March Minne Scoop!

Minnehaha Family,

Spring is just around the corner, and I can tell because I’ve just put the finishing touches on the spring testing calendar. Every spring, we are required to administer the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments III (MCA-III). Students in grades 3-5 must take the Math and Reading assessments, and 5th graders also take a Science assessment. We will begin testing at the end of this month!

While the MCAs are not high-stakes tests for students and do not affect your child’s grades, the state uses these assessments to evaluate the effectiveness of the district's educational programs. The district then uses the results to guide curricular decisions, staffing choices, professional development plans, and district learning goals. Therefore, while these tests aren’t high-stakes for students, it’s crucial that we collect the most accurate data possible.

Here are the testing dates for each grade:

• 5th Grade: March 26-27, April 28-29, and May 5-6

• 4th Grade: April 1-2 and April 23-24

• 3rd Grade: April 8-9 and April 21-22

Please mark these dates on your calendar, and ensure that your child gets a good night's sleep before each test and enjoys a healthy breakfast on testing days. Encourage your child to do their best!

Our staff has dedicated a lot of time to learning new tools and strategies to help your child succeed this year, and we’re excited to see the results.

On a separate note, please remember to send your child to school with snow pants and appropriate winter gear. When there’s snow on the ground, we require students to have winter gear. March can still be one of our snowiest months!

Finally, don’t forget about the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Minnehaha on March 27th. The ceremony will take place at 5:00 p.m., and the building will be open for visits until 7:00 p.m. If you haven't had a chance to see the recent changes to Minnehaha, please stop by and take a look. It's been a long construction process, and we’re excited to share the finished product with you. We hope to see you there!

Where are you from?

Dylan: Silver Bay

Chris: Normal, IL

Meghan: Fallston, MD

Emma: Two Harbors

Tell us about your Family!

Dylan: I am the oldest of 10 kids.

Chris: Both sides of my family have a long history of working in education.

Meghan: Met my husband Matt in Two Harbors. We have two wonderful boys.

Hobbies:

Dylan: Cars and researching philosophy.

Chris: Cartography, cooking, and repairing electronics

Meghan: Embroidering, jigsaw puzzles, singing, and traveling

Emma: Painting and running

What do you enjoy about working at the Minnehaha:

Dylan: Chill environment and consistent hours in the winter.

Chris: The strong sense of community and small-town feel. It's the kids that make this really special

Meghan: I like getting to know the students and staff better.

Emma: Having fun with my coworkers

They did a great job at their concert!

March 6: Spring Conferences

March 11: School Board Meeting

March 17-20: Spring Break

March 27: Minnehaha Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

April 3: Kindergarten Round Up and Paraprofessional Day. End of 3rd Quarter

April 4: Librarian Appreciation Day

April 8: School Board Meeting

April 14-17: Book Fair

April 20: Easter

April 22: Bus Driver Appreciation Day

May 1: Kitchen Staff Appreciation Day and Principal Appreciation Day

May 5-7: Teacher Appreciation Week

May 6: Midterm

May 13: School Board Meeting

May 26: Memorial Day (NO SCHOOL)

May 30: THHS Graduation. School is in Session today!

June 5: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

Minnehaha Elementary strives to ensure high levels of learning for all students while building respectful, responsible and safe community members.

Email: barcher@isd381.org
Website: https://www.isd381.k12.mn.us/minnehaha/
Location: Minnehaha Elementary School, 7th Street, Two Harbors, MN, USA
Phone: 218-834-8221
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Minnehaha-Elementary-Lake-Superior-School-District-103493627983228