The Countryside Newsline
December 18, 2015

 MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL | COUNTRYSIDE NEWS
MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

12/18/2015
 
 
Greetings Countryside Families!
 
Student Recipe Contest
In celebration of National Nutrition Month, the Countryside Wellness Committee and Chartwells Food Service provider are partnering on a Student Recipe Contest!  Your student could have their own recipe prepared by District Chef James for all the students of Countryside at lunch one day in March.  The deadline to submit a recipe is Jan. 15, so start working on your submission!  Click the links for the Contest Overviewand the Entry Form .
 
Fit Friday - Returning January 8th - The Best Way to Start Your Day!
Parents- What if you could start your child's morning off with fun fitness games?  Now you can!  Fit Friday's fun fitness stations will release your child's excess energy before the school day even starts.  Fit Friday provides fun, safe and structured fitness activities for an improved classroom experience.  Get fit, have fun and start your morning off like a PRO!  Fit Friday, offered in partnership with our Countryside PTO Wellness Committee and Coach Jonny with Pros of the Rope (PRO), will begin again on Friday, January 8 at 8:00 AM
 
Current Countryside Families and Kindergarten Registration for Fall 2016
A reminder for parents of incoming kindergarteners; the white card "Kindergarten Choice Program Preference Form" does not register your child for Kindergarten.  The enrollment packet - which includes multiple pages - needs to be submitted to the Office of Enrollment or to the Countryside office before registration is complete.  Please feel free to call the Countryside office with questions. 
 
Dressing for Minnesota Weather
Winter is almost here!  With our unpredictable winter weather upon us, I would like to remind students that they should come dressed appropriately for changing weather conditions.  Students will go outside for noon recess unless it is raining or the temperature or wind chill is below zero (BRRRR, let's hope that doesn't happen for a while).
 
Lost But Found
Our bin for Lost But Found items is overflowing!  Next time you are in the building, please check it out and reclaim the treasures that belong to your family!  We will again do a donation of unclaimed items after winter break, so now is the time to check it out.
 
Stay Engaged with Construction Planning
Want to know the latest on what is happening with the referendum construction plans? Planning team materials, updates and more are all archived online here. Stay engaged and stay informed as we transform space to advance our Next Generation of EPS Strategic Plan!
 
Wishing you a great winter break and see you in January!

Karen Bergman, Principal

 
CSNews
COUNTRYSIDE NEWS

 

 Mark Your Calendar                  

Monday, December 21                   Winter Break begins, no school

Monday, January 4                        School resumes

Monday, January 18                       No School - Martin Luther King Holiday
 


TEACHER SPOTLIGHTSMediaMatters




Physical Education
 
The GET FIT program that the PE teachers are promoting with the 1
st through 5
th grades will be due no later than January 8
th.  Students that have decided to participate in GET FIT are trying to earn 75 or more points by the January 8
th date.  If they do, they can earn their Minnesota Timberwolves prize package. 
 
Remember 1 point = 15 minutes of continuous physical activity that is done outside of the school day.  Winter break will be a good time to continue earning points working towards the goal of 75 or more points.  Students can start to hand in their log sheets at any time now as long as they have achieved the point total needed.
 
If you need extra log sheets, I have some extras on my bulletin board outside the gym or go to Mr.  Bleess's webpage to print one off at home.  https://sites.google.com/a/apps.edina.k12.mn.us/countryside-physical-education-with-mr-bleess/
 
 
What have the students been doing recently in PE class with Mr. Bleess and Mr. Koller?  With the 3rd-5th grades we have done bowling and rolling games, basketball skills and lead-up games, and Fitness Testing with the new Fitnessgram tests.  Activities with the Kindergarten through 2nd grades include; ball and scoop tricks, scooter movement, bowling and rolling games, basketball skills with Mr. Bleess and Exergaming with the video game "Just Dance" with Mr. Koller.
 
Have a great winter break.
Mr. Bleess and Mr. Koller

PTONews
PTO NEWS
THE BOOK FAIR WAS A GREAT SUCCESS!
 
Thank you again to everyone who supported the Scholastic Book Fair. We raised $6,900 in scholastic dollars for our media center! That will all be used to update and replenish the offerings for your kids. And thanks to your generosity, the Book Fair also raised over $800 in All For Books! This money stays at Countryside and gives the school access to books for kids in need.  Scholastic also matches our $800 and donates books for the Kids In Need Foundation.  Way to go Countryside!
 
HIP HAPPENINGS - REGISTER NOW ON THE PTO WEBSITE
 
Hip Happenings are fun gatherings outside of school to build community and socialize with other Countryside parents and kids. The events are hosted by Countryside parents and 100% of each registration fee is donated to Countryside.  All Hip Happenings are now open for registration on the PTO Website and include a Haute Barre Class, 2nd Grade Bowling, Yoga Sculpt Class, Spring Break Pedicures at Oceans Spa and a Sizzling Summer ChopFest.
 
Spots are limited so go to the PTO Website now for dates, additional details and registration! Thank you in advance to all our hosts and attendees!
 
If you have any questions or would like to host a new Hip Happening please contact Kelly Wellborn at [email protected].
 
COUNTRYSIDE PTO EXECUTIVE BOARD POSITIONS
 
The Countryside PTO is taking nominations for the 2016-2017 PTO Executive Board. Board positions are 2 year positions and are integral to the management of the PTO and the planning of PTO events. If you are interested, have questions, or know anyone who you would like to nominate for this position, please contact Jennifer Musolf at [email protected]
 
BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION ARE BEING ACCEPTED
 
Countryside is accepting Box Tops for Education. You can turn them in to the PTO Box located at the office front desk. Thank you for your support!
 
PARENT COMMUNICATION NETWORK (PCN) CO-CHAIR NEEDED!
 
The PTO is in need of a co-chaiperson on the PCN Committee. Please go to the Committees Page on the PTO website for information on this position. If you are interested please email the PTO at [email protected].
 
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: MARATHON MONDAYS!
 
Parents, we need your help in supporting "Marathon Mondays"!  Please sign up to visit Countryside as a designated walker/runner during breaks/recess.  We hope seeing their parents and friends' parents will provide extra motivation to our students!  Please CLICK HERE to sign up on the Volunteer Page of the PTO Website.
 
CommunityNews
COMMUNITY NEWS



Edina PCN Presents:
Teachable Safety Skills with Jacob Wetterling Foundation's Alison Feight

Monday, January 11, 2016 at Edina High School Performing Arts Center  7-9PM    FREE!!


Lifelong Learning 
Winter and spring online registration for adult enrichment will open Tuesday, December 1st. Catalogs will appear in mailboxes mid-December.
 
 
Volunteers Needed! (Countryside only)
Help 3-5 graders with homework, activities and snacks between 4-5 p.m. Thursdays, at Countryside Elementary. Contact [email protected] for more information. 
 


   Edina Athletic Booster Board presents the:

Hours: Tuesday-Friday: 12-7 pm (closed Mondays)
                               Weekend days: 11-4 pm
          Store runs from November 29 to December 30, 2015
                    Located at the Neighborhood Ice Cream Shoppe
                                     Valley View Road & Kellogg Road
 
                      We have great, new EDINA apparel, 
             other EDINA themed gifts & stocking stuffers!
 
  All proceeds go to support Edina Booster Club
      which High School Sports & Activities!
           

5701 Benton Ave. S
Edina, MN 55436
952-848-4700