January 2014 - Northfield Public Schools

January 2014 Gazette
David Craft,
Principal
507.645.3500
Attendance Line
507.645.3506
Have a terrific
winter break,
Greenvale Park
Families & Friends.
See you in 2014
An indoor cat is a healthy cat
One of the greatest threats to native song birds are free roaming cats. A study funded by
the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and others, found that the median number of birds killed by cats each year is 2.4 billon. About 30% of these birds are killed, by
free-roaming house cats. The other 70% are killed by un-owned cats, including farm/
barn cats, strays and feral cats. Although it is only natural for cats to prey on birds, the
concentration of domesticated cats in our neighborhoods puts the native bird populations at risk.
We can help preserve our native bird populations, by choosing, to keep our cats inside.
Cats that are allowed to roam freely are often involved in fights with other free roaming cats and dogs. Such encounters frequently leave cats, with cuts and scratches that can become infected. Your domesticated cat can also pick up diseases from other
cats, such as, upper respiratory illnesses caused by viruses. They can pick up diseases that can even be spread to humans.
Cats that are kept inside can receive fresh air by being put on a leash and harness when they are outdoors. They can be in an enclosed kennel that is large enough for it to move around. Inside the house, cats can be kept active and healthy by giving them
access to scratching posts, tunnels, hoops, ramps, and perching shelves. Playing with the cat with a toy mouse on a string can
provide healthy exercise and plenty of entertainment for you and your family. Your cat will be healthier and live longer if it is
prevented from roaming freely and you will also help protect the habitat of our native birds.
Northfield Prairie Partners Chapter of Wild Ones invites you to the spring programs, “Sibley Marsh and Prairie Land” which will
be presented on February 13 at 7:00 pm at Emmaus Baptist Church, 712 Linden Street. “Bluebird and Bird Nesting,” will be on
March 13 at 7:00 pm at the Emmaus Baptist Church. The programs are free and the public is invited to attend. For more information call, 507-645-8903.
Arlene Kjar President of Northfield Prairie Partners Chapter of Wild Ones.
News from P.E. … Mary Wojick/Ryan Driscoll
December: Bowling unit completed! Cup stacking unit under way! December PACER coming up!
January: Our Rope jumping unit begins along with Basketball!
Enjoy the winter break! Keep active indoors or outside! All students know many exercises to do in
a limited space, so ask them to show you!
Before school activities to begin in January: Rope jumping will begin on Mondays from 7:45-8:15 in the gym (Jan. 6). Students
need to eat breakfast before they come down. Anyone interested may join us, but they must jump! Cup stacking begins on
Wednesday mornings (Jan. 8) at 8:45-9:15. Anyone interested may join us, but they must stack!
Happy Holidays!
Non School Days in January
Wednesday, Thursday & Friday, January 1, 2 & 3—Happy New Year
Monday, January 20—Teachers Work Day
Monday, January 27—End of 2nd Quarter, Teachers Work Day
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Northfield High School Band’s Waffle Dinner
Friday, February 7th from 4:30-7:30pm has been set aside for the Northfield High School Band’s 8th
Annual Waffle Dinner featuring Dad’s Belgian Waffles. The cost for this delicious dinner is $7.50 per
person, with children 5 years old and under free, and includes waffles, sausages, flavored syrups and
beverages. Carry-out is available. Please support the high school band in this very worthy cause.
KidVentures News...Nicole Miner
We hope you are having a wonderful break!!
KidVentures will be providing release day programming on January 20th & 27th for children in grades K-5. We will be at Sibley
Elementary from 6:30am until 6:00pm. If you join us on a release day, all children will participate in the event listed below for
each day. The cost for the release day program is $35.00 per day. Release days will be filled on a first come first serve basis. The
day includes a morning and afternoon snack, bus ride, field trip admission and all day supervision. All release days are nonrefundable.
January 20, we will be going to Jesse James Lanes for bowling. Please be on-site by 11am; we will return by 3pm. Children need
to bring a bag lunch.
January 27, we will be going to Buck Hill snow tubing! Children will need to bring all of their winter gear including
coats, hats, mittens, snow pants, boots, scarves, and a helmet, if you choose. Please be on-site by 10am; we will
return by 3pm. Children need to bring a bag lunch.
Safety Patrol...Donna Hall
Happy Holidays from our Greenvale Park Elementary Safety Patrol team! They have been doing a great job this
year!
We now have some wonderful fourth grade students who have been and are now signed on for each Monday and
Friday for band days and are available to sub on Thursday mornings for orchestra when needed. Fifth grade patrol
members continue to serve on the schedule Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Please help your safety patrol student remember their duty days. Also, please remember they need to get a sub if they are not
able to make their assigned duty time and let Mrs. Hall know who the sub will be. With the cold Minnesota winter season now
here, please help your student remember to dress for the weather.
5th Grade Safety Patrol members:
Front Row (left to right) Captains: Jaida Gehring, Lexi
Crouse, Kelsie Closson, Peder Lindell
Middle Row (left to right): Tommy Rice, Success
Popoola, Riley Stevens, Captain Lauren Werner, Isaak
Falch, Captain Christian Preslicka, Jordan Tverberg
Back Row (left to right): Captain Jair Ascencio Puga,
Krystal Woida, Lupema Celis, Avery Valek, Jose
Vazquez, Captain Austin Rice, Captain Michael Malecha
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News from the Kitchen...Cecelia Green Food Service Manager
As we settle into winter please remember we offer Hot breakfast and cold cereal with toast every morning!! In addition, we provide a Bag Breakfast that is offered to all students. All breakfast options include Fresh Fruit and
Milk!!
The breakfast bag can be utilized a few ways.
1) If your student is late for school and did not have time to eat at home.
2) If your student ate at home but has no snack for the day.
Our goal* is that every student has an opportunity for breakfast or a healthy snack for the day. If you receive educational benefits
Free or Reduced, your breakfast Free. If you do not receive benefit breakfast is $1.40.
Food tip of the month:
Add a variety of dried fruit to your Oatmeal before you cook it all the way. This makes for a delicious breakfast and add extra vitamins to you meal. Kick it up with a tablespoon of nuts for extra protein and you are on your way to a great start!!
If you have any questions please call me: Cece Green, Child Nutrition Specialist GVP @ 507.645.3506
Student Council News...Carrie Rice & Ryan Driscoll
During the month of December, Student Council members made ornaments that were delivered to our
friends at Three Links Care Center.
Watch for an upcoming school wide service project during the month of February when we will honor our Military Heroes.
Reminder… the school store is open for business Thursdays from 2:20-2:50. Student Council members continue to manage the
buying and selling for the store.
Please note Student Council Meeting dates for January are: January 10th and January 24th. We look forward to seeing you there!
News from our Nurse...Julie Ochs
Thank you, Families, for donating items to the health office throughout the year. Have a joyous holiday break!!
Tis the season for cold weather and along with that comes exposed skin. There has been below zero temps and exposed skin can
get frostbite quickly. Here are some signs and symptoms to look for if your skin or your child skin has been exposed to the elements and what to do.
What Are the Symptoms of Frostbite?
For frostnip:
White patches of skin that are numb
For frostbite (superficial or deep):
♦ Skin that is white or grayish-yellow and feels hard, waxy, or numb, or is blistering or becoming darkened or black
♦ Other symptoms include swelling, itching, burning, and deep pain during the rewarming/healing process.
Get medical attention immediately if you think you may have frostbite
(Mrs. Ochs’ article continued on page 5)
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(Mrs. Ochs’ article continued from page 4)
How Can I Prevent Frostbite?
Frostbite can result in serious consequences, so prevention is extremely important. If you are planning outdoor activities, check
weather forecasts frequently and heed warnings about cold temperatures and possible storms that might strand you in dangerous
conditions. Avoid risky situations -- such as hikes or camping trips in cold weather -- that may be beyond your experience level.
It is also wise to consult local park rangers or other authorities about the weather, terrain, avalanche danger, and other conditions
that may interfere with your ability to obtain shelter or emergency help.
To prevent or reduce your risk of frostbite, dress properly in cold temperatures. This includes protecting your hands, feet, nose,
and ears. Bundle in warm, layered, and loose-fitting clothes, a hat and scarf or ski mask, warm socks, and mittens (not gloves),
and make sure children are properly bundled. Go indoors periodically to warm up. Wet clothing or damp skin can increase the
risk of frostbite.
These guidelines may also help you prevent frostbite:
♦ If you've just arrived in a cold climate from a warmer one, give your body time to adjust before spending extended periods
outside.
♦ Avoid drinking alcohol before or during exposure to cold weather, because alcohol may keep you from realizing your body
is becoming too cold.
♦ Avoid smoking cigarettes, which can negatively affect circulation and increase the risk of frostbite.
At the first sign of redness, blueness, or whiteness, or pain in your skin, which may indicate that you are becoming too cold, get
out of the cold, warm up, and protect exposed skin.
Frostbite Treatment
1. Seek Medical Care Promptly
See a doctor or go to a hospital emergency room
2. Restore Warmth
Until you can see a doctor:
♦ Get the person to a warm place and remove any wet clothing.
♦ Unless absolutely necessary, the person should not walk on frostbitten toes or feet.
♦ Do not rewarm the skin until you can keep it warm. Warming and then re-exposing the frostbitten area to cold air an cause
worse damage.
♦ Gently warm the area in warm water (not hot) or with wet heat until the skin appears red and warm.
♦ If no water is nearby, breathe on the area through cupped hands and hold it next to your body.
♦ Do not use direct heat from heating pads, radiator, or fires.
♦ Do not rub or massage the skin or break blisters.
3. Bandage the Area
Loosely apply dry, sterile dressings.
Put gauze or clean cotton balls between fingers or toes to keep them separated.
♦
♦
4. Follow Up
Once you get medical care, the next steps depend on the particular case.
♦ At the hospital, a doctor will rewarm the area.
♦ The doctor may administer medication for pain or intravenous fluids if the person is dehydrated.
♦ The doctor may also give a tetanus vaccine.
♦ The person may be hospitalized for a few days.
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Community Services December/January
Northfield Public Schools Community Services winter/spring 2014 brochure will be in mailboxes during the week of December
23rd. All upcoming classes will be available for online registration from Friday, Dec. 20, 2013. For more information or
to register for these great programs visit us online at www.nfld.k12.mn.us (follow the Community Services link), call 507-6643649, or visit our office on the first floor of the Northfield Community Resource Center at 1651 Jefferson Parkway, Northfield. Scholarships are available for all programs.
Discovery Kids Workshop: Holiday Mini-Canvas Art 2-HOUR WORKSHOP
grades 1 – 5 , Th, Dec. 19, Greenvale Park Art Room
Basketball Camp: ages 6 – 12, Th & F, Dec. 26 & 27, Bridgewater Gym
Basketball Mini-Clinics: Grades 1 – 5, Sa, Jan. 4 – 25, Sibley Gymnasium
Open Gym Basketball: grades 5-8, S, Jan. 5 - March 16, Bridgewater Gym
Tae Kwon Do for Kids: grades 2 - 12, T & Th, Jan. 7 – Feb.13, Beginner 6 - 6:45 p.m. / Advanced 6:45-7:45 p.m.
High School Gym
Elementary Tennis Program: grades 2 -5, T, Jan. 14 – Feb. 11, Greenvale Park Gymnasium
NEW PROGRAM! Adventure Mania: grades 3 - 8, Sa, Jan. 18, location TBD
Northfield Skating School: all ages, S, Jan. 19 – March 2, times vary, Northfield Ice Arena
Grandmasters of Chess: Winter Season (8wks): grades K-5, T, Jan. 21 – March 11, Greenvale Park Media Center
LEGO® Machines: Wheels & Racers: grades 1 – 5, W, Jan. 22 – Feb. 26, Greenvale Park Media Center
Watch Me Draw: Warm & Cozy Art Sampler: grades K – 5, W, Jan. 29 – March 5, Greenvale Park Art Room
Emergency Closing Procedures
The following provides information that families need to be
aware of regarding school closings.
1. In the event that school is closed for the day, or a two-hour
late start is warranted, the following radio/television stations
will broadcast this
information:
KYMN-1080 AM WCCO-830 AM KARE-TV 11
KDHL-Power 96 KMSP-TV 9 KSTP-TV 5 WCCO-TV 4
2. If a two-hour late start is implemented (school
begins two hours later than usual), bus pick-up will be
approximately two hours later than the normal time.
3. All elementary school activities will be postponed or cancelled if no school occurs or if school is dismissed early.
4. All Community Services events, classes, and open gym activities are cancelled if no school occurs or if school is dismissed early. If school begins two hours late, all morning
Community Education classes are cancelled.
Note to parents: Web sites containing “up to the minute”
emergency school closing information:
WCCO.com,
KARE11.com, WCCORadio.com.
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