Plymouth Creek Elementary School

Parent Newsletter

March 12, 2020

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Message from Dr. Thompson

Thank you parents for your participation in parent-teacher conferences. It is so important for teachers and parents to work together to support students in their growth and development academically, socially, and emotionally while at Plymouth Creek.

 

Join us for our next PTO meeting, taking place on Tuesday, March 24 at 6:30 p.m. See more information in the PTO section.

 

Spring break will be here in two weeks. There will be no school from Thursday, March 26 through Sunday, April 5. If your family will be traveling beyond these dates, please report your absences using Skyward Family Access. More detailed instructions can be found in the "Reminders" section.

Panther Pride Winners - March 6

 
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Panther News Network

  • March 6
  • March 9
  • March 11
  • March 12

Did You Know?

Food Shelf Drive March 16-20

Our Student Council is organizing a food shelf drive. We will be collecting non-perishable food items this week. The items will be delivered to Interfaith Outreach. Students and parents can begin bringing in items Monday, March 16.

International Night - April 17

Travel around the world right at Plymouth Creek! Enjoy international cuisine, country exhibits, arts/crafts, ethnic bazaar, performances, music, fashion show, and much more! International Night is April 17 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. It is a free event, unless you choose to shop at the bazaar. If you would like to participate, contact Eram Mashadi.

Order your 2019-2020 Yearbook Today!

Order your yearbook today! All orders need to be placed online. Please use ID code 2492020. The cost is $15 for a softcover yearbook or $20 for a hardcover yearbook. The deadline to order yearbooks is March 25.

From the Media Center

On Thursday, April 9, award-winning author Jennifer A. Nielsen will visit Plymouth Creek's fourth and fifth graders. She has written books for young adults and pre-teens, including the Ascendance series, and the historical fiction books A Night Divided, Resistance, and Words on Fire.

 

Some of Jennifer's books are available to pre-order at a discount through the Red Balloon bookshop. Students will have the opportunity to have their pre-ordered books signed when the author is here. Please fill out and return the order form to the Media Center by Friday, March 13 with a check made out to: Plymouth Creek PTO. Books will be delivered before the author visit on April 9. A special thanks to our PTO for sponsoring this additional author visit.

Art Update

Plymouth Creek students have been busy creating wonderful works of art for our Jungle-themed February Art Show. All of the artwork is on display in the hallways at Plymouth Creek Elementary School until after International Night on Friday, April 17.

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Reminders

Reporting Attendance in Skyward Family Access

A reminder that all absences (vacations, religious holidays, doctor appointments, illnesses, family emergencies, etc) should be entered via Skyward Family Access. Families will no longer need to complete a Travel Plan Form when they go on vacation, as all absences are now entered via Skyward Family Access. A few reminders when it comes to attendance:

  • Children are considered unexcused without an entry in Skyward Family Access or a call to the attendance line from a parent or guardian. 
  • Students will also be marked unexcused if they arrive late to school and are not escorted into the office by a parent or adult.
  • When you are submitting the attendance request in Skyward Family Access, you must be logged in as a parent, not a student. 
  • Calls to the attendance line (763-745-5855) should be reserved for last-minute attendance requests or changes. 
  • Remember to also reach out to your classroom teacher to notify them of a planned full-day or multi-day absence.

Emergency Information Form

For a variety of reasons, there is often a need to contact you throughout the course of the school year. Parents/Guardians are asked to keep their contact information up-to-date in Skyward Family Access Emergency Information Form. Watch the Skyward Family Access video guide and to complete the form.

PTO News

 
Birchview PTA Logo
 
Join or Volunteer

PTO Meeting March 24

The next PTO meeting will be Tuesday, March 24 at 6:30 p.m. Join our PTO board members and other parents in the Commons for news & updates from Plymouth Creek and around the district. Children are welcome!

Box Tops are Going Digital!

If you still have a collection of the traditional clippings, please continue to turn those into your child's teacher, the office, or the container by the gym door, but be aware that the physical Box Tops are being phased out. Plymouth Creek's lifetime earnings from Box Tops is almost $38,000! This is a fantastic program that has benefited our children greatly over the years. Please take a minute to download the new Box Tops app, scan your receipts after each shopping trip, and watch our school earnings increase thanks to you!

Volunteer Needs
Around the District
Cover your cough. Wash your hands. Stay home when sick.
What can I do to protect myself and others during Cold & Flu Season?
  • Avoid being around others who are sick – when to keep your child home. When reporting attendance in Skyward Family Access, note that we have added Influenza-like Illness (oral temperature of 100° F or higher with a cough or sore throat) as an option. If your child has an oral temperature of 100° F or higher, please keep him/her home until they have been fever-free without medication for 24 hours.
  • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, or cough or sneeze into your sleeve.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Do not share drinking cups and straws.
  • Frequently clean commonly touched surfaces (doorknobs, refrigerator handles, phones, water faucets).
  • Coronavirus Update from Minnesota Commissioner of Health, Jan Malcolm.
  • Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus – Child Mind Institute.

March Wayzata Legislative Action Committee Update
The Wayzata Legislative Action Committee (LAC) met Wednesday, March 11. Jody Remsing, Director of Special Services for Wayzata Public Schools, presented an update on the impact of special education legislation from the 2019 Legislative Session. The Wayzata LAC is a non-partisan group of citizens that monitors legislative activity as it affects K-12 education and advocates positions on behalf of the district. For more information, please visit the Wayzata Committees webpage or contact Alexia Wierzbicki, your school’s Wayzata LAC representative.


Partners in Prevention Ask Ali

We've had so many great Ask Ali questions in our inbox – thanks to all who have submitted! Ali, along with her network of local experts, has been working hard to answer these questions. Responses are posted every Monday on her blog at partnersinpreventionmn.org/askali. Parents, you've got to check out the responses to these questions! There are some interesting ones that have been asked; chances are you might be wondering some of these things.


Community Ed

After school youth class opportunities at Plymouth Creek:
Crazy Chemistry
Engineering Club
Dazzling, Sparkly Art
Hatchimals

Check out our youth summer camp preview!

New this year! Cricket Club at Greenwood, open to students grades 3-5 from all elementary schools. Find more information on our registration site.

Financial assistance is available, find more information here or call 763-745-5200.


Upcoming Events:
Young Scientist Roundtable: Beneficial Insects - Many insects provide valuable goods and services to humans. Some of these services are used in very diverse fields including the garment industry, sport fishing, subjects for the study of aging and longevity, genetics, acoustics, and the physics of flight. In this presentation, Dr. Ferrington will provide a series of short examples of ways in which insects can be beneficial, including examples from the state of Minnesota. He will also bring in samples that will be looked at in small groups following the main presentation. Thursday, April 9 at 7 p.m., Central Middle School Auditorium

Parenting with Vision: Do you feel overwhelmed by your child's big emotions or behaviors? Do you find yourself in disbelief when they seem to do the exact opposite of what you ask them to? Are you feeling tired of the same arguments coming up in your home over and over? Join us on April 21 at 7 p.m. for "Dealing with Difficult Behavior" and learn tips and tools to address and prevent unwanted behaviors while staying connected with your child. 
**While parents of any aged child are welcome and may find the tips and tools helpful, most examples and strategies are aimed for 3-14 years old. 

Events are free with no registration required.


Calendar

School Events

Tuesday, March 24, 2020
PTO Meeting
6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
 
Friday, April 17, 2020
International Night
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
 
Tuesday, April 21, 2020
Pre-K Fun Night
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
 
Thursday, May 7, 2020
Book Fair
All day
 
Friday, May 8, 2020
Book Fair
All day
 
Thursday, May 14, 2020
PTO Meeting
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
 
Cub Choir Concert
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
 
Thursday, June 4, 2020
D.A.R.E. Graduation
7:45 AM - 10:00 AM
 

District Events

Thursday, April 9, 2020
Young Scientist Roundtable - Beneficial Insects
7:00 PM - 8:40 PM
 
Tuesday, April 21, 2020
Parenting with Vision: Dealing with Difficult Behavior
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
 

School Board Meetings

Monday, March 23, 2020
School Board Work Session
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
 
Monday, April 13, 2020
School Board Regular Meeting
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
 

QuickLinks
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16005 41st Avenue North, Plymouth, MN 55446 | 763-745-5800

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