Capitol Hill Headliner

Monday, November 18: Newsies Practice begins, 4-6pm

Monday, November 18: Math Team Meet 3. 4:15-5:45pm @ Twin Cities German Immersion School, 1031 Como Ave

Monday, November 18: PTO Meeting, 6-7:30pm

Monday, November 25: Juniper Trio performs for band classes, 11am-1:30pm

Thursday and Friday, November 28 & 29: NO SCHOOL, Thanksgiving Holiday

Monday, December 2: Girls Basketball vs Global Arts, 4:30 @ Capitol Hill

Thursday, December 5: Wrestling Meet, 4:30 @ Battle Creek Middle School

Thursday, December 5: Doing Good Together, 5:30-8pm, more info below

Monday, December 9: Math Team Meet 4, 4:15-5:45pm @ SPA Upper School

Monday, December 9: Wrestling Meet, 4:30 @ Hidden River Middle School

Monday, December 9: Girls Basketball vs Highland Park Middle School, 4:30 @ Capitol Hill

Thursday, December 12: 2nd Grade Author's Cafe, 1:30-2:45pm

Thursday, December 12: Middle School Band Concert, 6:30-8pm

Tuesday, December 17: 2nd Grade Winter Wonderland 10am-noom

Tuesday, December 17: 5th Grade Band and Middle School Orchestra Concert, 6-8:30pm

Monday, December 23-Friday, January 3: NO SCHOOL, Winter Break

Second grade scientists continue to work on their Nature Notebooks this week. They are focusing on observations and scientific drawings of trees and leaves and taking a neighborhood leaf survey.

Each week our elementary classrooms will highlight star students.

Share your vision for the PTO at our upcoming in-person PTO meeting this Monday at Capitol Hill in the Red cafeteria! Join us for refreshments and connect with fellow Capitol Hill parents and families on the topics you care about.

There will be snacky-supper food, and childcare will be provided.

Help us reach our $55,000 fundraising goal by 11/21!

We need $50,000 to reach our $55,000 goal - please donate if you haven't already this year! Donate today at GiveMN.org/organization/Capitol-Hill-Fund-Raising and ask your employer to match your gift.

Your donations pay for Capitol Hill's field trips, classroom supplies, student groups, conference meals for teachers, community events (like Family Engineering Night, Doing Good Together, and the Spring Carnival), and Voice, Choice, and Joy Day!

Winter is creeping up on us and that means it’s almost time to hit the slopes!

Whether you are a total pro or just starting out,

you are invited to sign up for The Capitol Hill Ski & Snowboard Club.

This year the Ski Club will have an option of 3 to 5 visits to Afton Alps after school on Fridays where kids can participate in Afton’s “Slope Days” program. In Slope Days, kids learn the basics of skiing or riding while gaining confidence, perseverance, endurance, and a true love for the outdoors!! Lessons are the first hour of the night with independent skiing to follow.

Details below. Registration is due November 30.

• WHEN: Option of 3, 4 or 5 Fridays (12/20, 1/10, 1/24, 2/7, 2/21)

• WHERE: Afton Alps Google Maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/JGyPJdey7Dw6qQY36

• TIME: Bus departs Capitol Hill at 4:10PM arrives back at Capitol Hill at ~9:35/45PM Parents/caregivers expected to pick up their kids at Capitol Hill at 9:35/40PM

• COST OPTIONS:

• Option 1: All inclusive Slope Days Program (includes bus transport): $279 for 3 days, $257 for 4 days, $435 for 5 days. This program is inclusive of bus transportation, lessons, lift tickets and rental equipment for all nights.

• Option 2: Bus Only (assumes you have an Epic lift ticket/pass and your own equipment already): 3 days = $70, 4 days = $85, 5 days = $100. Note: have an Epic pass–which you can purchase now from Afton directly at this link. Note, pass prices go up this Sunday, November 17.

• AGE REQ’S: Due to safety concerns with kids skiing on their own (and at a relatively large ski area), the club is geared towards independent middle schoolers in grades 6-8 as there will be minimal adult supervision other than a few chaperones in the Ski Chalet. Reach out to me if you have younger siblings or kids interested...we just want to make sure everyone is safe. :)

• HOW TO REGISTER:

• Step 1: Fill out a permission slip here. Return this slip with your bus payment to the front office OR send it in via email to anne.halvorson@gmail.com.

• Step 2: Pay.

• For OPTION 1 you will pay Afton directly for Ski Slope program and the PTO for the bus fee. To Register & pay for Slope Day via Afton directly here--it will give you the option of 3, 4 or 5 days. Then write out a check for bus transport (3 days = $70, 4 days = $85, 5 days = $100) and drop off in the front office with your permission slip.

• Important note re: Afton Instructions: After you check out you must enter our unique group code (AACHSC3FRI) into the “special conditions” field–this last part is very important so we can identify our club during registration.

• For OPTION 2 (bus only): Write out a check for bus transport (3 days = $70, 4 days = $85, 5 days = $100) and drop it off in the office. OR, you may pay via PayPal: (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/CapitolHillPTO) with a note of "ski" or "ski club for [child's name]" in the "What's this for" field.
  
  

If you have any questions, please reach out to Anne Halvorson at anne.halvorson@gmail.com or text 503-593-4096.

Co-Ed Wrestling and Girl's Basketball began on Monday, November 11. Practices are held Monday-Thursday from 4 to 6pm. Parent pick up will be at the green doors at 6pm.

Boys Basketball will begin Monday, January 20, 2025.

An activity registration start- up guide for families is provided on the athletic website.

Athletes can still join! To register online: middle school athletic registration form document

District Athletic Website: SPORTS.SPPS.ORG

If you have questions, please email our athletic director, Ms. Bergstrom. nadine.bergstrom@spps.org

What is Doing Good Together? It is a treasured school tradition where students learn about kindness and the value of giving back through simple, fun, hands-on service projects and educational experiences. If you're looking for big hearted people to connect with this fall, this is the place! You’ll leave with a warm, fuzzy feeling and the knowledge that you made a real difference right here in our community! This event is a great way to connect with families at our school, so if you’re new to Capitol Hill, this is a wonderful event to get involved with! Some examples of service projects we’ve done in the past are: making snuffle mats for MN Pitbull Rescue, making bird toys for MAARS, and making joke cards for children at Masonic Children’s Hospital. We've also had fun learning about and visiting with service dogs, exploring the U of M touch tank, and MUCH MORE!

Save the date: Doing Good Together will be on Thursday, December 5th from 5:30pm-8:00pm. We will start with a FREE community dinner in the cafeteria at 5:30, and then proceed with projects and activities from 6-8.

Note: We will once again be collecting food for the food pantry at Hallie Q. Brown Community Center, located right behind our school. If you are able, please bring one (or more!) non-perishable food items to the event. For December, Hallie Q. Brown especially loves receiving canned vegetables, and other holiday foods.

We are still in need of volunteers to make this event successful! Volunteering at Doing Good Together is easy and fun! You can sign up here. Questions? Email Abby Heuckendorf: agrodin01@gmail.com

Breakthrough Twin Cities supports students on their journey to college. If you are a family that is interested in learning more, wanting to start the application, or need help finishing it, this is an event for you! Small snacks and drinks will be provided. Along with interpreters in the following languages: Amharic, Spanish, Karen, and Hmong.

When: Wednesday, December 4th

Time: 6-7:30 pm

Where: Mounds Park Academy (2051 Larpenteur Ave E, Saint Paul)

Contact Program Manager Emma Silkey if you have any questions. esilkey@breakthroughtwincities.org, 952-451-4574

Thank you to everyone who has volunteered to support Capitol Hill. Thank you to all parents and guardians who have already submitted the volunteer background checks paper form.

Due to a policy/procedure change, from our human resource department, there is a new volunteer background check process.

A volunteer background check electronic form must be complete before volunteering. It is now the responsibility of the staff members leading the event to send the volunteer background check link out to families. We recognize that the this change in the process and understand that this change came weeks after the paper forms were sent to families.

For those who have submitted the paper form you will need to submit an electronic form. Our HR department is no longer accepting paper forms. If you have turned in a paper form, we will shred it for you.

We apologize for the inconvenience, and we look forward to seeing you soon.

Thank you,

Marcus

Capitol Hill is working on acquiring Title I status and we need your help! Being a Title I school would mean additional funding that could pay for multiple staff at our school next year. Attaining Title I status relies heavily on the Application for Educational Benefits (commonly known as the application for free and reduced price lunch). Every family MUST complete this form, even if you think you do not qualify for benefits, and even though meals are now free for all students. Why? These forms provide important data that determines both our compensatory and Title I funding for the following school year (2025-26). We are still missing forms from many families at our school! Forms can be completed online here or you can contact school for a paper form. Unsure if you filled the form out or not? Log into your School Cafe account and check! Only one person in the household needs to complete the form. The forms are due by December 15!

Additional information:

Income Guidelines for the Application for Educational Benefits from MDE

Questions? Reach out to school, or any of the following district staff:

Stacy Koppen, Director of Nutrition Services: stacy.koppen@spps.org

Lynn Broberg, Assistant Director of Nutrition Services: lynn.broberg@spps.org

Anne McInerney, Director of the Office of Federal Programs: anne.mcinerney@spps.org

The Capitol Hill visitor policy was made with the health and safety of students, staff and our Capitol Hill community in mind. Parents and guardians will need to make an appointment prior to meeting with a staff member at Capitol Hill. Also, families will no longer be able to walk their student(s) to their respective classes. Families can drop their scholar off at the main office and then the student will be able to walk to class by themselves. Lastly, families are more than welcome to come and pick their child up to have lunch, but families will not be able to eat lunch in the cafeteria with students.

Thank you for your partnership and commitment in keeping all of our students, staff and Capitol Hill community safe.

The Capitol Hill Gifted and Talented Magnet school policy about the use of electronic devices, including, but not limited to, cell phones, mp3 players, headphones & earbuds, and personal gaming systems, is as follows:

1. ALL electronic devices that are brought to school are to be TURNED OFF & STORED in students’ backpacks or lockers from the time students arrive on campus until they are off campus after 4PM.

2. Cell phones and other non-district devices should not be used in classrooms (including the gymnasiums/locker rooms), the library, lunch room, restrooms, or hallways.

3. Students who violate this policy must turn over their electronics/equipment to staff upon request.

4. The following consequences are in place for students who are in violation of this policy.

1. 1st offense – Teacher and student will discuss and problem solve how to eliminate the distraction.

2. 2nd offense – Teacher will hold the item until the end of class.

3. 3rd offense – The phone will be held until the end of the day and an Administrator will call home.

4. 4th offense – Parent/Admin/Student Meeting to pick up the device.

Note: A Parent or Guardian may come to the school at any time to reclaim the confiscated item and take it home with them.

Why don’t we allow cell phones in class/lunch/bathrooms/halls during the school day?

1. We prioritize real human interaction. We believe that learning the skills of in-person communication and collaboration are much more important. Students are already good at using electronics -- they do not need social media practice or gaming practice at school. One of the most important skills our students will learn at Capitol Hill is how to get along and work well, face-to-face, with a variety of people.
   
   

2. Electronics are disruptive. Cell phones ringing and buzzing disrupt both the student and the class. We want students focused on the lesson, not who’s calling or texting them.
   
   

3. They cause drama. Students tend to say things online that they would never say out loud. We don’t need extra drama at school.
   
   

4. They get lost and stolen. Unfortunately, as wonderful as our Capitol Hill students are, phones are lost and stolen. While we try to help students problem-solve, the school is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
   
   

Students don’t need them. Every student at Capitol Hill is given an iPad for academic use.

Office Hours: 9:00 - 4:30.

Morning Drop-off Time

We want to ensure each child is safe when arriving for school. Staff

supervision begins at 9:15am. Please do not drop off your child

any earlier than 9:15

Dismissal

Please send a note or email your child's teacher, if you are picking up your child early or letting your

child go home any other way than their normal route. For early pick up, we do not call your child to

the office until you arrive to sign them out. Elementary students will always need confirmation for

changes. Students are NOT allowed to ride a bus home that is not assigned to them. This means

that your child may not ride the bus home with a friend or relative that has a different bus than your

child.

It gets extremely busy in the office at the end of the day. For any changes to your normal

dismissal process, please make sure to call the office no later than 3:00 pm, at 651-325-2500,

as this allows time for the message to be received/delivered. To guarantee that all students

make it home safely, changes and messages will not be delivered after 3:00pm.

Sign In

We always welcome parents and visitors to our school. If you choose to come during teaching hours,

please make sure you have an appointment or a planned visit with the respective staff member.

Please make sure you always stop by the office to check in, sign in, and get a visitor's badge.

Attendance/late arrivals:

Please make sure to always report your child's absences. You can do this in two ways:

· Dial the attendance line directly at 651-325-2599 -OR-

· Email us at capitolhill.attendance@spps.org.

Please include your child's name (spell their name if calling), grade, the reason for their absence,

your relationship to the child, and a return phone number that you can be reached at if we should

have questions.

Questions about SPPS Attendance Policies?

Please click on this link. https://www.spps.org/attendance

Health Related Absences:

If your child is ill, you may receive a follow up call from our nurse or

nurse designee.

Calling Your Child

When calling the school to speak to your child, the office staff will deliver your message to have your

child call you back. We will not transfer calls. Teachers are teaching during the day and we are trying

our best to lessen the interruptions during instructional time. Thanks for understanding.

Capitol Hill Arrival Procedure:

• Parents/guardians drop off students on Concordia Avenue.

• Please follow the cars lining up.

• Please wait your turn and do not go in front of other cars already in line.

• Students can get out of the car after the entrance to the parking lot.

• Pull up as far as you can to Mackubin Avenue, behind the car in front of you, without leaving gaps between cars (please do not stop at the stairs if you have room to pull forward)

• Students get out on the right side (curb). Use the FULL drop-off Zone.

• Parents/guardians stay in the car.

• There will be staff there to assist if needed.

• When your student(s) is out of the car, please safely pull out of the line and follow traffic on Concordia (no right turns onto Mackubin Street).

Capitol Hill Dismissal Procedure for Elementary students:

• Parents/guardians will get out of their vehicles and line up on the sidewalk on Mackubin and let staff know the name of the student(s) being picked up.

• Parents/Guardians of students with last names starting with A – G will be located between the far MLK driveway and the corner of Mackubin and Marshall

• Parents/Guardians of students with last names starting with H – O will be between the MLK driveways

• Parents/Guardians of students with last names starting with P – Z will be between the MLK driveway and the Green Doors

• All Students are to remain inside the school until outside staff have radioed that their parent/guardian has arrived.

• Inside staff will call the student’s name they will walk outside to meet their parent/guardian. Parents/guardians wait for student(s) on the sidewalk.

• Middle School sibling(s) cannot pick-up Elementary sibling(s).

• Parents and/or Guardians are the only ones allowed to pick-up Elementary students.

• At 4:15, any student still left will be escorted to the main Office and the parent/guardian will be called.

Capitol Hill Dismissal Procedure for Middle School students:

• Students will exit the building through the Green doors and go to their assigned bus, walk home, or meet their parent/guardian.

• Middle School students cannot pick up their Elementary sibling(s).

• Middle School students can meet their Elementary sibling(s) outside.