This newsletter provides updates, information and event details for Horace Mann School, the Horace Mann School Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), and Saint Paul Public Schools. It is published weekly and distributed through email. Current and past issues can be found at spps.org/mann or directly at https://mann.spps.org/perspectives1.

If you received this newsletter in error, please click "Unsubscribe" at the bottom.

Picture of workers preparing the pad for the return of the gnome

The Gnome is Back Home!

Horace the Gnome returned home on Sunday, September 20. The team got him back in place. He’s looking great.

Horace needed a little cosmetic surgery. The bottom book was rotten and fell apart. The middle book was rotten, half gone, and was carefully restored. The rot went up into the gnome, was removed, and the gnome was restored.

A new book was crafted out of an oak tree from the Eich family farm. The whole statue was stained and sealed. The inner part of the stump the gnome sits on is solid. A cap now rests between the stump and the bottom book to prevent water from rotting the stump and to help water from pooling.

The gnome will need maintenance moving forward - sealing each year- to stay strong and health.

Thanks to the Eich family and especially Phil Maser (left) and Marlin Eich (right) pictured below!

You are Invited for Coffee and Conversation with the Principal

Principal Litwin will have a pot of coffee and time to chat on Thursday, October 1 from 7:00-8:00am in the library. He is able to chat about your questions and concerns. He also hopes to get input on two questions.

Where would you like to see the school improve or grow in the next five years?
How well is the school community working to value diverse people, ideas, perspectives, and experiences?

Walk-Bike to School on October 7

Bike/Walk to School Day will be Wednesday, October 7. Students who ride the school buses will experience the health benefits of walking to school. We encourage everyone else to join!

Our buses will drop off children at Highland Parkway and Fairview. Students will be met by school staff and volunteers. Students and volunteers will walk to school along the 4-6 block route shown in the picture below. Our school patrol will help them safely cross along the route. Saint Paul Police will be in the neighborhood to support.

Walking to school has many benefits. Studies find that physical activity improves academic performance. Schools with regular ‘Walking Wednesdays’ report that students who walk arrive at school happier and better prepared to learn.

Parents and children who do not take the bus are invited to walk too. Parent can drop off students with an adult west of the bus drop off location. Walking students can join schoolmates at the bus drop location, anywhere along the route, or walk from home. All students will enter Door #1, the red doors on Eleanor Ave. Breakfast will be served by the office. Kindergarten will get breakfast and head to the cafeteria. The rest of the students will get breakfast and head to class.

Please do not park or drop off children at the Highland Parkway zone where the buses will be unloading. You can drop off students west of this area on Highland Parkway as long as you are traveling west.

In the case of bad weather, Horace Mann School will make the decision to cancel or postpone this event. If you have questions, would like to volunteer, or do not want your child to participate in this activity, please email jim.litwin@spps.org or call 651-293-8965 to make the request.

School Seeks 100% Completion of Application for Educational Benefits

All in-person students receive one free breakfast and lunch under Minnesota’s Free School Meals program. It remains critical that all families complete an Application for Educational Benefits each school year for state funding. You support our school with neccesary dollars for educational programs and staff by completing the application. You also open up opportunities for additional benefits for your family.

Please apply online at schoolcafe.com/spps. You can find directions here.

We have paper applications if you prefer. Just call us at 651-293-8965 and we will send it home via your student.

Important Horace Mann School Dates

Bookmark our school calendar. It can be found at the top of our website. Here are some highlights for the next two weeks.

Monday, September 28

3:30-5:00pm Girls on the Run

Tuesday, September 29

2:00-3:00pm Language Sprout Spanish in Rooms 1202 & 1204

Wednesday, September 30

3:30-5:00pm Girls on the Run
6:00pm PTA Meeting in Library

Thursday, October 1

7:00am Coffee & Conversation with Principal
2:00-3:00pm Language Sprout Spanish in Rooms 1202 & 1204

Monday, October 5

3:30-5:00pm Girls on the Run

Tuesday, October 6

2:00-3:00pm Language Sprout Spanish in Rooms 1202 & 1204

Wednesday, October 7

7:00-7:30am Walk, Bike to School Day
1:15-1:45pm Marvella Buddies in Ms. Johnson's class
3:30-5:00pm Girls on the Run
5:00-7:00pm Academic Parent Teacher Teams for Ms. Johnson's (2nd) and Ms. Pickart's (5th) class in classrooms

Thursday, October 8

2:00-3:00pm Language Sprout Spanish in Rooms 1202 & 1204

HMS PTA News and Announcements

WELCOME TO THE SCHOOL YEAR FROM THE PTA! LET’S START THE YEAR CONNECTED

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO KEEP OUR BIGGEST FUNDRAISER GOING

The Silent and Live Auction is our biggest fundraiser of the year. This exciting, off-site, adults-only evening helps fund much of what the PTA does for our school throughout the year.

We are urgently looking for 1-2 more volunteers to join the auction leadership team. No experience necessary!Previous auction co-chairs have generously offered to stay involved as advisors, so you’ll have plenty of support. We’d also love to bring in some fresh perspective and new ideas so it’s all a bonus!

Interested in helping out or just curious? Email volunteer.coordinator@hms-pta.org. It’s not a commitment. A PTA representative would be happy to chat and give you more information. We would love to have you in any capacity you are able to volunteer.

HMS FAMILY DIRECTORY- PLEASE COMPLETE THE ONLINE FORM BY OCTOBER 1ST!

The HMS PTA creates a student directory each year to help school families connect with one another. It’s a handy resource for reaching other families to arrange playdates, birthday parties, and keep informed of important PTA activities.

The directory includes your student’s name and teacher, and any contact information you choose to provide through the form.

Want to be included? Please complete the family directory form (linked here) by October 1st! Please note: We cannot include any of your family’s information unless you provide it to us. Prefer to email us the information directly? Send your child’s name, the names of the parents/guardians, and the contact information that you want to share (email, phone number, address) to president@hms-pta.org.

Families will receive a digital copy of the directory by email in mid-October.

JOIN US FOR THE FIRST PTA MEETING OF THE YEAR ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30th AT 6PM.

Help us kickoff another great school year by attending the PTA’s first meeting of the year on Wednesday, September 30th from 6-7pm in the HMS Library. And as always, fill out the volunteer interest form or email volunteer.coordinator@hms-pta.org if you want ways to get involved with the

PTA.

Agenda highlights:

Vote to approve the ‘26-27 PTA budget
Hear about how the pilot year of the school supply purchasing program went with time for family feedback
Principal’s report: gathering community input to begin the process of evaluating HMS for the Minnesota School of Excellence award
Hear about the school band program from our special guest, Horace Mann Band teacher, Bella Marek.
Hear from a parent rep for the Intentional Technology Group
Confirm new PTA board members
Share general feedback and get updates on PTA events!

School-age child care available for in-person meetings provided by 5th Graders in the gym!

A MESSAGE FROM THE MINNESOTA PTA

Dear Minnesota PTA Members and Friends,

Voting is underway in Minnesota, and there’s an important question on the ballot that could mean more funding for students across our state without raising individual income or property taxes.

It’s called the Permanent School Fund amendment.

What does it mean? Minnesota already has a Permanent School Fund that provides money for public education every year. The amendment would change how money from the fund is distributed, allowing more to go to schools each year while protecting the fund for future generations. The change would provide more funding for students in public schools, charter schools, and Tribal schools across Minnesota.

Here’s what to know

More funding for Minnesota students.
No increase in individual income or property taxes.
The change was recommended by a state task force and received bipartisan support.
Don’t skip this question on your ballot. Leaving it blank has the same effect as voting no.

Learn more and find easy resources to share at www.mnPSFamendment.org.

Thank you for helping us get the word out!

Joanne Barkmeier

Minnesota PTA, Vice President & Advocacy Commissioner

joanneb@mnpta.org | www.mnpta.org

PTA Board and Contact Info

President: Katie Bliss, president@hms-pta.org

Vice-President: OPEN president@hms.-pta.org

Treasurer: Sam Smith, treasurer@hms-pta.org

Teacher Reps: Amy Kortuem & Mark Lindskoog, teacher-rep@hms-pta.org

Communications: Amanda Prutzman, communications@hms-pta.org

Volunteer Coordinator: Emily Phelps and Annie Mach, volunteer.coordinator@hms-pta.org

Recorders: Sarah Liuzzi and Bethany Hyde, recorder@hms-pta.org

Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) is not sponsoring, endorsing, or recommending the activities/events announced in the PTA Section and no SPPS student will be turned away due to inability to pay (21-22).

Horace Mann School Contacts and Social Media

Perspectives Submission Deadline: Thursdays by 8:00am

Email: jim.litwin@spps.org
Website: https://mann.spps.org/
Location: Horace Mann School, 2001 Eleanor Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55116
Phone: 651-293-8965
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SPPSHoraceMannSchool/