Wolves Newsletter

Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Dear Park Brook Families,

Conferences are in February. This is a time for you to visit with your child's teacher, to hear how your child is progressing, to share information with your child's teacher, and to make plans for the remainder of the school year.

There is one common theme that I have noticed over the years with students who are struggling to read; they are not reading at home. I implore you to have your child read, or for you to read to your child at home.

February is a month with a number of weekend/evening events. I am thankful that the students register and enjoy these events, because I have great fun with my students at these events. I also know that these events help create the culture that we enjoy at Park Brook and assist the students with their academic progress.

Mr. Scott W. Taylor

Mission Bay High School - San Diego, CA

Northern Arizona University, B.S. - Flagstaff, AZ

St. Cloud State University, M.S. - St. Cloud, MN

St. Mary's University, Administration Program - Minneapolis, MN

Please update emergency contact information in ParentVUE or stop in the office to update emergency contact information.

Our intentions may be to always be home, be able to be reached on our cell phone. However, reality for all us is that cell phones are forgotten at home, cell phone is not charged, car breaks down on the way home from work, and so on. If there is any emergency or simply that a parent/guardian is not here to pick up their child, it is good for us to have someone to call that you trust.

Emergency contacts, which includes grandparents, aunts, uncles, and so on, are emergency contacts and are not entitled to private information. Relatives sometimes feel that they are entitled to all information, however, it is only the legal parents who are entitled to data private information unless it pertains to the specific situation.

In addition, please be sure to maintain an accurate list of medications and health needs in the health office. If there should ever be a medical situation with a student, we want the most accurate information for your child's benefit.

• Children should know who a trusted adult is in the neighborhood that they could go to if their parent/guardian is not at home, and they cannot enter the home.
• Some families choose to have a code word that the parent can give to someone who is to pick up the child after school, or if you have to send someone to pick up your child from your house. The code word would be something unique, but something that the child knows. For example, a code word might be 'purple giraffes', and if you ask someone to pick up your child, you tell the person the code word, and the person shares the word with your child. Your child then knows that you have sent them to pick up your child.
• One plan might be to have your child return to the school if no one is at home, however, they need to begin walking back to the school as the school office closes at 4:00 p.m.
• If your child has a key to enter the house, it is a good idea to have phone numbers written and posted in a certain place where your child can access them if necessary.
• If your child needs to go to a neighbors apartment or home if no one is there, kids should know to tape a note to the door so that you know where to find them.
• If the plan is for your child to enter the house by themselves, perhaps a system if an adult is not home, would be to write down where they are going if they are playing with kids in the neighborhood.
• If there is someone you would want your child to stay with if you should become ill and need your child to stay with someone for a few days, please make sure that the individual is listed as an emergency contact so that we can help facilitate that for you.
• It would be good for neighbors to have your phone number so that they can call/text you if your child comes over if you are not at home.

February is Black History Month. Friday, February 6, 2026 is a day that we are setting aside to honor both the history of Black Individuals, and to celebrate the current contributions to the United States that Black Individuals make every day.

February 6 is also the Opening Ceremonies of the Winter Olympics. We are creating an atmosphere to honor all cultures at Park Brook on that day, while also having very specific and dedicated times to strictly focus on Black History Month.

Nurse Jones is also an author, and has written a children's book that was illustrated by her son. Her son is a phenomenal artist with work with national clients. Her book will be part of our day to celebrate Black History Month.

My goal as principal is that students of every race see themselves in Park Brook throughout the entire year, not just during one month or one day. I want Park Brook to be a school for each and every one of my students, students of every race, each and every day of the school year.

yojobooks.com

All parents and guardians are welcome to come to PTO. PTO is a place to visit with other families and staff members, learn more about the school, and to provide input.

Kids are welcome to come with their parents/guardians.

Wednesday, February 4, 2026 -- 3:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, February 10, 2026 -- 3:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, February 12, 2026 -- 3:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

A letter will be sent home with each student with the specific time for each families conference.

With congratulations and a thank you to her years of service at Park Brook, Mrs. Titus has accepted a year-round position within the district at the Enrollment Center. We anticipate a transition in early February. A replacement has not been hired as of yet.

• Monday, January 26 - Grade 3, 4 and 5 - Skiing at Wirth Park. (All students in grades 3, 4 and 5, during the school day.)
• Tuesday, January 27 - Grade 5 - Science Museum - 8:50 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
• Saturday, January 31 - Grades 3, 4 and 5 - Next Gen Ski Race at Wirth Park.
• Saturday, February 7 - Grades 3, 4 and 5 - Luminary Loppet with Park Brook Choir Singing
• Saturday, February 21 - Grades 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 - Kidarod - Outdoor Obstacle Course at Fish Lake
• Monday, February 23 - Grade 2 - Minneapolis Bouldering Project (All student in grade 2, during the school day.)
• Friday, February 27 - Boys in Grades 4 and 5 (possibly grades 2 & 3) - Boys Climb - Minneapolis Bouldering Project

Students will ride a bus from Park Brook for all of these field trips.

Park Brook Winter Funland began as a health fair, and continues as fun-filled event to support Park Brook's Focus on Fitness. It is an evening with snacks, obstacle course, climbing wall, limbo, and more.

Friday, February 20, 2026

5:30 pm - 7:00 pm

$5/student, $20 max per family

(Snacks included in cost of entry.)

• Students, except pre - k students, do not need an adult chaperone.
• Middle school and high school siblings cannot stay unless: their parents/guardians are staying for the entire event, or they have pre-arranged to volunteer.
• Students are not allowed to walk home without an adult after the event as it will be dark out.

Students, under the guidance of Mrs. Lohn, collected plastic bags, plastic wrappers, and so on to receive this bench. The students collected over 1,000 pounds of plastic!

I (Mr. Taylor) was asked what color I wanted the bench to be. My answer was simple, give the students the color choices and have them choose. The students chose the color for the bench.

When the bench arrived, they worked together as a team to read the directions and assemble the bench.

The center section is the pacer test. This is the test that takes place in the gym. The students run back and forth every time there is a beep. The time to make it across the gym and back gets shorter and shorter.

Osseo Area Schools' boundaries (where kids go to school) is changing for the 2026 - 2027 school year. Click on the button below for more information.

Letters were sent to families with specific information for each family. If you have questions, please contact the Park Book School Office.

Seeking: parents/ guardians/ grandparents/ aunts/ uncles/ community members....

While we have staff members who coach GOTR, it would be great to have others support this tremendous program.

You can volunteer once-a-week, once every-other-week, for every meeting, or what works for your schedule. GOTR MN provides the curriculum and requires that all volunteers and staff members are trained and pass a background check.

If you are interested, have questions, or perhaps know someone who might be interested, I would greatly enjoy visiting with you!

Spring session begins after Spring Break, which seems as though it is a long ways off, but this is the time to begin planning and seeking staff.

Much Appreciated!

Mr. Taylor

• W - We will respect ourselves and others.
• O - Own our actions.
• L - Listen and Learn.
• F - Follow Directions.