Parent Newsletter

August 9, 2018

 
Birchview Header Photo

Note from Principal Keffeler

Hello Meadow Ridge Families!


I am so excited to send out this first communication of the 2018-2019 school year. There are many changes, the most visible being the completion of the new addition. It looks fantastic, and I invite you to take a look while you are here at open house. We now have classrooms for our Gifted and Talented teacher, Spanish teacher, and extra sections of music and art.


The next most visible change is staffing. We have hired new staff members (so far) for the school year. They are:

  • 5th Grade: Katie Beckmann. Katie comes to us with experience in the St. Cloud area.
  • 3rd Grade: Matt Knutson and Jake Macken: Matt has taught 3rd grade in Duluth, and Jake is new to teaching this year. He served in the US Navy, where he was a pilot and flight instructor.
  • 2nd Grade: Sarah Gammack and Christa May. Both Sarah and Christa are Wayzata employees; Sarah was most recently at Plymouth Creek, and Christa was at Birchview.
  • 1st Grade: While Sasha Rieland isn't new to the building, she is new to the first grade team, moving up from Kindergarten. Sasha has first grade experience from her time in Minneapolis.
  • Kindergarten: Kelly McGoldrick joins the Kindergarten team. She comes to us from Earle Brown Elementary, where she most recently taught K and first grade.
  • Specialists: Terry Klotz, art teacher at Birchview, will be here on Day 5 to teach art to five sections of students.
  • Support staff: We are still working on hiring a new health para to take Melissa Wilson's place, who moved into a district nurse position. There is also a 0.5FTE intervention position that will be hired by tomorrow. Sam Blank, who was in third grade, is our new Student Support Specialist. I am also hiring 3 new lunch/recess paras for the year. Darryl Fredrickson is our new head custodian, after Doug retired this summer.

Open house is just around the corner! Please see below for important instructions around that event. We are asking you to adhere to the schedule in order to make it enjoyable for everyone (and parking less of an issue).


We are looking forward to a terrific year 3 at Meadow Ridge!


Best,


Karen

 

Did You Know?

Open House will take place on Wednesday, August 29 from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.  To accommodate all families and give everyone a chance to tour the building, meet the PTO board members, and meet your child's teacher, we ask if you have an oldest or only child in 4th and 5th grade, please come at 5:00 p.m. as there will be a Curriculum Night after Open House.  This should allow for about half of the families to come at 4:00 p.m. and the other half at 5:00 p.m.
Classroom Placements will be posted on Skyward Family Access on Monday, August 27 at 4:00 p.m. New Family Connection is a great way for new families to get to know Meadow Ridge.  Please join us on Friday, September 7 at 8:00 a.m. for a casual question/answer session. Meet our Principal and PTO board members, enjoy refreshments and learn more about our school. Please contact Becky Petersen or Muriel Folsom with questions.
Bus Route Postcards will be mailed to families during the week of August 27.
 

Reminders

Lunch PINs (Personal Identification Numbers), meal prices and lunch account payment information, and the 2018-2019 Free and Reduced-Price Meal Application is available on the Culinary Express webpage. Additional information such as menus, food ingredients and nutrition information can be found on Nutrislice.

 

Volunteer Needs

 
 
 

PTO News

Please click the button above to help us create the Meadow Ridge Family Directory. Only students who have submitted information will be included in the directory. If there is any information you do not want shared, you may leave those questions blank. Contact Natalie Larson with questions. You will need to fill out a form for each child.

PTO Upcoming Events:

September 7 - New Family Connection

September 18 - PTO Meeting 

September 26 - Picture Day

September 28 - Cardinal Crush

 
Community Education WISHES Youth Enrichment
 

Calendar

Wednesday, August 29, 2018
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
 
6:00 PM - 6:30 PM
 
Friday, September 7, 2018
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
 
Thursday, September 13, 2018
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
 
Monday, September 17, 2018
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
 
Thursday, August 9, 2018
4:30 PM - 7:30 PM
 
Monday, August 13, 2018
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
 
Monday, August 27, 2018
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
 
Monday, September 17, 2018
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
 
 
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17905 County Road 47, Plymouth, MN 55446 | 763-745-7100