February 2026

Dear Parents & Families

With the second semester underway, and students settled into our school routines, we want to thank you all for your continued support of your children and our school. As a reminder, our instructional day is from 7:30-2:00 pm.

This February, we have our yearly fundraiser through APEX, which is a Minnesota company that also provides leadership lessons and pep rallies for our students. More information will be provided below. All funds raised through this fundraiser will go towards our Innovative Learning Fund, which provides money for transportation to field trips, different seating for classrooms, and other things that directly benefit our student's learning, including the buses that our fourth graders will use to participate in the Youth Frontiers Retreat later in February.

February is Black History Month. Each day during morning announcements, we will highlight African Americans who have made an impact on our country, including Carter G. Woodson, the father of Black History Month. Individual classrooms will also be learning about Black History Month.

Jennifer Grove, Burnside Principal

jpgrove@rwps.org

651-385-4700

February is Black History Month.

February 2-12 - APEX!

February 12 - APEX Event

February 13 & 16 - No School for Students (Teacher Workdays)

February 17 - 100th day of School!

February 24 -- Target Time Begins

February 25 - Gr 2 to Sheldon Theater

February 25/26 - Gr 4 to Youth Frontiers Kindness Retreat

February 27 - Sheldon Magician Show (am) & Carpenter Nature Center Presentation (pm)

Apex is the main fundraiser of this semester. We want to be able to provide our students with interesting school experiences and have the right tools to learn and grow, so this fundraiser will go towards the Innovative Learning Fund for Burnside. Funds will also go to the Youth Frontiers Kindness Retreat for fourth graders at the end of the month.

The theme for this year is APEX Level Up! Our PBIS-based leadership lessons change annually so schools have fresh curriculum every year. We use kindness and care-based focus on our leadership lessons and skills. Here is the APEX Level Up trailer: https://vimeo.com/1096419092?fl=pl&fe=vl

Our Apex Dance Remix is a high energy, celebratory fun run that will be held on Thursday, February 12th in Burnside's gym. You can help support our fundraising efforts by making a donation online at www.myapexevent.com using your students unique ACCESS CODE to log in.

On February 25 & 26th, our fourth graders will be participating in the Youth Frontiers Kindness Retreat. Youth Frontiers (YF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing experiences that inspire character, civility and community. The retreat will be at SE Tech College and we've used our ILF (Innovative Learning Fund) to cover costs.

Mrs. Albers', Mrs. Schneider's, and Mrs. Wenstrom's classes will be going on Tuesday, February 25. On February 26, Mrs. Diercks', Ms. Goettl's, and Ms. Buratti's classes will attend. Volunteer times are 8 am - 1:45 pm.

A retreat is a high-energy day that challenges students to think critically about the impact of their everyday choices and how they treat themselves and others. Small-group leaders establish the energy and tone of the retreat and have a major influence on its success. Their main job is to meet with their student small groups several times throughout the day to lead discussions about the messages of the retreat.

Let us know if you'd like to volunteer! We would love to have you! Please contact the office at 385-4700 if you have any questions and to volunteer.

This is a reminder that students are prohibited from using personal cell phones and other electronic devices during the instructional day. These devices must be stored in silent or “off” mode from the student’s arrival at school until dismissal. A cell phone or other device used or visible during the instructional day will be confiscated and a parent will be expected to pick up the device. Other consequences may also be assigned.

Attendance matters each day. Absences and tardies add up and students miss classroom instruction. See below to review how attendance affects a student's progress.

A free dental care clinic will be held at Burnside coming up on April 6, 2026. The attached flyer also has a link you can click to sign-up and provide permission for your child to be seen.

Now’s the time to start thinking about registering your child for kindergarten!

Red Wing Public Schools will host an in-person kindergarten registration help session Thursday, February 12 for the upcoming school year. The session will run 5-7 p.m. at Sunnyside Elementary School.

Children must be 5 years or older by September 1st, to enroll in kindergarten this fall.

Please bring a photocopy of your child's official birth certificate.

Enrollment forms are also available:

• at the District Office, Colvill Family Center as well as Sunnyside, Burnside and Twin Bluff schools.

• at www.rwps.org.

Forms may be returned to any of those same locations.

Email: jpgrove@rwps.org
Website: www.rwps.org
Location: 5001 Learning Lane, Red Wing, MN, USA
Phone: (651)385-4700
Facebook: facebook.com/awesomeBES