‘Paws’ for News from the Principal

September 22, 2017

COWERN P WPRINTS Upcoming Events

October 6

NO SCHOOL

Staff Development Day

October 11-13

Box Tops Etc.

Collection

October 13

Cowern Fund Run

October 19-20

NO SCHOOL

Teacher Conventions

October 27

NO SCHOOL

Staff Development

November 2

Saints North

Skate Night; 6-8 p.m.

Nov. 9

Picture Retake Day

“Be sure to bring in the

packet that you’d like to

return!”

Contact Information

Adventure Connection 651-748-6898 Attendance 651-748-6824

Office 651-748-6800

School Nurse

651-748-6815

Future events can be found

on the Cowern website

listed below:

http://www.isd622.org/

cowern

Cowern Elementary

2131 Margaret Street

North Saint Paul, MN

55109

http://www.isd622.org/

cowern

Dear Cowern Families & Friends, We are in full swing at Cowern and off to a great start! Teachers have worked diligently to set up classroom routines and develop rela-tionships with your children. We have also started our “golden awards!” Check out who won the “Golden Lunch Tray” below! I am im-

pressed with our students’ work on showing that they are responsible, respectful, and safe. Have you heard that I am a “Super Science Fan?” We have kicked off our 2017 Fund Run fundraiser and I’m doing fun experiments to encourage children to partici-pate. I heard a lot about oobleck last week after my first video! We are on a quest to raise $10,000 to help support Cowern! Please con-tribute what you can and encourage your children to get pledges/donations! As the building leader, I am accountable for student and staff safety. We have practiced both a fire drill and lockdown drill. Classroom teachers discuss the drills

with the students prior to them happening and the stu-dents have then done a great job following procedures. Two of my favorite mo-ments from the last two weeks were doing science experiments with some 5th grade students and joining 1st graders at their morning meeting! I feel blessed to be surrounded by such awesome children! Thank you! Best, Dr. Jen Wilson

Did you know classrooms have the chance to win a golden lunch tray, golden soccer ball, golden clock, golden vacuum, and a golden backpack? YES! The class that earns the most red rocket tickets (ask your child about them) wins the award! Ms. Aase’s class won the golden lunch tray for the best behavior in the cafeteria. This week students were trying to earn tickets for the golden soccer ball by showing how respectful, responsible, and safe they were at recess. Next week the golden backpack is up for grabs to the class that shows the best behavior in the hallways—stay tuned!

Golden Awards

“It’s the Fund Run!”

PAGE 2 COWERN PAWPRINTS

Music

Hello, Cowern families! My name is Matt Sheeley and I am the music teacher this year. I live nearby in the Como Park area of St. Paul and have spent the past few years teaching in North Minneapolis. I write, record, and play music constantly and look forward to sharing my passion with your children. I teach many aspects of music and allow students to experience them in a whole group, small groups, and individual settings. We focus on basic reading and writing of music, learning songs from around the world, singing and instrument technique, and listening to music with a purpose. Students in fourth and fifth grades will get the chance to learn the re-corder and participate in an optional choir ensemble. I also utilize station areas where students get the chance to explore the concepts we learn. Each grade will put on a short concert throughout the year, promoted on the Cowern website and calendar. I am so excited to be here and working with your children. Feel free to email me at any time with questions at msheeley@isd622.org. You are always welcome to come to the music room and see your kids in action! Mr. Sheeley Music Teacher

Music Concert Schedule Please mark your calendars for your child’s concert date listed below! 2nd and 3rd Grades: Thursday, November 30, at 6:00 p.m. Students must arrive by 5:30 p.m. 4th and 5th Grades: Thursday, February 1, at 6:00 p.m. Students must arrive by 5:30 p.m. Kindergarten and 1st Grade: Thursday, April 26, at 6:00 p.m. Students must arrive by 5:30 p.m. Cowern Choir Concert: Thursday, May 10, at 6:00 p.m. Students must arrive by 5:30 p.m.

Hello, Families & Friends of Cowern! We are so excited to have started the year with a BANG! Our students are already learning so much and growing and showing others how to be #goodhumans! In order to share fast facts and quick news about what is going on at Cowern throughout the week, we have rolled out our Twitter! Please follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cowern622 OR

search for us with the handle @cowern622. You can also find our Facebook linked there or simply search “Cowern Elementary” on Facebook.

We have some big events and programs coming up and we will be announcing them via Twitter and Facebook. It will be one of the quickest and most direct routes to find out about all sorts of things including upcoming events, community nights, school/weather announcements, and much more! If you have any questions or need assistance, please feel free to contact Mitchell Armstrong at marmstrong@isd622.org. HASHTAGS OF THE MONTH: #cowern622; #getmovingplay60; #622proud

Follow Cowern On Twitter & Facebook!

PAGE 3 COWERN PAWPRINTS

FUND RUN VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

We are in need of volunteers for our Fund Run on October 13, 2017! Here are the following times for each grade to com-plete their laps: 9:00-10:00 a.m. 3rd Grade 9:45-10:45 a.m. 4th Grade and 4/5 Split 10:45-11:45 a.m. 5th Grade 12:15- 1:15 p.m. Kindergarten 1:00- 2:00 p.m. 1st Grade 2:00- 3:00 p.m. 2nd Grade If you are interested in helping to mark students’ laps and hand out Freezie Pops, please contact ROCHELLE CHORLTON at roie80@msn.com or 651-334-5228. As always, all parents are welcome to come and cheer the kids on! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Re: Fund Run Volunteers Needed on October 13, 2017! Please return this form to your student’s teacher by Friday, October 6, 2017. Mark any and all times you are available to volunteer. Thank you! Name ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Email Address ____________________________________________________________________________________ Phone ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ______5th Grade ______3rd Grade ______1st Grade ______4th Grade and 4/5 Split ______2nd Grade ______Kindergarten

SHOE RECYCLING DRIVE September thru Earth Day, April 22

Helping People Help The Planet! For every one pair of shoes collected, SHOE AWAY HUNGER is able to feed one hungry person with up to seven days of essential groceries! WOW!! The footwear can be new or used, including sports shoes, skates, boots, flip flops, crocs, sandals, steel toe boots, etc. Any-thing footwear accepted in any condition! Your contribution will help SHOE AWAY HUNGER and keep shoes out of the landfill! Together WE can make a difference! Contact Information: Next Step Transition Multiple Needs Classroom Clean out your closets for a cause: SHOE AWAY HUNGER THANK YOU FOR HELPING PEOPLE AND THE PLANET! For more information, please contact Denise or Jenni at: 651-621-1961 or 651-621-1962.

PAGE 4 COWERN PAWPRINTS

Plaza Theater Movie Night Winners!

Thank you to all that came to make Plaza Theater Movie Night a huge success on

Thursday, September 21! The winners of The Despicable Me 3 Movie related prizes

are Rachel Packer in Mrs. Swanson’s classroom and Hunter Lindner in Mrs. Biddick’s

classroom.

Attendance Procedures We want you to feel welcome at Cowern. Your extra efforts related to phone calls, notes, and our sign-in pro-cedures are greatly appreciated. Please follow the sign-in/sign-out procedures at the front desk. All visitors are required to sign in and will be given a badge to wear.

If you want to visit a class, please contact your child’s teacher in advance (via email, note, or before or af-ter school phone call) to see if the day and time fits with the teacher’s schedule.

If you need to talk with the teacher, please schedule a time with the teacher that is mutually convenient, rather than asking the teacher to stop teaching to answer your quick question.

If you need to pick up your child before the official dismissal time, please send a note to your child’s teacher so your child has everything ready for dismissal.

If you need to drop off an item (lunch, boots, school work, etc.), please leave it with the receptionist who will contact the classroom teacher.

If your child will be absent or late, please call our attendance line at:

Our front desk receptionist, Mrs. Andren, will either issue you a pass to pick up your child or call your child’s teacher when you arrive.

Thank you again for helping to make Cowern a safe place to learn and grow. Our staff is looking forward to working with you and your child this year!

(651) 748-6824—Attendance Line

VOLUNTEER! There are many ways YOU can help out at Cowern! Attached to this issue of the Paw Prints Newsletter (page 8) you will find the Volunteer Opportunities Form to complete and return to school at your convenience. THANK YOU!!!

Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. —Helen Keller

PAGE 5 COWERN PAWPRINTS

PTG (Parent Teacher Group)

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

PTG Meeting

10/9; 6:30 p.m.

Box Tops Etc.

Collection

10/11 thru 10/13

Fund Run

10/13

Saints North

Skate Night

11/2; 6-8 p.m.

Parent Teacher Group (PTG) is a fun-driven group focused on supporting Cowern students’ education and experiences. We gather the second Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at Cowern. Send us an email at cowern622@gmail.com to stay posted on upcoming events, follow our page on Facebook at Cowern PTG, or get text aler ts by sending “@ptg1718” to 81010.

We have openings for Secretary and Committee Delegate positions on our board for the 2018-2019 school year. Terms are generally two years. Join us!

We’re on Facebook!

Cowern Elementary

Parent Teacher Group

Plaza Theater Movie Night

Movie to be announced

When: October

Time: 6pm

Cost: $3

($2 of the $3 admission comes back to Cowern)

“See you at the movies!”

Parent Teacher Group (PTG) Gathering—CHILD CARE PROVIDED! MONDAY, October 9, at 6:30 p.m. at Cowern. Meet and Greet with Amberkae Decory, our Safety Resource Officer. PLEASE bring your questions for her. Remember—FREE child care! Box Tops Etc. Collection, October 11 thru October 13, 2017 Save the labels! If it says labels can be exchanged for cash for your school, save it and turn it in to your child’s classroom. The classroom with the most labels/box tops/caps turned in will win a fabulous prize! Examples include Box Tops for Education, Milk Moola, Tyson’s labels, etc. Cowern’s Annual Fund Run, October 13, 2017 Join Principal Wilson as she sets her sights on becoming a SUPER SCIENTIST—all to support Cowern! We kicked off the Fund Run this past Friday passing out fundraising envelopes to Cowern students. ALL money collected goes to supporting Cowern students and teachers. Instead of selling wrapping paper or candy, Cowern students are asked to collect pledges from family and friends. Then on Friday, October 13, students run laps outside (weather permitting) marking the end of this fundraiser. Our goal is $10,000! If every student brought in $25, we could crush that goal. Envelopes can be turned in to your teacher any time, but MUST be in by October 11. Every student who returns their envelope (empty or full) receives a prize and students raising $200 or more will qualify for a special lunch. Let’s absorb every dollar we can! All donations are tax-deductible. Check with your employer to see if your donation can be matched at www.matchingifts.com. Envelopes are due OCTOBER 11. We Need Your Help! Check out the Fund Run Volunteer Form (page 3) in this issue of the Paw Prints Newsletter for more details and to sign up! Saints North Skate Night, November 2, 2017, 6-8 p.m. Skate party for Cowern students and friends at Saints North Family Skate Center for roller skating. Cowern receives donations from the admission fee. Saints North Family Skate Center is located at 1818 Gervais Ct, Maplewood, MN 55109; Phone: 651-770-3848; SaintsNorth.com. Ashland Productions Presents: SPACE PIRATES! Cowern students in 2nd through 5th grades are invited to participate in this year’s Ashland Productions musical: Space Pirates! This after school experience reveals the process of bringing a musical to life. Students will work with theater professionals in twice-a-week rehearsals (Tuesdays and Thursdays from after school until 4:30 p.m.) and present a performance of all their work in the theater at Maplewood Community Center next spring.

10/23/17-11/6/17: Registration, $90 per student, register online: www.ashlandproductions.org. 11/28/17: Practice begins! Every Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. students work on their lines, run songs, block scenes, and learn about musical production (no busing after practice, so please arrange pickup at 4:30 p.m. Thanks!). 3/12-3/14/18: Tech week! PTG provides busing during tech week to the Maplewood Community Center and parents pick up there after rehearsal ends at 6:00 p.m. Performances are held in the theater at Maplewood Community Center located at 2100 White Bear Avenue, Maplewood, MN 55109. Performance dates: March 15 at 7:00 p.m.; March 17 at 7:00 p.m.; and March 18 at 2:00 p.m. Pirates! Aliens! Space Travel! Space Pirates tells the story of Gabby, a kid who gets picked on during a school trip to the museum. Everything quickly changes when an alien spaceship accidentally beams Gabby and her classmates up to outer space. Things go from bad to worse when the alien space ship is suddenly attacked by SPACE PIRATES! It’s only after this whirlwind space adventure that Gabby be-comes comfortable in her own skin and her classmates appreciate her for who she is.

Questions or concerns?

Contact us at

PTG Upcoming Events—Mark Your Calendars!

Come Join Us!