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La Liaison
A Publication of the Normandale PTO
December 21, 2011
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Important Dates | |
December
21 Winter vacation begins at close of day
January
3 School resumes after winter break
9 Kindergarten Program Choice Preference
Forms due, 4:00pm
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Normandale Leadership Team Update | |
An overview of the new Normandale leadership model was presented at the October 11 General Membership meeting. We are in the process of transitioning from the old model which included a separate Site Council and PTO to a new model focused on the Normandale Leadership Team (NLT). The Normandale Leadership Team is comprised equally of staff and parents and is responsible for setting school policy, long and short term planning, and encouraging collaboration and communication. In an effort to keep the whole school community involved, minutes from NLT Meetings are being posted to the Normandale PTO website. You can find the minutes, a copy of the October 11th General Meeting presentation and more on the PTO Website. We will include a notice in La Liaison whenever new minutes are posted to the website. As always, feedback is appreciated. Submit comments, questions, ideas to the Online Normandale Suggestion Box. |
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Happy Holidays from the Normandale PTO!
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Wishing you a happy and healthy holiday break!!!
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Save the Date!
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This school year's Rally Week will be January 9th through January 13th.
Rally week is when the Normandale community rallies in support of our excellent French Intern program. Our goal is to sign up enough host families and other support so we can commit to bringing 23 interns to Edina for the 2012-13 school year.
If you can help with Rally Week decoration, cleanup, or planning, please click here for the online signup sheet.
Some Rally Week highlights will be:
- Red, White and Blue Day
- Trivia Contest - prizes awarded
- Coloring Contest - prizes awarded
- Pajama Day
- Milk and Cookies Night - Come see our interns act out a bedtime story and participate in a French sing-a-long! Thursday, January 12th 6:30 - 8:00pm in the Normandale Auditorium.
Hope to see you there!
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Legislative Dialogue Invitation
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You are invited to attend the Edina Public School's Legislative Dialogue being held Thursday, January 5th from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. in Room 350 of the Edina Community Center. This is your opportunity to learn about the District's current priorities, and voice your questions and concerns to area legislators and District administrators.
Click here to learn more!
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Edina Public Schools 2012 Legislative Priorities
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Edina Public Schools 2012 Minnesota Legislative Priorities
Edina Public Schools works closely with the Minnesota School Boards Association, the Association of Metropolitan School Districts, and the Minnesota Association of School Administrators in advocating for early childhood through adult learning education. The District recognizes that the priorities of these organizations also support the interests of Edina Public Schools. The District's major priorities for the 2012 Minnesota legislative session include the following:
Provide a plan for stabilizing funding for Minnesota school districts.
- Maintain current public education funding levels in the upcoming legislative session.
- Provide mechanisms for school districts to contain increasing costs.
- Pursue an alternative school funding model that will provide adequate and equitable funding for Minnesota school districts.
Increase the independence of school districts with accountability.
- Modify and reduce mandates that cause school districts to be overregulated.
- Allow school districts to have greater flexibility in determining their school learning year, including the mandated after-Labor Day start date.
- Focus on emphasizing statutory changes that will enhance the academic success of student learning.
- Reduce mandates that limit school districts in being innovative and creative in responding to today's world in a timely manner.
Create and maintain the highest quality educational work force.
- Modify the educator evaluation program to ensure the program aligns to researched best practices.
- Maintain and enhance the alternative teacher professional pay system.
Create a 2020 Educational Vision for the State of Minnesota.
- Understand and plan for the demographic and societal changes occurring in Minnesota.
- Understand and plan for the educational enhancements that must occur in public education.
- Align funding and policy to the educational vision of the State.
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Sibling Kindergarten Choice Program Preference Forms
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Sibling Kindergarten Choice Program Preference Form
Due by 4:00 P.M. on January 9, 2012
Please remember that current Normandale families who have sons or daughters who will be kindergarten age by September 2012 must turn in their Kindergarten Choice Program Preference Form by 4 p.m. on January 9 to the District Office to receive sibling enrollment preference at Normandale. Late forms do not guarantee placement and will be numbered in the order they are received and placed at the end of the waitlist if a lottery is necessary. Preference forms were sent in the kindergarten mailing to parents in early November and can be turned in as soon as you have made your decision.
We certainly encourage you to make your decision early and get your forms in ASAP to be certain you don't miss the deadline.
If you have any questions about the process, please contact Isabelle Punchard at 952-848-4199.
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Thank You Vision & Hearing Screening Volunteers!
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Thank you very much to these volunteers who helped with vision and hearing screening - we could not accomplish this without you!! - Lisa Ungerman (coordinator), Laura Anderson, Kris Wetmore, Cynthia Johnson, Lisa Nelson, Monica Ansems, Laura Anderson, Estrellita Lacsamana, Beth Zeuli, Kerry Fiery, Kris Mollison, and Cynthia Fogg.
Merci Beaucoup for your hard work.
Jennifer Rainerson and Betty Schuur
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Olivia Tran Selected "ARTIST OF THE WEEK!"
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Congratulations Normandale Elementary School!
Olivia Tran in M. Konicek's second grade class has been selected as Artsonia's PreK-3rd "ARTIST OF THE WEEK!" for November 20, 2011 - November 26, 2011. During the contest, Olivia6888 received 1583 votes from website visitors!
 Olivia received a special plaque and a $50 gift certificate from Blick Art Materials. Normandale's art Department received a $100 Blick gift certificate as well! Click here to check Normandale's Artsonia page to see Olivia's artwork and all the other wonderful artwork from Normandale's artists.
Olivia's winning oil pastel drawing shown above. Mme. French Amara with Olivia and her plaque. Sincerely, Your Friends at Artsonia |
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Edina Community Ed Winter Break Classes
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School's out December 21!
Drop the kids off at the Edina Community Center on Thursday, Dec 22 and finish shopping!!!
Click on the class title for more details and to register online
There isn't enough room here to list all the other great choices coming up on December 27, 28 & 29th for ages 5-12.
Visit our website to view all the details and register online. Click on the link below.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
www.edina.thatscommunityed.com
952-848-3952 www.edinacommunityed.org
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Free PCN Forum!
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What: Ada Alden; "The Parent Teacher partnership; A necessary relationship for success."
What can parents do to support, prepare and establish a positive learning environment in their home? When and why is it wise to say "NO! not at our house." Why is it important to have home schedules, routines, and a sense of predictability? The home can be the anchor point from which a child may risk and celebrate a successful educational journey.
Specific practical suggestions and techniques will help parents establish a home agenda that will help ensure the optimal development of their child. Purposeful and attentive parents establish "School Smart" Homes.
Where: Countryside Elementary School When: Monday, January 9, 2012; 7-9pm |
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Table Captains Needed for Edina Education Fund Show and Tell
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On Monday February 6,2012 the Edina Education Fund will be hosting the 5th Annual Show & Tell Event at St. Patrick's Church. We are looking for individuals to serve as Table Captains for this year's event. As a Table Captain you will be asked to fill a table of 8 people by personally inviting friends, family, neighbors, colleagues and anyone with whom you would like to show the Ed Fund's work and the great things the Ed Fund does for our schools and kids. The Ed Fund's goal is to reach as many new people as possible.
- Your job is to invite new faces, the Ed Fund will inspire them
- You will be given a kit to walk you through your job as a table captain
- We will be here to offer help and answer questions
- Best of all the bag lunch is provided by the Ed Fund
Thanks for your continued help. |
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Happening in the Community
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Here are some fabulous Community Opportunities for Youth listed on the EPS Facebook page. Check them out!
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La Liaison is published every Wednesday. Submit articles to LaLiaison_MN@hotmail.com by noon Monday prior to your desired publication date. Unless designated otherwise, articles will be published in La Liaison for two issues and then removed.
Editors: Deb Gardner and Angie Porter . |
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