September Family Newsletter
Welcome Back to School Evergreen Families!
Welcome to our first month of school. I am so excited to team with you this year for your child’s education. Ms. Meyer, our assistant principal, and I are excited to work with you as we help your child grow academically, socially and emotionally. This month we will focus on the trait of Respect as well as our four Evergreen Expectations: Know Yourself, Grow Yourself, Build Community and Seek Solutions. Each month there will be a different trait classrooms focus on to help us be better people.
Visit this link to learn more about our program.
Ms. Meyer and I will be doing grade level talks to explain Evergreen Park’s expectations. If you would like to see what we discuss, please check this out. Also a family handbook was sent home at our open house. If you are in need of a copy, let your child’s teacher know.
This month we will also have our first family night with our curriculum night. Staff will be available to share about grade level curriculum as well as STEM activities for the whole family. There will also be a slide show with information on our School Wide Title Program. This year we have three main focuses: reading, math, and engagement. All staff learning and discussion will connect to these three areas. We will have food as well. We hope to see you on September 17.
Once again welcome back to school, let’s have a wonderful year!
:) Mrs. Collodora
Bus Safety/Transportation
Bus safety week is scheduled for September 21-25. Classes will discuss appropriate safety for riding to and from school. We will also have a bus evacuation drill that week at school. This will be done at school at bus drop off. Please talk with your child(ren) about bus safety as it is important for all students to know.
Bus Dismissal
We will have two lanes in the south lot. One lane will be for the parent pick up, the yellow on the visual, the other for our buses connected to Northwest Suburban Integration District. Please follow the lane arrows. Parent pick up should stay in the lane right by the curb.
Student Leaders
This school year Evergreen Park will have a student leader group that will be made up of fifteen students from classrooms in grades 3-5. Your child would like to be a part of this group. The group will meet one to two times a month during school hours in morning meeting time, no extra transportation will be needed.
A group of staff members will select group members based on a student interest letter, this family acknowledgement form, and a school adult recommendation. All materials need to be turned into Ms. Meyer by September 30, 2026.
Picture Day is Coming
Monday, September 21!
You can place your order on mylifetouch.com using your Picture Day ID: EVT67M2JP. Order before midnight on Picture Day to get FREE shipping!
Your child can also bring their completed flyer with cash or check on Picture Day. Orders after Picture Day must be placed online on mylifetouch.com
Student Data Safety and Security:
As the only SOC 3 compliant partner in school photography, Lifetouch delivers unmatched protection for student and staff information - backed by third‑party verification and trusted by schools nationwide. Learn More.
Personal Items/Toys/Stuffies/Sports Gear
These items should not be brought to school. The classrooms and learning spaces have equipment for recess and resources to use. Often these items become a distraction and we want to focus on student learning and safety. Please ensure that these items are kept at home as we are not responsible for any lost or stolen items.
Safety Drills
Evergreen Park will begin our safety drills for the year. State of Minnesota requires us to participate in: 5 fire drills, 5 lockout and/or lockdown, and 1 severe weather drill throughout the year. We do these drills to ensure everyone knows what to do in case of an emergency and how to stay safe. Please reach out if you have questions.
STEM News
STEM News
We have another exciting year with many STEM opportunities for the students at EGP!
We will be hosting the Science Museum during Curriculum Night on Thursday, September 17th 5:30-7:00pm. STEM stations will allow kids and adults to work together to explore, experiment, and celebrate science and engineering!
Permission slips will be sent home soon to get guardian approval for all 2026-2027 field trips. Please sign the bright green paper and return to school with your child.
Interested in chaperoning field trips?
Evergreen Park Volunteer Application
Questions? Please contact Rachel Lindeman at Rachel.Lindeman@ahschools.us
School Social Worker Resources
We are excited to introduce ourselves as the school social workers in the building. Our role is to support Evergreen students and families in both their academic and personal success.
With students, we provide:
One-on-one check-ins
Social emotional learning groups
Classroom presentations
School Based Mental Health Services
Peer mediation
With families, we can help connect you to:
Community resources
Thanksgiving and holiday gift support
Food shelf access
Winter clothing (hats, gloves, snowpants)
General clothing support
Housing resources
Attendance support
Other Information:
Food Distribution
We offer a weekly weekend food program with nonperishable food items that you can sign up for. Here is the link to sign up for the weekend program https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1IOeBh919hOmKGLck8JnP1T3zq24Kv_2pPRhcFhtc02s/edit. If you have any questions regarding the weekly weekend food contact courtney.conway@ahschools.us.
- Events this Month: Orange Shirt Day is Wednesday, September 30th! Orange shirt day is an annual observance that honors the Indigenous children who suffered in residential and boarding schools and recognizes the ongoing impact on survivors and their communities.
We are here to partner with you to ensure students’ basic and emotional needs are met so they can thrive. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to any of us if you have questions or need assistance.
Ashley Akwa: ashley.akwa@ahschools.us
Courtney Conway: courtney.conway@ahschools.us
Callie LeGarde: callie.legarde@ahschools.us
We look forward to working together!
School Attendance Matters
Attendance is very important, when students miss school, they miss out on valuable learning.
If your child is not feeling well, please call the attendance line at 763-506-2506. If we do not receive a call when your child is absent, the absence is considered unexcused.
To keep families informed, we send letters when a student has:
3 unexcused absences
7 unexcused absences
10 total absences (excused or unexcused)
If your child reaches 10 absences, we may begin requiring a doctor’s note for future absences. By law, schools must report educational neglect when a student has 7 unexcused absences (absences not called in). This is something we do not want to do, we would much rather partner with families to ensure students are in school.
I will reach out if your child begins to miss too many days so that we can work together to support consistent attendance. If you are experiencing any barriers to getting your child to school, please contact me at ashley.akwa@ahschools.us.
Volunteer Information
We are ready for a great school year and can't wait to see how you choose to volunteer at Evergreen this year! What a great way to show your kids you value their school and want to be involved in it. Many employers give their employees time off to volunteer- talk to your boss to see if they will let you leave work occasionally to volunteer at your child's school. There are many opportunities throughout the year.
Don't forget to fill out your online volunteer application so you are ready to help at Evergreen Park- APPLICATION. Each person 18 and older needs to fill out a new application each year.
We urgently need helpers to come in to help at breakfast and lunch times the first two weeks of school. If you are available, please fill out your volunteer application and sign up here: BREAKFAST/LUNCH
For other ways to help, check out this list- VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Thank you for all you do! Let me know if you have questions or need help with any of these applications or sign ups.
Volunteer Services Coordinator
Health Office
The health office is currently reviewing immunization records to ensure all students meet compliance requirements. If your student is missing required vaccines, you will receive a notice by mail. If you have any questions, please contact the health office at 763-506-2502.
Upcoming Dates
September 17: Curriculum Night 5:30-7:00p
September 21: Fall Picture Day
September 21-25: Transportation Safety Week
September 30: Orange Day
