May 2025 Bulletin
Greetings Bobcat Families,
May is here, and with it comes the excitement of wrapping up another school year together. In the coming weeks, our calendar is full of end-of-year celebrations and performances. Please review the schedule carefully—you won’t want to miss any of these special events!
Throughout the year, your students have engaged in a wide range of arts-centered learning experiences. Teachers have integrated the arts into math, reading, and science instruction, enriching lessons with creativity and critical thinking. Students in grades one through five also had the opportunity to participate in troupes and electives focused on building specific artistic skills and boosting engagement.
As we begin planning an even more dynamic and enriching academic and arts-filled year ahead, we want to hear from you. Just below this message, you’ll find a link to our Parent/Caregiver Survey and Testimonial form. Your input is essential in helping us shape the future of our school community.
As we close out the year, thank you for being such an important part of what makes Birch Grove so special. Your partnership and support mean the world to us. We wish you a safe and restful summer and look forward to welcoming your students back for the 2025–2026 school year on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.
Until then, we remain here to support your family and continue creating the very best environment for learning, working, and visiting.
Warmly,
Your Administrative Team
Margo Kleven & Lindsey Patterson
Parent/Caregiver Survey & Testimonials
District 279 is also looking for your thoughts about Birch Grove! Parents/caregivers and students are invited to share a testimonial about their experience at Birch Grove. Some of these testimonials will be used in brochures and flyers for the school.
A Message from the Media Center
We are swiftly coming up on the end of the school year which means it is time to make sure that all library books are getting read and returned to the media center. If your student has an overdue book (a book checked out and not returned within three weeks), reminder emails come out on Thursday evenings all year long. Paper notices are sent home a few times during the year as well. The last day for students to check out books will be May 20th. All books should be returned to school by Friday, May 30th, but will be accepted at any time (even next fall). Email notices will be sent out daily from May 27th - June 6th if your student still has books checked out. If you ever have a question about a book on these notices, please contact Mrs. Kimmes, our librarian. KimmesS@District279.org
The overdue notice includes the price of the book - if the book is lost or damaged, you can send money to school to cover the replacement of the book. If books are paid for and then found, we can refund the money within the same school year. Cash is preferred and we do not accept electronic payments.
PTO Corner: Staff Appreciation Week
Hi from the Birch Grove PTO. Please help us show our appreciation for our hard working Birch Grove staff. Staff Appreciation week is May 6th - 9th. The PTO would greatly appreciate it if you could click on the Amazon Wish List linked below and donate an item that will be used for Staff Appreciation. If you have any questions or would like to help, please email the PTO at PTOBirchGrove@gmail.com.
Tune Into June!
- Tuesday, June 3rd: Mrs. K's Preschool Celebration
- 11:00 am - morning class
- 3:00 pm - afternoon class
- Thursday, June 5th: Ms. Diane's Preschool Celebration
- 11:00 am - morning class
- 3:00 pm - afternoon class
- Thursday, June 5th: 5th Grade Celebration from 5:30-7:00 pm
- Food trucks will be on site and 5th grade students will receive a certificate from their teacher
- Friday, June 6th: Last Day of School and Bobcat Blastoff
- Track and field activities and outdoor games to celebrate the end of the school year!
- Ms. CC will be looking for volunteers for this event - watch your messages for a sign up link!
May 7th: 5th Grade Silver Orchestra Concert
Birch Grove silver orchestra students will perform their spring concert with several other schools on Wednesday, May 7th. Please be aware that only 5th grade silver orchestra will perform at this concert, and the rest of the orchestra will perform at a later date. Email Mrs. Pim (pime@district279.org) or Mr. Krueger (kruegerj@district279.org) if you have questions.
EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Wednesday, May 7th
Time: 6:30-7:30 pm
Location: Osseo Middle School
10223 93rd Ave N
Osseo, MN 55369
May 9th & 16th: Spotlight on the Arts Troupe Shows
If you have a student in Choir Troupe, they will perform BOTH nights regardless of grade.
This event is for Troupe students only. Electives students do not participate in the Troupe show.
DATES:
Friday, May 9th - 4th and 5th Grade Spotlight
Friday, May 16th - 2nd and 3rd Grade Spotlight
TIME: 6:30-8:00 pm for all dates
LOCATION: Birch Grove Elementary School
May 13th: Birch Grove Orchestra Concert
EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Tuesday, May 13th
Time: 7:00-8:00 pm
Location: Birch Grove Elementary School Gym
May 20th: Kindergarten Orientation
Families of next year's kindergarten students are invited to Kindergarten Orientation on May 20th! Students and families will have the opportunity to learn about the kindergarten schedule, meet the teachers, tour the school, and more. Representatives will be on site from KidStop, health services, nutrition services, transportation, and more. Be sure to stop by their tables to ask any questions you may have, and kids can pick up a goodie!
This event is for students who will start kindergarten in fall 2025, NOT current kindergarten students.
EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Tuesday, May 20th
Time: 5:30-7:00 pm
Location: Birch Grove Elementary School
May 21st: 2nd Grade Concert
Birch Grove 2nd graders have been hard at work rehearsing songs and skits for their spring concert, "Bob the Duck Goes to the MN State Fair"! You are invited to attend their show on Wednesday, May 21st. Enjoy silly songs such as "If it Walks Like a Duck" and "Awesome Animals"! Please contact music teacher Mr. P if you have any questions. You can reach him at PogatshnikB@District279.org.
Be sure to stick around after for the PTO Spring Fling event - scroll down for details!
EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Wednesday, May 21st
Time: 4:30-5:15 pm
Location: Birch Grove Elementary School
May 21st: Birch Grove PTO Spring Fling
You are invited to the Spring Fling on May 21st! Join the PTO for Bingo, food trucks, and the Scholastic Book Fair. Be sure to take a look at the Peeps Diorama Gallery, featuring fun scenes and sculptures created by 5th grade students out of Marshmallow Peeps.
EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Wednesday, May 21st
Time: 5:30-7:00 pm
Location: Birch Grove Elementary School
May 30th: Kindergarten Play
The Wide Mouthed Frog is about a Mother Frog whose babies hatch from eggs. They grow into tadpoles and then into frogs. Mother Frog realizes she needs to feed her babies so she hops along to find food. She meets many animals along her way such as a giraffe, lion and elephant to ask what they feed their babies. In the end she runs into a crocodile who tries to catch them! Do you think Mother Frog will be able to escape? Come support our kindergarteners and find out!
EVENT DETAILS
When: Friday, May 30th
Time: 3:15 pm
Location: Birch Grove Gym
Free Vision Screening at Maple Grove Eye Care
Maple Grove Eye Care is a local business owned by a family with students in the Osseo Area Schools. Maple Grove Eye Care has free vision screenings year round in order to monitor everyone's vision fluctuations at their convenience. Call the Maple Grove Eye Care office at 763-264-5100 to schedule an appointment or learn more about free vision screening.
Child Tax Credit
Exciting news for Minnesota families! Discover the new Child Tax Credit offering $1,750 per child under 18. Don't miss out—check eligibility and claim your credit when you file: https://www.revenue.state.mn.us/child-tax-credit.
Working Family Credit
Minnesota Residents, discover the benefits of the Working Family Credit! You could qualify for a refund, even if you don't owe taxes. Check eligibility details, especially if your income is below $35,000 (joint filers). If you're a part-year resident, adjust your income accordingly for Minnesota taxes. Learn more at https://www.revenue.state.mn.us/site-search?site_search_text=m1nr
Save Receipts for School Supplies!
The Minnesota Department of Revenue offers two valuable tax benefits for caregivers who purchase school supplies for their K-12 students: the K-12 Education Credit and Subtraction. These benefits can reduce caregivers’ taxes to increase their refund, but is only available for those who keep their receipts. Purchases for most school supplies, field trips, and musical instruments for school band are eligible. Most Minnesota caregivers qualify for the K-12 subtraction, which reduces their taxable income. Caregivers under certain income limits may also qualify for the K-12 credit, which can refund up to 75% of their costs – even for those who do not owe any taxes. Visit Revenue's website for details.
Homework Starts with Home
Are you or someone you know at risk of losing your housing? The Homework Starts with Home program is grant funded and in partnership with Hennepin County and the YMCA. Here are guidelines of the program:
- Families must have a child enrolled in our school district and reside in Hennepin county.
- Families must meet income guidelines set by Hennepin county.
- Families must qualify for rent assistance of owing back rent and are at risk of eviction in order to receive utilities assistance.
- Families must provide something in writing that they owe back rent or are at risk of eviction (ledger of back rent owed, eviction notice, court date notice)
- Families must reach out before their eviction date/court date. Unfortunately we can't retroactively provide financial assistance if they have already moved.
Please reach out to Kendra Kuhlmann at HSWH@District279.org if you have questions or are interested in learning more about the Homework Starts with Home Program.
Information available in: English | Hmong | Russian | Somali | Spanish | Vietnamese
Earn Money for Birch Grove with Box Tops for Education
Download the Box Tops for Education App and start earning money for Birch Grove by scanning your shopping receipts.