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Principal's Weekly
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Dear Normandale Families,
Recently the halls of Normandale have included some firsts and some events that I hope will continue to be traditions. The first issue of the "Normandailie" was produced by a team of committed 5th graders and supported by 4th graders and parent volunteers, Nicole Kelsey and Amy Christianson. The staff had their first meeting with Principal Chris Holden who warmly greeted the staff announcing that among the things he is looking forward to it is supporting the fun that is a key component of learning. Traditionally several students return to Normandale and work with teachers as part of their May Term project and this year we have even had several graduates apply to teach at the same elementary school they attended!
All of the concerts and Grand Spectacle performances are evidence that learning and fun do indeed go hand and hand.
I'm looking forward to seeing many of you on Tuesday night at the PTO meeting. This has been a wonderful year with so many sharing their time, talents and resources. I'm confident that we'll be stimulated learning more about how to engage creativity in our living and learning.
Gerry Lukaska
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Grand Spectacle Update to 2nd & 3rd Grade Parents
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Dear 2nd and 3rd Grade Parents,
Please forgive us for not being more gracious about giving you a synopsis of the of the performances you watched on Wednesday. We learned that you are a most appreciative audience but would have been grateful to have had a general idea of what was being presented.
The Second Grade Team presented the Four Seasons; Mme White's class presented Summer, Mme Curran-Dorsano, Autumn, Mme Werness Winter and Mme Livant Spring. All of the songs and poems presented were focused on that theme.
The Third Grade presented a day in the life of a voyageur. Strong men who could paddle, didn't eat much and could sing were in demand. If you could swim and read you were not likely to be hired for this hard work. The voyageurs were paid very little but kept up their spirits by singing and dancing. Evelyn Emerson and Matt Peterson conducted the music that has been passed down since the time of the voyageurs traveling the lakes and streams of northern Minnesota and Canada.
Our apologies for not setting the scene for you on Wednesday. We appreciate your understanding and helping us to improve our practice of including speakers of all languages in our Grand Spectacle!
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Merci from the Media Center
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Media Center Volunteers: It is time to
honor YOU and Celebrate!
This year has been so amazing and fast-paced and we
truly could not have done it without each of you! Thank you to all the volunteers who have helped in the Media Center!
Come relax, eat and celebrate with the Media Staff
Friday, May 30 9:00-10:00AM
Normandale Media Center
Please respond to Tracy Pearson @ 952-848-4121
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Mile Run for Grades 3-5
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 For parents interested in cheering on their children or running with them, please join us on the track next week (May 21-23). The mile is during your child's second PE class within those days (if they have PE May 21 and May 23, you'd come on May 23). Check in at the front office and then join us in the small gym for a warmup and stretch beforehand or find us on the track about 10 minutes into class. If you're not able to make it, ensure your child gets adequate rest leading up to the mile run, double check that they have their running shoes, and ask how it went later that day.
Happy running!
John Hannemann, NBCT
Physical Education Specialist
Normandale Elementary, Edina Public Schools
952-848-4149
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Call for 2014-15 Partner Families
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A big thank you to this year's 24 Partner Families! We appreciate you serving as aunts and uncles to our interns and hope that you've had a lot of fun.
"We love all of the informal interactions we get to share with our intern as a partner family. It's a treat to have the intern over for dinner and bedtime stories," says Delphine Aubourg, 2013-2014 partner family. Please sign-up to serve as a partner family for next year. We need you. 
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Family Mentor Program
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Incoming Family Mentor Program: Kindergarten and 1st grade Families needed!
Become a mentor family to one of our incoming Kindergarten families this fall. As a mentor you will be paired up with a new family. You will help welcome them and act as an additional resource for them to navigate their first year at Normandale.
All we will ask of you is to send one welcome email in mid-August and make a couple of follow-up calls during the year.
We need 50 families! Get involved, sign up before the end of the school year, and help us welcome our incoming Kindergartners! Merci!
Email Beth Kehoe to volunteer.
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Order School Supplies Now to Save Money
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Early Bird Savings - save $10 per student if you order by June 30, 2014!
About School Supplies at Normandale
It is already to time to think of the 2014-15 school supplies. At Normandale, students are not given a school supply shopping list. Instead we pay into the school supplies fund and then the PTO orders supplies in bulk. This saves parents time/money, reduces waste and promotes sharing as part of our school culture. The supplies will be delivered to the classrooms the last week in July and in order to meet that timeline and minimize costs, we need payment from parents by June 30th so order now from the PTO website. (Whether you pay utilizing your PayPal account or with a credit card, you should receive an e-mail receipt from PayPal.) 
- School Supplies
There will be a discount price of $25/student for supplies if purchased by June 30. Supplies purchased after July 1 will increase to $35/student.
- Recorders (for 2014-15 4th grade students only)
Mme Emerson requests that all fourth graders purchase a recorder for the year. These are for fourth grade families ONLY! She wants to ensure that the children are taught the correct way and this happens at the 4th Grade level at Normandale. Each is $8.00.
- Trapper Keepers (for 2014-15 4th & 5th students only)
This year students in grades 4 & 5 will pay an additional $10/student for a Trapper Keeper.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email the School Supply Coordinator Susan Sanda or call her: 952.922.8786. You may also contact the principal with scholarship/aid requests.
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Call for La Liaison Editors
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- Do you have an eye for detail?
 - Do you prefer to volunteer from the comfort of your own couch?
- Do you enjoy correcting others' grammar?
- Do you have fond memories of being on the high school newspaper staff?
Join the La Liaison team!
Details:
- The job typically involves about three hours per week but since the work is divided between two people, you may trade off weeks or months depending on your preferences
- You would be trained how to use a very intuitive tool, Constant Contact, for the work
- You don't write the articles - just edit and compile them
- You will have a team to help review the draft before its public release
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Jeux d'été (Field Day) Call for Volunteers
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The 7th annual Jeux d'été is returning to Normandale on Friday, June 6th! The day is shaping up to be a lot of fun with field games, and face painting.
 Sign up to volunteer for the games or on the field
------ or ------
Sign up to volunteer as a classroom escort
- Pack a bag lunch and beverage for each student.
- Socks and athletic shoes are REQUIRED. Don't forget the HATS and SUNSCREEN!
- Each class has been assigned a color to wear at Field Day (this makes it easier to escort each class)
- K = Blue
- 1 = Black or White
- 2 = Red
- 3 = Yellow
- 4 = Green
- Field Day will be held rain or shine from 11:30 am - 2:15 pm. In case of inclement weather, the games will be held in the gymnasiums.
Questions? Comments?
Amy Christensen 952-240-9120
or
Margaret Kinney at 612-845-8060
Thank you for your attention and enjoy these last few days of school!
- Amy Christensen and Margaret Kinney
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Library Year-End Wrap-Up
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 The Normandale Media Center staff has checked out over 57,000 books so far this year. The school year, however, is coming to a close. Please note the following:
- Last day for student checkout: Friday, May 16th
- All student books are due no later than: Friday, May 23rd
If students need books for a school research project they will be kept in the classroom.
It has been a great year in the Media Center with learning, reading, and enjoying all the materials in both French and English. Students and teachers are welcome to use the media center through the last day of school for class research projects. The media staff will be working to get all the books back, conduct an inventory, and prepare for next year. Please have your student(s) bring their library books back no later than May 23rd! Thank you for your support.
Mme Tracy Pearson and Media Staff
Media Specialist
952 848-4121
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Please Join Us at Braemar
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As a member of the Normandale French Immersion community, you are a welcome and important part of the PTO. We hope you can join us for the Spring General Meeting. Adult beverages and light hors d'oeuvres will be served.
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What:
PTO General Meeting
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When:
Tuesday May 20, 2014
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
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Who:
PTO Members
(All parents and staff are
members of the PTO)
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Where:
Braemar Clubhouse
6364 John Harris Dr
Edina, MN 55439
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Agenda:
- Welcome incoming Principal Chris Holden
- Overview of this year's highlights
- Priorities heading into next school year
- Budget and staffing for 2014-15
- Speaker Dave Eisenmann will discuss "Raising Good Digital Citizens" (bio below)
- Thank you to Gerry Lukaska
- Thank you to our many wonderful volunteers!
Dave Eisenmann, Director of Instructional Technology for Minnetonka Public Schools, is a nationally-renowned speaker on the topic of cyber safety, presenting to school groups and parents across the country. Dave's presentation "Raising Good Digital Citizens" will cover a broad range of current topics for parents trying to raise kids in a society overflowing with web-based mobile technologies. Bring your questions or just sit back and hear some of the most recent tips for parenting in the digital age.
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2014-15 School Year Call for Volunteers
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 Have you given thought as to how you can most support your children's learning experience next year? There are a rich variety of volunteer opportunities available to meet your schedule needs and personal interests. Do you like fundraising? Special events? Communications? Supporting the staff? Do you like to work from home after the kids go to bed? You name it. We have something for you.
Consider which of these positions best fits your time, talents, and interests. While a lot of the positions are well established and have notes and ideas for getting started, we always welcome fresh ideas, new energy, and improvements to established programs.
Please note:
- After volunteer preferences are received, we will confirm where you have been slotted. You may not be placed in all of your preferences if many people volunteer for the same positions. We will attempt to address on a first-come, first-serve basis.
- If you are the current coordinator or volunteer and would like to continue in your position, please let us know by checking the box. Thank you!
Questions? Please contact:
Linda Lutgen
thelutgens@gmail.com
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Edina Ed Fund Golf & Tennis Classic
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We need your support to continue offering innovative educational programs in all nine Edina Public Schools.
Don't golf or play tennis? Come join us at the Sunday night dinner and auction with live musical entertainment. We have a dinner-only option for $75.00 each, or bring some friends and buy a table of 8 for $550. Not sure who to sit with? Just mark your school in the comment section at registration and we will seat you with people from your school.
LIVE auction items to include: - A puppy from Puppies and Kids
- Vacation rentals in Jackson Hole, Canada, and Florida
- A walk on part for two people in an HBO movie filmed in Los Angeles
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Edina Library Summer French Story Time
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 We are looking forward to a great summer and another series of 'French Story Time' at the Edina Library. French Story Time is a great opportunity for Normandale children. When you come to French Story Time this summer, your child will have the chance to hear a story read in French by some of their favorite teachers, they can reconnect with friends from school, and become familiar with the French collections at the Edina Library where new French titles arrive on a weekly basis! And, its FREE thanks to all of the wonderful teachers from our community who volunteer for this fun event. We divide the children into two groups according to age. One reader for the younger children (kids going into 1st - 2nd grade) and another reader for the older children (kids going into 3rd - 5th grade). Dates are as follows: June 16th, June 23rd, June 30th, (NO story time July 7th), July 14th, and July 21st Time: 4:00 - 4:30pm (Monday afternoons) Place: The Edina Library: 5280 Grandview Sq., Edina, 55436 (off of Vernon)
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Happening in the Community
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JUGGLE JAM 16
An uplifting tradition!
Fri May 16 7PM
Sat May 17 7PM
Hopkins High School Auditorium
2400 Lindbergh Drive, Hopkins, MN
Also - check out Edina Public School's Service - Learning website!
Capturing the Excitement of Edina Public Schools!
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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 Weekly Update
- Found Keys
- Grand Spectacle
- Field Day
- Library End of Year Wrap-Up
- Mini Book Fair
- Spring PTO Meeting Invitation
- Call for Volunteers
- Edina Library Summer French Story Time
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