Important Referendum Open House

We have integrated technology in fabulous ways here at Normandale!  Without technology, our teachers couldn't reach across to other French-speaking schools or access appropriate and relevant materials on the Internet in real time. This classroom access to technology allows students to share what they learn and to have an authentic audience for their work beyond Normandale's walls. Yet, this all comes at a cost: our ten year-old technology fund has expired.  Voting YES on Question #2 of the referendum would ensure that we have a dedicated technology fund that will serve the needs of our students for the next ten years. If this question doesn't pass, the impact will extend far beyond technology in the classroom: in order to keep funding some technology, the district will have to reallocate dollars from the general fund to technology, resulting in wide program cuts and higher class sizes. Talk to your friends and neighbors! Invite them to the  Referendum Open House, this Thursday, October 27, at 6:00 p.m. in room 351 of the Edina Community Center. It will also be broadcast live on the Internet, giving all a chance to ask questions.  Why not hold a neighborhood viewing party?

Edina School Funding - Election Update #2

Today's Topic: The Effect on the Edina Public Schools Budget

Your vote for school funding is needed this Election Day, Tuesday, November 8th!  Two revenue referendums for Edina Public School funding are on the ballot. 

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We will be voting to renew two referendums that are expiring (voter approved referendums run for ten years and then must be renewed).  The expiring referendums provided $4 million of funding per year for our schools ($3 million for the general budget and $1 million for technology).   The new referendums will provide $7.5 million per year. 

Due to on-going state funding shortfalls, our school district has had to reduce its budget by 6% in the last five years through painful cuts to school programming.  If both of the referendums do not pass, we will lose $4 million in annual funding and will have to cut an additional 5% of our budget, likely resulting in larger class sizes, decreased class offerings, program reductions and postponement of needed upgrades to technology. 

Currently, we get $1 million per year for technology from one of our expiring referendums.  But because of the priority our District places upon the role of technology as a catalyst for excellence, our District currently spends $3.5 million per year on our technology budget.  To pay for this, the District has had to reduce spending on other needs to pay the difference.  The new technology referendum will increase technology funding to $4.5 million per year.  This will fully fund our technology budget and stop the need to take funding from other sources.  

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We need you to vote on November 8th.  The votes of school parents are essential to passing both of these referendums. This is an off-year election, so lower voter turnout is expected, making each vote more important.  If parents don't vote, these referendums will not pass!   

Click here to learn more.

Technology Open House

School Directories

School Directories should have gone home with your child last week.  Each family at Normandale receives one copy of the directory, but because you have requested it, extra directories are available in limited quantities.  If you would like an extra directory, the cost is $2.00 per directory.  Email Leslie Vaillancourt to arrange for payment and delivery of an extra copy.

Intern Dinner Night Out

Costume Guidelines for Friday's Parties!

Fall classroom parties will take place this Friday.  Students (and adults) who choose to wear a costume need to follow these guidelines:

Health Screening Volunteers Needed!

Please come help our school with health screenings. Sign up for one of the shifts below. Your help is needed!

Tuesday, November 15th - 8:25 am to 12:05 pm and 12:10 pm to 2:30 pm

Wednesday, November 16th - 8:25 am to 11:25 am

Please sign up on the Normandale Wiki today!

REMINDER: Turn in Health Forms!

Please turn in your annual health information form if you have not already done so.

Merci Beaucoup!

betschuur@edina.k12.mn.us952-848-4140

Normandale Health Office

Flu Shot Clinic for Families & Students

Bloomington Public Health Department is offering a flu shot clinic for Edina students and family members on Thursday, November 3rd, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. in the Valley View Middle School cafeteria. No appointments are necessary. The flu shots are free but bring your insurance card if you have one.  We hope you and your family will take advantage of this clinic and help us keep the Normandale community flu-free!

Sign Up for Art Adventure for Grades 3-5!

Sign Up Now Open for Art Adventure in Grades 3-5! 

Art Adventure is a program for students in grades K-5 based on original paintings, sculpture, textiles, and photographs from the collection at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. This year's colorful and inspirational collection is called "Let's Celebrate Life," and it includes classic and contemporary works from around the world.

According to MIA, the goal of Art Adventure is to provide an opportunity for elementary students to develop skills in art appreciation through the discussion of individual works of art. Art appreciation means understanding the significance of a work of art and the context in which it was created. 

Art Adventure is offered within art class for grades K-2, but students in grades 3-5 need to sign up to participate in the program. The series is offered over the lunch/recess period, and students can bring their lunch to the presentations. The works are presented by trained volunteers (Normandale parents and grandparents), and each presentation includes an art project related to the specific presentation. 

This year's schedule is shown below: 

3rd Grade

ECC Room 329, 11:45 - 12:30

Third Friday of the Month

11/18, 12/16, 1/20, 2/17, 3/16, 4/20

ECC Room 332, 12:05 - 12:50 

11/17, 12/15, 1/19, 2/16, 3/15, 4/19

ECC Room 329, 11:30 - 12:15

Third Wednesday of the Month

11/16, 12/21, 1/18, 2/15, 3/21, 4/18 

Take advantage of this opportunity to expand your child's art education. Sign up sheets are posted onsite at Normandale, but for easier registration, email Normandale's Art Adventure Coordinator Leeanne Huber by November 4, 2011.  

Information needed to sign your child up includes:

1. Your name and email (used for reminders/class schedule changes only)

2. Your child's name
3. Your child's teacher 

Space in these sessions is limited!  For more information, feel free to contact Leeanne at 612-309-6266 or via email.

FREE Father-Son Event with Mike Max

Look who's talking at the Edina Community Center - Mike Max is appearing as part of the fall speaker series!  He hosts WCCO "Sports Tonight" with Mike Max on WCCO Radio as well as "Life to the Max" on WCCO-CBS television. 

 Edina Community Center-3rd Floor

 FREE

 Please click here to register in advance or call 952.848.3952. 

PCN National Speaker Forum

Edina Parent Communication Network NEWS!

PCN NATIONAL SPEAKER FORUM moves to NOVEMBER 14th

Parenting with Love & Leadership:  Equipped, but NOT Entitled

John Rosemond

New Date:  Monday, November 14th at 7p.m.

New Location:  Colonial Church, Edina

Tickets:  $15 in advance, $20 at the door

Click here for more information. 

In today's child-centered culture, are parents equipping children for the real world?  Or are good intentions creating entitled kids?  

John Rosemond makes the case that today's well-meaning parents do too much for their kids and try too hard to be well-liked.  How do we break the cycle of doing for our kids what they need to learn to do for themselves?  In a thought-provoking presentation, Rosemond will share his strategies for parenting with the essential ingredients of Love and Leadership in ways that help children grow into responsible, compassionate adults.

John Rosemond is a family psychologist, best-selling author and nationally syndicated parenting columnist in more than 200 newspapers.  To learn more and purchase tickets, visit the Edina Parent Communication Network's website.

Happening in the Community