Upcoming Events - Pratt Community School

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 lynn.mcmahon@mpls.k12.mn.us
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 Linda.Hoppe@mpls.k12.mn.us.
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