Big Woods Family Newsletter
February 2016-17
February
See p. 5 for I LOVE TO READ events.
2
Conferences 3-7 PM
Book Fair & Talent Expo
6
Conferences 3-7 PM
Book Fair & Talent Expo
PTO Talent Show 6 PM
School Board 7 PM
7
Grade 4 Field Trip
STMA Bond Referendum
8
CHARACTER COUNTS:
ORANGE for FAIRNESS
13
PTO @ 7 PM
14
15
Grade 4 Field Trip
Valentine’s Parties
PTO DQ Night 6-9 PM
February 17 & 19
No School
21
School Board @ 7 PM
28
Grade 3 Concert @ MSW
Auditorium
March
2
Spring Pictures
6
School Board @ 7 PM
8
Tri 2 concludes
730 Volunteers as of January 25th
Conferences
Research indicates that families who are involved with
their child’s education directly influence whether
that child is successful in
school.
Conferences are Thursday,
February 2nd and Monday,
February 6th. To schedule a
time, contact your child’s
teacher. Reminders will be
sent home in planners. Our
goal is to have 100% of parents attend conferences.
Giving Tree
Collection
We collected
376 new toys,
hats ,and mittens for the
annual Big
Woods Giving Tree. This
was the most donations for
the Giving Tree in the past
four years!
The St. Michael Fire Department picked up the donations
and delivered them to the
Hanover Food Shelf. Toys and
clothing are distributed to
local families in need.
Talent Expo entry forms were
sent home in December Friday Folders and are on the
PTO Facebook page.
Interested in volunteering for
the PTO? Email [email protected].
PTO Talent Expo & Talent
Show
The PTO is sponsoring the
13th annual BW Talent Expo.
And 2nd annual Talent Show.
Projects will be on display in
the gymnasium or main hallway both evenings of conferences from 3:00-7:00 . In addition, live Talent Show performances will be held in the
gym beginning at 6:00 PM on
Monday, February 6th.
January Students of the Month
March 9 & 10
No School ~ Teacher Workshop
13
PTO @ 7 PM
15
PTO DQ Night 6-9 PM
17
Yearbook Order Deadline
(on-line orders required)
20
School Board @ 7 PM
24
PTO Family Bingo 6:30 PM
Riley A., Joshua L., Anna H., Daylyn N.,
Cecilia L., Kayla W., Emily R., & Brooklyn B.
Page 2
Meet the Support Staff: EL, Media, Response & Teacher, and Special Education
Mrs. Berning, Mrs. Blenkush, Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Dewey, Mrs. Ege, Mrs. Fiecke, Mrs. Holsather, Mrs. Iverson, Mrs. Rokala,
Mrs. Saltamachio, Mrs. Urai, Mr. Waldoch, and Mrs. Yantes
February’s character pillar is FAIRNESS.
Fair people play by the rules, take turns,
and share. They look at all sides before
deciding and do not blame others.
Wear orange on Wednesday, February
8th to celebrate Fairness. Head wear,
face paint, and hair color are not allowed.
Don’t judge a book by its cover.
~ American Proverb
Give Kids a Smile: Free Dental Care
Free Dental Care for low-income children in need
https://www.mndental.org/events/give-kids-a-smile/patients/find-a-participating-clinic/
The Minnesota Dental Association is again sponsoring “Give Kids a Smile”, a two-day
dental outreach program, on February 3rd and 4th, 2017.
Dental professionals from around the state will provide free dental care to lowincome children in need. Call United Way 211 (just dial 2-1-1) or 800-543-7709, or
visit the Minnesota Dental Association’s website at mndental.org. Operators will
direct you to a participating dental office in the area. Parents will then need to call
the dental office to schedule an appointment.
Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and must have an appointment in advance; same-day, walk-in care is not available on these days.
Kindergarten Registration
Albertville Primary School staff is inviting
parents to Kindergarten Registration
for the 2017-2018 school year on
February 9th, 2017, from 4:00-7:00
p.m.
Kindergarten Registration is designed
especially for parents only. This
evening’s purpose is to register next
year’s kindergarten students and answer
questions regarding curriculum, the kindergarten program, and Kid’s Play.
Parents will have the option of taking a
tour. Registration info and details for
kindergarten open house and kindergarten orientation will be mailed to families
with potential kindergarteners the first
week of February. Please call 763-4972688 if you have any questions.
Page 3
February Digital Days
Digital days are on the Big Woods web page. If school is
cancelled, the day becomes a zero and days are adjusted.
Assume we are going outside for
recess every day and dress accordingly.
Cold Weather Guidelines & School Closings
Procedures for Determining Closings and School Delays
The superintendent and transportation personnel will begin checking National Weather Service reports, radar and road conditions
around 4:00 a.m. The superintendent and transportation personnel will consult with city snow removal crews and other school districts for updates on road conditions and safety. School closings and delays will be based upon the following:

Current weather conditions and future forecast including temperatures and wind chill conditions

Timing of the start and end of a storm and other weather conditions such as fog and ice

Ability of road crews to plow and maintain roads and reaction of chemicals on road surfaces

Ability of district grounds staff and contracted services to remove snow in parking lots
Notifications
Families should always assume schools are open and in session, unless they hear or see differently from an official source. Websites
will only indicate when schools are closed or delayed; not when they remain open. If schools will be using a 2-hour late start or canceling altogether, the District will notify parents starting at approximately 5:30 a.m. on the day of the late start or cancellation. On occasion, decisions may be communicated the night before the late start or cancellation. Parents will be notified using the following tools:

Phone/Voice messages

Text messages

E-mail messages

District website posting
The District will notify local media outlets - WCCO, KSTP, KARE and KMSP (Fox 9) - but cannot guarantee how or when the media will
report the information we provide them. Additional information can be found on the district website.
http://www.stma.k12.mn.us/district/district-overview/school-emergency/school-weather-closing-delays-and-early-dismissals.
Page 4
Pink Eye
There have been several cases of pink
eye (bacterial conjunctivitis) recently at
Big Woods. Pink eye is spread by touching the eye and then touching the other
eye or another person. It can also be
spread by touching your eye after touching a surface the person with pink eye
touched.
The best way to prevent spreading pink
eye is frequent hand washing. Also, not
touching the eyes, not reusing handker-
chiefs or towels when wiping the face or
eyes, and changing pillow cases frequently can help prevent spreading pink
eye.
The symptoms of pink eye include pink or
red conjunctiva, white or yellow eye discharge (pus), often with matted eyelids
after sleep, eye pain, blurred or decreased vision, sensitivity to light, redness
of the eyelids, cough and sneezing.
If you suspect your child has pink eye,
contact your doctor. Children diagnosed
with pink eye may return to school after
starting treatment, as long as they can
keep their hands away from their eyes.
If your child has any drainage from his/
her eye, keep your child home and contact your doctor.
If you have any questions regarding pink
eye, please contact Julie Winkelman,
School Nurse, at 497-6520.
Strep Throat
There have been several cases of strep throat at Big Woods Elementary.
Symptoms of strep throat include sore throat, fever, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Not all symptoms need to be present for infection. If your child has a sore throat with any of the other symptoms, a physician should evaluate him or her. If other family members
have the above symptoms or have been diagnosed with strep throat but your child has not, he or she should also be evaluated by a
physician, since he or she may have strep throat but not be symptomatic.
Strep throat is caused by bacteria (usually Group A streptococcus), which is spread directly from nose and throat discharges of infected
persons and indirectly by contact with hands or tissue soiled with those discharges. A person with strep throat is communicable (can
spread it) from 24 hours before onset of symptoms and 24-48 hours after treatment is started.
If your child has the above symptoms or is diagnosed with strep throat, he or she should remain out of school until he or she has been
under treatment for 24 hours and is clinically well. If your child has a negative quick-strep test, I recommend you keep him or her
home until you receive the 24 hour culture results, as many children have a negative quick-strep test but a positive 24 hour culture.
It is also recommended that you provide your child with a new toothbrush and discard the old one, as toothbrushes can harbor bacteria and cause re-infection.
Winter Assembly
Ansel H., Blue, and Eli P. host the winter assembly on December 23rd. Payton E., Isabella A., Michael D., Maggie B.,
Christopher S., Tianna C., Emily M., and Anja H., entertain the audience with One Call Away.
Page 5
I LOVE to READ events!
Unwrap a surprise!
Mystery books will be available for teachers to check-out from the
Media Center for a surprise read aloud all month long.
Classrooms will have the opportunity to participate in
Battle of The Books...a voting competition for the ultimate book at
Big Woods. Brackets will be displayed on the Media Center windows in the main hallway.
Our annual Books & Breakfast event is happening on Wednesday, February 1st from 6:45AM-7:30AM in the cafeteria. The
menu will include muffins, milk, fresh fruit, juice and coffee to
enjoy with a book. *Registration is required for the event and
due by Tuesday, January 24th.
The Spring Book Fair will be held in the Media Center from January 30th –February 6th.
The Book Fair will be open during regular school hours (8:00-2:00) and during Conference Nights. All proceeds from the Book Fair benefit the Media Center. Be sure to stop in
to check out the large selection of books.
Classrooms will also play Book Fair Bingo during the morning news show
for a chance to win a class prize from the Book Fair!
Mark your calendars for...My Many Colored Days Week at Big Woods...
19 Sunday
20 Monday
21 Tuesday
22 Wednesday
23 Thursday
24 Friday
My Many Colored
No School…
Wear Green...
Wear Orange…
Wear Red & White…
Days week...
President’s Day
like the Grinch
like the Lorax
Wear Colorful
socks…
Like The Cat in the Hat
like Fox in Socks
Read Across Big Woods
Big Woods
presents
What is Empty Bowls?
The basic premise is simple; handmade bowls
are created by artists in exchange for a cash donation to fight hunger.
This year our 4th graders created glazed ceramic bowls for the event. Parents are invited to
view the bowls during conferences, pick up
your child’s bowl, and make an optional donation to the Food Shelf.
Thanks to Ms. Ohmann, Big Woods art teacher,
for coordinating the event.
Lions Drug Awareness Poster Contest
Congratulations to students for participating and placing in the
annual contest. 1st place winners received $20, and 2nd place
winners received $10.
1st Place: Sebastian P. and Lucy V.
2nd Place: Madelynn B., Miranda E., Paige H., and Evan B.
STMA Bond Information
Why now?

The last STMA facilities bond was in 2005

Enrollment growth (62% increase since 2005) means an increase in student needs
including classrooms & facilities

The district and STMA community faces new safety, technology, facility, and
activity needs

The STMA Bond addresses the District’s facility needs for the foreseeable future

Interest rates are at historic lows and state aid is currently projected to offset
What does it include?
S afety

Secure entrances to buildings at Albertville Primary, Middle
School East and the High School
 Relocate baseball field, track, tennis courts, and football field
to the high school to create a “One Campus Solution” to
increase student safety by reducing student travel and provide
quicker access to athletic trainer
Where can I learn more?
District Web Site

www.stma.k12.mn.us

Up-to-Date & Accurate Information

Tax Calculator
Public Meetings

Dec. 14 7:00 p.m.
MS West Auditorium
Update infrastructure and data center
 Replace computers and mobile devices

Jan. 19 9:30 a.m.
M aintenance

T echnology

St. Michael City Hall
Jan. 19 7:00 p.m.
STMA High School PAC

Improve energy efficiency
 Add classrooms at the High School and Albertville Primary
to meet facility needs for the future
 Repair Middle School East pool
 Replace football field with a new one at the High School that
has increased seating, improved lighting and sound and can
meet many athletic, arts, and community needs
A ctivities
Total Cost:
$36 million
Tax Impact:
$45/yr.
(on a $200,000 home)
$3.75/month
February 7, 2017
MS West
7:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.

Add a dome to the high school artificial turf field to create
community access for youth organizations, community expos,
art events, music concert series, marching band, speech tournament, and high school PE and team use (lacrosse,
soccer, baseball, softball, and football)
 Add another sheet of indoor ice to hockey arena
Early Voting Dec. 23-Feb. 6
Excellence Is Our Tradition
President Nikki Kephart Vice President Stacey Anderson Secretary Erin Byboth
Treasurer Deb Gustafson Fundraiser Coordinator Sarah Sieve
Educational Promotions Coordinator Ann Ontjes Volunteer Coordinator Sara Bobich
Members at Large Erin Herbst, Jerian Lind, Chrisanna Molesky, Amy Slettum
Find PTO on Facebook at Big
Woods PTO and “like “ them
for updates.
Contact PTO at
[email protected].
Order yearbooks on-line. Thanks to PTO for VOLUNTEERING to create yearbooks for Big Woods students.
Words of the Week
Each week, the specialists dress in character and introduce one essential testing word. Throughout the week, classroom teachers reinforce
the Word of the Week. The words were selected by teachers to increase the knowledge of vocabulary used on standardized tests.
Use the Words of the Week with your child as often as possible:
September: compare & contrast, conclude
October: character, sequence, setting
November: plot, main idea, theme, cause & effect
January: describe, tone, mood, personification
December: predict, explain, infer
February: idiom, onomatopoeia, simile, synonym & antonym
March: condense, support, metaphor, paraphrase, foreshadowing April: prefix & suffix, genre, point of view, headline
May: author’s purpose, summarize
www.stma.k12.mn.us
Big Woods
Grades 1~4
Enrollment 628
S tudent H o ur s 7 :4 0 -2 : 15
O f f i ce Ho ur s 7 : 0 0 - 3 :3 0
13470 Frankfort Parkway NE
St. Michael, MN 55376
Phone: 763-497-8025
Fax: 763-497-6563
Principal Email: [email protected]
The St. Michael Dairy Queen is sponsoring a monthly fundraiser for Big Woods.
DQ will donate 10% of their total sales to the BW PTO from 6:00-9:00 PM one
Wednesday per month.
February 22, March 15, April 19, May 17
Background Checks
Most school volunteers and chaperones need to have a one time $15 district
background check.
Email the following information to Welcome @stma.k12.mn.us
•Full legal name •Email address • Phone number
A link to a web site that accepts credit card payments will be emailed to you.