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La Liaison
A Publication of the Normandale PTO
October 10, 2014 |
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Coming Up |
OCTOBER
| 14 | Edina PCN Forum, 7-9pm, Southview Auditorium | | 16-17 | Education Minnesota, NO SCHOOL | |
21 | Picture Re-take Day | |
21 | PTO/NLT General Membership Meeting, 7-9pm ECC Room 348 |
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Teacher Bio: Meet Mme Michaelson
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I grew up in the Mpls/St. Paul area and even attended an Edina school: Highlands. Now four of my own children attend school in Edina.
I am excited to join the staff at Normandale French Immersion school to teach GT Reading and Young Scholars. I love reading and I love helping students think flexibly and problem-solve! It's wonderful to have a job where I get to read new and old literature and nurture academic growth in students.
Early in my career I taught grades 1, 2 and 3 in Mounds View and earned my MA from Hamline University with a focus on reading intervention. Most recently I taught reading and math to students in grades 1-6 in Hopkins. Through these experiences I was motivated to learn more about being a reading teacher and completed my Reading License.
In my spare time I love to go for walks, garden and perhaps bike to Sebastian Joe's.
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PTO/NLT General Membership Meeting |
Please join us for the PTO/Normandale Leadership Team General Membership Meeting on Tuesday, October 21st at 7PM in Room 348 of the Edina Community Center. If you park in the north or the east lot, you can enter door 2 or 4 and proceed to the third floor. Room 348 is in the NW corner of the 3rd floor. Dr. Ric Dressen will be our guest to give updates on our school district and to answer questions. Principal Holden will be giving a Principal's update as well. Come meet everyone and be in the know! |
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Picture retakes are scheduled for Tuesday, October 21st!
If you plan on retaking your photos, please make sure to bring in your first packet of photos on photo day. You will not be able retake them if you don't turn in the first set.
If you need a new photo form, you can find them in the front lobby at Normandale in the magazine rack. Call Shannon Sieve at 952-926-1655 if you have any questions.
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Tap'Touche is Online Now! |
Tap'Touche is an online typing program for students to practice typing in French. Students can practice at school with their teachers or independently. This program is also available at home for students to practice at any time. It is available for ALL students 24-7!
Why do students need to learn to type? Learning to type with correct hand and positioning increases student's typing speed, and allows students to look at the screen and make corrections as they go along.
Students can also concentrate on the content instead of the mechanics of typing. This is especially helpful with online testing. Students need to be able to respond quickly and not be at the disadvantage of typing slowly in a timed test.
Encourage your student(s) to start the programs today and enjoy the game challenges at each level!
How to Access Tap'Touche:
Navigate to the Normandale Media Center Page and click on Tap'Touche under the student resources.
Login: The student's school username
Password: The student's school password
You can also access the program here: Tap'Touche
Information for parents can be accessed here.
Students who have started the program before will be directed to the last level they reached. If students have completed the 40 lessons and games it is always advised to review and complete the activities again. 'Practice makes perfect' is very true in this case!
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Online Directory
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By now, we hope you are all enjoying MySchoolAnywhere! Just a reminder, if you would like the mobile app, please click here for instructions for various mobile devices.
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Health Screening Volunteers Needed
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The two senses that are vital to our child(ren)'s school experience are seeing and hearing. Testing these senses is an easy process and the more volunteers we have the smoother the process. Please consider signing up for the annual health screening on November 4th and 6th.
If you have any questions, please contact the Health Screening Coordinator Shannon Sieve.
 
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We Need Your Box Tops! |
Parents, please send in any collected Box Tops 4 Education by Wednesday, Oct. 15th. Box Tops can be brought to school and given to the classroom teachers. Thank You! |
Pinstripes Adult Fundraiser - Saturday, November 15 | |
 Tickets are on sale NOW for the Adult Fundraiser at Pinstripes! Buy before November 8th and save!! Buy your ticket online today! This is a really fun night that you won't want to miss! It is also an important fundraiser for our world class intern program. In order to make this event successful, we need the entire Normandale community to come together. What do we need from you? - Attend!! You won't be disappointed!
- Host a Community Connection event:Click here to go to FAQs about Community Connections. Email Karen Epple with your ideas.
- Donate tickets, gift certificates or other items for the Silent Auction or Mystery Box. OR, if you know ANYONE that has a business or something of value to donate, please call them and ask. It takes a village! Contact Lisa Ungerman with your ideas
- Donate your favorite beverage to the Game of Throws. Bottles can be dropped off at 5336 Kellogg Avenue, Edina, or email Karen Epple for pick up.
- Don't have time to shop? Don't have season tickets lying around? You can still donate and we will do the shopping for you! Donate now online!
Please contact Karen Epple or Annie Heitzmann with any questions or to discuss how you can help. We hope to see you there!
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Innisbrook Fundraiser - Last Chance!
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Thank you for your participation in our gift wrap fundraiser! Unfortunately, we have not even reached half of our school goal of $30,000 in sales. If you are willing to do more, you may continue to sell and submit your payment by October 15.
- If you have not already entered your child's orders online, go to www.innisbrook.com. You can follow the instructions on the sheet included with your catalog.
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Print the final payment slip and enclose payment in the envelope stapled in the middle of your catalog. You may use any envelope, but it must include your student's information, payment and the payment slip printed from the website.
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Envelopes may be dropped off at the Normandale office or sent with your child to give to his/her teacher.
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Please remember to keep the order forms for delivery in November.
The Innisbrook website can still accept online orders for several weeks, although orders entered after the October 15th deadline will not count toward your child's prize credits. If you have not already done so, please reach out to out-of-town friends and relatives by sending your child's Innisbrook link via email: After logging into your account on innisbrook.com go to the EZ order enter page on the main menu and choose "Send emails to family and friends."
If you have any questions OR if you have no access to a computer or are having any problems with your order, please contact:
Jennifer Scott 952-239-9028 or
Beth Ann Monsen 952-942-4909 or 920-205-8381 |
Time to Register for Junior Great Books!
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What is Junior Great Books (JGB)?
Junior Great Books is a book club open to children in grade 2 through grade 5. Parent-led groups meet once a week during the student's lunch and recess. Through reading, discussion, writing, and other activities, students practice skills like:
- critical thinking
- reading comprehension
- writing
- listening
- speaking
What is expected from the children during the meetings?
The students will be responsible for reading the selection for the week two times before the meeting (or having their parents read it to them). The children eat a bag lunch during the beginning of the group time and are asked to help clean up the area afterwards. Deep comprehension of the reading material is the goal. Many forms of interpreting the story will be used, such as "Shared Inquiry" group discussion, drawings, brief worksheets, acting out the story, etc.
What is the time commitment for children participating?
Meetings are once a week during the months of January - March. This amounts to 9-10 classes which are held during the lunch and recess period. Students will forgo their recess on the JGB day in order to participate.
Consider becoming a leader!
Discussion groups are lead by parent volunteers. As a volunteer, you'll have the chance to work directly with students. Your own enthusiasm for literature and for sharing ideas will foster the student's love of literature and learning.
For questions, contact Jennifer Haenel.
Registration goes through November with groups starting after winter break. Cost is $30/per student. Discount offered for those who already have the books.
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French Enrichment - Deadline Extended |
The deadline to enroll your student in French Enrichment classes has been extended to October 15. Please see previously run La Liaison article to learn more and to register. Please take advantage of this wonderful opportunity for your child to learn from our amazing interns! |
Edina Parent Communication Network Forum
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Edina PCN Presents: Until It Hurts: America's Obsession with Youth Sports and How It Harms Our Children.
Over the last seventy-five years, adults have staged a hostile takeover of kids' sports. In 2003 alone, more than 3.5 million children under age fifteen required medical treatment for sports injuries, nearly half of which were the result of simple overuse. The quest to turn children into tomorrow's superstar athletes has often led adults to push them beyond physical and emotional limits.
Longtime sports journalist and author, Mark Hyman's recent writing examines the problematic state of youth sports and opens a much-needed discussion among parents, coaches, athletic trainers, recreation professionals and others. Leave with effective tools to help your child/adolescent learn these important skills. 
Where: South View Auditorium
When: Monday, October 14th, 2014 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Cost: FREE
For more information, please visit the Edina PCN website.
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Happening in the Community
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Make a Difference for People Struggling with Homelessness
Your family has an opportunity to do three fun yet meaningful service projects to help families struggling with homelessness. Activities include assembling literacy kits, decorating fresh new pillowcases, and making play dough. All projects will go to benefit People Serving People (PSP), a local shelter for homeless children and their families. Young class participants will go home with their own decorated box for collecting donations so your family can continue the "giving habit." During the activities, you'll learn dozens of other simple ways to practice kindness as a family. All ages welcome!
Edina Community Education Services is partnering with DGT to offer opportunities to serve together and practice ICCCAR values as a family. Join Jenny Friedman of Doing Good Together (DGT) on
November 11. Click Here for more information or to register.
Capturing the Excitement of Edina Public Schools!
 
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Last Week's News |
Previously included La Liaison articles are listed below in case you missed them.
- From the Principal
- Teacher Bio: Meet Mme Meyers
- Innisbrook Fundraiser - Last Chance!
- Pinstripes Adult Fundraiser
- Edina Parent Communication Network Forum
- Happening in the Community
- Last Week's News
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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La Liaison is published every Friday. Submit articles to LaLiaisonMN@gmail.com by noon Wednesday prior to your desired publication date. Articles pertaining to the following week's issues will take precedence.
Editors: Kate Frederick and Erica Amevo |
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