Eagles Newsletter

November 3, 2025

November 4 - No School for Staff Workshop Day

November 5 & 6 - Hearing and Vision Screening for students in grades 1, 3, 5 and special Education

November 7 - PTO Harvest BINGO

November 10 - 14 - Food Drive for CROSS - Student Council Community Service Project

November 11 - Picture Re-Take Day

November 11 - PTO General Meeting - 6:30 - 7:30pm

November 14 - Coffee with the Principal

November 26 - No School for Mark Reporting

November 27 & 28 - No School for Thanksgiving Holiday

December 1 - Tri 2 begins

December 4 & 5 - Fourth grade field trip to Eastman Nature Center

December 8 - Coffee with the Principal

December 8 - 12 - Student Connecting Through International Service Supply Drive

December 9 - PTO General Meeting

December 11 & 12 - PTO Holiday Shoppe

December 24 - January 2 - NO SCHOOL - Winter Break

What is excessive absenteeism?

When a student has 3 or more unexcused absences we send out an attendance letter. If the unexcused absences continue, the school Social Worker is required to report it to the County.

Arriving to school late and leaving school early for unexcused reasons are cumulative and will add up and create attendance issues. This also disrupts the learning in classrooms. When your child has been tardy 6 times for an unexcused reason we will send out an attendance letter.

Absent for more than 15 days due to illness and medical reasons we will send out an attendance letter to notify you that your child has excessive absences and that a doctors note is required for future absences to be excused.

The purpose of the letter is to make you aware of it and to encourage improved attendance and to offer support, if needed.

Open Enrolled students with poor attendance may have their enrollment at Elm Creek revoked as maintaining good attendance is part of the open enrollment agreement.

ABSENCE REPORTING Please call your school’s absence line before 10 a.m. on the day your child is absent. Elm Creek Attendance Line Reporting - 763/315-7692

ParentVUE is a great tool to check your child's attendance record. If corrections are needed, please contact Staci in the office at joness@district279 / 763-425-0577

Picture re-takes are the morning of Tuesday, November 11th. If your child needs to have re-takes done make sure you have filled out the retake form.

EC Photo Retake Form

If you have specific questions about photo packages or anything else directly related to ordering, please contact Kemmetmueller Photography Directly. 952-473-2142 info@k-photography.com

The weather is changing and we are experiencing colder temperatures. Please send your child to school with weather appropriate attire as we go outside for recess each day unless it is raining.

Students are expected to wear long pants and long sleeves outside when it is cold.

The lost and found is filling up. Stop by the lost and found and take a look during school office hours 7:30 - 4:00. Be sure to check the lost and found when you come to PTO Harvest BINGO on November 7th .

While the 2025-26 school year is still young, Osseo Area Schools is already making preparations for a smooth transition to new attendance boundaries at the elementary and middle school levels for the fall of 2026. Families can double-check whether or not their household is impacted by using the 2026-27 search tool available via osseoschools.org/boundaries.

Families who have students impacted by next fall's attendance boundary changes can expect to receive a letter before the end of November with information about their new school and other pertinent details.

Families with 2026-27 fifth and eighth graders will be asked whether or not they’d like to utilize a Remain in Place option, where they could stay their final year at their current school with family-provided transportation. Details will be shared mid-November.

Students relocating can expect a similar educational experience across district schools, with shared goals for academic rigor and a welcoming environment at all sites. Efforts have also been made to keep neighborhoods together as much as possible so that any school changes are made with familiar students.

These changes can be tough; however, every effort is being made to ensure families have great experiences at all schools. Special activities will be held starting next spring to welcome and support families relocating. Families are also welcome to check out school websites and/or schedule a tour in the weeks and months ahead.

The flexibility with this needed change is appreciated. Questions? Check out osseoschools.org/boundaries, or reach out to BetterFuture@district279.org or 763-391-8990.

PTO Harvest BINGO is on Friday, November 7th at 6-8pm (doors open at 5:30) in the Elm Creek Gym

PRICE LIST:

Large Family Pack - $40

Includes 6 Bingo cards and 12 food tickets

Medium Family Package - $28

Includes 4 Bingo cards and 8 food tickets

Small Family Package - $14

Includes 2 Bingo cards and 4 food tickets

Bingo cards - $5 (good all night)

Food tickets - $1

Food prices

1 ticket: pop, water, juice box, Popcorn, Candy

2 tickets: slice of pizza

Get your brushes, needles, glue and creativity ready!

We are starting to collect crafts for the 2025 Holiday Shop. We are looking for handmade crafts that honor all religious traditions from around the globe as well as non-holiday crafts. We love the classics and are also looking for some new fun ideas for brothers, Dads, Grandpas and pets this year. All craft donations will need to be dropped off in the office at Elm Creek by November 21st.

We cannot wait to see what you come up with! The Holiday Shop will take place December 11th and 12th so save the date if you want to volunteer in the shop or wrapping presents. Please reach out to Taylor (taylorvernstrom85@gmail.com) with any questions!

With winter weather approaching, it is important that we are all following the parent pick up and drop off correctly. The pick up and drop off lane is meant to be quick. If more time is needed, please park.

Reminder of our parking lot procedure

CARS: Students are to be dropped off and picked up in the front parking lot only. Please do not enter the bus area. Children should enter and exit the vehicle using the curbside door. If you desire, you may park your vehicle in the parking lot, meet your child at their outside door, and escort them across the parking lot crosswalks. At no time should children be walking through the parking lot unescorted. This is extremely important for the safety of each child.

Maple Grove Police/Fire Department will ticket cars parked in the NO PARKING zones. Due to space limitations, cars must continue moving around the circle when dropping off or picking up.

Courtesy to pedestrians and busses is a top priority, providing safety to all.

Please yield to busses at the entrance to the school parking lot and let them in first.

An opportunity to connect, gather feedback, and be available to answer questions.

Have questions? Contact: Mrs. Ness at nesse@district279.org

Friday, November 14

9:30 a.m.

Elm Creek Media Center

What do Gifted and Talented Services look like at Elm Creek?

Future Dates:

Monday, December 8th, 10:30 a.m., Annabelle House in Osseo - What is SOAR and SOAR support all about at Elm Creek?

Friday, January 9th, 10 a.m., Elm Creek Media Center - What do math and reading interventions look like at Elm Creek?

Friday, February 13th, 9:30 a.m., Elm Creek Media Center - Budget time for 2026-27 school year. Come give your feedback.

Friday, March 13th, 10:30 a.m., Elm Creek Media Center - What do kids do in the Media Center at Elm Creek?

Monday, April 6th, 10:30 a.m., Annabelle House in Osseo - It’s testing time, and my child has testing anxiety. What can I do to help?

Friday, May 8th, 10 a.m., Elm Creek Media Center - St. David’s will share Summer Tips for your child.

To get involved in the school community, check out district279.org/community. You'll find information on volunteering, advisory committees and more.

https://twitter.com/ElmCreekElem.

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