Hello Roadrunner families, 

It has been wonderful to connect with some families last night at conferences.  We continue to have conferences this Thursday the 9th and next Monday the 13th.  If you have not signed up yet, please connect with your child's teacher or the main office to schedule.  Make sure to also stop by the Book Fair in Gym B during conferences!  

The students have been very excited about our new sorting containers in the lunchroom.  They are enjoying helping the environment and animals at a local farm by sorting food, recyclables, and garbage at the end of lunch!  

Please read below for other important school and district updates.

 Principal Smith

February is I Love To Read Month.  We have planned some activities for each Friday in February.  

• February 10 - Read My Shirt - (wear clothing that you can read) 
• February 17 -  Pajama Day and Flashlight reading - (students will read in the dark with flashlights during the day)
• February 24 - Dress like your favorite book character- (please make sure the book character and any accessories are school appropriate, and please no masks)

Students have been doing a variety of projects. The 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders just finished a project on 1-point perspective. The K, 1st, and 2nd graders made silhouette art inspired by Kara Walker. This week students are all studying Sir Frank Bowling, a Guyana British painter. Instead of just using brushes, Bowling pours paint onto his canvas creating patterns and mixed colors. He adds geometric shapes and found objects to give his paintings depth and help tell his story. The students are experimenting with different pouring techniques and attaching "found" objects to replicate his work. 

Students from kindergarten through second grade will be working on throwing and catching. Our third-grade through fifth grade will be working on fitness skills. Don't forget to bring your shoes for PE class!

Dear Elementary School Families - 

Greetings from your elementary school counselor! Each month we will be working with our scholars on various topics for Social Emotional Learning. This month our focus will be on different aspects of friendships. Below lists the focus area of each grade-level lesson:

• Kindergarten - What does it mean to be a friend?
• First Grade - Building new friendships
• Second Grade - Kindness and characteristics of a good friend
• Third Grade - Identifying positive characteristics in others
• Fourth Grade - Healthy friendships
• Fifth Grade - Harm caused by rumors and gossip, including online behavior

As we celebrate Black History Month, Rdale students will have the opportunity to try Ms. Rose McGee’s sweet potato comfort pie at lunch on Friday, Feb. 25. 

The Summer Academic Program will offer one in-person session this year.

• Elementary Session 1:  June 12-June 30 7:45-11:15 
• The program will run five days a week, Monday through Friday
• All students who wish to participate are eligible
• There is no cost to this program. It is FREE and VOLUNTARY. 
  
  Read More for Details 

District offices will be closed on Monday, Feb. 20 in observance of Presidents Day. Monday, Feb. 27 is a staff development day, so school will not be in session, but district offices are open.

Families are invited to read with their student(s) throughout the month of February in celebration of I Love to Read Month. Whether it’s some of your favorites or something new, families who participate will have the opportunity to win prizes.

Mental health staff in Robbinsdale Area Schools (Rdale) had an idea, which they have been developing together with the Seven Dreams Education Foundation. As a result, this year the Foundation’s festive Bird Bash event will raise funds for eight new Wellness Centers at the district’s four middle schools.

Students, families and community members are invited to the upcoming Black History Month Celebration. The free event takes place from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 8, at FAIR School Crystal, located at 3915 Adair Ave N. 

With ACCESS testing happening at the end of January, here is a reminder of testing expectations. Each student is asked to follow all state and district policies for test administration.

Winter conferences will take place on Tuesday, February 7, Thursday, February 9, and Monday, February 13 from 3:00-7:00 pm.  Neill Elementary uses online conference scheduling.

Read More to schedule your time.

Robbinsdale Area Schools American Indian Education Program partnered with Edina Public Schools American Indian Education program to host a winter storytelling event at 6-8 p.m., Friday, Feb. 17.  The no-cost event will be held at FAIR School Crystal, 3915 Adair Ave. N. 

For young children, understanding their little (or big) emotions can be scary. That’s why a group of students at Armstrong High School decided to focus on a project that could help young learners at Neill Elementary School.