Playing catch is a classic American pastime for countless boys and girls. As weather gets better, we'll be starting outdoor sports, including baseball (likely in May). Normandale would like to accommodate those who don't get the chance to throw a baseball around at home. In order to do that we have a need for 11 gloves to equip grade 3-5 classes. I'm not asking for anyone to go out and buy new gloves. Simply, if you have a glove (10-11" ideal) that you don't use or your older children have outgrown one, please consider donating it. We have 16 gloves right now, which is enough for playing a game of baseball, but not enough for everyone to play catch at the same time. Looking forward to tossing a ball around. 

John Hannemann and Julie Hoecherl

Normandale is celebrating "La Francophonie" during the month of March. The theme this year is French-speaking islands. Have you notice the decoration on the classroom doors? Each grade level was assigned a French-speaking island and students researched that island and then decorated their door.

On Friday, March 30, the Normandale cafeteria will promote French Caribbean offerings to go along with our theme. If your child usually brings lunch from home, s/he might want to try the following on that day.

Celebrating French Caribbean

To be served Friday, March 30 at the offerings bar:

Mango, pineapple, & coconut salad

Jicama sticks with lime juice

Orange, avocado, lettuce salad

Bananas

Also Mango Pineapple Island Smoothies from Odwalla at a cost of $2.00.

The "Francophonie" committee

Gather for a night of community building, collaboration and commitment. Visit with friends, old and new. Hear about Normandale's re-energized vision and how you can get involved in shaping the future of our wonderful school in an informal and social setting.

It's "INFORMANCE" time!

The Edina Art Fair sees the value in partnering with the community and really appreciates youth and the arts. For the second year, we are seeking to display original works of Edina Public School students between 1st and 12th grade for an exclusive art exhibit called Foot in the Fair.

If you are interested, please take a photo of the original work and submit the jpeg image to Foot in the Fair and include the following; students' name, grade, school, and art teacher.

The maximum size for work displayed at the fair can be no larger than 12"x 18". Two dimensional and three dimensional pieces can be entered. All entries are due by April 15, 2012. Any entries submitted after this deadline will not be considered. All entries will be juried by the Edina Art Fair committee and only a limited amount will be selected for the fair. All work must be made between the 2011-2012 school year and done within Edina Public Schools. You will be notified by email to the email address that submitted the photo if art was selected by the end of April and further instructions and details will be given at that time. All art chosen for the fair will be juried by the Edina Art Fair committee; work will be divided by elementary schools and junior and high schools, ribbons will be given to each of these categories. Only one photo entry per student.

For more information on the Edina Art Fair, please visit our website or email Julie Boehm.

NEWS FLASH !!!

  "100 artworks from NORMANDALE ARTISTS have been chosen to be displayed at the 2012 Edina Students Art Show!"

Artwork by students from six Edina elementary schools will be on display: 

 March 19 - April 16, 2012

Edina Library              5280 Grandview Square, Edina            952-847-5425

Come and see artwork on display by the following Normandale artists:

FIRST GRADE ARTISTS

Doyle, Sidney · Faris, Richard · Grap, Dax · Mendez, Anna · Niemeier, Joseph · Opp, Charlotte · Rooney, Mia · Schmitt, Danielle · Schneider, Matteo · Tran, Natalie

Antoine, Lily-Marie · Auguston, Annika · Cullen, Sophie · Edam, Caden · Nahlovsky, William · Rewey, Anne · Ruchie, Elvy · Shand, Fiona · Vezmar, Sophia · Walgren, Christopher 

Aafedt, Payton · Avery, Isabel · Cepek, Anne · Dillon, Sonja · Ensrud, Alexandra · Epple, Zoe · Hardy, Mathilde · Jay, Tomas · Richards, Noah · Rose, Henry · Rutzen, Lillian · Tabor, Isaac ··

Tabor, Sophia · Wetmore, Katherine 

Bercaw, Caroline · Burns, Alison · Dalton, Maxwell · Flores, Cecilia · Glenna, Madeleine · Goetzmann, Grace · Hawthorne, Margrethe · Heinecke, May · Hicken, Jonathan · Hoy, Allison · Kanwar, Vishakha · MacDonagh, Siobhan · More, Emily · Raming, Alexander · Schreiner, Sadie · Sebek, Thomas · Swanson, Lydia · Van Ness, Eleanor · Yonce, Veronica

The West Metro Education Program (WMEP) invites students entering Grades 1-8 in the fall 2012 to be a part of our 2012 Summer Scholar Institute. Classes offered integrate rigorous academic content framed within an engaging curriculum that utilizes high quality instructional practices and supports our district mission. We look forward to sharing this summer enrichment program with you. The courses are free and transportation is provided. Applications for the Summer Scholar lottery will be accepted March 12-30. Space is limited! Students should register for the grades they will be entering in the fall. Please follow this link for more information on dates and course being offered. 

• Check out some fabulous Community Opportunities for Youth listed on the EPS Facebook Page.  
• Learn about underage drinking prevention at Raising Youth in a Drinking Culture on Monday, March 26 from 7:30 - 8:30pm in the Centennial Lakes Centrum Building. For more information and registration info, click here.
• Drive-Thru Car Seat Inspection and Clinic, Normandale parking lot, March 31, 1:00-4:00. Food and entertainment provided.
• Is your daughter interested in playing slow-pitch softball this summer? EYSA is a low-commitment, relaxed league for K-12th grade girls. Click to see the Facebook posting.
• The following courses are offered by the Edina Community Center dealing with the joys and challenges of growing up:  GROWING UP: Parents and Sons and GROWING UP: Mothers and Daughters.

Previously included La Liaison articles are repeated below in case you missed them.

This year's carnival team is seeking one fifth grade parent to help with a project for the carnival. You'll be able to do the whole thing from home, over your computer, and at your own pace--just an hour per week. Super easy! Won't you please help us make this year's carnival better than ever before?! If yes, please contact Chris Deets by email or at 952.715.8766.