6^th Grade Commemoration

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

1:45 p.m.

• * 6^th grade students must be in attendance the entire school day to participate in commemoration.
• * Students (brothers and sisters) in grade K-5 will continue with their regularly scheduled classes.
• * Students may choose to dress up for the commemoration however, Park Brook building dress code must be followed and students will be participating in recess and phy ed earlier in the day. 
  

Dress Code Reminders

With warmer weather, please remember:

* No spaghetti straps--Straps should be 1.5 inches wide

*Shirts must cover the entire midsection.

* Shorts/skirts must come to the end of fingertips when standing

* Shoes should allow your child to participate in physical education and recess

LUNCH ACCOUNT CHARGES – As of May 2, no charges will be allowed for the remainder of this school year. All students must have money in their lunch accounts to receive reduced, full paid lunches or extra milks.

MCA and MAP Assessments:

During the month of April and May students will be completing the state and district assessments. Please make sure your child gets a good night’s rest, eats, gets exercise, and is to school on time.

Focus on Fitness

Park Brook Elementary is focused on fitness for two specific reasons: it is good for our physical health and research indicates that increasing fitness increases academic growth.

Students at Park Brook Elementary can participate in the following additional fitness activities:

• * Morning Move: Students can still sign up to come on Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning for this exercise program which begins at 8:00. Students need to register.
• * Boot Camp: 103 students signed up to participate in the after school Boot Camp. The current Boot Camp will run from April 15-May 16. This is the third Boot Camp this year. Next year Boot Camp will be offered beginning in September. Registration is closed for this session.
• * Salad Bar Lunch Entrée: Park Brook is the only school in the district to offer a salad bar as a lunch entrée. This is an option for students in grade 3-6.
• * Wellness Committee: 20 students serve on the Wellness Committee at Park Brook. Students in grades 4 and 5 on the committee will go to the Metrodome on April 30 to develop plans for the 2013-2014 school year

During the 2011-2012 school year Park Brook Elementary had the highest growth rate in reading in the Osseo Area Schools according to the MAP assessment in three areas:

• * Students who receive free or reduced lunches.
• * Students in the ELL program
• * Students in 6^th grade.

To achieve our academic goals for the 2012-2013 school year the staff at Park Brook Elementary are focused on increasing these research proven methods:

• * Effective Feedback
• * Non-fiction writing (having students write in all subject areas)
• * Professional Learning Committees
• * Wellness.

Park Brook Elementary has been able to implement the Focus on Fitness program at Park Brook thanks to the generous support from the following:

• * Allina Health
• * NFL’s Fuel Up to Play 60
• * Loppet Foundation
• * Twin Cities in Motion
• * MN Dairy Council
• * YMCA Coon Rapids
  

Reading Corps and Math Corps

Two AmeriCorps programs are now recruiting tutors to work with students at Park Brook for the 2013-2014 school year. A teaching license is not necessary and training is provided. Tutors receive compensation. To learn more, visit www.MinnesotaMathCorps.org or  http://minnesotareadingcorps.org/.

If you are interested in applying for the Minnesota Reading Corps or Minnesota Math Corps please apply on-line at the above websites.  The selected candidate will work at Park Brook but is hired through the AmeriCorps program.  Please share these opportunities with those who may be interested.