For your Calendar
OCTOBER 19: 1st grade outdoor singing performance @ MLK playground (see details below)
OCTOBER 20 – Unity Day - Wear Orange!
OCTOBER 21-22: No School, State Teachers Meeting
OCTOBER 29: No School, grades 1-5
OCTOBER 29: Virtual Learning Day, grades 6-8 (no in-person learning)
NOVEMBER 2: Virtual Learning Day, grades 1-8 (no in-person learning at school on Election Day)
NOVEMBER 16: Picture Retakes
So, the outdoor part is new, but the rest is Capitol Hill tradition!
Here's the scoop!
What: First Grade Singing Performance
When: Tuesday, October 19th (10:30-10:50 am)
Where: MLK Jr. Playground (grassy area-look for cones)
Who: Family, and friends of our fabulous first graders
Bring: blanket or lawn chair
Attention Middle Schoolers! Are you interested in Debate?
Beginning on Wednesday, October 27th, and continuing every Wednesday through the end of February, there will be an after-school debate opportunity for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. Participants will learn debate skills and strategies while also learning about our current national debate topic involving water resources. There will also be three/four opportunities to participate in the MNUDL (Minnesota Urban Debate League) middle school debates beginning in January.
Students will meet in Ms. Hawksford's room (2314) from 4:15 to 5:00. Please make sure you have a ride home at 5:00. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Hawksford at alexandra.hawksford@spps.org or find her in room 2314.
Logo Contest for Capitol Hill
PTO UPDATES
PTO Hub:
Stay connected to the Capitol Hill parent community through the PTO Hub. Register here to access the optional directory and receive information on grade level events.
Already registered? Please sign in and update your child’s teacher information for this year.
Merchandise Coming Soon!
Middle schoolers are participating in a design contest to create a new logo for Capitol Hill merchandise. The PTO hopes to have the gear available to order before winter break. (info on the contest is just above this PTO section!)
Volunteer to Support the Book Fair!
A team is working hard to host the Scholastic book fair for students next month. Here are some areas where they need help:
Have access to a large printer? Build book fair excitement by printing large signs, posters and decorations.
Good at digital design? Create book fair emails, fliers and messages that stand out.
General helpers are also needed! Please email jeffhellenbrand@gmail.com if you are interested.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR ART ADVENTURE!
What is one of the most important skills our young scholars need to develop? Critical thinking is a primary goal of the Minneapolis Institute of Art's long running program called Art Adventure. We are seeking Picture People to create and record a short video about a selected work of art from this year's theme "Dressed for the Occasion". Curious? You can preview the six pieces of art on MIA's website https://new.artsmia.org/programs/teachers-and-students/art-adventure/dressed-for-the-occasion/.
Please contact Mary Frankson or Christina Pierce at capitolhillartadventure@gmail.com for more information and to sign up for this awesome "art thinking" program.
Donate to the PTO:
Ukuleles are part of elementary music thanks to PTO funding. Donate to the PTO to support classroom enrichment and exciting field trips for all students!
Donations can be made via cash/check to the office, at GiveMN or PayPal (treasurer.capitolhill@gmail.com). Any amount helps. $100/family is suggested.
Elementary Band Lessons have Begun!
Elementary band lessons began on Monday, October 11th. Schedules have been posted in each classroom and will be sent home with students after their first lesson. We are still waiting to receive bell covers for instruments, so playing in class will be limited until they arrive from the district. (The covers should be here within the next 2-3 weeks.) Don't forget to bring $11 for student books ($13 for percussionists) at their first lesson. Checks can be made out to Capitol Hill PTO. Used books will be made available for anyone who needs one.
Mr. Fulton jeff.fulton@spps.org.
EDL begins October 25: Freedom School Express (FSX) Learning Academy Extended Day Learning
Middle School FALL SPORTS are underway! Winter sports are coming!
Note: New Practice TIME this year: M- F, 4:15 – 6:15pm
Winter sports are coming!
- Winter Sports 1 (November-January) Coed Wrestling and Girls Basketball
- Winter Sports 2 (January - March) Boys Basketball
Students are required to complete 2 forms prior to be eligible to participate in our Middle School athletic program:
- Sports physical (good for 3 years) https://drive.google.com/file/d/14hFWR0kDRU6j467TgMkQOPJGj7_0FwSh/view
- Middle School athletics registration form https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Q5CWejaOqGDKHxGzPJlimYKv1mHASPCJ8hYu_qCOyws/edit
Daily Health Screening Expectations for Families
Families should conduct a health screening for COVID-19 symptoms every morning before sending their student to school or the bus stop. School staff will also monitor for symptoms throughout the school day.
Do not send your child to school if they are exhibiting any of these symptoms: chills, sore throat, headache, fatigue, nausea, muscle pain, vomiting or diarrhea, new runny nose or congestion, new or worsening cough, difficulty breathing, or loss of taste or smell. Please report the absence and submit a report to the COVID-19 Reporting System as soon as possible (link below).
SPPS Mask Requirement
SPPS requires face masks for all teachers, staff, students and visitors (ages 2 and older) in all SPPS buildings, regardless of a person’s vaccine status, unless they have a qualifying exemption.
If you have not already done so, please get vaccinated and encourage all who are eligible to do the same. You can find vaccine resources at spps.org/covidvaccine
Area COVID testing resources: https://mn.gov/covid19/get-tested/testing-locations/index.jsp
DROP-OFF PROCEDURE:
- Parents/guardians drop off students on Concordia Avenue, no earlier than 9:30am.
- Please follow the procedure of cars lining up, and do not cut in front of other cars already in line.
- When you get close to the front of the line, pull up as far as you can to Mackubin Avenue.
- NO PARKING on Concordia: this a pull up and drop off quickly area. If you must park your car, please find a spot on another street to take care of your drop-off needs.
- DO NOT BLOCK PARKING LOT DRIVEWAYS. Avoid stopping at the stairs as well.
- Students get out on the right side (curbside) on Concordia.
- Parents/guardians stay in the car; there will be staff to assist if needed.
- Once your student is out of the car, please safely pull out of the line.
- Students will proceed to enter into the blue doors.
- Students who walk to school will also enter through the blue Capitol Hill doors.
PICKUP PROCEDURE:
Students will be grouped inside by last name and we will have three lines outside:
- Parents/Guardians of students with last names starting with A – G will be located between the far MLK driveway and the corner of Mackubin & 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
We will have three staff members outside calling student names on the radios; one staff member per line. Each line will have a sign at the beginning and end of the line telling you which section of the alphabet is being called.
- If your child doesn’t come out the first time after being called, we appreciate your patience in waiting for a staff member to circle back and call for your child again
- Middle school students will continue to exit the Green Doors on Mackubin
- Middle school students cannot pick up their younger siblings without a parent/guardian present
- Parents/Guardians should not come up to the building to pick up their student(s)
Picking up earlier than 4:15 dismissal time? Please see office notes below for information on making changes to normal routines. All changes should be called into the office (651-325-2500) no later than 3 pm. We have a large amount of families picking up early this year. Please, to the extent possible, be mindful that students are still engaged in learning until our 4:15 dismissal time. We will do our best to get your students out to you in a timely fashion, but the last 30 minutes of the day are particularly hectic!
Please see the picture below for a visual of the 4:15 pickup plan:
Building Visitor Policy
Parents should not enter Capitol Hill during morning drop-off. Your child will be greeted as they enter the Blue doors and make their way through the lobby to breakfast and class. There's staff inside should they need help.
With an appointment, parents may enter the building to meet with specific staff.
Use this link to register for an appointment: t.ly/QEwM. If you are sick or having symptoms, please cancel your appointment and reschedule. Do not come to the school. **
October Support Staff Newsletter!
Capitol Hill OFFICE NOTES
Office Hours: 8:30 - 4:30
Morning Drop-off Time
We want to ensure each child is safe when arriving for school. Staff supervision begins at 9:30am. Please do not drop off your child earlier than 9:30.
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, 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.
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. Teachers are teaching during the day and we are trying our best to lessen the interruptions during instructional time. Thanks for understanding.
Dismissal
Dismissal is at 4:15. We appreciate you making every attempt to honor this time. Students are still actively involved in classroom instruction up to dismissal time.
Please call the Capitol Hill office at 651-325-2500 if you are picking up your child early or letting your child go home any other way than their normal route.
***Please make sure to call the office no later than 3:00 pm if you have to make changes.***
***If you call later than 3:00, we cannot guarantee that your child will get the message.***
Have you completed the iUpdate yet?
The iUpdate process is very important for you and for us – it’s an easy way to streamline all the forms and information that your students need: Free/Reduced Lunch form, the Media Release form, and the use of Internet form. Please go to https://www.spps.org/onestop to complete the iUpdate for your SPPS student(s) if you've not done so already.
The Free/Reduced Lunch Application is very important for you - it may help qualify for discounted internet service, discounted transit for your whole family and the P-EBT program. It is very important for us - some of our funding is based on the families that could be served by the Free/Reduced Lunch Program, even if you don't think you qualify or wouldn't use the service, your filling out the form benefits the whole Capitol Hill community.
