OWL Weekly Email

In an effort to increase communication with our students and families, we send a weekly email on Sunday evenings or Monday mornings highlighting upcoming school events. This information will also be shared with students in Schoology and in Crew on Mondays. Events are listed in chronological order.

Seeking meal donations for the teacher potluck buffet during Spring Student-Led Conferences: OWL families will be providing a potluck buffet for the teachers in the afternoon and evening of Wed. April 29, 2026 during Student-Led Conferences. Please show your support by signing up to bring a food item or two to donate to the meal. Here is the SignUp Genius link

FAMILY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: We have 2 events coming up, on Week of 5/4 (Teacher Appreciation) & 6/5 (Celebration of Learning), for which we need some volunteer coordinators. This is a great chance to get more involved in the school and building community. Please go to THIS LINK to sign up to help. Thanks!

Staff Appreciation Week needs your help please! We're seeking donated gift cards, which will be gifted to OWL staff and teachers in early May as part of the annual Staff Appreciation activities. Denominations of $25 per gift card preferred, and gift cards can be to a local restaurant, coffeeshop, retail, museum, grocery store, or other favorite place! Perhaps your workplace or your favorite neighborhood spot might be willing to donate a gift card, or you can choose to purchase and donate one.

Please write the amount on each gift card with a marker and drop it off at the OWL front office. The aim is to have 1 gift card for each staff member. We're hoping to have all gift card donations in 2 weeks (by Wednesday, April 29).

Also, watch future weekly emails and the OWL PTO FB page for other opportunities to contribute to staff appreciation activities. We'll be gathering notes of gratitude from students and families, and we'll need a handful of volunteers during the week of May 4-8. Thank you in advance!

SPIRIT WEEK IS THIS WEEK: Get excited for PROM (on Saturday!) and show your school spirit by dressing up:

Monday: PJ Day

Tuesday: Wild West vs. West Coast

Wednesday: Mean Girls Day (wear PINK)

Thursday: Sun’s Out! (wear sunglasses)

Friday: Fairytale (dress as your favorite FAIRYTALE!)

Monday is survey day in Crew:

· All students are required to complete the school climate survey. Go to your Advisory course in Schoology to find the assignment with a link to the survey. Be sure to submit a screenshot of your completed survey so your Crew leader can count your survey as completed.

· Reply to the read-a-thon survey to earn incentives for your reading minutes. Use the QR codes shared in Crew or the links below. Do you have a survey to give? Email megan.hall@spps.org.

Manatee schedule this week:

Wo-Manatee (Girls’ Varsity): Monday at Central 6:30 in their Stadium

Tuesday HOME vs. Great River 6:00 on the turf

Boys’ Varsity: Thursday HOME vs. Mpls South 6:00 on the grass

Boys’ JV: Wednesday HOME vs. Mounds View JV2 6:30 on the grass

Thursday HOME vs. East Ridge JV 6:00 on the grass

OWL Crew Parliament: does not meet this week during Wednesday Crew. Enjoy the Read-a-Thon reading time in Crew.

SPRING MUSICAL THIS WEEK! Come join us to watch the HOWL Spring Production of: RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA: YOUTH EDITION Music by Richard Rodgers Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Adaptation by Tom Briggs.

Our diligent students have been working on Cinderella: Youth Edition with all their efforts. You are all invited to partake in this exuberant and joyous play of Cinderella.

Performances on: Wednesday April 22nd, Thursday April 23rd, and Friday April 24th.

Time: 7pm (Doors open at 6:30pm).

Location: Open World Learning Community (640 Humboldt Ave)

$15 for Adults and $10 for Students. Pay what you can is always available. Get your tickets ONLINE HERE.

Volunteers who would like to see the play get to watch for free.

Questions or inquiries: Rebekah Rentzel at rebekah.rentzel@spps.org

Better World Week: April 27-May 1. A week of service events at OWL

Student-Led Conferences are April 29 and 30: Times will be set up with Crew leaders early in April.

NOTE: Because next year’s fall retreats are coming so early (after only 9 days of school), we will be completing the forms and collecting fees at spring conferences. Please allow time either before or after your conference time to complete this AT SCHOOL. Also, don’t forget to bring any necessary medical information (prescription names and doses, doctors contacts, etc.) with you to conferences.

Mock Trial will be hosting a Davanni's Fundraiser Monday May 11th from 5-9pm: at the 41 Cleveland Ave S location. Part of the proceeds from sales will go towards supporting our amazing mock trial program! Tell them you're there for the fundraiser!

State History Day Results! OWL had 24 projects on display today and of those, 14 were recognized in some way at the Awards Ceremony.

Topical Prizes:
Global Studies: Sally Keenan, Junior Paper, Khmer Rouge

Minneapolis History: Clara, Piper, Willow, JGW, Minneapolis Teachers' Strike

Honorable Mention - students who made it to the Finals at State

Sally Keenan, JP, The Khmer Rouge
Lydia Harris, Marina Savolainen-Lee, JGD, Westminster v. Mendez
Finnley Frolek & Fuji Thao, JGE, Montessori Method
Lynn Hamblin, Abby McCleod, Rosie Whitten, JGP, Florence Nightingale

Matteo ALejandro-Provenzano, SID, Stonewall Riots

Jay Thatcher, JIW, Radium Girls

Medalists

5th Place: Hughes Maloney-Vinz, Sadie Weeks, JGD, Title IX

4th Place: Atlas Schultz, SIP, Christmas Bird Count

4th Place: Bahati Stalheim, Rocio Hernandez, Frances Healy, JGW, Milan Conference

3rd Place: Azriella Barrett, Sophie Sherman-Hoehn, SGP, Sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald

National Qualifiers!

2nd Place: Emily Totushek, SIW, Baby M

2nd Place: Charley Cheatham, Beatrice Cosgrove, Abby Horton, SGP, Ladies Home Journal Sit-In

2nd Place: Alice Mounes, JIE, Mental Health Act of 1963

MCA & MTAS/Alt MCA Testing 2025-2026: Each spring, the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) is provided to students in mathematics (grades 6,7,8 and 11). The Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) is provided to students in reading (grades 6-8 and 10) and science (grades 8 and in high school upon completing biology). These tests provide a snapshot of student learning of the Minnesota Academic Standards. The MCA are used to meet federal and state legislative requirements. The Minnesota Department of Education and SPPS can use results to look across student groups, schools and districts to evaluate equitable learning opportunities for all students.

Assessments are designed to provide information about student learning, but there is no single assessment that can provide the full perspective of what a student has learned. These assessments provide one data point that should be considered in the context of additional evidence of student learning.

The spring testing schedule is below. All MCA tests will take place during Periods 1, 2 and possibly 4 if students do not finish.

If you have questions about your student’s participation in statewide assessments, reach out rebecca2.palmer@spps.org , the schools testing coordinator.

For more information on the MCA and MTAS please go to:

· SPPS MCA & MTAS/Alt MCA Family Testing Information website: https://www.spps.org/about/departments/research-evaluation-assessment/test-coordination/mca-family-information

· MDE Family Testing Information website: education.mn.gov/MDE/fam/tests/

Service Spotlight: Thank you to the awesome student teams working so hard to get fall retreat forms ready for families to complete at spring conferences.

Read the latest issue of the Purple Press: GO HERE for the APRIL 1st issue!

This month in Crew: Students are preparing presentations for spring conferences while studying perseverance. Be sure that you have booked a conference appointment with your Crew leader!

AVID Elective applications are open for the 2026-2027 school year! AVID (Acceleration Via Individual Determination) Elective courses, for students in grades 7-12, provide students with a supportive academic community focused on getting organized, honing academic skills, and exploring college and career opportunities. If you want to get into an AVID Elective course, you need to select AVID during registration AND apply at this link. Families can attend a virtual information session on May 12 6:30-7:15 PM at this link. AVID applications are due May 15.

Read-a-Thon: The Read-a-Thon is ON! Be sure to bring something to read (or Success Maker) to Crew every Wednesday in March and April. The three Crews with the most reading minutes will win ice cream parties. Clara's, Kent's, and Staff Crews are in the lead! Prizes and certificates will also be awarded for students who reach 200-minute, 500-minute, and 1000-minute reading milestones; the top two readers in each grade; and student who read books with civic engagement themes. Read-a-thon surveys are open; students should submit their minutes every week in March and April.

The Assistant Principal HOWL Award theme for April is Collaboration!

Ms. Ma'lene will be awarding 1 student who has gone above and beyond showing the HOWL of the month.

Examples of Collaboration

· working with others to achieve a goal

Sharing information

· Empowerment through involvement

· Cooperation

· Combining skills, brainstorming

· Creating new solutions together

Students can enter by taking a picture of themselves doing the HOWL and using this LINK HERE or scan the QR code on the window outside my office and uploading it on the form. Some possible prizes are:

Ice Cream for you and your Crew!
Tickets to special events!
Lunch with 4 of your friends and Ms. Ma’lene!
Sports equipment!
Gift cards!

All entries must be submitted by April 22nd to be considered for the Assistant Principal April HOWL Award. The winner will be announced at the April community meeting!!

I'm so excited to present this award and to celebrate your hard work!

Good Luck, Ms. Ma'lene

DONATIONS NEEDED FOR INTERIM: Interim is coming up May 18-22. Teacher are looking for the following things to help prepare for their fun week-long classes:

•Newspaper/Brown Paper for Piñatas (Abbie)

•Empty Spice Containers w/Lids (Preston)

•Action Figures/Dolls (Cristina)

•Skeins of yarn for knitting & crocheting (Megan/Tom)

Donations can be left in the main office! Thanks!

DONATIONS NEEDED: Donations are key to making sure OWL bathrooms remain stocked with free period products for students. Please consider donating pads or tampons so that OWL's feminism club can continue distributing them to bathrooms (as of right now there are no pads in stock). Donations can be dropped off in the OWL office.

DONATIONS NEEDED: The Closet - We are collecting items for families who are impacted by recent local events:

Non-perishable food items: Flour, Rice, Maseca Corn Flour, Beans

Hygiene products: full size shampoo/conditioner, soaps including dish, laundry detergent, paper towels, toilet paper

Please bring to room 2209 - Rebekah's classroom

Yearbook: Order your copy of this year’s OWL yearbook here!!

If you have any photos that you think would make a great addition to the yearbook, please email the photos to Emily, our lead student editor, at etotushek001@stpaul.k12.mn.us

Join OWL PTO on Facebook: Keep up with what is happening at OWL: https://www.facebook.com/groups/878792348867374

One proven way to live a happy life is to express gratitude. Is there a staff member at OWL that has done something you are grateful for? Shoot them an email! An alternative and way has been made available by filling out this link. (This form requires an email but is sent anonymously.)

Important Reminder about Attendance:

If your child is going to miss school, please call, email owlattendance@spps.org or write a note to explain the reason for the absence. If we do not hear from you, the absence is documented as unexcused. After 3 days of unexcused absences, you will receive a letter from the school reminding you to please communicate with us so the absence(s) may be documented accurately. If your child continues to miss school, unexcused, he/she will be referred to the SAM (School Attendance Matters) Program for intervention.

The following reasons for absence qualify as an excused absence; illness, doctor, dental or therapy appointment (please be sure to obtain a note to give to the school), extreme family emergency or religious holiday not already recognized by our school district. When a student misses 3 or more class periods in one day, this is considered to be a full day of absence. Please call us if you have any questions/concerns.

SUMMER PROGRAMS

The University of St. Thomas School of Engineering STEPS Camp Registration is open!

What is STEPS?

STEPS is a one-day camp designed to inspire girls in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade to explore engineering, though all students in these grades are welcome to participate. Campers will explore the engineering design process, visit UST engineering labs, and explore life on campus. Students will have the opportunity to make new friends and learn from college students and teachers about engineering. Lunch and a morning snack are provided. You can read more about STEPS here.

Who is it for?

For students entering 6th, 7th, and 8th grade for the 2026/2027 school year, so that they will have the opportunity to sign up for STEM electives at their school in the fall.

When is STEPS being offered?

Monday, June 22, 2026: 9:00 am - 3:30 pm

Tuesday, June 23, 2026: 9:00 am - 3:30 pm

Wednesday, June 24, 2026: 9:00 am - 3:30 pm

Thursday, June 25, 2026: 9:00 am-3:30 pm

Friday, June 26, 2026: 9:00 am - 3:30 pm

Note: There is a $15 non refundable registration fee. Please register for the day that works best for you.

Where is STEPS?

The University of St. Thomas, St. Paul Campus. 2115 Summit Ave, St. Paul, MN 55105

You can register here. Please share this email with other families and spread the word about this low-cost program.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Kelsey Irizarry at CEE@stthomas.edu.

Math Corps at Macalester: Paid positions for high school students in grades 9-11 in June and July. More information HERE

Summer Outward Bound Opportunity: Outward Bound has 4 additional spots on the summer canoeing expeditions on the upper St. Croix River. This trip is specifically for OWL 9-11th grade students at a greatly subsidized cost. The available trip date is July 20-July 25, 2026. The cost of the 6-day trip is $450, which is a significant discount from a typically 6-day course. Please email dave.gundale@spps.org directly and Dave will connect you with the Outward Bound trip leader. This is an awesome opportunity to develop leadership skills and engage in a fun summer adventure.

Summit Education: 2026 Summer Programs

Summit Education organizes virtual summer programs empowering the next generation of leaders in STEM. In 2026, Summit will host the Summit STEM Fellowship (SSF) and Summit Research Scholars (SRS).

Summit STEM Fellowship (SSF): SSF aims to empower the next generation of leaders in STEM. Students explore diverse STEM fields and career pathways, learning from 50+ mentors from Harvard, Stanford, and MIT. The fellowship is a flexible 10 - 15 hour/week commitment, allowing students to participate alongside other summer activities.
Summit Research Scholars (SRS): SRS equips students with the tools to conduct original research. The bootcamp covers essential research methodologies and technical skills, such as research design, literature analysis, Python programming, and data science, culminating in a Research Capstone project. The program emphasizes using research to solve real-world problems.

Applications for Summer 2026 programs are now open! Admissions are rolling, and students are encouraged to apply early to maximize their chances of acceptance. To learn more and apply, please visit www.summiteducation.org

FREE Summer Camp at the U of M: The Science of Breadmaking Info HERE

FREE Summer Camp at the U of M: Food, Agriculture and U Info HERE

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

The Best Buy Teen Tech Center (BBTTC) at CLUES St. Paul is a vibrant, free drop-in center designed for youth ages 14-18 to explore their passions through high-end technology. Whether a student is interested in becoming a great music producer or a graphic designer, we provide the space, the tools, and the mentorship to help them get there.

What we offer:

· Creative Arts: Hands-on experience in photography, graphic design, filmmaking, laser-engraving, and more!

· Digital Media: Professional-grade music production and recording.

· Innovation: VR and emerging technologies.

· Mentorship: Guidance from mentors to help students turn hobbies into future career paths.

More information HERE

Questions: Vicky 651.379.4201 VDelgado@clues.org

Food Resources Information from Ramsey County: Click HERE for more information

Give Kids a Smile is a charitable outreach program that provides free dental care to underserved children (typically ages 3-18).

OWL Schoolwide Norms

· Respect people, their boundaries and identities, materials, and spaces

· Be kind, caring and friendly, especially when it’s difficult

· Keep an open mind: engage in opportunities and courageous conversation

· Help create safe and brave spaces so that everyone can be their authentic selves and speak their truths

· Actively listen and participate (one mic, one voice), staying engaged and following through on commitments and expectations. We are Crew, not passengers.