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Principal's Weekly
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Dear Normandale Families,
I see our Normandale community as such a tremendous resource - and I value our partnership greatly. I hope you will attend our PTO general meeting on Tuesday evening. The key to becoming the best immersion school possible is harnessing the great spirit of our community. We need you! I hope to see you there.
As always, my door is open.
Gerry Lukaska
952-848-4199
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PTO President Eric Schneider
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Greetings Normandale Families!
The school year is off to a great start at Normandale, and the PTO is ramping up its efforts to keep our community connected and our school staff supported. My name is Eric Schneider and I am the Normandale PTO President for the 2013-14 school year. I am very dedicated to making this a great year for our school community, but it is truly the efforts of our three committees (PEF, SAC, and IOC) that keep the Normandale PTO engine running smoothly. As President, I want to send a huge and heart felt "Thank You" to all of our parent volunteers...and I want to encourage all parents to consider joining our volunteer efforts throughout the year. It's a great way to get to know fellow parents while also supporting the needs of the staff and students. Contact Linda Lutgen if you have questions.
If you'd like to learn more about our PTO structure and the year ahead, please join us on Tuesday, October 8th for our PTO General Assembly Meeting in the auditorium from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. Many of our PTO leaders will be on hand to share updates, as well as our new Intern Director Sara Neu, Principal Gerry Lukaska, and Superintendent Ric Dressen. It should be a great night for Normandale!
As many of you know, fundraising at Normandale is about more than just gift wrap...our adult fundraiser was a huge success last year and is a "can't miss" event for the 2013-14 school year, so join your Normandale friends at Pinstripes on November 16th! It is a great opportunity to build our community and to get to know each other, so please put it on your calendar and plan to attend. And buy some gift wrap while you're at it.
For those new to the Normandale community, our fundraising efforts pay for the amazing group of 24 interns that bring such great French spirit, culture, and native language skills to our classrooms. It is an investment that is well worth the effort and generosity of our school community. If you would like to learn more about the intern program, just click on the Edina Interns webpage.
If I don't get a chance to say hello at our PTO General Assembly Meeting next week, I will definitely look forward to seeing you at Pinstripes on November 16th. Keep an eye on your weekly La Liaison and our PTO website for important updates and messages from your PTO leaders and your school staff. Thanks to all of our parents, students, and staff for making Normandale such an amazing learning environment and such a welcoming school community!
A Bientot!
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French Enrichment Classes
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 Want to have fun in French with our talented Normandale Interns? Sign up for our French Enrichment classes! Each class will be a combination of interactive learning and traditional tutoring sessions that will support your student's French speaking, writing and reading skills. In addition to continuing the improvements made to last year's program, we are implementing a homework lab that will be tailored to 4th and 5th grade students to assist them with their grade-specific French language projects. For all students, the French Enrichment classes create a fun, constructive environment for your student to explore the French language.
The classes are open to all students - Kindergarten through 5th grade. Classes are held Wednesdays from 3:05 - 4:15pm. Pick up is in the auditorium. Please be sure to park in the lot and come into the building to pick up your child.
Cost is $75 per session and all fees go toward supporting the French Intern program.
We will be offering two six-week sessions. You may sign up for either or both.
The dates are:
First Session: Wednesdays: 11/6, 11/13, 12/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/22
Second Session: Wednesdays: 3/5, 3/12, 3/19, 4/9, 4/16, 4/23
There are a limited number of spaces in each session to ensure the low student-to-intern ratio. If you are interested, please complete the sign up form and return it, with payment, directly to the Normandale office. The enrollment deadline is Friday, November 1st. The form is located at:
Have fun in French with the Interns, and help support our Edina Intern Program!
Thank you!
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Buy Your Pinstripes Tickets Today!
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Be an early bird and buy your tickets to the Pinstripes Adult Fundraiser today! All who purchase online before October 18th will receive a free ring toss in the Bottle Bonanza (a $6.67 value). You could go home with your favorite beverage! Buy your ticket today!
Who: ANYONE who supports the French immersion programs at Normandale and Valley View
What: Adult Only Party at Pinstripes
When: Saturday, November 16th, 7pm to Midnight
Where: Pinstripes, 3849 Gallagher Drive, Edina
Why: It's a great way to raise funds for our incredible intern program and a fabulously fun evening!
For pure entertainment, there will be bocce, bowling and dancing to an incredible DJ. To support the intern program by raising funds, there will be opportunities to:
- Mingle with other French Immersion supporters through Community Connections events
- Bid on great silent auction items
- Try your ring tossing skills in the Bottle Bonanza and go home with your favorite beverage
- Buy a Mystery Box and see what treasure lies inside!
How can I help, you ask? It's easy! You can:
Please contact Karen Epple or Kirsten Rewey with any questions or to discuss how you can help.
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Birthday Book Program
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 Does your child have a birthday coming up or a special occasion? Please consider the Birthday Book Program.
Participation in the Birthday Book Program is easy and fun for your child! If your family would like to make a $14.00 donation to the Birthday Book fund, your child may select one of the books which has been reserved for the program.
There are a wide variety of books to choose from so students can find a book that interests them. On or near the date of your child's birthday, he or she will be notified to come to the media center to select a book. The media staff will place a special bookplate inside the cover. The student's name, date and event will be recorded on the bookplate. Once this is completed, your child will be the first one to check out the book to share with the class and family. While we do refer to this as the "Birthday Book Program" these books may also honor a teacher, special school year or other event. If you are purchasing a book for a non-birthday event, be sure to include that information when sending in your check. You may also donate a book you have purchased and these are very welcomed! Birthday Book Form Thank you so much for your support and for participating! Tracy Pearson Media Specialist (952) 848-4121 trapearson@edina.k12.mn.us |
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Math Olympiads
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Math Olympiads is a math enrichment opportunity for mathematically talented students in grades 4 and 5. The students work together on problem solving strategies, do practice problems, and then complete individual competitions once a month.
Any student in grade 4 or 5 who would like an extra challenge in math is encouraged to join. Attendance is required at all meetings. Check your calendar to see if the times and dates work.
Sign up here. Deadline is October 31st.
Practice and Competition Dates:
- November 7 - practice
- November 21 - 1st Olympiad
- December 5 - practice
- December 19 - 2nd Olympiad
- January 9 - practice
- January 23 - 3rd Olympiad
- February 6 - practice
- February 20 - 4th Olympiad
- March 6 - practice
- March 20 - 5th Olympiad
Questions? Please contact Kate Kasemba, GT Teacher
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Innisbrook Sale Ending
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 October 3rd was the end date for Innisbrook gift wrap fundraiser. Please follow the instructions included in the packet that was sent home with your child in September. Enter your orders online at the www.Innisbrook.com webpage. Select "Parents and Students" and enter our school number: 101102. Once you have entered your items, print out the voucher and send in payment. Please check to see that your total sales amount matches your payment. (Checks may be made to Normandale French Immersion and cash is also fine). Place the voucher and payment in the original large white envelope (or any envelope will suffice) but please KEEP YOUR ORDER FORM until items are delivered in November. You will need this to distribute your sale items. You may send the payment to school with your child to turn in to his/her teacher, or you may drop it off at the front desk at Normandale. The items will be available for pickup stating Thursday, November 21st at School.
If you need some extra time for order entry, the website will be active for a few more weeks.
If you have more than one child at Normandale and they want to combine their sales toward winning a larger prize, then you should enter all orders under just one child's name.
For more details, please see the link on the PTO website.
Merci beaucoup!!!
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New Staff Bio: Jean-Luc Konicek
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 Bonjour!
My name is Jean-Luc Konicek. My main position at Normandale is Science Para, managing materials and teaching small groups in French in the classrooms. As the duties of this position aren't time sensitive, I'm able to monitor recess, help with math/French pullouts with the Learning specialists, fill in for absent interns, and help with success center after school. I'm a little predisposed to the French language; being raised bilingual is an amazing blessing.
I'm a student at North Hennepin Community College, starting a degree in liberal arts, and plan to transfer to River Falls in Wisconsin to get my teaching degree. Once you know how to talk to, manage, and understand kids, they can truly inspire you and make you laugh. I'm very thankful for this fulfilling opportunity to learn and make a difference as much as I can.
Jean-Luc Konicek
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PTO Dues Reminder
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When should I pay my dues?
The time is now. Did you know that until we get a majority of dues and fees paid we cannot give funds to classroom parents to plan parties? Right now about 50% of parents have paid their dues and fees which cover room parties, field trips, directories, staff development, the intern program and more. This also is your chance to order a yearbook. Please make every effort to pay in a timely fashion so we can figure out finances for the year. To pay using PayPal click here. Or you can print off a dues form and put a check in the PTO Treasurer box in the front office.
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Last Week's News
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Previously included La Liaison articles are listed below in case you missed them.
- Principal's Update
- Social Work Services
- Mme French-Amara Wins Award
- Art Adventure Presenters needed
- Pinstripes Tickets
- Meet New Teacher: Mlle Buck
- Edina Parent Communication Network
- Vote for Normandale
You can always view last week's newsletter on Normandale's PTO website or on the Newsletters page of the Normandale Website.
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