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Hugo and Oneka Hugo and Oneka
Observer Observer February 2013February 2013
Hugo Elementary School 14895 Francesca Ave N.
Hugo, MN 55038
Phone: 651-653-2798 FAX: 651-653-2800
Attendance: 651-653-2621
e-mail: [email protected]
Emergency School Closing:
651-407-7540
Check out our Web page:
www.whitebear.k12.mn.us/HugoOneka
Oneka Elementary School 4888 Heritage Pkwy N.
Hugo, MN 55038
Phone: 651-288-1800 FAX: 651-288-1899
Attendance: 651-288-1802
e-mail: [email protected]
Dear Students, Teachers, and Families, With the flu season upon us, let‘s talk attendance. We all know that students who are in school as much as
possible have the best chance of seeing great academic gains from fall to spring. When students aren‘t feeling
well it is always a delicate balance as to whether or not to send them to school. The best rule of thumb is if
your child has a fever or vomited within 24 hours, they should probably stay home. Please see ―Tips for the
Flu Season‖ on page 7 and 8 of this newsletter for more information on the flu.
Vacations and sporting events are a whole different situation. Please be aware that based on our school board
attendance policies, all vacations need preapproved by the school administrator. Absences, including early
dismissals, for sporting events are always considered unexcused. The attendance guidelines found in our
handbook are republished on page 6 of this newsletter. The school board attendance policies can be found on
the district web site.
Is it getting cold or what? If you are missing any items, now just might be the time to come to our school and
check out the ―lost & found.‖ We have many hats, gloves, sweatshirts, jackets, etc. that have been piling up
for the past couple of months. Please label each and every thing your child wears to stay warm. That way if
we find it, we can get it back to them in a timely manner and there‘s a better chance those items wont end up in
the ―lost & found.‖
As you know, school was not in session for our students on January 21st as it was a training day for our staff.
Our staff is committed to our students and we were deeply involved in staff development opportunities to help
our students strive towards their next level of achievement.
Conferences are less than a month away. There will be no school on Thursday, February 28th or Friday, March
1st due to conferences. Then on Monday, March 4th school will be in session, but there will be evening con-
ferences from 5-8 pm. Watch closely for more information to come home in regards to this in the weeks that
follow.
In conclusion, we once again would like to express our sincere thanks for your parent support.
Teresa Dahlem, Principal Jason Healy, Associate Principal
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Upcoming Events - February and March
February
2/12 PTA Meeting, 6:30-7:30 pm, Oneka
2/18 No School—Presidents Day
2/21 3rd Grade Music Concert 6:00 pm
Mrs. Shea, Ms. Schultz and Ms. Schiele
3rd Grade Music Concert 7:15 pm
Ms. Ulmer, Ms. Solem and Mrs. Englund
2/26 4th Grade - Bakken Museum
Mrs. Biddle, Mrs. Haug, Mrs. Dickinson,
Mr. Oppenheim
2/26 Roller Skating Saints North 6:00-8:00 pm
2/27 4th Grade - Bakken Museum
Mrs. Kronebusch, Mrs. St. Martin
2/28-3/1 No School - Conferences
March 3/1 No School Conferences
3/4 Evening Conferences
3/5 Spring Picture Day
3/7 Festival Foods Event, 4:30-7:30 pm
3/12 PTA Meeting, 4:30-5:30 pm, Oneka
3/14 Ashland Performance
Pirates! The Musical
3/16-17 Ashland Performance
Pirates! The Musical
3/25-4/1 No School—Spring Break
Notes from Mrs. Mielke and Mrs. Smaker
Grade 4 and 5 recorder students are continuing to collect their recorder karate belts. As the songs be-
come more challenging, they will need to practice the songs at home. Please remind your child to
leave their recorder and books in their backpacks. This will help them remember to bring it to their mu-
sic class. Please wear appropriate shoes and clothing to music class for moving.
Music Events:
Thursday, February 21 Grade 3 Concert in the Cafeteria
Dress attire for evening concert: White top, black or dark bottom
6:00pm: Mrs. Shea, Ms. Schultz, and Ms. Schiele classes
7:15pm: Ms. Ulmer, Ms. Solem, and Mrs. Englund classes
Thursday, April 11 Grade 5 Concert in the Gym
Dress attire for evening concert: White top, black or dark bottom
9:45 pm and 6:00 pm
Thursday May 30th Grade 4 Concert in the Cafeteria
Dress attire for the daytime concert: White top, black or dark bottom
9:45 am: Mrs. Biddle, Mrs. Haug, Mrs. Kronebusch classes
2:40 pm: Mrs. St. Martin, Mr. Oppenheim, Mrs. Dickinson classes
*Daytime performances only - all family members welcome!
Month of May Grade 2 Music Class Informances Parents are welcome to come to their child‘s music room and watch them in action! The music room
provides an informal and intimate space where you can see and hear your child sing, dance and play.
Look for an invitation that will come home during the month of May.
Science Corner
Raptor Center - St. Paul Sat. Feb. 2nd / 9th / 23rd and Sun. Feb. 10th / 17th / 24th 1 pm – 2 pm Take a tour of the center and meet a variety of live raptors.
$5 students - $7.50 adults (1st come 1st serve - no reservations)
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Notes from Oneka Food Service
A of Healthy Learning All Hugo and Oneka families are invited to a night of practical and fun learning at Festival Foods in
Hugo, MN on March 7th, from 4:30pm-7:30pm. Come join us for different learning opportunities
around the store. You may come any time during those three hours. You might find math in the dairy
section or science in the produce section! There will be different stations to visit as a family. Look for
more information in your child‘s Friday folder in the upcoming weeks.
An Invite to Healthy Learning
From Oneka Kitchen
Our student lunch committee met on January 25. We taste tested cheese ravioli, with a tomato sauce
and pea pods. The ravioli and sauce received a majority of good reviews and it was great to know that
more than half of our group gave the "thumbs up" to the pea pods. Once again, thank-you to our com-
mittee for their valuable input.
Do you find it challenging to keep those fresh fruits and vegetables on hand, for a healthy school
snack? We can help! In conjunction with the Radio Disney yumPower School Challenge Kick-Off on
January 29th, Oneka kitchen will make available fruits and vegetables with dip, for a charge of $.40.
Students will use their lunch account, for all purchases. Remember you can monitor all activity on your
child's lunch account at www.paypams.com. Purchases can be made daily, starting Monday, February
4th, before school or during their class snack time.
If you have any questions or comments please call or email me. My scheduled hours are:
8:15-2:00
Thank-you,
Debra Vaughn
Oneka Kitchen Manager
651.288.1815 [email protected]
Taste the Rainbow
Pirates! The Musical
Join this salty crew of colorful scallywags as they hoist the Jolly Roger and set sail for a mighty adven-
ture on the seven seas!
Performances will be held at the Maplewood Community Center on: Thursday, March 14th at 7:00 pm,
Saturday, March 16th at 7:00 pm, Sunday, March 17th at 2:00PM
Tickets are going fast so get yours today at www.ashlandproductions.com
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Media Center News
February is African American History month and I love to read month. Students start the month partici-
pating with other students from around the country in the National Council of Teachers of English Af-
rican American Read in Chain. Along with these stories we will be reading from the public library list
of the 100 books every child should read. As a special treat to celebrate reading all of our storybook
characters will come off the media center shelves for the students to read aloud to them during book
check out. Watch for other reading activities going on throughout the school for the month.
Classes will continue to alternate between book check out and computer lab. Students will use MS
Word to create a Valentine‘s card. Tools used include inserting clip art and using text boxes. Everyone
gets an envelope to give their card away.
Do you remember a story you read in school? I love to read month (February) would be a great time to
read it together with your child.
Happy reading,
Mrs. Stirling
Thank you Volunteers
We Love
our Volunteers
As a thank you to all
classroom volunteers and
PTA members, please join
us for delicious treats at the
PTA Meeting
on February 12th
from 6:30-7:30 in the
Oneka Media Center.
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Hugo and Oneka PTA News
Upcoming PTA Events
Stay Connected To Your PTA - HERE’S HOW:
The Hugo and Oneka PTA is going paperless this year. Look for PTA updates, info, and events here:
On the Hugo and Oneka website: http://www.whitebear.k12.mn.us/hes/PTA.html
On Facebook: Search ―Hugo and Oneka Elementary PTA‖ and ‗Like‘ us for updates and info.
Or email: [email protected] Contact us to be added to our email list.
If you do not have access to a computer, please contact your child‘s teacher to receive paper handouts
for PTA info. Please contact any 2012-2013 PTA Board Member with questions at any time.
President: Kristi Ide 651-407-8008 [email protected]
Vice President: Deb Beloyed 651-340-3370 [email protected]
Treasurers: Liz Stamson
Shannon Bailey 651-288-1856
651-373-2419
Secretary: Brittany Stoler 612-735-3882 [email protected]
THANK YOU
Thanks to PTA members that proposed and approved allocated funds to the Wargo science pro-
gram. Wargo naturalists will be visiting our classrooms and sharing their scientific expertise.
Thank you to all our PTA volunteers! Hugo and Oneka students and staff greatly benefit from
your support. If you are interested in helping at an event, offering feedback, sharing your ideas,
or receiving information about the PTA, please contact [email protected]
February 12: PTA Meeting 6:30 pm at Oneka Oneka language teachers will be joining us.
January 22-February 15th: Box Tops collection contest. One classroom each from Oneka and
Hugo that collects the most Box Tops during the the contest will win their classroom a pajama
party!
February 26, 6-8pm: Free family roller skating party at Saints North Stay warm and get active by joining your friends and family for a fun night of skating at Saints
North in Maplewood.
April 9: PTA executive board elections 6:30pm at Oneka
It‘s time for PTA executive board elections! You may email president, vice president, co- treasur-
er, or secretary nominations to [email protected] before our April 9th PTA meeting. For
more information you may contact current members.
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Absence / Attendance Policy
Attendance Information
If your student will be absent or tardy, due to illness or an appointment, please call the Attendance Line
651-288-1802. If you do not call, you will receive an Instant alert message, reminding you to call. If you
receive a message please return the school messenger phone call, as soon as possible, so we can be assured
that your student is safe.
If you are planning on taking your student out for a vacation, please note that the district policy requires
ALL vacation days need to be approved by Ms. Dahlem. You can send a note with your student or e-mail
her at [email protected].
Regular attendance is essential for good progress in school. We monitor attendance each day to verify when
and why children are absent. A student is required by law to attend school. If they miss a school day or part
of the day, for legitimate reasons, a parent or guardian must notify the school. A parent or guardian may seek
an excused absence but the school administrator has the right to accept or deny an application for an excused
absence.
Examples of excused absences include:
Sickness (a doctor‘s note may be required)
Medical or mental health appointments
Religious Holidays
Family Emergency
Examples of unexcused absences include:
Missing the bus
Need of sleep or rest
Sporting Events
Child is not immunized
If a child arrives after 10:00 a.m. or leaves school before 3:00 p.m. they will be considered absent for ½ of the
day. Three unexcused tardies will be considered ½ day unexcused absence.
Vacations must be pre-approved by the building administration. Vacations may be considered unex-
cused if the family has been alerted to an attendance issue or if not preapproved by the building admin-
istration. Washington County recommends to school districts to excuse only up to 5 vacation days out-
side the established breaks in the school calendar. Schools are required to report excessive absences or 3
unexcused absences to Washington County.
We urge you to carefully consider circumstances that keep your child out of school. Regular school attend-
ance is related to the degree of success in school. You will be notified when your child‘s attendance records
indicate he/she has missed more than 10% of the school days in session. If the absences continue, a doctor‘s
statement verifying that your child is not to be in school may be required.
Please call the absence line before 9:00 a.m. to report if your child will be late or absent.
Oneka Elementary 651-288-1802 or Hugo Elementary 651-653-2621
Should we not hear from you by 10 a.m., it is our practice to call your home or work number to determine the
whereabouts of your child.
*When bringing your child in late, an adult must sign him/her in at the office.
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WBL ENERGY STAR® Leader Award Announcement
School Board Meeting: Monday, January 14th, 7pm, Room 112 @ DSC Amy Anderson, CLASS 5 Energy General Manager Ann Arney, WBL Area Schools Energy Efficiency Coordinator Since beginning the SEE Program in 2010, White Bear Lake Area Schools has reduced its total energy use by 6%, avoiding over $160,000 in costs. In addition to tracking our energy use through SEE and CLASS 5 Energy’s Utility Tracking tool, WBL Area Schools have also become an ENERGY STAR Partner, and maintained a portfolio through them. ENERGY STAR offers several different awards and recognition opportunities, and we are proud to announce that as of this past December, WBL Area Schools have earned ENER-GY STAR’s “Top Performer” award for an outstanding portfolio score of 75 or higher. WBL’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio includes 15 facilities – all of our elementary, middle and high schools, including ALC, the District Center and Normandy Park Education Center. These 15 buildings began with a portfolio score of 68, and have since gained 10 points for a current score of 78. These energy reductions have happened mainly through behavioral efforts: low- and no-cost strate-gies that include educating and engaging WBL staff and students, bringing energy awareness into the classroom, regularly meeting with building administrators to set individualized goals and work-ing closely with the Buildings and Grounds department, who have been invaluable in their efforts to make our daily operations more efficient through changes in lighting, heating, cooling and cleaning schedules, among many other things. These impressive gains have ranked White Bear Lake among the top performing energy efficient school districts in the nation, and we congratulate all of the staff and students at WBL schools for their commitment to energy efficiency! On behalf of ENERGY STAR, we are proud to present WBL Area Schools with the ENERGY STAR Top Performer Award! This award will be displayed here at the district center, and a copy will also be given to each of our additional 14 buildings. Thank you.
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