Eisenhower Elementary Newsletter

It’s hard to believe we’re already in the final stretch of the school year! As we head into these last few weeks, our classrooms are full of learning, and students are deeply engaged in their academic work. We’re proud of all the growth we’ve seen so far and are excited to finish the year strong.

Alongside our academic focus, we’re also looking forward to some fun and memorable activities coming up! These end-of-year events are a great way to celebrate our students and all they’ve accomplished.

Thank you for your continued support—we couldn’t do this without our incredible Eisenhower community!

We are looking for Host Families for the 25-26 School Year! Next year, with your support, we hope to host 3 Amities at Eisenhower. This means we will need 6 host families, one for each semester. See the flyer below, and please reach out if you are interested!

April 14 - PTO Meeting 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

April 25 - Spring Arts Festival

May 1 - Juntos Celebration

May 8 - No School - staff development day

May 8 - 5th grade Band Concert 6:30 p.m.

May 15 - 5th grade Orchestra Concert 6:30 p.m.

This calendar change will affect Pre-K and elementary students. Thursday, May 8, 2025 will now be a no school day for all students, Pre-K-12. This was already a no school day for students in grades 6-12 due to conferences. The calendar page of our website has been updated to reflect this change.

Due to inclement weather, the March 5, 2025, professional development day was canceled, preventing Pre-K and elementary instructional staff from completing their final LETRS Training session. To address this, we have designated May 8, 2025, as a non-instructional day for Pre-K and elementary students, meaning there will be no school for these students on this day. This adjustment is the best way to ensure critical LETRS Training is completed by the end of the school year while minimizing disruptions.

• Kids & Company will have limited availability for non-school day care on May 8. Families currently in Kids & Company will receive communication on registration.

• Hopkins Preschool has limited availability for non-school day care on May 8 for extended day families only. Registration for this day will open Monday, April 7 at 8:00 a.m.

Our April PTO meeting is tonight, Monday, April 14th from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm in the Eisenhower Media Center. If you can’t join us in person, you can join via Zoom here.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Spring Arts & Cultural Festival

The Eisenhower Spring Arts & Cultural Festival is three weeks away! We need more volunteers for art stations and games in the gym. Here are some of the shifts we still need help with:

5-6:15 pm OR 6-7:00 pm

• Games:

• Juntos Perinola game

• Chopstick Relay

• Double Dutch (so easy!)

• NEW Origami station

• Art stations:

• Spin Art

• Marble Roll

• Printmaking

• Straw & Pipecleaner Sculptures

• Pottery glazing (we always need lots of help with this!

You can sign up to volunteer here: Eisenhower PTO: 2025 Spring Arts & Cultural Festival.

Spring Arts Performance Schedule

Here is the current performance schedule for the Spring Arts & Cultural Festival:

5:30 - Juntos 2nd Grade (Combined Shrestha & Vega Duran classes)

6:15 - XinXing 3rd Grade performs Gong Fu

Performances will be in the Eisenhower Community Center Theater - there is no ticket fee or assigned seats - be sure to come and support your students and friends!

Mess Hall Fundraiser in Hopkins - May 16th

Support the Eisenhower PTO for a special night out at Mess Hall in Hopkins on Main Street. A portion of the ticket prices will go to the PTO, so grab some kids and come make a mess! Activities will include splatter painting and slime, as well as some small things- like art tattoos and a coloring contest!

Eisenhower’s Spring Plant Sale Fundraiser

Quantities are limited, so order soon! The Plant Sale closes May 1st. Pickup will be Tuesday, May 6th, just in time for Mother’s Day!

Order here: https://eisenhowerspringplants.square.site/

Volunteers are also needed May 6th to fill orders: SIGN UP HERE. No plant knowledge needed.

QUESTIONS? CONCERNS? IDEAS ON HOW WE CAN BEST SUPPORT THE EISENHOWER COMMUNITY? YOU CAN ALWAYS EMAIL THE PTO AT EISENHOWERPTO@HOPKINSSCHOOLS.ORG.

Building our social-emotional learning (SEL) skills is an important goal for our school this year. We will be asking for your 3-5th grade child to reflect on their mindsets and approaches to learning via an online survey they will be completing at school in their homerooms.The survey will ask students to self-reflect on social and emotional competencies that align with the Hopkins scholar traits outlined in the district's strategic plan.

We are asking that all our students participate in the surveys. If a student doesn’t feel like they have enough information to answer a question, they can skip the item. The responses to these surveys are completely confidential. If you have any questions about the SEL survey or would like information about opting out, please don’t hesitate to contact us. You may also choose to opt your student out of this survey no later than April 30th here.

• In response to community feedback, the Educational Services Advisory Committee (ESAC) meeting originally planned for April 17 has been moved to Thursday, May 1, as the original date coincided with a Christian religious holiday.

We have spots available in our summer sessions for advanced and high-potential students! Minnesota Institute for Talented Youth (MITY)'s ExplorSchool program offers:

• Over 40 unique courses in STEM, humanities, and fine arts

• A diverse and welcoming community

• Full day, half day, and extended day options

• Small class sizes

• Experiential learning and field trips

Gain biking knowledge and build racing skills! Incoming 6th - 12th graders are welcome. You are invited to the Parent and Rider Information Meeting on Wednesday, May 14, at 6:30 p.m. at the Hopkins High School Cafeteria.

Do you have a 3 or 4 year old child who has not yet been seen for early childhood screening? Please make an appointment soon! Appointments fill quickly throughout the school year, and this is a requirement before kindergarten. The appointment takes about 40 minutes for your child to complete. There are some forms to fill out prior to the appointment. Please call 952-988-5017 for assistance with registering, or register for an appointment online:

• Get ready for kindergarten with Kindergarten for Families, a special event series for Hopkins’ incoming kindergarten families! These events include a family discussion led by your school’s principal and Early Childhood staff, who will share helpful strategies to support your child’s transition to kindergarten. While adults and siblings attend the discussion, incoming kindergarteners will enjoy engaging classroom activities with other children. It’s a fun and informative evening to connect, learn, and prepare for the exciting journey ahead. Registration is required —don’t miss out! Find your school’s date here.

Are you the caregiver of a child who transcends traditional binary gender roles? We are offering a supportive, ongoing group for parents and caregivers to ask questions, share ideas, and support one another. Some children may identify as transgender, gender fluid, non-binary, gender queer, gender expansive, or simply move through the world in a much more gender free type of way. Our first meeting of the year will be Thursday, September 26 from 5-6:30 p.m. at North Middle School, Room 506. This is for parents and families from all of Hopkins schools -- and from all grade levels (elementary, middle, and high school, and beyond). Laura Jensen, Hopkins Schools LGBTQ+ Community Liaison will facilitate the meetings. This is not a group to debate the issue, rather for parents looking to support their child. Questions? Email Laura.Jensen@hopkinsschools.org

Dates for Remainder of 24-25 School Year:

April 24, 2024

May 22, 2025

June 26, 2025

North Middle School, 5-6:30 p.m. Room 506 (use side parking lot, Door R)

Questions? Email laura.jensen@hopkinsschools.org