School News

Monday         cycle day   2B   
Tuesday        cycle day   3C  - Election Day
Wednesday   cycle day   4D - Conferences 4 - 8 pm
Thursday       NO SCHOOL  - Conferences 12- 8 pm
Friday            NO SCHOOL

School Picture Retakes >>>>> Wednesday, November 13^th

Veterans Day 2019
In honor of Veterans Day, we will once again be honoring the contributions of all our American veterans and active duty military personnel.  We would especially like to honor the veterans and active duty military personnel who are part of our Red Pine families.  

A form will be coming home in your child’s Friday Folder.  Please help your child complete this form for any relative or friend who has served or is currently serving in the US Armed Forces. If available, please make a copy of a photograph and attach as well.  Return to Red Pine by Wednesday, November 6^th as they will be displayed in our main hallway. 

We would also like to invite all veterans and active duty personnel to Red Pine on Monday, November 11^th from 9:00 -9:30 am to be greeted and recognized by our staff and students.  There will be coffee and refreshments before and after the greeting.  

Thank you for helping us honor those who have served and are currently serving our country! 

Red Pine B&N Bookfair – SAVE THE DATE!!!
Please mark your calendars for this year's Fall Bookfair on Friday, November 15th at the Barnes & Noble in Eagan from 9am- 10 pm.

After school highlights to include:
Visits from Big Red
Prizes and Gift Card drawings every half hour
Face Painting / Tattoos
Teacher / Classroom Wishlist Board
Vast selection of books*, other gift items* and cafe items* (*all purchases marked for Red Pine add to our percentage of net proceeds from Bookfair sales)

This is a wonderful school fundraiser each year and we depend on many volunteers to make it happen.  Our B&N Book Fair Chairperson is Karlye Hackenberg (karlyehackenberg@gmail.com).  Thanks to Karlye for volunteering to take over chairing this tremendous fundraiser J.   Over $3,500 worth of library books will be added to RP's Library due to this fundraiser alone --- AND classroom teachers will hopefully benefit from many wish-list donations for individual classroom libraries.

We'll be sure to send volunteer sign-up links for adult volunteers and 5th graders soon.

Looking forward to this event! Hope to see you there! 

Happy Reading!

Mrs. Robertson & Mrs. Jarvi
kelly.robertson@district196.org
suzanne.jarvi@district196.org

Voting Open for Levy Referendum and School Board Election

District 196 voters can vote now through Election Day Tuesday, Nov. 5, on the levy referendum and School Board election.

In the School Board election, 12 candidates are seeking election to four open seats, including incumbents Joel Albright of Apple Valley, Sachin Isaacs of Burnsville and Jackie Magnuson of Rosemount, and challengers Maggie Bruecken of Apple Valley, Rebecca Gierok of Apple Valley, Curtis Henry of Rosemount, Laura Holm of Rosemount, former board member Gary Huusko of Eagan, Cory Johnson of Eagan, Angela Noonan of Eagan, Kristin Schaub of Apple Valley, and Hannibal Smith of Apple Valley.

The League of Women Voters of Dakota County held a School Board Candidates Forum Oct. 9 at Rosemount City Hall. The forum is available to stream on the District 196 YouTube site.  

On the levy referendum question, the district is giving voters the choice of …

• YES, a tax increase of $25 per month on the average-value home in the district to: 1) avoid more budget cuts for at least five years, 2) lower class sizes, 3) increase mental health support, and 4) provide after-school activity buses at the middle schools and high schools, or
• NO, no tax increase, no class size or program improvements and additional budget cuts of up to $18 million over the next two years.

The district made $7 million in budget adjustments this school year, including cutting 31 teaching positions. These are on top of $34 million in budget adjustments the district made from 2009 to 2012. District voters approved a levy in 2013 to stop the consecutive years of cuts, but none of the previous cuts to classroom staffing and other areas were ever restored.

The repeating cycle of budget cuts and levy referendum requests is something all Minnesota school districts are experiencing due to years of inconsistent and inadequate funding from the state and federal governments for basic and special education. Last year alone, for example, the special education funding provided to District 196 was $29 million short of the actual cost of providing these necessary services that are mandated by the state and federal governments but not fully funded. The district uses general fund revenues to fill this gap each year.

For more information on the levy question and what it would provide, if approved, go to www.District196.org/Levy2019.

Early voting by absentee ballot is available through Nov. 4 either by mail or in person at the ISD 196 District Office in Rosemount and the Dakota County government centers in Apple Valley, Hastings and West St. Paul. To vote absentee by mail or in person, voters must first complete an Absentee Ballot Application. Voters do not need a reason to vote absentee in Minnesota.

Voters can also cast their ballot on Election Day, Nov. 5. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the 14 combined school district precincts. To find out where you vote, go to www.mnvotes.org or call the Superintendent’s Office at 651-423-7725.

News from the Bird Feeder:

Back-to-School Reminders >>Free/Reduced Applications are Online**

**Remember a new application is needed for each new school year.

We welcome all visitors to come in and join us at lunchtime. 
Students love having a special guest for lunch!

Cheryl Rosa
Food and Nutrition Manager
Red Pine Elementary

Nurse's Corner

Happy Fall …or did we skip it and go right into winter prep! ;)

Either way, I have to say students should brush twice a day. The Center for Disease Control states the most common chronic diseases in children in the US are cavities (tooth decay). Children who have poor oral health often miss more school and receive lower grades than children who don’t.

Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, drink tap water that contains fluoride and ask your child’s dentist to apply sealants when appropriate.

Drink plenty of water, limit sugar intake, have the students get a great night of sleep (even this Thursday).

Have a wonderful weekend! 

If your student has an abundance of candy, your dentist may offer to “take it” for a healthy treat in return.  Check it out!

Nurse Danna 
Danna Steffen, RN, BSN, LSN, PHNDirect Phone: 651-423-7871/ Fax: 651-423-7875

PTO News

Boosterthon Fun Run Update:
Congratulations to our Red Pine Families for an amazing and successful Fun Run!  If you have not already heard we made our Boosterthon Fun Run Goal of $35,000!!!! Outstanding job as this was $5,000 more than last year’s goal.

We want to thank everyone for your participation – Red Pine staff, teachers, students, parents, relatives and friends!
Also, a shout out and congratulations to Veronica Geyer in Mrs. Kennedy’s 3^rd Grade Class for winning the Viking tickets. 

Thank you everyone! Great job!

-Red Pine PTO & Boosterthon Committee

Matching Contributions
As the end of 2019 approaches, please consider company matching to maximize contributions to the Red Pine PTO.

If your company has a charitable giving matching program, any contributions that you’ve made to the Red Pine PTO (i.e. Boosterthon) are eligible for matching, as it is a 501c3. If you need the tax id number, please either contact Kerry Lehr at kerrylehr@hotmail.com or Jami Willander at jamjacks@hotmail.com

Thanks much,

Kerry Lehr, PTO President

Coke Rewards
We’re excited to share that our school is part of the Coca-Cola Give program. This opens up Red Pine to new funding opportunities to help improve learning environments for students. 

The best part? Donations don’t come out of your own pocket. When you make Coca-Cola purchases, you simply enter the product codes here: https://us.coca-cola.com/give/schools/ and our school receives a donation.

Do you know of any company that would allow a box to be set up to collect Coca-Cola caps? We can get a box all set up and will drop off and pick up the caps! (there is a collection box in the entry area of the school as well)

Please contact Ashlie Brown at Ashliebrown427@gmail.com if interested.

Community News

Please check out the ISD 196 Community Education page on the District web page for lots of fun opportunities!