April 18, LHCS News A weekly publication of the Lake Harriet Community School PTA TWENTY-EIGHTH ISSUE FOR New Items:

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1 LHCS News A weekly publication of the Lake Harriet Community School PTA April 18, 2017 TWENTY-EIGHTH ISSUE FOR New Items: 2nd Grade garage sale service project (expires April 25) The 2nd Grade garage sale to honor Earth Day will take place Tuesday, April 18 and Wednesday, April 19 from 9:40 a.m. 3:30 p.m. K-3 students will visit the sale with their classroom Tuesday and Wednesday and should come to school prepared with spending money for those days. Most items will be priced between 50 cents and one dollar, but can go up to five dollars. Parents are invited to shop after 3:00 pm both days. Carnival After Party at The House of Music (expires April 25) We know you're sad when the carnival is over, so let's keep the party going! Join us across the street at the House of Music from 8:30-9:30 for live music from some of your favorite student bands. Admission is free! Volunteer at the Carnival (expires April 25) DragonFest Spring Carnival April 28 - Volunteer!!! The 2017 Carnival is Friday, April 28 from 5:30-8:30 pm The kids love it. The parents love it when it s over. This is the best fundraiser of the year for the PTA and we need over 200 volunteers to make it happen! Please consider volunteering for games or one of the other exciting spots that are available. Sign up now! Equity Conversation (expires April 25) For the second time this year, there will be a community conversation about equity and integration at Minneapolis Public Schools. The equity conversation will be held in a World Cafe format from 6-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 2, at the Davis Service Center. In order to make lasting change within our schools and develop a successful Achievement and Integration Plan, we need to hear from as many voices as possible.

2 Please use the attached fliers to help us promote our equity conversation to your families through social media, your website, your school s newsletter or other outlets. It s extremely important that the diversity of our families is widely represented in this conversation. We want everyone to understand that this is a safe and welcoming venue for them to share their opinions and ideas about creating more equitable environments within our buildings. We greatly appreciate your help in getting this information out to your school community. Thank you for your support. Sincerely, Michael Thomas Regan Carstensen regan.carstensen@mpls.k12.mn.us Communications & Public Affairs Specialist Minneapolis Public Schools, Office of Communications National Volunteer Recognition Week (expires April 25) April is National Volunteer Recognition Week Each year, a select number of MPS volunteers are recognized on MPS social media (Facebook and Twitter) at the request of teachers and staff. This year, we will keep it local by also featuring all LHCS nominations on the LHCS News Facebook page. We will feature our rock star volunteers throughout the week! Please watch for posts and feel free to add your own shout outs. We have an amazing volunteer community here at Lake Harriet. Thank you to all of our family and community volunteers who truly are the roots of this community. Rhonda Bonnabeau Family Liaison, Upper Campus Citizens and Heroes (expires April 25) Congratulations to our March Citizens and HEROes! We recognized these students as positive contributors to our school community. Kindergarten: Liva C, Gray G, Ellen R, Myles I, Thomas L, Keira B, Katie H, Phoebe H, Nettie W, Charlie F, Triada N, Colette F, Fiona B First: Ben S, Tommy L, Ruby D, Sabri B, Oscar F, Paige A, Chloe M, Gianna P, Grace F, Juliet Z Second: Oliver G, Mila B, Fiona A, J.J. Keating, Ian J, Mae S, Gianna P, Ryan L Third: Amelia S, Louie T, Megan C, Ellia C, Natalia G, Marin K, Amber C, Hendrix B, Lola V, Ruby J Grade 4: Matthew W, Maya T, Oliver E, Ian W Grade 5: Shawn T, Amelia S, Lewis W, Loch N Grade 6: Jonah B,Wilson N, Karli T, Clementine K, Josie B, Aidan M, Elsa Y Grade 7: Sophia S, Mikey S, Paola R, Eddie J, Griffin West, Corrine T Grade 8: Stephon T, Joseph P, Rayne C, Kyra C, Olivia S, Oliver H.

3 Trece de Mayo (Parties Galore) (expires April 25) Our party hasn't been making the newsletter - can you please add it? Thank you so much! TRECE DE MAYO!!! (SATURDAY, MAY 13) The 6th grade parents will recall our Cinco de Mayo parties of the past. Well, Trece de Mayo is promising to be bigger, better, and in true LHCS spirit - all inclusive. Grab your sombrero and join us for an evening of your favorite Cinco de Mayo traditions! Your price of admission includes a full Mexican meal, live mariachi band, adult pinata, unlimited margaritas, beer, tequila tasting, and much, much more! Feel like dressing the part? There will be a prize for best dressed. Bring cash or checkbook for the famous bead game and fabulous live auction prizes. Time: 7:00 p.m. Cost: $35 each (80 available) Place: Home of Brad and Margo Farrell, 2709 West 47th Street Hosts: Margo & Brad Farrell, Rebekah & J. Forrest, Sara Malin Mackey & Pat Mackey, Liz Banfield & Rob McPherson, Melissa & Brian Taney. Summer Cycling Club! (expires April 25) Looking for a cool way to enjoy the Minneapolis bike trails with your kids, their friends and parents, and the greater community this summer? Think about resurrecting the Mill City Cyclomaniacs! Gobs of kids and parents enjoyed informal Friday group rides throughout the summers. Then those kids grew up, schedules changed, etc. All it would take is a leader or two - super easy commitment and worth every minute. Check out the website [ ready for a new generation of parents and their K-8 sidekicks to take over and have a blast! Please contact Angie Gustafson for more information angie@gustolagranola.com or SWAC Girls Softball - Get Your Game On! (expires April 25) It's not too late to sign up! Girls ages 9 and up are can register for spring softball at Pershing Park for a season of fun! Scholarships available. Register in person at Pershing Park, 3523 W. 48th Street. Questions? Please call Previous Items: Southwest Coder Dojo (expires 4/18) Coder Dojo is a free opportunity for youth and teens (11-18) who want to learn computer programming. At each meeting we divide into small groups and go through tutorials in languages for creating websites, mobile apps and general programming. No previous coding experience is necessary. Reserve a free Eventbrite ticket ( and remember to bring a laptop and charger.

4 Visit swcoderdojo.org for more information. Saturday, April 22nd, 3-4:30pm DragonFest (expires 4/11) DragonFest Poster Art Picks: (expires 4/18) The 2017 DragonFest dragons have been chosen! Congratulations to Grace L (Kindergarten) and Sadie S (4th grade). We had so many creative and fun dragons to choose from; it wasn't easy. All the dragons will be on display at the carnival and the posters revealed soon. DragonFest Carnival Sponsor & Silent Auction: (expires 4/18) Update Welcome back to the following group of amazing, generous sponsors. We couldn't do this without you! Fine Design Contracting, All About Children Pediatrics, Park Chrysler Jeep, Borman Law Firm, House of Music, and Pearson Orthodontics. A big, huge welcome and thank you to our NEW SPONSORS! Red Rabbit (sister to Red Cow), LHCS Parent-owned Topside Inc., plus Agra Culture/ SotaRol/ Yogurt Lab, Minneapolis's super cool empire of deliciousness! Now, it's time to get serious about the Peaceful Parent Lounge Silent Auction (in the UC media center during the carnival). What can you come up with as a donation, from your business or your family? Every penny raised from the auction goes to your kids' PTA, which funds so many wonderful parts of our school. Parent-designed, themed baskets were the highlight of last year's auction. Sports tickets are always a hit, as well. Submit your donation and see all our sponsors and auction donors HERE. Middle School - Mindfulness for Middle School Moms (expires 4/18) Middle School - Mindfulness for Middle School Moms We invite you to an evening of celebration and education! Please join us as Rhonda Geere, LHCS parent, and her business partner, Jessica Peshek, facilitate a session on mindfulness. Receive practical tips on how to practice mindfulness and how to be more mindful with living our values, setting healthy boundaries and making conscious choices about what we put into and on our bodies. You will take away tips that apply to parenting and life in general. The presentation will last approximately 60 minutes, with time before and after to enjoy wine, sangria and light appetizers. Date: Friday, May 5th Time: 7-9 pm Where: Carolyn Evans home, 5319 Upton Ave S, Minneapolis Hosts: Tiffany Moore, Karin Maida and Carolyn Evans Cost: $25/person Limit: 25 Last Chance to Submit Candid Yearbook Photos-by April 19 (expires 4/18) Last chance to submit photos from the school year's activities, parties, field trips, etc. Please to lakeharriet.yearbook@ gmail.com by April 19 to be included in this year's yearbook! Raise Craze - Celebrating Acts of Kindness (expires 4/18)

5 As part of our new PTA fundraising strategy, we will be piloting a program called Raise Craze! Our 6th grade students and Ms. Harich's second grade class will be part of this pilot! This fundraiser encourages students to serve others and the surrounding community while raising funds for our school. Raise Craze is an exciting approach to school fundraising based on COMMUNITY SERVICE and ACTS OF KINDNESS. The online platform supports students as the fundraiser, but rather than selling products, it is centered on good deeds. We feel it is the perfect fit for Lake Harriet Community School as it helps build character among our students. Each student will have his or her own page to promote their Acts of Kindness. The pilot will last during the second half of April and through May. Please support the classrooms that have agreed to help us launch! More information to come or visit RaiseCraze.net, at Changes to Lake Harriet Fundraising (expires 4/18) The PTA is pleased to announce that we are changing our strategy for how we raise funds in the future. Going forward, we will only be supporting fundraisers that align to one of these three pillars: Supporting educational growth (ex: Readathon) Engaging with our local communities (ex: Carnival and Parties Galore) Encouraging leadership in our students We will therefore be cancelling our Clubs Choice fundraising this fall and replacing with a fun run that encourages leadership. Stay tuned for more updates. Upcoming 7/8 Graders - Join the 612 Mountain Bike Team (expires 4/18) Love to bike? Want to learn or improve your mountain bike skills and ride with other kids? Join the 612 MTB team and be a part of the Minnesota High School Cycling League, a state-wide coed school club sport for 7th-12th graders. We operate under the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA). Riders learn bike safety, road and trail etiquette, trail-side maintenance, fitness, nutrition, and technical skills needed to ride and race on a mountain bike trail. All levels and abilities are welcome. Practices are 3 times a week and run July-October. There are 5 optional races in September and October where riders challenge themselves to their greatest potential. If you would like more information on joining the middle or high school team, please contact Tonja Sahaydak by April 22, 2017 at: tonjasahaydak@gmail.com Lost and Found (expires 4/18) Parents please check the lost and found at Upper and Lower as we will be packing up and donating all items remaining in these areas right after spring break. Please make sure you collect your child s items from the hallways and underneath lockers as these items will also be donated. If you don t know where the lost and found is located please stop in the main office at either campus and the staff there can direct you to it. Please note that our Minneapolis Kids staff has gone outside at Lower and filled a laundry basket full of lost and found items which have now also been placed with the other lost and found items.

6 Need Community Help at Lower (expires 4/18) Dear Lake Harriet Lower families and community I am saddened to report that the Lower campus building received graffiti during the weekend of March 25th. The back side of the building (parking lot side) received markings. In addition, the front of the building some of the bike rack deterrents were actually pounded out of place in an attempt to remove them from the rail. This must have caused considerable noise. Please be assured that when our building engineers (custodians) arrived on Monday they reported and the damage to our district center. We need your help- I am asking our friends and neighbors to be vigilant and to please report any suspicious behavior or anything that does not seem quite right. Please call the police immediately. We have had some trouble with young adult males wanting to skate board around the school and we have had to call the police several times in the recent past. Thank you all in advance for helping to keep our school a safe and welcoming place to learn. Sincerely, Merry Tilleson Principal Help Needed with 8th Grade Graduation (expires 4/25) We need someone ASAP to help coordinate this wonderful event. It's a well oiled machine with a binder full of all the information you'll need and coordinators from past years who are willing to help. Any parent is welcome to sign up - we would love to have you organize this special day for our 8th graders. Contact Nikki Niermann nniermann@gmail.com or Rhonda Bonnabeau Rhonda.Bonnabeau@mpls.k12.mn.us Southwest Performing Arts (expires 4/21) Come hear the wonderful music being created by the students of Southwest High School. Support the Arts. April 24th Evening time TBA-Wind Ensemble MSHSL Large Group Contest, Edina High School April 27th 7 pm Wind Ensemble, Chamber Orchestra, Jazz Concert Minneapolis Kids Jr. (expires 4/25) Minneapolis Kids Jr., a program of Minneapolis Community Education offers a safe, nurturing, educational, and recreational experience specifically designed for children entering kindergarten the following school year. Children are encouraged to pursue interests, and develop friendships, independence, and confidence. We incorporate curriculum from Mother Goose Time. Minneapolis Kids Jr. runs Mon Thu from 10am 1pm $80.00/week. Minneapolis Kids Jr. will offer programming from the Monday following Labor Day to the Thursday prior to Memorial Day. Registration is open now! Volunteer at the Carnival (expires 4/25)

7 DargonFest. We need over 200 volunteers to make this event happen. Signing up early means: 1. You get first dibs on the game/event of your choice (we will do our best to respect your requests), 2. We don't have to nag as much later on, 3. We can begin organizing and sorting volunteers early, 4. We don't have to worry that we will need to cancel games due to insufficient volunteers, and 5. Did we mention not having to nag? Sign up here: Classroom Placement of Students at Lower Campus: (expires end of April) Dear Families, I want you to know that the teaching staff at Lower spends hours each spring classifying the students and carefully taking the time to place them into classrooms. Many factors are considered and each class is carefully balanced. That being said, we are asking that you please do not send us parent information forms. We are trying something new effective ; in the fall, once you have received your child s placement, our teachers will be collecting information about your child. This is when you can tell us all about your child- skills, abilities and learning styles. We want you to connect with your child s classroom teacher, build a relationship, communicate back and forth, and share your hopes and dreams for your child. Please keep in mind that ALL of our staff are highly qualified and are eager to work with you and your child in their educational endeavors. Effective spring of 2017, we will no longer be accepting any classroom requests during our classification process. Instead we want you to share your child s strengths and challenges with the teacher in the fall. Sincerely, Merry Tilleson Principal Lake Harriet Lower S'Winter Festival (expires 4/29) Join 5th grade parents for the annual backyard gathering celebrating the seasons! This year's fiesta will be complete with a food truck featuring Latin fare, chile and chocolate inspired s'mores, and the ever-popular Sno-Cones with a twist! Must be 21 years or older. Where: Kyle & Sara Johnson's Backyard, 4815 Thomas Avenue S, Minneapolis When: Saturday, April 29, :30pm-9:30pm Cost $40/Person

8 Hosted By Maggie & Brian Bebler, Missy Durant & Samantha Hanson, Heather & Matthew Hunt, Sara & Kyle Johnson, Kate & Mike Kerfoot, Beth & Steve Larcoran, Megan & Sam Sigelman, Stacy & Rich Walker & Melissa + Brian Taney, Rebekah + J. Forrest and Liz Banfield + Rob McPherson Community News: Rock Band Charlie Smith, highly qualified Lake Harriet House of Music teacher, is looking for students for his spring rock bands. He has 2 bands, Thursdays 5:00-6:30pm for beginner/intermediate students ages 10-13, and Fridays 4:30-6:00pm for advanced students 13 and up. He's especially looking for students for the Thursday band. If you/your child is interested in joining, here is the info: Spring after school rock bands Lake Harriet House of Music, room 17 Thursday band: 5:00-6:30pm Ages: Dates: 4/13, 4/20, 4/27, 5/4, 5/11, 5/18, 5/25 Length: 7 weeks Cost: $240 Friday band: 4:30-6:00pm Ages: 13+ Dates: 4/14, 4/21, 4/28, 5/5, 5/12, 5/19, 5/26 Length: 7 weeks Cost: $240 Performance: Sunday May 21st 4:30-6:30pm at Famous Dave's Uptown for the House of Music showcase To register, contact Charlie at LakeHarrietRockBand@gmail.com More info on the bands can be found at It s Back! Washburn Soccer Camp for Middle School Athletes Open to boys and girls entering 6th, 7th or 8th grade in Fall 2017 At Washburn High School Stadium Tuesday June 27, through Thursday, June 29, :00 am 11:00 am each day $55.00 per camper (includes t-shirt) Here's the link to register:

9 Registration for the 2017 Youth Soccer Camp at Washburn High School is open! What: Soccer camp for kids in grades K-5: Skills and fun When: June 19-22, 9:00-11:00 am Where: at Washburn High School, run by Washburn Varsity Soccer Coaches and Players, girls and boys Cost: $80 per player (includes t-shirt and ball) Here s the link to register: Sleep Deprivation (article written by a student) (expires 6/14) I am here to tell you about sleep deprivation which is a very important issue. Sleep deprivation is caused by not getting the recommended hours of sleep. School aged kids should get about 9 to 11 hours of sleep, which I know most of us are not getting. Sleep deprivation causes drowsiness and difficulty concentrating in school. The effects of sleep deprivation include getting lower grades and more frequent infections. Sleep deprivation is most notable in young adults. l know some of us are not willing to turn off our screens and go to bed. But sleep is more important than playing on screens!! LHCS News Contacts: Julie Adams:julieadamsgerth@gmail.com Mark Fullerton: marksatva@gmail.com Gwen Spurgat: gwen.spurgat@objectpartners.com Published every Tuesday. Deadline for submission is 4pm the preceding Thursday. Submissions: to Mark Fullerton: marksatva@gmail.com or use the online submission form at: Please try to limit each submission to approximately 150 words in length.