of grants that bring creative programs and innovative methodologies to the classroom. This fundraiser supports SANBE’s efforts to continue providing valuable funding for our school district.  NEW vendor this year – name brand products!  NEW delivery - School Supply boxes shipped directly to your home!  Order exclusively ONLINE! Order NOW – June 30, 2016 @ www.1stdayschoolsupplies.com (zip code: 55418)  Questions? [email protected]  www.sanbefoundation.org

St. Anthony Youth Football Registration is OPEN! Register online at www.boostersfootball.com from May 16-June 30th. Season starts in August through playoffs in October.

Softball Booster’s Fundraiser: Jersey Mike’s from June 2-5th Pick up your coupons at Wilshire Park! Jersey Mikes (2704 Highway 88) in St. Anthony has graciously agreed to donate free subs in exchange for a minimum $3 donation to the St. Anthony Boosters Softball Association program. This fundraiser will run JUNE 2-5th. Pick up a coupon at any of the school offices or contact Kirsten Stendahl at [email protected] or 612.210.4002. For a $3 donation, patrons get a FREE Sub, one per person, per visit! 100% of the donations go directly to our girls Softball 6U, 8U, 10U, 12U and 14U programs! This is a great, easy opportunity to raise some much needed money for SABSA – and have a great sandwich, too!

Fitness Crossroad Kids’ Programming Heat up your 2016 summer at Fitness Crossroad with Fun/Fit activities that will engage and encourage your children! Summer programming begins the week of June 13th. Members and non-members welcome.  Tumble for ages 2-5  Kids’ Bootcamp for ages 7-10  Yogis and Stories for ages 4-7  Summer Sports in the Park for ages 5-10  Summer Day Camps for ages 4-10 To learn more about us visit our Website at: www.fitnesscrossroad.com or call the Gym at: 612.788.1100 8   

New Brighton Stockyard Days Ambassador Program We are looking for girls and boys (ages 5 to 9 years old) to represent the City of New Brighton and Stockyard Days for one year as goodwill ambassadors. Ambassadors attend parades, coronations, volunteer and civic events around the twin cities. An informational, no-obligation meeting about the New Brighton Stockyard Days Ambassador Program will be held at the New Brighton Community Center on Monday, June 13th at 6:30 p.m. Questions? Email Regina Kaun, Stockyard Days Ambassador Program Coordinator at [email protected]

Wilshire Park Calendar Information Date Monday, May 30 Wednesday, June 1 Thursday, June 2 Friday, June 3

Monday, June 6

Time

Event Memorial Day – No School 5th Grade Science Experiments - MPR 1st Grade Family Picnic: Central Park Pavilion Kdgn Family Picnic: Central Park Pavilion Track and Field Day: ~ Kdgn: 1:30-2:30 p.m. ~ Gr. 1: 10:00-11:00 a.m. ~ Gr. 2-5 from 9:15-3:20 p.m. Chemistry Magic Show by High School Students - MPR 5th Grade Activity Day at Shoreview Community Center 3rd Grade Family Picnic: Central Park Pavilion Rain Date for Track and Field Day (if unable to have Track and Field on Friday, June 3) School Board Meeting – St. Anthony Community Center 4th Grade (Peterson/Luckhardt) State Fair - Gym

11:45-2:45 p.m. 5:00-7:30 p.m. 5:00-7:00 p.m.

School Day 11:45-3:15 p.m. 5:00-8:00 p.m.

Tuesday, June 7 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 8 Thursday, June 9

9:30-10:30 a.m. and 12:301:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m.

Friday, June 10

Last Day of School for K-5

5th Grade Recognition – WP Gym (followed by reception in MPR) Hat Day – Wear your favorite hat to school today! Dismissal for K-5 is 3:35 p.m. (as usual) St. Anthony Community Center is closed for after school child care as they prepare for summer programs. Please make alternate child care arrangements for after school and notify your child’s teacher.

After School

2016-17 School Year: Monday, August 1 Monday, Sept. 5 Tuesday, Sept. 6

Wednesday, September 7

7:30-3:30 p.m.

School Office Reopens Labor Day Meet and Greet & School Photos (Please read article on page 6; additional information will be emailed to families in midAugust).

11:00-12:45 p.m. OR 2:15-3:45 p.m. OR 4:00-5:45 p.m. 9:05 a.m.-3:35 p.m.

First day of classes and bus transportation

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Hello Wilshire Park Families and Friends! The end of the school is just days away and the WPPA is grateful for another wonderful year at Wilshire Park. This spring we had a terrific time with parents and grandparents alike at our Annual Ice Cream Social & Grandparents Gathering. We would like to extend a HUGE thank you to all those parents who volunteered to help make the evening fun for our students & their families. Also, a special thank you to Kristie Frudden, Lisa Huninghake, Julie Philbrook and the administration for their help in making the social a success! Our first ever 1–Mile Walk-A-Thon was a super-sunny-success! We raised $5,217.45 in funds for our school and had a great turn out for the walk and ‘Pie in your Face’. Thank you to all our students and their families who pledged to raise money. Also, a big, HUGE thank you to those that “got pied”: Principal Page, Mr. Peterson and Mr. Winter. You are all such good sports!

Upcoming Meeting – Our next and FIRST meeting of the new school year is scheduled for: September 12, 2016 at 7:00 PM in the Staff Lounge at Wilshire Park. Please come join us, hear from one of our School Board members, Principal Page and learn more about what will be happening in and around our school. Hope to see you there!

Upcoming Event – Meet & Greet Day – Tuesday, September 6, 2016: Additional Details to Come! Volunteer Opportunities – “Get Connected – Stay Connected!” If you have interest in getting more involved in what WPPA is doing and/or learn more about volunteer opportunities; please feel free to reach Tara Halverson at: [email protected] “EVERYONE CAN DO SOMETHNG” - Mother Teresa We would like to take this time to share a heartfelt; thank you, for your continued support and partnership. Wishing you & yours a SUPER Summer! Warmly, WPPA Board Members: President – Tara Halverson – [email protected] Vice President – Natalie Dougherty – [email protected] Treasurer – Pam Peissig Cartony – [email protected] Secretary – Pam Metcalf – [email protected] Volunteer Coordinator – Alisa Kiskis Bartel – [email protected] PLEASE “LIKE” US ON OUR WPPA FACEBOOK PAGE

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