Dear Parents and Guardians:

You may have heard that the Minneapolis School District is buying new curriculum to begin using this coming fall. You may be wondering, what does this mean for Seward?

The K-5 program at Seward is Montessori. Our K-5 teachers were very excited to purchase new and better materials for next year, including new Montessori checkerboards and bead frames. We also purchased the teacher’s editions of the district’s new math texts to help supplement our Montessori program in graphing and problem solving. Next fall teachers will also use some new assessment tools that are more closely aligned with our program.

In ordering the new materials for K-5, teachers also looked for ways to get students to experience algebraic equations. Both E1 and E2 teachers ordered higher level Montessori materials so that advanced 3rd graders and 5 th

graders will continue to be challenged using the Montessori Method.

The middle school will be getting new math books and materials. The new Connected Math Curriculum is very

similar to what we use now except that it contains more traditional math practice and a greater focus on algebra. The plan in Minnesota is to have all 8 th graders take algebra by 2010.

The fall will also introduce new procedures in reading instruction. Teachers will maintain running records on each child to monitor student growth. We will be doing balanced literacy in all classrooms. There will be whole group instruction and guided reading small group instruction. We will also have a new reading coach in our building. This mentor teacher will model and coach good reading instruction. We plan to do more writing in our literacy time to provide students more opportunity to respond to and explore further the stories they are reading.

There are many opportunities this month to visit school. We have Culture Night, May 23; the Talent Show, May 16th; the band program, May 22; and various room and music programs. Watch classroom letters, our website, and notes coming home for things happening at Seward.

See you at Seward,

Dr. Marilyn

seWarDSplashthe

upcoming dates

May 22 Band Program

May 22 PTSO Steering Committee Meeting

May 23, Culture “The Big Night” Event

May 26 No School- Memorial Day

keeping in touch

SPLASH If you haven’t received this edition by email, then your email address isn’t in our database. Please send your name, email address, child(ren)’s name and their teacher’s name to Joel Lutz at joel.lutz@gmail.com. Be sure to include your child’s name so we can tell their teacher not to send home a paper copy.

Thank you very much for using this service as it saves tremendous resources!

SEWARD WEB SITE Find helpful information about Seward School and your child(ren)’s classrooms. http://seward.mpls.k12.mn.us/

16 May 2008

from the principal

the newsletter of Seward Montessori School, a K-8 Minneapolis public magnet school2309 28th Avenue South • Minneapolis, MN 55406 • 612.668.4950

J

J

f

The Seward Splash is published every two weeks by the PTSO. The submission deadline for the next issue is Friday, May 23, 2008. Please send items to mmhackman@comcast.net. Thanks!

J

THANK YOU PARENT VOLUNTEERSSeward will welcome 104 new students to Children’s House in the fall of 2008.Thanks to the following parents that helped on kindergarten registration night.

Kate MacDonald Carla UrbanHeidi Edwards Janet Madzey-AkaleFlannery Dolan Katie PaulsonKathy Paulsen Patti Tufvesson

CULTURE NIGHT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Volunteers are needed, especially to help with set-up before the event. Contact Connie at clanphear@earthlink.net or Melissa Hansen at Jamie.hansen@att.net if you can help.

f2 Seward Splash • 16 May 2008

seward newsJ Jupcoming events

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE BACK TO SCHOOL ICE CREAM SOCIAL Thursday, August 28th

K-5 OPEN HOUSE

1:00-3:00 p.m.

Meet your teacher, meet old and

new friends!

MIDDLE SCHOOL ORIENTATION

2:00-4:00 p.m.

Parents and students will follow their

Middle School schedule, meet all the

teachers and learn about what they’ll

be learning for the year. Pick up your

schedule at 2:00 and begin by going to

the advisory session:

Advisory 2:30-2:38

Period 1 2:40-2:48

Period 2 2:50-2:58

Period 3 3:00-3:08

Period 4 3:10-3:18

Period 5 3:20-3:28

Period 6 3:30-3:38

Ice Cream in the lunchroom! 3:40-4:00

Seward 7th graders recently visited Augsburg College to participate in a community service project. The students helped create a new community garden, picked up litter, made sandwiches for homeless people, and ate lunch at the

college. Here is a sample of their responses when asked:

Did you learn anything new about college life, the homeless and poor in Minneapolis, or anything else you’d like to let us know about?

“It is very hard to manage your money and food.”

“I’m glad Augsburg is doing projects to let kids know what’s going on. I appreciate it a lot.”

“I learned that it’s hard for some people to eat, but if we all help out,

we can give them a better life.”“It would be very hard to be homeless and have to find food for you and your family.”

“It’s harder to shovel through mulch than it looks like.”

“Littering is not a really good thing to do.”

Thanks to Parent Liaison, Mary Delander and Spanish Teacher, Ashley Horan for arranging this great opportunity for our Seward 7th graders.

7TH GRADE SERVICE PROJECT WITH AUGSBURG COLLEGE 7TH GRADE SERVICE PROJECT WITH AUGSBURG COLLEGE

LAST CHANCE TO BUY SPACE CAMP COFFEE THIS SPRING IS RAPIDLY APPROACHING

Coffee order form

Name _______________________________________________________ Student’s Name _______________________________________________

Phone Number _________________________________________________ Room Number ________________________________________________

Buy organic, fair-trade coffee to support Minneapolis students going to Space Camp!Birchwood Blend ......................................................................... whole bean _____ ground _____ Guatemalan Dark ........................................................................ whole bean _____ ground _____ French Roast ............................................................................... whole bean _____ ground _____ Espresso Roast ............................................................................ whole bean _____ ground _____ Sumatran Italian Roast ................................................................ whole bean _____ ground _____ Decaf Dark Roast ......................................................................... whole bean _____ ground _____

Price: $10 per pound regular $11 per pound decaf Orders are due by May 28.

Cash or checks payable to: Reach for the Stars. Return completed forms and payment to the Seward main office or put in Sharon Alton’s mailbox. Coffee will be sent home with your student in about a week. Questions? Contact: sharon.alton@mpls.k12.mn.us or 668-7053.

GREENING COMMITTEE GOES TO WORKA group of Seward parents and staff have begun meeting to discuss “greening” Seward Montessori. We began by looking at the building’s recycling program to make sure that it is effective and to identify any obstacles to success. We concluded that the process works well, but more information may help students, teachers, staff, and parents understand how it works and trust that a given item will actually be recycled if placed in the proper receptacle.

To summarize, the building recycling process works as follows:

Each classroom should have a recycling bin (if not, students or the teacher can contact Middle School Science teacher, John Roper-Batker). The bins can be used for all recyclable materials: paper, newspaper, aluminum, or plastic bottles with necks. It is NOT necessary to sort recyclable materials. All materials can go into the same bin. Aluminum and plastic should be empty of food or beverage.

Middle school students volunteer twice a week to collect the contents of the bins. The recyclable materials are dropped in a central bin near the main entrance. Building engineers empty the central bin into a large outdoor bin.

Seward has a contract with Allied

Waste to collect our recyclable materials every Tuesday. We are designated for “co-mingled use,” so the recyclable materials do not need to be sorted.

In addition to the recycling program, we heard from John Roper-Batker about the Middle School “Going Green” class. The students in this class are very motivated to learn and act to help make our school more “green.“

The committee also discussed the importance of making recycling bins

available and clearly labeled for large school events, and

minimizing the use of plastic bottled water at school events.

The members of the Greening committee

are aware of many exciting opportunities—and lots of great, positive energy—in the area of “greening” schools. We look forward to learning more about the opportunities and issues and helping our community to become more engaged in this area. We are excited to continue this work in the coming school year and we welcome any interested people to contact us or attend an upcoming meeting.

We are also looking for someone to chair/co-chair the committee. For more information please contact Emily Green at (612) 728-9406, emily.k.green@usfamily.net; or Lisa Banwell, lbanwell@earthlink.net.

seward newsJ

f Seward Splash • 16 May 2008 3

6TH HOUR “GOING GREEN” – MIDDLE SCHOOL So far, we have all been working very hard on our projects. The planting group has planted all the plants inside, and they are beginning to sprout. When they are taller, they will be put in the Peace Garden. There are currently 878 plants. The composting group has been collecting fruit and vegetable waste from the lunchroom and the compost (which will go in the Peace Garden) is doing very well. The Going Green website is now up. The puppet show group is almost finished. We are painting a sign to display at the

Culture Night. In less than a month, the recycling group has recycled 506 pounds.

We have started an experiment in which we are finding out how much fertilizer and dirt it will take to make the water become very green from algae. We have learned a lot about the Footprint humans make on the world and the effect it has.

By Jasmine V and Elle C

New, Easy Ways to Get $$ for Seward! The Green Committee has signed contracts with two companies, TerraCycle and EcoPhones, that will offer new ways to recycle additional materials, as well as raise much-needed $$ for Seward Montessori.

You can now begin collecting the following items for our school:

YOGURT CONTAINERS with a lip around

the upper edge to hold a lid (but the lid

itself is not collected)

FLEXIBLE DRINK POUCHES, any brand;

juice boxes are NOT accepted.

NABISCO COOKIE WRAPPERS, any size

from individual snack pack to family-size

CELL PHONES, any age or model

INKJET CARTRIDGES, small-size, that fits

in the palm of a hand

MOVIE DVDs

DIGITAL CAMERAS or VIDEO CAMERAS

Look for signs around school telling where to drop off these collectable items at school! We will also identify nearby, convenient drop-off location for use during the summer break.

Seward Montessori will receive $$ back from every item we collect.

Thank you for supporting Seward and helping reduce waste at school and at home.

LAST DAY FOR MEDIA CENTER BOOK CHECK OUTThe last day for students to check out Media Center books will be May 23rd.

All books should be returned to the Media Center by June 6th which is the last Friday of school for this year.

If you have any questions concerning which books your child may have out, please call the Media Center at 668-4970. Thank you for your help.

The students in

this [“Going Green”] class are very motivated to learn and act to help make our

school more “green.”

May 1, 2008 Meeting MinutesPTSO MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

Concordia Spanish Language Camp PresentationAshley Horan, Seward’s Spanish teacher, reported about her recent trip with 22 7th and 8th grade Seward students to the Corcordia Language camp in Bemidji, MN. Students experienced a weekend immersion in Spanish language, culture, dance, music, and food. They had a great time and grew in their confidence and command of Spanish. The cost was $215.00 per student; some students received partial to full scholarships, with assistance from other families and a $1,000 grant from the Seward PTSO. Ashley, who will be leaving Seward at the end of this school year, hopes the new Spanish teacher will continue to organize this annual trip and that the PTSO will continue to help ensure that all students who want to participate can.

Nominations and Voting for PTSO and Leadership CouncilThe following people were elected to serve during the 2008–2009 school year:

PTSO Chair: Laura Murray Vice Chair: Mary Ann Bradley

Treasurer: Lisa Banwell Fundraising Co-Chairs: Emily

Green and Morgan Holcomb Special Events Co-Chairs:

Melissa Hansen and Mary Mahoney

Communications: Diane Forest Volunteer Coordinator:

Kerry Cashman

Kari Klevin announced that there are two parent representative positions open on the Leadership Council. By voice vote, Susan Sullivan and Joan Pearson were elected to fill these two-year positions.

Other parents are welcome to join the Leadership Council for one-year terms as needed to ensure that a variety of interests and concerns are represented; parents should contact Kari at ktklevin@mac.com for more information or to express interest in serving.

PTSO Finance Summary Fariba Sanikhatam reported that the PTSO predicted $48,000 in fundraising activity for 2007–08 school year; with the $9,000 in projected earnings from the plant sale, the PTSO will come close to this goal with a total of $46,000 for

the year. The PTSO gave out a total of $38,000 in small grants, provided all teachers with $100 to help offset their out of pocket costs for school supplies, and provided funding for $16,000 in school supplies. The PTSO should end the year with $15,000 remaining in its bank account, which is the amount optimally carried over from year to year.

Report from the PrincipalDr. Marilyn Levine will be hiring for a number of new and replacement positions in the coming weeks, including a Spanish teacher, a ½ day Kindergarten teacher, a .5 Middle School Counselor, and an Art teacher. Dr. Levine reports that teachers narrowly voted to discontinue participation in the TAP program. New K–5 Montessori materials are being purchased. Staff development for next year will focus on reading in K–5, with an emphasis on integrating literacy into each discipline. Seward is moving toward the goal of all 8 th graders taking Algebra by 2012. This fall there will be one 8 th grade Algebra class, though there is Algebra content included in all 8th grade math classes. Dr. Marilyn is trying to get Band for 6th hour.

PTSO UpdateJ

f4 Seward Splash • 16 May 2008

Junior Group Documentary & $100 Topical Prize from the Immigration History Department at the U of MN: Abby Norling-Ruggles, Nico Dregni, Collin Knopp-Schwyn

Junior Group Junior Exhibits Sorcha McGuire Nicoletta Pignatello Alanna Maloney Cauley Steenson Rose Olson Darya Pruitt

Honorable Mention Medals Junior Individual Exhibits: Veronica Jones-Carr Ian Maret Alex Eady

Also participating with an Exhibit - Sade Odumuye and Hannah Lauber, and a Group Performance – Hanna Hickman, Molly Mattson, Raquel Bajuscik, and Kelsea Stumph.

All of the students did superior work to be in the competition. We are very proud of them! And a big thanks to our World Studies teachers, Marilyn McGovern and Dave Hedenstrom for their major commitment in making History Day a great experience for all Seward middle school students.

MINNESOTA STATE HISTORY DAY 2008 Congratulations to the 18 Seward Middle School students who participated in State History Day on Sunday, April 27th, at the University of Minnesota. The results are as follows:

J

f Seward Splash • 16 May 20 08 5

EAST LAKE LIBRARY!Events for May 18-31

STORYTIMECuentos, Cantos y Actividades Venga y accompaneros papa disfrutar cuentos y canciones en espanol! Y quedese para disfrutar con sus ninos acvtividades de diversion y ensenanza. Tuesdays, 6pm

Preschool Storytime An interactive experience especially designed for children ages 3-5 and their parents or caregivers. Storytime sessions are drop in and encourage early literacy development through stories, songs, games and movement. Wednesdays, 10:30am

Baby Lapsit:An interactive experience focused in babies from birth through 24 months and their parents or caregivers, designed to encourage early literacy development through shared reading, songs, games and movement. Baby storytime is immediately followed by open playtime at the library. Fridays, 11am

Storytime at Midtown Farmers’ Market: East Lake Library moves to the great outdoors for summer storytelling at the Midtown Farmers Market. Go shopping, then stop by and say hello! The library provides storytime every Saturday morning during the summer at 11:00. Saturdays, 11am

KIDS BOOK CLUB

No Talking by Andrew Clements The noisy fifth grade boys of Laketon Elementary School challenge the equally loud fifth grade girls to a “no talking” contest. May 31 2-3pm

Questions? Feel free to contact the East Lake Youth Services Librarian, Anne Pederson, at acpederson@hclib.org or by phone at (612) 630-6553.

community and other events

fSeward Splash • 16 May 2008 5

NOTE: The deadline has been extended to May 30th