News and events

April 6, 2026

Monday, Apr. 13: PTO Meeting, 6:00pm, Library

Friday, April 24: Yearbook sales END

Friday, May 1: NO SCHOOL - Staff Development

Friday, May 8: Dayton Olympics (K-2 AM, and 3-5 PM; watch for more information)

Tuesday, May 19: 4th Grade Music Program 7:00 pm

Monday, May 25: NO SCHOOL, Holiday

Friday, June 5: Last day of school

Greetings Families,

Thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate the end of Trimester 2! It was a wonderful way to recognize our students' hard work. As we enter the final stretch of the 2025-26 school year, please take a moment to view your student’s report card .

Spring is always a busy time, but we are committed to making every instructional minute count. This month, we are also focusing on Courage—the strength to do what is right even when it’s difficult.

Explore Courage with your student:

• Kindergarten Family Connection

• First Grade Family Connection

• Second Grade Family Connection

• Third Grade Family Connection

• Fourth Grade Family Connection

• Fifth Grade Family Connection

Here’s to a purposeful and courageous April!

Jessica Wippler

• On sale NOW - Friday, April 24th!

• $10.00 per yearbook

• Purchase online via SchoolPay (see below)

• Yearbooks will be delivered to students during the final week of school

English SchoolPay directions

Spanish SchoolPay directions

Log in to your ParentVue account at ahschools.us

Click on the dark blue parent or guardian button.

(If you need help finding your login/password, email ACShelp@ahschools.us or call 763-506-4357.)

In ParentVUE, click on the “Fees” tab.

Click on “Pay for Meals/Activities/Fees Here.”

Click on “School Payments.”

Help Every Student Cherish the Memories! Order Your Yearbook & Donate Today.

Every spring, we begin to develop our class lists for next year's classes. Our goal, as always, is to create balanced classes that work well for all students, teachers, and families. If you feel that you have information we should know about your child to help support our placement process, please complete a student placement form no later than May 1st. This form is available upon request from our school office. Returned forms will be reviewed by school staff and considered in the placement process.

Art

Project Highlight: 5th grade Balsam Street Banners

In collaboration with fifth grade students, the City of Dayton is working to redesign the banners that line Balsam Street. Designs will be voted on at the city open house event in May. This year’s theme is based on the three slogans of Dayton; We play outside–show us your favorite way to play outside in our city. We’ve got roots–what makes our city special to you or your family? And we’re right here–what do you see every day that makes you feel at home?

CORE

Kindergarten - Coding

Students will be introduced to Scratch Jr. and learn about coding through fun “sprites” and background graphics.

First Grade - Coding

Students will review Scratch Jr. and learn more about coding, creating an animated project to show off to the class.

Second Grade - Coding

Students will enhance their coding skills with Code.org courses.

Third Grade - Coding

Students will enhance their coding skills with Code.org courses.

Fourth Grade - Coding

Students will begin a coding unit and enhance their coding skills with Code.org courses.

Fifth Grade - Online Safety and Coding

After finishing up Online Safety students will begin a coding unit and enhance their coding skills with Code.org courses.

Explorations

🌞 Kindergarten – Be Prepared
Kindergarteners are kicking off Be Prepared with an exciting look at the Sun! We’ll investigate how the Sun warms the Earth, changes the temperature of different surfaces, and affects the way we dress and play outside. Ask your child, “What feels hotter in the sun—grass or pavement? Why?”

🦉 First Grade – Animal Reporters & Shadow Town
First graders will wrap up Animal Reporters by designing their own communication devices based on how animals use sounds, colors, and body movements to send messages. Then, we’ll journey to Shadow Town, where students will explore how light travels, what causes shadows to form, and how they change depending on the time of day and position of the light source. Ask your child, “How do shadows change from morning to evening?”

🌿 Second Grade – A Garden for Life & Pollinators
Our young botanists will continue A Garden for Life by learning what plants need to grow, why gardens are important for people and wildlife, and how different habitats support life. Later in the month, we’ll shift our focus to Pollinators, where students will discover how bees, butterflies, and even bats help plants reproduce and why these creatures are essential to a healthy ecosystem. Ask your child, “Why are bees and butterflies important for plants?”

🦋 Third Grade – Welcome to the Biodome
This month, third graders will begin Welcome to the Biodome! We’ll dive into the life cycles of plants and animals, studying how living things grow and change over time. One of the highlights of this unit will be raising caterpillars and observing their incredible transformation into butterflies, helping students see metamorphosis up close! Ask your child, “What are the stages of a butterfly’s life cycle?”

🌎 Fourth Grade – Geographical Investigations
Fourth graders are continuing their Geographical Investigations, shifting their focus to human impacts on the environment. We’ll explore how people change landscapes by building cities, farming, and using natural resources. Through maps, case studies, and discussions, students will consider the challenges of balancing human needs with environmental sustainability. Ask your child, “How do people change the environment where they live?”

⚖️ Fifth Grade – The American Revolution & Government Today
Fifth graders will continue their study of the American Revolution, examining major events like the Declaration of Independence and the role of key figures in shaping the new nation. We’ll explore how the ideas and principles from this time influenced the creation of the U.S. government and continue to impact our country today. Ask your child, “Why is the Declaration of Independence important today?”

Library

Students in grades K-2 have voted for their favorite Star of the North nominee book! The votes will be tallied, and the Minnesota book award will be announced live on Saturday, April 25th at 9am. The link will be shared via Seesaw as we get closer to the event.

Kindergarteners are learning about past Star of the North book award winners, as well as a variety of other types of books they can find in our library.

Students in grades 1-2 are participating in a picture book March Madness! Each week, we are reading 2 picture books together, and students can vote for their favorite one!

Students in grades 3-5 are also participating in a March Madness tournament of books. Each week, they can vote for their favorite chapter books from our most popular checkouts!

Music

Reminder to 4th grade families that your students have two concerts on May 19th. One at 2:30PM and one at 7PM. Click here to see more information.

PE

Please have SAFE gym shoes!

In Physical Education we are working on volleying and short handled implements (paddles). We will also start to prepare for Olympic events!

SAVE THE DATE:

Dayton Olympics is Friday, May 8th, 2026

The PTO is hard at work behind the scenes planning an unforgettable Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week to celebrate the incredible staff who make our school shine. We have something extra special up our sleeve this year—full of a little magic, a lot of heart, and touches we think are going to be pop-u-lar among staff. ✨

While we can’t reveal all the details just yet, we can share that how “wonderful” this week becomes truly depends on the generosity of our amazing community. Donations from supporters help us transform simple thank-yous into meaningful moments our teachers will remember.

If you’d like to help us make this week as spellbinding as possible, we would be so grateful for your support. Together, we can make sure our staff feels just how much they are appreciated—because they truly deserve nothing less.

Ways to Contribute:

• Shop Our Amazon Wishlist

• Sign Up for Donation Drop-Off

• Send a Monetary Donation via Venmo

Upcoming PTO Meeting 📆
Monday, April 13th at 6:00 PM

Thank you for being such an important part of our school community! 💛

We have a few ways to get involved at Dayton Elementary in the months of April and May!

We are looking for volunteers to come in and support MCA Testing on 4/14, 4/15, 4/21, 4/22, 4/28, and 4/29. There are 2 shifts per day of testing. Volunteers will be monitoring hallways to make sure that staff and students are being quiet during MCA testing. You will be provided a table and chair. You can bring in a book or things to work on, but you will not be able to have a laptop. Sign up here: MCA Testing 2026

We are hosting our Dayton Olympics on Friday, May 8th! We are looking forward to spring weather and a day to spend outside having fun! We need volunteers to help make this a memorable day for our students. Grades K-2 will be participating in the morning and Grades 3-5 will be in the afternoon. We have the volunteer hours broken up into two shifts so you don't have to miss out on your own kids participating.

Sign up here: Dayton Olympics 2026 or Dayton Olympics 2026 HIGH SCHOOL Student Volunteers

A big THANK YOU to all of our volunteers! Dayton volunteers have given 2,293 hours of their time so far this school year! Our volunteer community has given the gift of their time to chaperone field trips, support teachers in the classrooms, assist with school projects in the workroom, and support PTO events, and help our school have a successful Booster Fun Run event! These events could not have been a success without you!

Remember that you need to have your volunteer paperwork processed before you can volunteer in our schools. All individuals who wish to volunteer, including field trip chaperones, must complete both the Volunteer Application and Criminal Record History Release form at each school site, every school year.

Don’t forget to check our Dayton Volunteer Opportunities Website for new openings!

Kristin Gow, Volunteer Services Coordinator

kristin.gow@ahschools.us

(763) 506-2230

Hello Parents,

Are your student's pants looking a little short at the end of winter? Are you doing a spring cleanout of drawers and closets? The health office would love donations of gently used pants for all ages, XS-XL youth sizes! We prefer new underwear and socks in case that's on your mind too!

Please feel free to drop off donations in the school vestibule labeled "health office donations."

Thank you!

Stephanie Mullinix, Health Para LPN

Katelyn Salwey, School Nurse LSN/RN

katelyn.salwey@ahschools.us

763-506-2204

Once per month, Dayton Elementary hosts a book swap. This is a time for all Dayton Elementary students to bring in a gently used book or two to exchange for something new to read.

• April 30

• May 29

All dates are subject to change.

Time: 9:15 - 9:30 am

*Donations are always welcome, just drop off books in the front vestibule labeled for the book swap.

We are a LOCKED facility.

1. Press the silver button.

2. Wait for a staff member to respond.

3. Have your ID ready.

Please report student absences or late arrivals before 10:30 a.m.

To report attendance, use one of the following methods:

• Call the school's 24/7 attendance voicemail at 763-506-2206.

• Login on our webpage AHschools.us (Instructions linked here)
  
• Use the ParentVUE mobile app

Please refrain from using email or Seesaw to report attendance to your child's teacher. We appreciate your cooperation.

Student drop-off begins at 9:15 a.m., when the first bell rings. Students must be in their classrooms before the final bell at 9:30 a.m. School hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

• Please do not drop off your child(ren) before 9:15 a.m., as staff are not on duty to supervise them until then.

ARRIVAL PROCEDURES LINKED HERE

Parent pick-up starts promptly at 4:00 PM in the Dayton and Rebel parking lots.

Please call 763-506-2200 by 3:00 PM if you need to change a dismissal plan.

DISMISSAL PROCEDURES LINKED HERE

Early dismissals should occur only in rare circumstances. Please make every effort to schedule appointments outside of school hours. Students leaving even a few minutes early often miss important last minute instructions and/or reminders. Interrupting classes to call students to the office also distracts other students and interrupts classroom routines.

If an early dismissal is unavoidable, allow us ample time to locate your student. We ask that early dismissals are avoided after 3:30 PM. We will call your student down when you arrive.

Daily schedules are available here.

ONLY parents and legal guardians are authorized to pick up. If you need someone else to pick up your child, please call the office at 763-506-2200 in advance to make arrangements.

Items can be dropped off and left on the table in the vestibule at Door #1. Please label the item(s) with your student's name and classroom. Post it notes and pens are provided in the vestibule.

Did You Know? Dayton Elementary has its very own PreK–Grade 3 Parenting Educator!

Tawnya Heinsohn is available in person on Digital Day 1 to support families with helpful resources, visuals, and FREE online parenting workshops each month.

Have a parenting question or want to learn more about a topic? Reach out to Tawnya Heinsohn at tawnya.heinsohn@ahschools.us or 763-634-1880.

Check out upcoming workshops at ahschools.us/prektograde3

We are excited to partner with the nonprofit organization, Every Meal, to offer a free weekend food program to all our students. The mission of Every Meal is to fight child hunger through community and school partnerships. This program strives to make a difference in children’s lives by focusing on food gaps like weekends, school breaks and summer, when students are not receiving meals in school. If you are interested in learning more, click here. If you’d like to register for this program, please use this Electronic enrollment form.

Dayton Elementary participates in the Box Tops for Education, so please scan your receipts. It helps raise money for our school! Click here for more information.

BOX TOPS + WALMART

Connect your Walmart and Box Tops accounts so you can earn cash for our school when you purchase Box Tops products in-store or online using your saved Walmart payment method — without scanning or submitting your receipts!

Health Office

763.506.2204

HEALTH SERVICES

Dayton A+

763.506.2213

Child Nutrition

Menus

763.506.2211

Transportation Services

If your child's bus doesn't arrive in the morning or they don't get off the bus in the evening (rare), call the bus company directly. Save their number for after-school hours, as they can contact drivers.

First Student Bus Co.

763.421.5785 First Student Champlin (regular routes to/from Dayton Elementary)

763.421.3199 First Student Anoka (students receiving special education transportation)