January News and Events

January 8, 2026

Hello Eisenhower Families,

At Eisenhower, we know that learning doesn't just happen within the four walls of a classroom. We understand that it’s a journey that continues at home, in the community, and beyond. Knowing this is true, I am excited to share that our team is currently developing a Digital Learning Site to support our families with learning at home. Our hope is that this resource will provide students with learning opportunities that extend outside of regular school hours.

Our core instructional team is working hard on what we like to think of as our "virtual backpack" that will be filled with resources. We are excited to share a first look version with you as early as next week so keep an eye out for an email with directions on how to access the digital resources. Knowing that we are committed to continuous improvement, we would love to hear from you with any future feedback you may have on potential improvements. This is not a replacement for school or in person learning, only a resource for families to support or extend learning at home outside of school hours.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership and for everything you do to support your child’s growth. We are so proud of our learners and grateful for such a dedicated school community.

In appreciation and partnership,

Principal DeRung

January 5-9th is Winter Transportation Safety Week. The district is having it's 31st annual School Bus Safety Poster Contest with the theme "Safe Rides - Everyday Heroes". Please see details of the contest here. Below are some safety tips to keep in mind:

Here are some important Winter Transportation Safety tips for students:

• Please dress in warm winter clothing such as hat, mittens and boots - bright colors if possible.
• Please be on time at the bus stop.
• Please wait for the bus several feet further off the road in a safe place in winter weather.
• Please use the handrail when boarding or exiting the bus to prevent slipping and injuring yourself on icy road surfaces or steps.
• Please move away from the bus to a place where you and the driver can see each other after you exit the bus.
• Please cross at least 10 feet in front of the bus after getting the "all clear" signal from the driver before leaving the curb.
• Please keep all school materials in a backpack.

Here are some hazardous conditions to watch for:

• Please do not stand or play on snow piles at the bus stop to avoid sliding into the street in the path of oncoming traffic.
• Please do not attempt to retrieve your books or lunch box from around or underneath the bus until after it has cleared the unloading zone.
• Please do not push or shove when getting on or off the bus.
• Please do not chase after the bus or attempt to grab the rear bumper.

Donations Wanted:

-Snow pants

-Winter boots

-Gloves and mittens

Additional donation suggestions can be found on this Amazon list. The items on this list are suggestions of items that can be donated - You do not need to buy directly off this list if you do not wish to. All items will be donated to students and families in need at Eisenhower Elementary School.

If you wish to purchase anything from the list, you can ship it right to the school by purchasing directly off the link or have the items shipped to your home to be dropped off later. Thank you for your consideration and partnership!

Community Resources:

If you are in need of help, but are not sure where to start, you can reference this Resource List for Anoka County resources. For additional support or resources, please do not hesitate to contact Josie Gall or Nici Higby, School Social Workers.

Josie Gall

josie.gall@ahschools.us

763-506-2369

Nici Higby

nicole.higby@ahschools.us

763-506-2370

Start the New Year with a Community Education class!

Pop Beats & Anime Dreams starts Tuesday January 13 (4 sessions)

Click here to register for Pop Beats & Anime Dreams

Gym Games and Dodgeball with Friends starts Tuesday January 20 (3 sessions)

Click here to register for Gym Games and Dodgeball with Friends

Eagles Club starts Thursday January 22 (4 session before school)

Want to make new friends? Join us for 4 weeks of fun! We will do a service project, scavenger hunt, arts and craft, games and healthy snacks. You will have to register to find out which fun activity we are doing each week.

Family Fun: Sleigh Ride and Bonfire meets Saturday January 31

Gather your family and friends and pile on for a fun-filled hayride/sleigh ride (depending on amount of snow) pulled by a team of gentle draft horses at Bunker Hills Stables. Enjoy the hay/sleigh ride followed by a bonfire. Dress appropriately for the weather. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Register each participant individually. Families must provide their own transportation to and from Bunker Hills Stables.

Anna Heinrich

Community Education Programmer

(763)506-2312 (Eisenhower)

www.ahschools.us/eisenhower

Please join the Eisenhower PTO in room #124 (art room) starting at 6:00pm on January 8th. Please enter through door #2. All meetings held in person and online (Google Meet: https:// meet.google.com/cfj-fuyy-qny).

As always, feel free to contact me (elizabeth.korzenowski@ahschools.us) if you'd like to talk about parenting!

Supporting Healthy Habits

Screens and Stress

Parents Forever

Let’s all thrive together!

Volunteering not only benefits our school but also offers you the opportunity to connect with other parents, gain new experiences, and make a positive impact on your child's educational journey!

Weekly Student Packets for Trimester 2 - Volunteers will sort/count and assemble all flyers to be sent home with students. When you arrive at school please sign in at the office and meet up in the cafe.

Workroom Volunteer for Trimester 2 - Our school staff is looking for a volunteer(s) for the staff workroom on Tuesdays and Thursdays for 1 - 2 hours. Volunteers can choose what time works best for them during the school day, 9:30-4:00 pm. Volunteers would help with making copies, laminate projects, cutting and/or prep. Staff will complete a workroom request form with instructions. Myself or the office staff would be available for questions and training.

Every Meal Food Distribution - We are looking for volunteers to distribute food for the school's Every Meal program. Every Meal works to fight hunger in our community by filling the gaps in food access that children face during weekends, summers, and extended breaks. Volunteers will be placing food in Students' lockers on Friday mornings from 10:00-11:00 am (we will have extra days due to school breaks).

Watch Dogs - Is an innovative program being used by schools across America which helps them to be positively impacted by the committed involvement of fathers and father-figures in their student’s life. Our goal is to have you spend a day this year at the school to be a positive male role model and to provide an extra set of eyes and ears. Watch Dogs will be volunteering at recess, the lunchroom and in gym class. Your Watch Dogs day will start at 10:50 and end around 3:50 pm. After you check in at the main office your day will start in our lunchroom. While in the lunchroom you will be visiting students and helping with opening lunch items as needed. Next you will be heading outside to join students at recess. At recess please feel free to visit and play games. Your day will end at Physical Education (PE). Please feel free in joining the class, you never know what fun exercise themed event they will be working on. My favorite is the giant parachute. During the day if you have any questions please feel to ask a staff member or stop in the office.

Enrichment Programs

Seeking volunteers who are interested in leading any of the following enrichment programs. Online training is available. Please contact Kathrina DeKruyff-Glass if you are interested. (Training is required)

• SKILLBUILDERS

The program was developed to help kindergarten thru second grade students develop lifelong literacy and math skills. The volunteer program is comprised of a variety of activities that volunteers can practice with students one-on-one in the classroom while reinforcing the skills that classroom teachers have already introduced to kindergarteners through lesson plans, including: Reading aloud, tracing the alphabet, sorting and finding letters, listening to sounds, and counting and building number recognition. This program occurs during the school day.

• CHALLENGE READING

Volunteers provide children with additional opportunities to foster a love of reading outside of the classroom by introducing various genres of literature, extending students' writing connections, and promoting higher level thinking skills. Like a book club! This occurs outside of school hours, usually after school.

• MATH PLUS

The purpose of the Math PLUS is to provide additional, on-going mathematical experiences for students in grades K-5. Students participate in math activities that reinforce problem solving, logic and reasoning, and communicating mathematical findings. This makes math learning fun! This occurs outside of school hours, usually after school.

Please don’t hesitate to call me if an opportunity arises that you would like to be involved in or to say “Hello” anytime!

Thank you and I look forward to working with you here at Eisenhower

Kathrina DeKruyff-Glass

Volunteer Services Coordinator

Monday - Wednesday 8:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Thursday 8:00 - noon

(Hours may vary)

kathrina.dekruyffglass@ahschools.us

763-506-2340

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers have helped in the workroom, weekly student folders, Every Meal Distribution, book binding, at home projects and classroom reader. Many also helped contribute cookies, brownie, coffee, hot chocolate and more for staff holiday treats - YUMMY! Thank you! Eisenhower has amazing volunteers!

Volunteer Impact at Eisenhower
Total # of registered volunteers: 105
Total # of volunteer hours since school started: 475

This month's trait is PERSEVERANCE. One way to think about perseverance is “pushing yourself through challenges and obstacles.” Check in with your kids about what they have learned and give examples of how you have had perseverance.

PTO meeting - Jan 8

No School - Jan 19

Conferences - Feb 17 & 19 (sign-up information coming)

Eisenhower Calendar