Perspectives
October 23, 2026
2026 Boo Bash is Next Thursday!
The Boo Bash Fall Festival is a longstanding Horace Mann School tradition.This year's 4th and 5th grade parents are excited to host this amazing event! We will transform the school, host carnival games, scares (big and small), a neon glow party, and more. All of this fun raises money for another Horace Mann tradition - sending our 5th graders to the environmental learning camp called Eagle Bluff.
The Boo Bash Fall Festival will be held the evening of Thursday, October 29, from 5-8pm.
Ticket Sales
This year, take advantage of early ticket pre-sales for the opportunity to be entered in a raffle for a Bricks & Minifigs Gift Card and a Half Priced Books Gift Card. If you buy 100 tickets, you’ll get ten free. Tickets can be used for pizza, snacks, drinks, games, and the perennial favorite, the haunted house put on by the 5th grade class!
Feel free to stop by and purchase tickets on any of the days listed here, or use the direct link to purchase from the comfort of your home. You can then bring the receipt to pick up the tickets during any of the pre-sale dates or on the day of the festival. Tickets will also be available for purchase the day of Boo Bash, but expect a line!
- Tuesday, October 27, 3:00-5:00pm at Main Entry Door 1 on Eleanor
- Monday, October 28, 3:30-5:00pm at Main Entry Door 1 on Eleanor
- Direct Link to Buy Tickets
Lifetouch Picture Re-takes Next Week
Picture re-takes will start at 7:45am on Wednesday, October 28. They will finish fairly quickly so please be prepared. You can go to mylifetouch.com to create an account or login to order your pictures. Please use Picture ID code: EVTCBMWP9.
Notes from the Music Room
Kindergarten and First Grade
Spring may seem like a long time away, but we are already singing about it! Please save the date: all Kindergartners and 1st graders are giving a concert on Tuesday, March 20, 2027. We will have a daytime show for the students and teachers, and then at 6pm we will share the concert with families and friends. We are already working to learn the songs, and you may have heard some of them at home. We are beginning to incorporate instruments, games and movement activities into our music-making now that we have our music room routines humming along.
Second and Third Grade
Second and third graders are strong singers, and with our practice in note reading and ensemble work, they are ready to take on new instrument challenges. Second graders are learning how to pick, strum, and play chords on the school's ukuleles. We are beginning to accompany our own singing with simple songs. Third graders are learning the recorder; we spend a lot of time up front on making a musical sound with gentle breath and confident finger placement. As we add notes, the opportunities for creativity and improvisation expand. Both grades will team up for a concert on Tuesday, February 23. Please plan to be there for the 6pm show!
Fourth and Fifth Grade
Fourth graders headline their own concert on Tuesday, January 26 at 6pm. They are capable musicians with lots of practice sharing music with an audience, so they are ready for higher level vocal skills, thoughtful choices around performance values, and the 'student choice' song is already stirring up interesting conversations. And on the topic of choices, the top vote winner for the 5th grade musical was "The Lion King" (kids' version). Ours is a modest production, rehearsed during our single weekly classtime, but it gives students who are new to musical theater a taste of what it's like, and students who have more experience in the genre have a chance to be leaders. Save Tuesday, March 16 for that show!
To All Families
I will be at Horace Mann for conferences for all of the Tuesday evening window and from 8-9:45am on the Friday. If the door is open, you are most welcome to pop in to say hello, regardless of whether you signed up for a slot. I always enjoy meeting families and learning more about your children in that way.
If you play an instrument or have a special interest in musicals, always feel free to reach out to be part of our shows! Our 'house band' is always happy to welcome newcomers. If you're interested in adding to one of our shows in some way, please stop in or send me an email and we will connect.
Each year several families ask for recommendations for a music teacher or program for their child, so I keep a running list of music teachers and programs (theater, choir, etc) that HM families love and I'm happy to share that if you would like it. And, if your family has a recommendation to share, please send that to me and I will add it (I don't share any personal information about students and families on the list). It is helpful if you can add a couple details about what makes the teacher/program a good fit for you.
Looking forward to another great year with your wonderful young people–
Ms. Bowron (the music teacher at Horace Mann)
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, October 26
- 7:45-9:15am 1st Grade Starbooks Cafe in Holleran Hall
- 1:00pm All School Assembly in Gym- PTA Readathon Opening Ceremony
- 2:00-3:45pm Extended Day for Learning (EDL) for Grades 4-5
- 3:30-5:00pm Girls on the Run
Tuesday, October 27
- 2:00-3:00pm Language Sprout Spanish in Rooms 1202 & 1204
- 2:10-3:10pm Community Education Classes
Wednesday, October 28
- 7:45am until done- Picture Retakes
- 8:00-10:00am 3rd Grade plants tulips on the grounds
- 2:00-3:45pm Extended Day for Learning (EDL) for Grades 4-5
- 3:30-5:00pm Girls on the Run
- 6:00 – 7:30pm SPPS 2033 Community Celebration at Junior Achievement North, 1745 University Ave W
Thursday, October 29
- 9:30am-1:30pm B'dote Field Trip for 5th Grade
- 5:00-8:00pm Boo Bash Fall Festival
Friday, October 30
- No School- Conference Prep Day
Monday, November 2
- 2:00-3:45pm Extended Day for Learning (EDL) for Grades 4-5
- 3:30-5:00pm Girls on the Run
- 6:00-7:45pm PTA Auction Committee Planning Meeting in Library
Tuesday, November 3
- 2:00-3:00pm Language Sprout Spanish in Rooms 1202 & 1204
- 2:10-3:10pm Community Education Classes
Wednesday, November 4
- 8:15am Tour for Prospective Families
- 1:00-1:30pm Marvella Book Buddies with Ms. Johnson's Class
- 2:00-3:45pm Extended Day for Learning (EDL) for Grades 4-5
- 3:30-5:00pm Girls on the Run
- 6:00-7:30pm PTA Meeting in the Library
Thursday, November 5
- 7:00-8:00am Coffee and Conversation with the Principal in the Library
- 2:00-3:00pm Language Sprout Spanish in Rooms 1202 & 1204
Saturday, November 7
- 9:00-11:00am Garden and Grounds Clean Up
JOIN US FOR OUR NEXT PTA MEETING: WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH
The next PTA meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 4th from 6-7pm in the Horace Mann Library. School-age childcare will be provided by 5th graders in the gym.
Our meeting will include a guest speaker, the Horace Mann band director, Bella Marek, along with discussions about future PTA events including some budget discussion, a Principal's discussion, and updates from our PTA committees. We want to hear from you! Join us to share your ideas, ask questions, and help shape the priorities of the PTA this year.
Fall Garden Clean Up
Join us on the school grounds of Horace Mann School the morning of Saturday, November 7 from 9 AM to 11 AM for a fall cleanup! Please bring rakes, weeding tools, gloves. Kids are absolutely welcome to help and encouraged to come. We will tidy up the in-ground garden beds as well as the raised beds, tucking them in for the winter. Coffee and hot chocolate will be provided. Questions? Email Koepke.brigitte@gmail.com.
LAST TWO WEEKS FOR DONATIONS OF NEW/GENTLY USED CLOTHING, FOOD, AND HYGIENE ITEMS!
The PTA's Family Volunteer committee is still collecting critically needed food, hygiene, and new/gently used fall or winter clothing or monetary donations to purchase those items. All donations will be provided to school support staff at Horace Mann and The Heights schools to distribute to elementary students and their families.
What to donate: Please view this link for specific items needed.
Other ways to support: Make a direct financial contribution here. Donations will be used to purchase needed food, hygiene, or clothing items.
When to donate: drop off Items in the Horace Mann Main Door Entry between October 12 and November 3rd.
All donations can be dropped off in Horace Mann Main Door Entry through Tuesday, November 3rd. Thanks to all who have already donated, your support will help students have the resources they need to succeed throughout the school year!
Horace Mann School Contacts and Social Media
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/