From the Principal Dear North Woods Families,
Today was bittersweet. It was great seeing so many parents and students at the curbside pick-up. We are looking forward to the day when we all can return to school.
Did You Know?
End-of-Year Celebrations As we get closer to the end of the school year, I wanted to provide some information about end-of-year celebrations. The safety of all our students, families and staff continues to be our first priority and in order to stay in compliance with state guidelines surrounding COVID-19, the decision has been made not to hold any end-of-year parties, parades or other celebrations across the district. I know this is extremely disappointing. Our teachers will be creating virtual experiences that will provide opportunities for all of us to bring closure to the school year. We miss our students more than you know and greatly appreciate your understanding as we continue to do our very best to connect with your child and keep everyone safe during this challenging situation.
Grading and Report Cards Distance Learning has changed the learning environment, and–in response–our report cards will change, too. This spring, elementary report cards will be marked only in the following areas of focus: reading, writing and math. Student learning is enhanced through student engagement and personalized feedback. While there may not be official grades in some content areas or in personal management skills, teachers have provided and will continue to create engaging activities and provide this personalized feedback to students. Thank you for your continued support in having your child engage in their learning activities as we wrap up the 2019-2020 school year. Your partnership is greatly appreciated.
Virtual Track & Field Day Tuesday June 2 will be our 1st Annual Virtual All-School Track & Field Day. Watch our video promoting Track & Field Day! We are asking students to practice the games over the next couple of weeks and get supplies ready to go for June 2nd. In case of inclement weather, rain date will be Wednesday, June 3. Please email Sheila.Schultz@wayzataschools.org with questions.
Reminders From Our Social Worker Our school social worker, Amy Rehbine, is available to support you or your student during this phase of distance learning. She can also help align you with needed resources during this uncertain time. Please don't hesitate to reach out to her at 763-745-4007 or Amy.Rehbine@wayzataschools.org.
School Supply Kits for 2020-2021 School Year Schoolkidz supply kits are now available for purchase! If you are interested in a pre-packaged supply kit for this fall, you may order online. Kits will be mailed directly to your homes in August. Please use account number 74791 when placing your order. Orders are accepted through Friday, June 19.
Lifetouch Photos and Credits We wanted to make you aware of a few updates regarding yearbooks this spring:
As a token of appreciation for your flexibility, Lifetouch will be providing $10 vouchers for each student to be used toward your 2020-21 school photos. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Lifetouch at 1-800-736-4753. Lifetouch is committed to working through these issues as quickly as possible.
PTO News
Come to Our Book Fair! Shop our online book fair now until September 9 and books will ship directly to your house. Orders over $25 receive free shipping! This is a great opportunity for some summer reading, birthday gifts or gifts for friends and family. Thanks for supporting our school!
Amazon Smile Did you know you can help North Woods PTO by shopping on Amazon? Please sign up for Amazon Smile and Amazon will contribute a portion of all sales to our school's PTO!
Volunteer Needs Join the North Woods PTO Board! We need to fill some spots on the board for next school year. A couple of the current board members will be staying on, but are flexible in their positions. We meet about once a month and it's a fun way to be involved in what's going on at school. If you have any interest in learning more about one of the board positions, please contact Laura Benson at labenson99@gmail.com by June 1!
Around the District Distance Learning End-of-Year Parent Survey We want to hear your voice regarding how well we delivered on our goal of providing high-quality, inviting, and accessible instruction for all students during Distance Learning this spring. Your honest feedback will help us improve our Distance Learning practices in the future. All parents and guardians received an email from K12 Insight, our survey partner, the week of May 25. The survey is anonymous and no one from the District will know if you participate or how you answered the questions. The final survey results will show the overall findings and themes. This survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete and will be open until June 10. If you have more than one student enrolled in the Wayzata Public Schools, you can click on the link at the end of the survey to take the survey again. Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. Mindful Kids: Managing Stress During Hard Times Being stuck at home and away from school and friends is difficult for many kids and teens. Relate Counseling Center is offering online Mindfulness and Stress Reduction groups to help kids ages 7-11 manage emotions during COVID-19. Groups will incorporate discussion around feelings about the current pandemic, as well as provide tangible tools to help manage stress and anxiety. Kids will also engage in movement and relaxation strategies. The cost is $10 per week and meets Tuesdays from 1:00-1:30 p.m. Contact Kelly Smith, LGSW at knsmith@relatemn.org for more information. Wayzata Education Fund’s Thank a Teacher Program We have the best teachers and staff around, and never has it been clearer than during these unprecedented times. Whether they’ve helped make a difference in person or virtually this year, show your appreciation by participating in our Thank a Teacher program. From May 4 to June 3, any donation you make to the Wayzata Education Fund honoring a teacher or staff will come with a certificate of appreciation from your student. Additionally, if you donate $25 or more, they will also receive a bundlet from Nothing Bundt Cakes Minnetonka. Say thank you and support a good cause at the same time! Certificates will be sent via email. Bundlets will be delivered at a later date when it is deemed safe to do so, and when teachers and staff are back on school property. What can I do to protect myself and others?
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 New Online Classes We welcome you to our online classrooms! Our online classes ensure that you are able to gain valuable information, stay on track with your fitness routine, learn new skills, and connect with others during the next month. Our buildings may be closed, but lifelong learning never stops. We are offering a variety of online classes for adult and youth. You can find all the online options on our registration site. Financial assistance is available or call 763-745-5200 for more information. Stay Creative While You Stay At Home! In these days of social distancing and stay-at-home guidance, it’s more important than ever to connect with friends and family members and to continue expressing your creativity. Destination Imagination’s Global Finals 2020 Virtual Tournament (GF20) is a one-of-a-kind collaborative problem-solving experience that takes place online and is open to all students and families (yes, you read that right!) who enjoy being creative, collaborative, and solving fun challenges that require out-of-the-box thinking. You do not need to have been on a Destination Imagination (DI) team for the 2019-20 DI season in order to participate. GF20 is a whole new experience and is open to everyone! For Global Finals 2020, you will work with your DI teammates, friends, or family members online to participate in several different Challenge Experiences. The cost to participate in the Global Finals 2020 Virtual Tournament is $199. Your team may participate in as many or as few of these Challenge Experiences as you choose. GF20 teams will compete for a number of awesome awards and prizes! We’re excited to welcome everyone to the Summer of Creativity and hope you’ll join us for this historic, one-time-only event! Learn more on the Global Finals website.
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