PrattSchool.org :: Pratt Press :: 2008 :: September |
The PRATT PRESS
September 2008
A Message from the Principal…
Mission Statement: To provide a rigorous educational experience for all students while fostering self-confidence, social responsibility and a sense of community.
Important Reminder!
Peanuts
Please remember that Pratt is a peanut/nut-free site. Do not send any food items for lunches or classroom treats that contain any amount of these ingredients. Thank you so much!
September 12, 2008
Dear Pratt Families:
This week ends our second week for the 2008–09 school year. By now, I am sure you have received from your child or children the most import information about the start of the year. We hope you feel that the school year is off to a great start for your child or children.
The Pratt staff spent a significant amount of time planning for the opening of school to ensure a smooth transition for everyone involved. It seems to us at Pratt that the first two weeks of classes have been a fine beginning of what should be a productive school year. The kindergartners have adjusted well and are settling into all of the new routines.
This week, in addition to classroom instruction and learning classroom routines, each class has spent time learning about our school-wide expectations as part of the daily routines and we will end the week with an ALL school assembly introducing the “Proud Pratt Panther,” the school mascot selected by students last spring. Watch for more information coming home throughout the year about the “Proud Pratt Panther.”
We thank the PTO for providing breakfast for our staff during the week teachers returned in August and to all of the families who volunteered to help with breakfast and lunch supervision the first student week.
We had many visitors the last two weeks: Marianne Norris who is now Pratt’s area superintendent, as well as Board members Pam Costain and Chris Stewart. We thank Brenda Cassellius for her leadership and support to the Pratt community.
Please note the following dates on your calendar: Tuesday, September 16, 5:30–6:30, PTO Meeting Thursday, September 18, 2008 from 5:30–6:30, Open House Monday, September 22, Kindergarten Assessment and CALT Tests begin
For your information, I have outlined the scheduled times for our school hours and lunchtime schedule.
Office Hours: 8:00 am–4:30 pm
Student Instructional Day: 9:40 am–3:55 pm
Lunch Schedule: First Lunch: 12:10 pm–12:40 pm Second Lunch: 12:40 pm–1:10 pm
The students will continue to have recess after lunch as we did last year.
— Anne Wade, Principal
Media Monarchs!
There are monarch butterflies in the Media Center! Yes, it’s true; students have been busy learning about monarch larva since the first day of school. We are eagerly watching 12 caterpillars grow and eat 4 times their weight daily in milkweed. Stop by the media center if you have a chance and look! Students will be tracking monarch migration through Journey North, online at http://learner.org/jnorth.
Paperwork
Please fill out completely and promptly return all the paperwork that has been sent home these first two weeks. It is important that we get back that information so we have it available to us in the office. We want to keep in touch with you!
A Snippet of Pratt History…
Did you know that the original Pratt school building was constructed in 1898 and contained only 3 classrooms on one main level? The original entrance faced Sidney Place. 1898 to 2008: Pratt School is celebrating 110 years of education excellence with more to come!
Media Center Book Care Rules
- Have a book for your bag and a bag for your book.
- Turn the pages from the top.
- Color on paper, not in books.
- Keep books away from food.
- Have clean hands.
- Keep books up high in a safe place away from babies and pets.
- Bring books back on time every Media Day.
Volunteer Opportunity!
We are looking for volunteers to be trained by the Minneapolis Institute of Arts to be docents for the ART ADVENTURE Program. This involves going to one of the training sessions:
- Friday, September 19th, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm (you will have to bring a lunch),
- Thursday, September 25th, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm, or
- Thursday, October 23rd, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Parents will then present what they have learned in the classrooms during the month of November. This will leave us plenty of time to plan as a group how we want to do this. Last year every student in the school drew a self-portrait after the presentation, and they were displayed in the lunchroom. This is a great opportunity to get involved in the classroom doing something fun! If this is something you would be interested in, please contact me, Jakki Kydd-Fidelman, at 612-668-1107 and we can go from there.
Community Education Corner
Welcome!
One of the exciting elements of Pratt Elementary School is the relationship between the Pratt School, Community Education, Pratt Council, neighbors, and businesses. Please give any of our Pratt Community Education staff a call to inquire further about our programs, services, and community connections. We would like to get to know each family better this coming year!
| Deb Clark | 612-668-1108 |
| Jan Thurn | 612-668-1100 |
| Betsy Schiller | 612-668-1106 |
Evening and Saturday Classes Offered at Pratt
The Fall Session of Pratt Community Education classes will begin the week of October 6. We offer a variety of classes for adults and Seniors including dance, fitness, home improvement, language, and more. We also co-sponsor preschool creative movement classes at Van Cleve Park. You may register in person, by mail, or online at http://mplscommunityed.com. For more information call Jan Thurn at 612-668-1100, or stop in the Community Education Office in room 14B. We look forward to providing an exciting year of lifelong learning for the Pratt Community!
Deb Clark
Pratt Community Education
66 Malcolm Avenue SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414
612-668-1108 (voice)
612-668-1110 (fax)
deb.clark@mpls.k12.mn.us
Our Website: http://commed.mpls.k12.mn.us/
Direct link to register for adult learning: http://www.mplscommunityed.com/
Pratt Press Online!
Yes, yes, the dead tree edition of the Pratt Press is all well and good, but the online edition is even better. One word: hyperlinks! (And color!)
Pratt Talk
If you’re not already on it, Pratt has an email list to help you keep on top of breaking news, rumor, gossip and questions. You can sign up for it via the website or by dropping a note to the site’s administrator.
Contact
Pratt Community School · Learning for Life 
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Calendar
You can always find the most up-to-date calendar information at the Pratt website: http://PrattSchool.org/calendar.php |