May News and Events

May 4, 2026

Hello Eisenhower Families,

It is finally Staff Appreciation Week, which is hands-down my favorite week of the year!

At Eisenhower, we are a team focused on continuous improvement. We spend most of our time looking for the next goal to reach, which means we rarely pause to celebrate how far we’ve come. Today, we kicked off the week by honoring the incredible team I have the privilege to work alongside every day.

They are a humble group, so I want to take a moment to brag about them and share exactly why I am so appreciative of this team.

Celebrations:

Our team's dedication has led to some truly remarkable milestones this year:

• A Culture of Respect: In our recent District “Culture and Climate” survey, 100% of participants reported that our building exudes a positive environment built on mutual respect and a desire to support every student and family.

• Academic Excellence: Our students are thriving! In the 2024-2025 school year, Eisenhower students scored in the top quartile for both reading and math compared to "sister schools", ranking #1 and #2 respectively on the MCAs.

• Growth: Our teachers consistently lean into coaching and constructive feedback to refine their craft, ensuring your children get the very best instruction possible.

Upcoming Fun:

The energy in the building is electric as we head into our favorite spring traditions:

1. Student Talent Show for staff and students
2. PTO Year-End Celebration
3. Track and Field Day: New & Improved! This year, we’ve extended Track and Field to nearly a full day of fun.

• The Grand Finale: From 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM, we will be hosting a special staff event to end the day with some laughs. We highly recommend keeping your students in school until the conclusion of this event—you won't want to miss the fun!
• Logistics: Students should leave their backpacks at home that day. You will be able to sign your student out directly with their classroom teacher at the end of the final event.
• Family Attendance: Due to space constraints, families are invited to join us for the outdoor portions of the event. We will have portable bathrooms available for your convenience. See the schedule below to plan the portions of the day you are able to join us.

Thank you for being such an integral part of our success. It is a joy to lead this community.

Lillian DeRung

Principal

Our annual Track and Field Day will be held on Friday, May 15th. The makeup rain date if needed will be on Friday, May 22nd. We are in need of volunteers to help teachers escort classes to events and to assist with events. Each grade will rotate through 9+ events.

**Please have your student wear their Eisenhower shirts if they have one!**

We are asking students to not bring backpacks this day if possible.

If you would like to volunteer to assist with an event, please sign up via the following link. Sign Up

Schedule

9:45 - 11:45 am Grades K - 2

12:45 - 2:45pm Grades 3 - 5

All students and staff events 3:00-3:45

** Spectators are Welcome **

• Please avoid the playground area as students will still be outside for recess. Instead, park in the lot, walk down the sidewalk and travel behind the baseball field to the Northdale track.
• Spectators will be allowed on the blacktop area for gaga ball and basketball but not on the playground.
• Spectators will not be able to enter the building for use of restrooms. There will be porta potties.
• If you want to sign your student out for the day after track and field, please sign them out with their classroom teacher on the field.

If you have any questions about Track and Field Day email Mr. Diemer at Chris.Diemer@ahschools.us.

Thank you for your commitment in helping to make our track and field day a success!

We have noticed an increase in students riding e-Bikes to school and want to ensure everyone is staying safe and following local regulations.

Per state law, children must be at least 15 years of age to legally operate an e-Bike. Because our elementary students do not meet this age requirement, e-Bikes are not permitted on any elementary school campuses in the Anoka-Hennepin School District before, during, or after school hours.

**Students will need to stick to traditional bicycles or scooters for your daily commute! We appreciate your support in keeping our students safe and helping them follow the rules of the road.

Hey Ike families, if you pre-ordered a 2025-2026 yearbook, they will be sent home on May 29th.

Link to pre-order HERE. Extra copies will be sold on a first come basis until sold out starting on June 1st before school in front of the office. Unfortunately, we can’t hold or save books. Cost $15.00, please keep in mind we do not have change here at school. Checks should be made out to the EISENHOWER PTO. If you have questions or did not receive your yearbook please contact Mrs. Modec at Jelena.modec@ahschools.us.

We are holding a talent show on May 29th. Tryouts will be May 13 and May 14 from 8:30-9:00am or 4:15-5:00pm. You will need written permission from a parent to tryout. Sign up by turning in a permission slip by Wednesday May 6. Late entries will not be accepted.

*Reminders*

Each act must be less than 3 minutes.

If you have music, please write down artist and song title.

Costumes must be school appropriate.

You may perform a solo act, with a partner or in a group.

Lost and found items need to picked up by May 22nd or they will be donated. Thank you student council for keeping it organized!

• Although all students receive free and reduced lunch, families are still encouraged to sign up for the program! There are many additional benefits to the program including receiving SUN Bucks, a financial food support program. See the flyer for additional information.
• You can apply, or reapply, anytime during the school year if your household circumstances change:

• Apply through SchoolCafe - Creating a SchoolCafe account for Parents.

• Pick up an application from the school office or cafeteria.

• Request an application from Child Nutrition at 763-506-1240.

Yearbooks

• If you need assistance with the cost, please feel free to contact, Josie Gall, Social Worker at 763-506-2369 or josephine.gall@ahschools.us. Yearbooks are limited, so please reach out as soon as possible.

If your family would benefit from receiving items such as toiletries, personal hygiene items, and more, please fill out the form below:

Basic Needs Request

Please Join Us!

The Eisenhower PTO will be covering Title 1 information and event planning for the 2026/2027 school year. If you're interested, please attend the meeting in person or virtually. If you're unable to attend or have any questions, please feel free to email the PTO at Eaglesightingcr@gmail.com.

May 14th 6-7pm

Eisenhower Elementary Room 124 Or

Join with Google Meet https://meet.google.com/umd-uqgb-qoi

Wish List:

The health office has created an Amazon Wish List of items they could use. Thanks in advance!

Allergy Medication Friendly Reminder:

We do not carry any OTC antihistamines or OTC eye drops to give to your child if they have any seasonal allergies, or display signs and symptoms of seasonal allergies. If you'd like, you are more than welcome to bring OTC allergy medication to the health office to help treat seasonal allergies with a signed request for administration of medications during the school day form.

For any questions or concerns, you may contact the health office.

Phone: 763-506-2304

It’s hard to believe it’s May, the next thing we know the school year will be coming to an end. We have lots of events happening towards the end of the school year. Please review the list of events and dates below.

Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week - Let's show our appreciation for our hardworking teachers and staff by signing up to donate food or beverages for teacher/staff appreciation week. This year we will be having a 90's theme for the week.

• Sippin' On (coffee & juice)

• Oh My Gosh Becky! Look at that drink cart!

• Ice Ice Baby (Ice Cream donated by DQ)

• When I dip, you dip, we dip!

• You're all that and a bag of chips!

All donations can be dropped off at the main office anytime after 8:30 am on Monday, May 4th.

Staff Appreciation Lunch - Terra & David Kissel, parent volunteers could use some help with setting up and cleaning up the Staff Appreciation Lunch of Salad and Sandwiches on May 8th.

Mural Painting - We are planning to paint a mural in our flex area (Nest). We could use your help with getting the area prepared with a base coat. Once that is completed we will also need help with painting the new mural and supervising students while they also help paint the mural (possibly starting the week of May 11th, will update sign up later). Keep in mind that our parking lot will be busy due to dismissal, please plan accordingly.

PARTOLS FIELD TRIP, MAY 6th - If interested in volunteering or have any questions please contact Mr. Stegemen at benjamin.stegeman@ahschools.us for more information.

Garden Club - Our Garden Club is looking for a few volunteers. Volunteers will be working alongside students as they plan this year's garden. This year the Garden Club will be learning about plants and concepts of gardening while creating a vegetable garden on school grounds. Students will be working with tools and learning about planning and maintaining a vegetable garden. Keep in mind that our parking lot will be busy due to dismissal, please plan accordingly.

Garden Experiments - Our Garden Experiments Club is looking for a few volunteers. Volunteers will be working alongside students as they learn about complex math/engineering concepts in the garden. This group will design experiments that will run in a portion of each garden over the summer on school grounds. Students will be working with tools and learning about planning and maintaining a garden. Keep in mind that our parking lot will be busy due to dismissal, please plan accordingly.

Track & Field Day - This year's Track & Field day is on May 15th and if needed the make up rain day is on May 22nd. Kindergarten - 2nd grade will be outside from 9:45 - 11:45 am and 3rd - 5th grade will be outside from 12:45 - 2:45 pm. If you're interested in volunteering we are looking for volunteers to help escort students from event to event and volutneers to help run the team events (Tug Of War and Relays).

Track & Field Events: Basketball, Gaga Ball, 200m Dash, Softball Throw, 50m Dash, Football Throw, Bean Bag Toss, 50m Hurdles and Soccer Kick.

Team Events Schedule: Tug of War and Team Relays
9:40-10:10: 4th Grade
10:10-10:40: 5th Grade
11:40-12:10: 3rd Grade
1:25-1:55: 1st Grade
1:55-2:25: Kindergarten
2:25-3:00: 2nd Grade

Please remember to bring/wear sunscreen, water bottle, a camp chair and an umbrella for shade for yourself if needed.

End Of the Year Celebration - This year the PTO will be hosting an End Of The Year Celebration on May 15th. Come celebrate a fantastic year at Eisenhower with us! We're having food trucks (Mama's Taco Truck, Egg Roll Queen, and Floyds Donuts & Shaved Ice) and lots of fun on the playground. Grab a blanket or camp chair and join the celebration. (Rain day if needed will be May 22, 2026) Be on the lookout for the flyer.

Nebula, Fort Snelling Field Trip May 14th - If interested in volunteering or have any questions please contact your student’s teacher for more information.

2nd Grade, Gibbs Farm Field Trip May 28th - If interested in volunteering or have any questions please contact your student’s teacher for more information.

D.A.R.E Graduation - Our 5th grade teachers could use some help getting ready for the 5th Grade D.A.R.E Graduation on June 4th. Volunteers will assist the D.A.R.E. Graduation Celebration by serving treats to students. This is not a volunteer opportunity for anyone with a 5th grade student since you will be in the graduation assembly.

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.

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

Volunteer Impact at Eisenhower
Total # of registered volunteers: 135
Total # of volunteer hours since school started: 750

Art GOATS starts Tuesday May 5, 4-5 pm 4 weeks

It’s spring time and that can mean only one thing: SPRINGTIME DRAWING! If your children are baseball fans, they will love our baseball still life lesson. Learning about warm colors and cool colors will be the focus as our artists draw a detailed exterior of a house. We’ll also learn about legendary artist Edward Hopper as we recreate one of his masterpieces. Finally, we’ll take an imaginary trip to Japan and learn about the artistry of the kimono. Sign up for classes today!

Click here to register for Art GOATS

Eagles Club starts Thursday May 7, 8:30-9:15 am 4 weeks

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.

Click here to register for Eagles Club

Outdoor Skills 101 meets Tuesday May 12, 7-8 pm This is a free class

Do you like the outdoors? Have you thought about camping? Maybe you are not sure but want to try it. This program will introduce you to the following: setting up a tent, making a trail snack, basic first aid, outdoor leadership skills, and more. This program is sponsored by BSA Scouting Troop 513.

Click here to register for Outdoor Skills 101

Father's Day Surprise meets Wednesday May 13, 4-5 pm

In this class students will make a gift for Dad or someone special to give on this special day.

Click here to register for Father's Day Suprise

If you need help with financial assistance or a scholarship, please email gretchen.carney@ahschools.us or call 763-506-5412

Anna Heinrich

Community Education Programmer

(763)506-2312 (Eisenhower)

Elizabeth Fujitake

PreK - Grade 3 Parent Educator, M.Ed

elizabeth.korzenowski@ahschools.us

(612)520-1710

This month's trait is CREATIVITY. Creativity is the ability to think up and design new inventions or solve problems in new ways. Check in with your kids about what they have learned and how they are showing their creativity.

Staff Appreciation - May 4-8

Creativity Show Tryouts - May 13 & 14

PTO meeting - May 14

Track and Field Day - May 15

End of Year Celebration - May 15

Multilingual Engagement Night - May 21

No School - May 25

Creativity Show - May 29

Eisenhower Calendar