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Naturally Northrop
Northrop Urban Environmental Learning Center
st
4315 31 Avenue So. Minneapolis, MN 55406
Website: http://northrop.mpls.k12.mn.us/home.html
Minneapolis Public Schools
Main Office 612-668-4520
Spanish Line 612-668-4523
Issue # 6
Student Placement Survey input for 2015-16 Due by: Friday, April 24th.
Dear Northrop Community,
As we move through our final quarter of the 2014-15 school year, I want to
thank you all for your honest and respectful feedback. We have had many
courageous conversations regarding the budget, our space and what is best for
our students. It is extremely important to me as a leader to make these
decisions collaboratively and build a community school that aligns with all of
our priorities and values. Please continue to come to the table and provide
feedback so we can continue to create the amazing community school that is
Northrop.
Our philosophy at Northrop school is that students learn best in a “diverse
and modified continuous progress” setting. It is our intent to provide an ideal
educational environment for all students. As we begin planning for the next
school year, teacher teams will meet and design class lists using the criteria
below and I will finalize and approve all class lists for next year. Our goal is to
achieve a system that is equitable and educationally sound. The factors listed
below will be considered when making placement decisions:
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Gender and Ethnic balance
Special Education needs
Non-English speaking students
Academic Balance
Balance of social/emotional strengths and needs
Physical needs
Family history with a teacher
Parents who would like to give input about their student in this process
may complete an on line survey about their child’s learning style by: Friday,
April 24th. There is a link on the home page of our school website:
http://northrop.mpls.k12.mn.us/home.html We also have a computer
available in the main office for families to use if need be.
Room assignments for fall will be included in the final report card that is
sent home with students on the last day of school. Feel free to call me with
questions. Lastly, thanks to all who contributed to the feedback given online
about the Northrop Budget.
Tara FitzGerald
Northrop Principal
April 10th, 2015
Northrop Calendar
4/14: Gym night 6:30-70:30pm
Rally around Northrop planning
4/15: Plant Sale Orders due!
4/16 PTA Meeting 6:30pm
4/21: Open Gym 6-8pm $5
Fifth grade fund
4/20-24: MCA Reading- Grade 3- 5
4/27-5/1: MCA Math-Grade 3-5
5/7: Kindergarten Registration
4:30-5:30pm - Gym
5/7: Grade 5 Parent Meeting
About Camping Trip
5:30-6:30pm Media Center
5/8: Coffee with the Principal
Lunchroom 9:15-9:45am
5/11-5/12: MCA Science Grade 5
5/12-5/16: MCA Science Grade 5
5/14 Field Day (Rain day 5/15)
Grades 3-5 & H5: 9:40a.m.-Noon
Grades K-2: 1:00 p.m.-3:15 p.m.
5/15: Plant Sale Order pick up
3:30-5:30pm (Parking lot)
5/16: School Garden Clean up Day
9:00am-Noon
5/20: Music Concert- Gym
9:30am-10:30am Grades 1 & 3
11:00am-12:00pm Grades K & 5
1:4pm5-2:45pm
Grades 2 & 4
5/21: Bike to Falls Day 10am- 12:30
5/21:- Community Ed Classes End
The Student Classification Process
Teachers at Northrop take the process of student
classification seriously. We value the individual
learning needs of each student and work as a team to
create a learning environment that will maximize your
child’s potential in the upcoming grade-level. A team
of teachers and staff work together to make the
decision of your child’s placement based upon a
variety of important factors.
Throughout the school year, the classroom
teacher develops a comprehensive understanding of
your child and his or her learning abilities. To
begin the process, the classroom teacher provides each
student with a score for different areas of achievement:
reading, writing, math, science, and behavior. These
scores are reflected on the report cards that you receive
throughout the year. In addition, teachers consider
additional factors such as: gender, race, homelanguage, relationships with peers, prior experiences
with the future teacher and personal learning styles.
Once we create a comprehensive view of your
child as a learner, we begin to place students into
future classrooms. Our goal is to create fair and
equitable classrooms that reflect a balance across a
grade-level. Once classrooms have been configured,
we examine the lists again with grade-level teams and
support staff. When looking at the placements of all
grade-level students, the team checks that all class lists
are balanced based upon the criteria mentioned.
We verify that classroom combinations allow for
successful support from areas including: EL, Title One,
Speech, and Special Education. At the final stage of
classification, the principal reviews all the lists to
ensure appropriate placements have been made, before
submitting the information to the office for
confirmation.
Teachers and staff understand that your child is
a multi-faceted learner with many variables
influencing their learning experience at Northrop
school. Staff place your child in a learning
environment that will be the most beneficial and
equitable for their experience at Northrop school.
We hope that families will trust this very
thoughtful classroom placement process. If as a
parent, you feel your perspective would add vital
information for our teachers to consider, there is a
“Student Placement Survey” available on the
Northrop School home page on the website.
Grade Level Teachers for 2015-16:
KF: Mr. “B”, Ms. Schroeder & Ms. Stoneburg
1st: Mr. Shoemaker, Mr. Tifft, & Ms. Martin
2nd: Mr. Martin, Ms. Krogh, Ms. Elward &TBD
3rd: Ms. Serrano, Ms. Ebert, Ms. Milano
4th: Ms. Boone, Mr. “D” (Dominguez) & TBD
5th: Mr. Nannemann, Ms. Matsumoto
FIELD DAY!
Thursday, May 14th
Grade (3-4-5 ) 9:40am-12:00 Noon
Rms.: 101, 102, 207, 201, 203, 205, 206, 204
Grade (K-1-2) 1:00pm-3:15pm
Rms.: 112, 115, 116, 109, 110, 111, 113, 103, 106, 107
Field Day is a day of fun outdoor games and races for
all students. Parents are welcome to attend!
*Rain day (if needed) is Friday, May 15th
NORTHROP SPRING
MUSIC CONCERT
Wednesday, May 20th
Our Music classes are busy preparing songs for our
spring concerts! Here are the dates to add to your
calendars:
Grades 1 & 3 Concert: 9:30am-10:30am
Classes performing: Ms. Martin, Mr. Tifft, Ms. Moore,
Ms. Serrano, & Ms. Milano
Grades K & 5 Concert: 11:00am-12:00pm
Classes performing: Ms. Schroeder, Mr. Bogolub, Ms.
Stoneburg & Mr. Nannemann
Grades 2 & 4 Concert: 1:45pm-2:45pm
Classes performing: Ms. Krogh, Ms. Elward,
Ms. Boone & Mr. Dominguez
Thanks for the privilege of working with your
wonderful children!
-Cynthia Brown, Music Specialist
cynthia.brown@mpls.k12.mn.us.
We Appreciate
Our Northrop Volunteers
THANK YOU Volunteers, for all that you do to help at
Northrop and to make Northrop School a warm and
welcoming learning environment. If you have volunteered
this year at Northrop please check your email for an Evite
invitation. If you have questions about volunteering please
contact Carolina D’Andrea at 612-668-4540
Carolina.dandrea@mpls.k12.mn.us
S.T.E.M.
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics
Spring= warmer weather= appropriate clothing for
outdoor studies on STEM days. Here is a look at what
has been going on in STEM classes:
First graders squealed with delight as the big bad wolf
came knocking on the doors of their three houses. The
last house had to be built with strong materials so a
hairdryer disguised as the wolf would not blow down
their house.
Second graders designed and built a spacecraft that
could absorb the shock of a moon landing. They had
to protect the “marshmallow astronauts” from falling
out or tipping over. Landing on the moon is trickier
than they imagined. In the end, most of the spacecraft
landed safely after multiple designs. Better than
NASA!
Third graders are lit up! They have been study the
field of light and optical engineering, reflection and
absorption and light intensity. They are in the process
of designing a system to light up hieroglyphs in their
Egyptian tombs.
NORTHROP PTA NEWS
PTA Meeting - Thursday April 16
6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Child care provided.
Agenda includes election of officers and a continuation
of the budget discussion. This is a critical time for
participation in the PTA. Budget challenges, school
growth, and additional critical issues are at the
forefront of our activities. Your input is needed and
valued. Please attend!
Rally Around Northrop! May 30th
The 2nd Annual Rally Around Northrop event will be
held on Saturday, May 30 at Northrop. Besides the Fun
Run there will be food and entertainment, activities and
silent auction! Watch for more information to be sent
home with your child soon. We are still looking for
volunteers to help plan and execute this event.
Contact Annie Mason at
annmogushmason@gmail.com to pitch in or get more
information.
Spring Plant Sale- Orders due April 15th
The deadline to place your plant orders for the annual
Northrop Spring Plant Sale is Wednesday, April 15.
Orders will be available for pick-up on Friday, May 15
from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. in the school parking lot.
Volunteers are needed to help unload and fill orders on
Friday, May 15. If you’d like to volunteer please visit
http://northrop.mpls.k12.mn.us/NorthropPTA.
Fourth graders are environmental engineers! After
learning about how air, water and soil contamination
occurs, groups designed water filters. They will be
evaluating color and particle removal as well as
quickness of water moving through their filters.
Testing and improving are the final steps.
Open Eye Theater – Driveway Tour July 24th
Mark your calendars; Open Eye Theater is bringing
their Driveway Tour back to Northrop again this
summer! Join us Sunday, July 24th at 4:00 p.m. as
Open Eye Theater will present:“The Adventures of
Juan Bobo.” This event is free and open to the whole
community.
Fifth graders are in a slick solution as they are
attempting to clean an oil spill in a model river. As
environmental and ecosystem engineers, they are
learning how pollution can impact organisms and
ecosystems.
For more information please visit
http://northrop.mpls.k12.mn.us/northroppta.
-Anna Whiting, STEM Specialist
Safety Patrol Reminder:
Please remember to stop for school patrols when
the patrol flags are out before and after school.
When students are crossing the street it is really
important for student safety. Thanks!
Riverview Theater Update:
We are happy to report that 140 tickets were sold
and we raised $809 for the 5th grade camping
trip. Funds will be used for the year end camping
trip to the North Shore! Thanks everyone for
supporting this event!
-Rachel Matsumoto and Jim Nannemann