School News

Monday        cycle day   2D 
Tuesday       cycle day   3A 
Wednesday   cycle day  4B - Grade 2 CogAT Testing Begins
Thursday      cycle day   5C - Site Council 4 - 5 pm
                                              - PTO 6:30 - 8 pm
Friday           cycle day   1D

Fifth Grade Fleece Blanket Project
On Friday, December 20th,the fifth graders will be busy with a project to help out some people in need, and hopefully change some lives.  The kids will cut and tie fringes on 24 adult, youth and baby fleece blankets. This project will take the whole afternoon, and I’m sure they will have a fun time doing it!  The blankets will be delivered by some fifth graders and their families to the Robert B. Lewis House in Eagan and the Union Gospel Mission in downtown St. Paul.

Way to go fifth graders! We’re proud of you for being in service to people in need.

Red Pine Ski and Snowboard Club begins in January!  
This is a great program for the 4th and 5th grade students.  Registration forms were sent home in Friday Folders on December 13.  You can also get information on the Red Pine websiteat:
 https://rp.district196.org/activities/ski-snowboard-club

Dates for 2020:
Thursday, January 23, 5-8 p.m.
Thursday, January 30, 5-8 p.m.
Thursday, February 6, 5-8 p.m.
Thursday, February 20, 5-8 p.m.
Thursday, February 27, 5-8 p.m.
----Make up night Thursday, March 5, 5-8 p.m.

If you have any questions, please email Kristen.henning@district196.org

In the Computer Lab
Notes from Mrs. Skalski

It’s time for our annual HOUR OF CODE! All students will participate in this worldwide event by solving coding puzzles with their classmates and learning what it feels like to work with computer code. If you are or know of someone who works with code this would be a great time to talk with your child about the power of computer code and careers that call for this skill. More information can be found at https://hourofcode.com/files/hoc-one-pager.pdf.

Notes from the RP Library:

Red Pine Password for Databases:
Databases like Tumblebooks, PebbleGo, PebbleGo Next, TrueFlix etc… can be accessed from home. However, you need to use a district login when not at school.  Visit http://public.district196.org/media/ and then enter the following name and password for home access or your student’s Collab user name and password if he / she is in Grades 3-5. 
user name: 196media 
password:  isd196

If you want to try a fun enrichment/reading activity with your child over break visit:
https://www.capstonepub.com/library/winter-break-bingo-card-downloads/

A Great Resource for RP Families- Common Sense Media Website:
This website will give you age recommendations for books, movies, video games etc… They also offer a digital citizenship program to help students take ownership of their digital lives.  This may be timely with our long Winter break coming up. 

https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-citizenship/

A new article from Common Sense Media- How Plugged-In Families Can Have a Device-Free(ish) Holiday:   https://tinyurl.com/y78dd5wp

Happy New Year and Happy Reading,
Kelly & Suzanne

Gary Anger Memorial Scholarship
Any seniors, who attended Red Pine, are eligible for this $500 scholarship.  
The deadline is April 17, 2020. Please fill out the application and return it to Shauna Joas at Red Pine Elementary, 530 Red Pine Ln.  Eagan, MN 55123
Click here for details: Gary Anger Scholarship 2019-2020 

From the Social Worker:

FREE FOOD BAGS OVER Winter Break!
Dec. 21, 2019 – Jan., 2020

*** To find the nearest location and specific hours, visit:
www.thesheridanstory.org/winter-break

WHAT:  4-5 pounds of non-perishable food items provided over winter break
WHERE:  ALL Twin Cities YMCA branches and additional locations
HOW:  Simply go to the front desk and ask for a bag of food

** no membership or enrollment required at any partner location. 
** no contact information collected.

FREE DENTAL CARE FOR CHILDREN IN NEED Friday, Feb. 7 & Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020
Do you know a child who could benefit from free dental care?

Right now volunteers across the state are working hard to get ready for Give Kids a Smile. We need your help to get the word out! 

WHAT IS IT?
Give Kids a Smile is a free charitable dental event, brought to you by Minnesota Dental Association and the Minnesota Dental Foundation, for kids (typically ages 3-18) who face barriers to accessing dental care. 

WHEN IS IT?
February 7 and 8, 2020 
(Note: Some clinics may have alternative dates.)

LOCATION?
Volunteer dental clinics statewide.

WHEN WILL THE LIST OF PARTICIPATING CLINICS BE AVAILABLE?
January 1, 2020.

HOW ARE APPOINTMENTS MADE? 
After January 1, parents can locate a participating clinic by visiting www.mndental.org or by calling United Way 2-1-1 (simply dial 2-1-1). They can then contact the clinic directly to schedule an appointment.

News from the Bird Feeder:

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

Nurse's Corner

Happy Break Red Pine Families!!!!

Two weeks of family fun…. sleepovers, parties, gatherings and other activities.   Continue to practice washing hands, covering coughs, getting a good night’s sleep, eating healthy, staying hydrated and staying home if you are sick.

Minnesota Department of Health recommends being fever free, no vomiting, no diarrhea for 24 hours without the use of medication.  This helps prevent the spread of any illness.  We recommend this whether you are in school, at work, or yes winter break gatherings.

K – 5^th graders have been doing a great job of bringing an extra set of clothes with them in case they have something spilled on them, they get dirty/wet outside or anything else happens.  This is a wonderful way for them to be independent and responsible.  Thank you for guiding them.

Long breaks, means close contact with the community.  Please try not share hats, pony tail holders, combs, brushes, pillows.  Please be vigilant in checking your children for any little friends that love to hang out in their hair.  Lice are not particular, boys, girls, adults, kids.  If you have any questions the Minnesota Department of Health has a wealth of information.   https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/headlice/headlice.html

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

PTO News

ART ADVENTURE:
We are still accepting volunteers for Art Adventure in February 2020.  This popular program is presented at Red Pine Elementary in conjunction with the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.  Training times at the MIA are still available.  The scheduling meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 8th from 6:30-8:00pm in the Red Pine Media Center.  Please contact Sarah Brass at sarah.brass@yahoo.com or 952-250-3584 if you are interested for further details.  Thanks!

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

Click herefor FUN things to do through ISD196 Community Education!

With winter on its way, ensure you receive messages regarding any emergency weather-related cancellations. Check that your telephone numbers and email addresses are listed correctly in the online registration system, eleyo. During periods of severe weather, watch for updates on Facebook, Twitter, instagram and check our website.