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Gopher Gazette
Chafield Public Schools
Newsletter
U.S.Postage Paid
Chatfield, MN
Permit No. 22
Non-Profit
Web Site: www.chatfieldpublicschools.net
(507) 867-4210
ECRWSS
BOXHOLDER
CHATFIELD,MN
Issue 3
Volume 33
Mar./Apr./May 2015
Press Release
Chatfield Public Schools
January 2015
Southeast Service Cooperative Staff Supports Planning Efforts at
Chatfield Public Schools
Chatfield Public Schools administrators, staff, teachers, School
Board members, parents, community members, and students came
together for two strategic planning sessions. Suzanne Riley and
Amy Grover, facilitators from the Southeast Service Cooperative,
guided the group through a process to explore the current realities of
the school system and identify large scale decision-making needs in
the near future. Superintendent Ed Harris believed that input from
parents would be crucial in efforts to be responsive to the desires of
the community as they considered big questions such as desired
teaching and learning outcomes and upcoming challenges relating to
facilities and budget. As such, the 28 participants represented the
community well and were very actively involved in the discussion
and process.
During the January 6 evening session, the initial focus was on developing shared values. Individuals identified their personal values and
then reflected on them during group establishment of shared organizational values. Shared values provide an umbrella that help clarify
expected behavior and actions, how decisions should be made, what
strategies will be selected to fulfill the district mission, what is important to the school system, and solidifies the school culture.
Superintendent Harris also presented a “district status” briefing,
which provided information about academic performance, staff development, budget/finances, and facility/operations.
A “Context Map” activity then helped to establish a collective sense
of the district’s current planning status and helped to explore external and internal influences that impact the work done within the district. Considering the district status information and the context
map, the group then developed “Big Questions”, which are overarching questions about issues so significant that a response is necessary
for continued and future success. These questions help focus energies and keep the district aligned to its goals.
During the second session on January 20, the group of stakeholders
developed a set of “Bold Steps”, which are specific ideas or initiatives that drive creative action and will propel Chatfield Schools forward. These are statements of what will be done to go from “good to
great” and provide the foundation for forming a strong vision linked
to immediate steps. Suzanne and Amy provided facilitation and
guided activities that ensured that work progressed from brainstorming, to prioritization, to finalization of several focus areas for future
planning.
This work provided guidance and focus for leaders in making strategic, proactive, and well-planned decisions that move the district toward their goals. This process is a rewarding experience for stakeholders, and the SSC staff was honored to help Chatfield establish
where they are going and how they will get there.
Thank you to all who participated!
Adam Archer, Allison Allen, Al Amundson, Carmen Berge, Craig Ihrke, Damon
Lueck, Dan Schindler, Al Dietz, Elissa Johnsrud, Greg LaPlante, Janessa Erding,
Jerry Chase, Joel Young, Karen Gomez, Karyl Lyon, Katie Goldsmith, Kelly
Nosbisch, Kristy Cook, Lanny Isensee, LuAnn Hare, Luke Dietz, Mary Allen, Matt
McMahon, Mike Tuohy, Randy Paulson, Dan Roline, Sara Duxbury, Scott Backer.
Amy Grover
Director of Planning
Southeast Service Cooperative
and Wood Lake Meeting Center
210 Wood Lake Drive SE, Rochester, Minnesota 55904
Office: 507-281-6693, Cell: 507-251-7410, Fax: 507-288-7663
19th ANNUAL MOLLY/JAKE
Alumni & Friends
Basketball Tournament Fundraiser
Around 100 players, both men and women, participated in the event. Well over
100 items along with cash prizes were raffled off during the course of the day
and night.
A GREAT BIG “THANK YOU” TO All OF OUR LOCAL & AREA SPONSORS for donating to our event!! Thanks to THREADS and Lisa Vaupel for
designing our shirts and to Jeff & Candi Hare of JACS along with their wonderful staff. They were great! The following are those special businesses who
helped make this year a big success:
Thank you to these sponsors:
Adrenaline Fundraising-Andy Friederichs,
Adourn, BB’s Pizza, Beer Bellyz, Bernard Bus, Jeremy Stevens - Bird, Jacobson & Stevens Law
Firm, Countyline Bootleg Liquor, Broadway Pizza, Chatfield Body Shop, Candid Joy Photography-Lanae McBroom, , R4 Meats, Wild Tree-Jen Halvorson, Chatfield Public Schools, Chatfield Booster Club, Just So, Chatfield News, Chosen Valley Golf Course, Cinemagic Theatres
Hollywood 12, Dave’s Barbershop, James Plank , McBroom Lawn Service – Mark McBroom,
Elcor Realty-Tim Danielson, F&M Bank/Chatfield, Fat Willy’s, North Hampton Inn, JAC’S ,
JW’s Silver Grille, Kwik Trip, Mane Street Impressions, Minnesota Timber Wolves, Minnesota
Twins, , Minnesota Vikings, Mr. Pizza North, Old Tyme Café and Catering, Olmsted National
Bank-Pete Erickson, Jay Harstad-Preston Golf Course, R4Meats, Root River State Bank,
Schott Distributing Scott Rustad-Cetera Investments, Subway-Chatfield, Sunshine Foods, Lisa
Vaupel -Threads Custom Apparel, Kasey Allen - Toppers Pizza, Rochester Toyota - Jake Halloran, Trader Joes, Carlisle Corson -Trail Head Inn of Preston, Trinchero Winery-Brad Musolf,
VFW, Wehrenberg Galaxy Theatres, Whistle Binkies on the Lake, Shear Class, Preston Liquor , Pheasant Acres Golf Course-Ryan Bakken, St. Charles Golf Course-Matt McMahon,
Clarion Inn, Texas Roadhouse, Shari’s Sports Saloon, VFW.
I also have to give a very “special” thank you to all the helpers who assisted
Mike Urban, Al Neis, Jake Halloran and I in organizing and running this event.
Without their assistance, this event could never be done. They are:
Toot Urban, Al Neis, Jake Halloran, Ron Henry, LuAnn Hare, Cheryl Meyer, Allison Allen, Jill Walker, Pat Walsh, Patti Obey, Trina McDonald, Lisa Bradt, Laura
Adams, Stacy Baum, Alyssa Baum, Mollie Henry, Tammy Neis, Terri Dudek, Julie
Henry, Morgan Henry, Kirsten Keefe, Drew Hurley, Dan Narveson, Tyler Amy,
Tristen Aguiar, Matt Davidson, and Jeff & Candi Hare and their great staff at JAC’s,
& Karaoke Joe.
*If I missed anyone, I am truly sorry!
Lastly, and for some, one more time, I want to thank all the players, fans, workers, & sponsors who attended and supported this event. Another big thank you
to all who supported all of our raffles held at the high school and at JAC’s. It
takes “EVERYONE” to make this event a success! I am so proud to be a part of
this GREAT COMMUNITY!!!
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE 20th ANNUAL MOLLYJAKE WILL BE SAT., JAN. 16th, 2016!!!!!!
Page 2
District News
2015 FIREARM SAFETY TRAINING
The starting date for this year’s Firearm Safety Training will be
March 30, 2015. Classes will be held in the Chatfield Public Library basement. The first night will start at 6:30 p.m. and will
also be registration night. We would appreciate students and parents or legal guardians arriving early to complete the necessary
forms. Be sure when you fill out the registration form that your
name is correct - you must have your full legal first, middle, and
last name. Nicknames, middle initials only, and missing names
will not be acceptable. If your child has only a middle initial or a
name that sounds like a nickname, please indicate so in the comments section. Make sure the date of birth is correct. Dates for
the remaining classes are April 2, 6, 9, 13, 16, and 20 starting at 7
p.m. and ending at 9 p.m. Plan on picking students up at 9 p.m!
The field day and shooting are tentatively scheduled for April 25
at the Chatfield Fish & Game Club. We tentatively plan on completing the field day and shooting by 2 p.m. (if all assignments
are completed). The students are also asked to bring a firearm
that will be utilized on the field day. Firearms do not need to be
in working order! All firearms also need to be fully cased when
transported. Remember - no loaded firearms and no ammunition
should be brought to classes or the range! Instructors will be
checking all firearms before allowing students to participate. If
you do not own or have access to a firearm, notify one of the instructors, and one will be provided for the student.
Students, please bring a parent or legal guardian with you the
first night. The registration form must be signed by a parent or
guardian, and a registration fee of $7.00 will be collected at this
time. It is important for all parents/guardians to remain at class
the first night to learn about the self certification process parents/guardians will be responsible for upon the student’s
completion/passing of both the written and field tests. In addition, information will be shared with regard to the reasons for
the training, what the course consists of, and who the instructors
are. The conservation officer will be scheduled to give a presentation that is interesting and will allow everyone a chance to ask
questions. Parents/guardians are welcome to attend all of the
classes.
Youth who are 11 (who will be turning 12 during this year’s
hunting season) and older will be eligible along with any interested adults. For adults to come, listen, and watch, there is no
charge. However, if you wish to be certified, you must pay the
registration fee and complete the necessary requirements.
To become certified, each student must attend all classes unless
otherwise excused (head instructor will determine if absence is
excusable and will discuss this point on registration night). For
excused absences, it is the responsibility of each student to arrange with an instructor to make up class time. To become certified, students must also participate in the field day, shoot on the
range (rifles and ammunition provided), and score 75% or better
on the written test. Note: We as instructors will try to accommodate changes in the training schedule, but as volunteers with busy
schedules of our own, we are not obligated to do so. Make sure
you are able to fulfill class requirements before registering.
If you have further questions, please contact Tom Tienter at
(507) 259-8746 or Dave Dudek at (507) 867-3856 or (507) 9510529.
Hope to see you in class this year!
Page 2
Driver’s Education Course
Parent Education Class
Attention to all parents of students who
attended Fall 2014 or will attend 2015
Summer or 2015 Fall Driver’s Education
Classroom Course!
The State of Minnesota has implemented
new laws that affect your young driver.
Parents are now required to attend a parent education class or document an additional 10 hours of supervised driving!
The parent education class will be held once annually
and pre-registration is required! The parent education
class will be held on Tuesday, March 24th, 2015 at
6:30 p.m. at the High School, in the Large Group
Room.
To register, please fill out the form and turn into Community Education by Tuesday, March 17th, 2015.
There is a $5 class fee (per family) that is payable to
Chatfield Driver Education due the evening of the
class.
Students may choose to attend the class with their
parent(s), but it is not required!
Driver’s Education Parent Class
Registration Deadline: March 17th
Student’s
Name_______________________________________________________
Class Attended/Attending
FALL 2014
SUMMER 2015
FALL 2015
Parent(s)____________________________________________________
Phone_______________________________________________________
Email_______________________________________________________
*Minimum class size required. If class size is not met, you will be notified of class cancellation.
Cost for this class: $5.00
POST PROM MEETINGS
When: Mondays, March 9th
& April 7th, 2015
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Where: Elementary School
Cafeteria
Firearm Safety Instructors
Sponsored by Parents for Youth, 818 Grand
Street, SE, Chatfield, MN 55923.
Any questions, please call Anne Mandt at
867-4743.
Page 3
High School News
Page 3
High School Principal
Randy Paulson
Grades 7th—12th
507-867-4210, ext. 5053
REMINDERS:
UPCOMING BAND/CHOIR EVENTS:
March 6
End of Trimester 2
March 16
Grades 7-12 Bands & Choirs Festival Concert,
HS Gym, 7 p.m.
March 20
End of 3rd Quarter, Early Dismissal 1 p.m.,
Staff Development Day
March 17
Large Group Contest (Sub Section) @ Fillmore
Central HS, 4 p.m.
March 24
National Honor Society Ceremony, 7 p.m., CLC
April 16
April 2/3
NO SCHOOL, Spring Break
Small Group Contest @ Rushford, Grades 9-12,
4 p.m.
April 17
Early Out 1 p.m., Staff Development Day
April 18
11th Annual Pop Concert, 5-12 Grade, HS Gym,
7 p.m.
May 6
Academic Awards Banquet, 6:30 p.m., HS Gym
May 14
May 13
Middle School Achievement Awards, 8:30 a.m.,
HS Gym
Spring Choral Concert, 7-12 Grade, HS Gym,
7 p.m.
May 25
Memorial Day Parade/Program (call @ 9 a.m.)
May 13
FFA Banquet, 6:30 p.m., HS Gym
May 25
Memorial Day, NO SCHOOL
May 28
End of Trimester 3 and Semester 2, Early Out 1
p.m., Staff Development Day
May 31
Graduation 1:30 p.m., HS Gym
Triple “A” AwArd
The Academics, Arts, and Athletics Award, referred to as the Triple
"A" Award is sponsored by the Minnesota State High School League
and was established in 1988. The award goes to a high school senior
boy and senior girl who have a 3.0 or better grade point average and
who excels in league-sponsored athletic and fine arts activities.
Semi-finalists for the Principal Leadership Award:
L to R Front Row Shelby Bernard, Karen Gomez-Ruiz,
Madalyn Kammer, Janessa Erding, Kirsten Keefe
L to R Back Row Brook Irish, Alexander Bradt, Ben Pierce, Jared Goldsmith
Not Pictured: Madison Larrabee
Pictured above are this years Principal’s Leadership Award SemiFinalists! These students were selected on the basis of their completed application, in the top 20% of their class and have demonstrated
leadership. They must also be recommended by their high school
principal. The finalists will be judged on the basis of the information
provided on the nomination form in areas of leadership skills, participation in service organizations and clubs, achievements in the arts and
sciences, employment experience, and academic record.
PROM 2015
Saturday, April 25th
Gym Doors Open at 7:30 p.m.
8:00 p.m. Grand March
This year’s Triple “A” girl recipient is Karen Gomez-Ruiz and boy
recipient is Alexander Bradt.
Karen is President of the Chatfield High School Student Senate, the
Chatfield Chapter of the National Honor Society, and a member of
the Student Service Club. She was a participant of the Three Rivers
Honor Band. She is a three time State Participant in Cross Country
and received All Conference in both Cross Country and Track. She
has received her Academic All-Conference all six years in Cross
Country and two years in Track. She has been on the Principal’s
Honor roll every semester, has received the Academic letter every
year and, is on the college track of courses at CHS. Karen is the
daughter of Juan and Crisalia Gomez-Ruiz of Chatfield.
Alex has lettered in Football, Track and Basketball, has received his
Academic All-Conference in all three sports and received AllConference in Football. He is a member of the Varsity Band at CHS
and was a Three Rivers Honor Band participant. He is the class treasurer and the Chatfield Chapter of the National Honor Society Treasurer. He was a state participant on the Championship Football Team.
He has been on the Principal’s Honor roll every semester, has received his Academic Activity letter every year, is on the college track
for courses taken at CHS. Alex is the son of Terry and Jennifer
Bradt of Chatfield.
Congratulations to Karen and Alex!
Page 4
High School News
Page 4
Chatfield High School
Semester 1 Honor Roll 2014-2015
ART SHOW COMING!
The end of the school year is approaching quickly and
with that comes the Annual Chatfield Secondary School Art
Show! This exhibition will showcase high quality student artwork ranging from grades 7 to 12.
The free open house will take place on Sunday, May
17th from 3-5 p.m. in the Chatfield High School Multi-Purpose
Room. This is time for friends and family to come view all of
the talent our school has, while enjoying snacks and refreshments.
Principal’s Honor
Roll
12th
Shelby Bernard
Alex Bradt
Karen Gomez-Ruiz
Drew Hurley
Maddy Kammer
Kirsten Keefe
Logan Little
Payton Lund
Ben Pierce
th
Set up will take place Saturday, May 16th, starting at 9
a.m., any and all volunteers are welcome to help organize, arrange, and hang artwork as well as clean up after the event.
Be sure to come out and support the Chatfield Art Department and all the wonderful student artists!
Counseling Corner with
Ms. Chelsie Hinrichs
April/May
As spring begins, there are many things for 7th-12th graders to
think about before the end of the school year! MCA Testing
will begin the week of April 14th, for 7th-11th grade students.
Tenth graders will take the required Reading Exam, and 11th
graders will take the required Math Exam. 7th and 8th graders
take required Reading and Math Exams as well. New this
year, on April 28th it is required that all 11th grade students in
the state of Minnesota take the ACT. This test will be offered
at Chatfield and is free for our students.
Juniors—After taking the ACT in April, there is also another
testing date available to you in June. This test is not through
the school, and the deadline to sign up for the June 13th test
date is May 8th. Juniors can also begin researching colleges,
narrowing their choices, and scheduling campus visits for this
spring/summer! They can also register with free scholarship
search websites like www.fastweb.com and
www.scholarships.com and begin applying for those they are
eligible for over the summer. All Juniors will meet with me
before the end of the school year to talk about college/career
options and make sure they are on track to graduate!
Seniors—Students should be applying for financial aid if they
have not already done so, by going to the Free Application for
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) website at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
This year’s taxes for the student’s parents and the student must
be filed in order to complete the financial aid process. Students should also remember that they must confirm their enrollment at the college of their choice by the national confirmation deadline on May 1st. Those planning to attend college
should also apply for housing! All seniors should be aware of
those classes they need to finish successfully to graduate.
If anyone has any questions about what their student must
complete to graduate, or any other college scholarships, financial aid, testing, scheduling questions, feel free to contact me at
chinrichs@chatfield.k12.mn.us or at 507-867-4210, ext. 5054.
SCHOOL PICTURES
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
Picture Day for Grades 7-12, August 20th, 2015, 16 p.m., H.S.
Retake Day for Grades 7-12, Thursday, September
24th, 2015
11
Tristin Aguiar
Kaylie Bernard
Connor Demorest
Carter Duxbury
Hannah Friedrich
Joseph Herrli
Colton Hines
Danielle Kramer
Megan LaPlante
Demery Little
Katie Meeker
Aaron Paulson
MaKayla Pederson
Callie Spelhaug
Isaac Viss
Elizabeth Walsh
Haley Woltz
10th
Mariah Bell
Kevin Bradt
Blair Crouch
Kyra Dokken
Lilly Gurtner
Kadin Hill
Pamela Lisowski
McKenzie Meeker
Nikita York
9th
Karley Aguiar
Cole Asleson
Logan Boyum
Grace Friederichs
Bennett Gathje
Austin Hines
Megan Hopp
Ben Ihrke
Mikaela Kohlmeyer
Jake Mandt
Nathan Meeker
Kennedy O’Connor
Macy Pederson
Austin Swancutt
Tyler Waadevig
Josh Walsh
A Honor Roll
12th
Jared Goldsmith
Aimee Hansen
Brook Irish
Cheyanne Johnson
Ian Morrison
Levi Roline
A Honor Roll cont.
11th
Tyler Amy
Andrew Gathje
GraceAnna Grant
Kaitlyn Griffin
Kalli Kohlmeyer
Kamryn Kullot
Miles Larson
Sheridan Salisbury
Jennifer Shafer
10th
Jacob Blahnik
Katelin Bradt
Dalton Campbell
Haley Goetzinger
Nicholas Maki
Spencer Mandt
Hunter Saltou
9th
Travis Blohm
Jeana Chapman
Julia Friederichs
Alissa Heide
Hunter Hobbs
Maggie Lowrey
Lauren Mueller
Jacob Peterson
B Honor Roll
12th
Kyler Aarhus
Emily Armstrong
Christian Bance
Chase Bartels
Jacob Bleess
Paul Cousineau
Janessa Erding
Hank Friederichs
Timothy Hebrink
Thomas Jech
Dalton Lundy
Tyler Moechnig
Daniel Narveson
Jarrett Oakley
Jordan Smith
Wayne Stephas
Aleksie Waadevig
Ethan Woltz
Ethan Wright
B Honor Roll cont.
10th
Dillon Bance
Hannah Blohm
Trevor Boysen
Nathan Clarke
Alec Clemens
Alex Coe
Meagan Cullen
Lucas Dietz
Brandon Ebnet
Davis Erickson
Parker Fossum
Sydnee Gehrking
Abigail Jorgenson
Ethan Kappers
Jason Lowrey
Hunter Niemeyer
Alex Pagel
Nicole Peterson
Eryn Radcliff
Emma Shaffer
Brandon Stephas
Isaac Thompson
9th
Mason Erding
Nathaniel Fox
Britney Fretland
Noah Friedrich
Jacob Gillespie
Payton Guenther
Sawyer Haagenson
Lexi Hanson
Ariel Horsman
Macey House
Maleek Hussein
Ashlee Maker
Nikkole Minter
Terron Ostby
Nolan Salerno
Cole Sprau
Michell Stailey
Kalina Swift
Kyle VanDeWalker
Marshall Welch
Jaimee Zwart
11th
Brooke Adler
Riley Ahern
Samantha Anderson
Mikayla Baker
Noah Brogan
Chris Dokken
Autum Erickson
Lauren Hare
Megan Hughes
Andrew Irish
Francesca Littrell
Colton McGraw
Sean Morrison
Mandy Nelson
Chase Salerno
Vanessa Sanchez
Patrick Walsh
14th Annual Jared Hammell Memorial Volleyball
Tournament
When: Saturday, March 14th, 2015
Location: Chatfield High School and
Elementary School
For more information or to register
your team call Stacy Fritz @ (507) 6965853 or email @
sfritz@chatfield.k12.mn.us.
Page 5
Community Education
Chatfield Community Education
Page 5
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
LuAnn Klevan, Director
Patti A. Obey, Coordinator
(507)867-3265
lklevan@chatfield.k12.mn.us
pobey@chatfield.k12.mn.us
SUMMER REC infor mation will be distr ibuted to the Chatfield Elementary Students in early March.
Information will also be on the Community Education page of
the school website.
CHATFIELD COMMUNITY EDUCATION REGISTRATION FORM
Name_________________________________________________________
ELEMENTARY THEATER
This spring Community Education Elementary Theater will present a production of “The Emperor’s New Clothes.”
Phone(H)_________________________(W)__________________________
Children currently in grades 4-6 will be invited to participate.
Address________________________________________________________
Information will be distributed in March.
Email Address__________________________________________________
There will not be a summer production this year!
Class Name_____________________________________________________
Waiver for Personal Injury: I release and hold harmless the staff, together with its agents from any or all liability, claim of suit, known or unknown arising out of my participation.
Parent/Adult Signature____________________________________________
Mail to: Chatfield Community Education Office, 205 Union Street NE,
Chatfield, MN 55923
Make checks payable to Chatfield Community Education, UNLESS
OTHERWISE NOTED.
Preschool Registration information will be available
March 1st, 2015. Registration packets will be on the Community Education Page of the school website, at the Elementary
School Office, and at the Community Education Office
(located at the high school). Families on the 0-4 Census will
receive a direct mailing list if your child is currently participating in preschool or ECFE, or if you have received the Early
Childhood Newsletter.
To add your child to the Census-submit the information below
to Community Education Office, 205 Union Street, NE, Chatfield, MN 55923.
AARP Driving Safety Classes
Beginners Course—8 hours
When: Wednesday & Thursday, April 15th & 16th, 2015
Time: 5-9 p.m.
Location: Chatfield High School, Room 129
Refresher Course—4 hours (MUST have completed the 8
hour course to be eligible.
When: Monday, April 20th, 2015
Time: 5-9 p.m.
Location: Chatfield High School, Room 129
Instructor: Mike Holzer
Registration Fee (holds your spot for the class): $5.00
Make check payable to Chatfield Community
Education
To instructor night of class: $15 (member) / $20 (nonmember)
Make check payable to AARP
Parent(s)_____________________________________________________
This class, for the individuals age 55 & older, is designed to increase the awareness of the normal age related physical changes
of vision, hearing & reaction time as they affect driving, and to
reinforce techniques for driving in today’s complex traffic patterns. Upon completion, person 55 & older are eligible for a vehicle insurance premium reduction of 10%.
Reduction is good for 3 years.
To register—complete and return the registration form below!
Address______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
EARLY CHILDHOOD CENSUS
Child’s Name_________________________________________________
Date of Birth__________________________________________________
City_________________________________________________________
Home Phone__________________________________________________
SMART DRIVING REGISTRATON
Name______________________________________________________
Address____________________________________________________
HORIZONS
For Adults with Disabilities
City________________________________________________________
Phone______________________________________________________
Email______________________________________________________
The Chatfield School District, Fillmore Central, Kingsland, and
Rushford-Peterson form a consortium which provides enrichment classes and special events for adults with disabilities. Activities are held in various locations in Fillmore County. If you
have a family member or friend that would enjoy participating
in Horizons, we would love to add his or her name to our mailing list. Simply call Community Education at 867-4210, ext.
5022, or send the name and mailing address to….
lklevan@chatfield.k12.mn.us. If there is interest in the Chatfield area, Community Education will work with the Horizons
Coordinator to offer classes in our community.
___Beginner
___Refresher
Please return this with $5 fee to Chatfield Community Education Office,
205 Union Street, NE, Chatfield, MN 55923.
Summer Driver’s Education Classroom for students that
are 14 1/2, but must be 15 in order to take the permit test. The
summer class will be held starting Monday, June 1st—Friday,
June 12th, 2015. 8-11 a.m. everyday at the High School.
Attendance is Mandatory!
Flyer will be available in April/May timeframe.
Page 6
Elementary News
Page 6
News from Craig Ihrke
Pre-Kindergarten—6th, Principal
(507) 867-4521
MCA Testing:
Chatfield Public Schools
January 8, 2015
MCA testing:
We have arrived at administration dates. We wanted to inform families of
dates so they can make any necessary preparations in advance.
MATH WIZARDS…
Congratulations to 6th grade Math Wizards, Josh Waadevig, Austin
Koenigs, Armin Mueller, Henry Gathje, and Ben Fretland. The team
finished second in the competition held in Elgin.
Date
Media Lab
4-6 Lab
Week of March 23
and March 30 (No school
4/2 & 4/3
Week of April 6
5th grade reading
6th grade reading
4th grade reading
4th grade reading
Week of April 13
5th grade math
5th grade math
Week of April 20
3rd grade math
6th grade math
Week of April 27
4th grade math
Week of May 4
3rd grade reading
4th grade math
3rd grade reading
It is always important to ensure students are getting appropriate amounts
of sleep and engaging in healthy eating habits. We are encouraging students to get plenty of sleep and eat well prior to testing. Studies continue
to illustrate the importance of a good breakfast.
We would like to provide a healthy snack for students on testing dates.
The district would welcome any donations to help pay for the snacks.
Contact Kathy Gudmundson at 507-867-4521 extension 4010 if you
would like to contribute to the snack fund.
Chatfield 5th and 6th grade Math Wizards cleaned up on individual and team
awards at the competition in Dover-Eyota, January 26th. 5th grade team
placed third and first. 6th grade teams placed second and first.
Members pictured: Row One: Ben Fretland Row Two: Armin Mueller,
Jack Martinka, Michael Hrstka, Mollie Henry, Jaelyn Sprau, Henry Gathje,
Reid Johnson, Austin Koenigs Row Three: Mason Clemens, Lauren Cole,
Tessa McMahon, Abbi Gillespie, Kennedie Schmaltz, Maddie Clemens, Brad
Fallon, Ethan Ruskell, Cabe Siebenaler Row Four: Breanna Schuchard and
Josh Waadevig.
Preparing Your Child for Assessments
Starting in third grade, students take achievement tests in reading and
math (fifth grade also takes a science test). The Minnesota Department of
Education mandates and prepares these tests.
Students take these tests in the spring of each year. The questions on these
tests are a review of the work that students have been doing all year. To
show how much students really know, it is important that students try their
best. We encourage parents and children to read and talk about the test
taking suggestions listed below.
Getting Ready…
 Get plenty of sleep the night before the test.
 Eat a healthy breakfast. This will give your brain the energy it needs
to do your very best.
 Come to school on time and with the tools that you need. Do you
need your glasses or medication?
Have a positive attitude. Remind yourself that you’ve studied hard and
that you are ready.
Knowing What to Do…
 Read all of the directions. If you don’t understand what you are supposed to do, ask your teacher to listen to you re-read the directions.
 Read the questions carefully and all of the possible answer choices.
Mrs. Finseths 2nd Grade Class—Mystery Readers for “I Love
to Read Month.
Mr. Doug Clifford reads to the class!
Remember that you are looking for the best answer choice.
 Try to eliminate some of the answer choices. W hich are the ones that
just do not make sense? Then choose your answer from the remaining
choices. Remember, you can use the strike through option to eliminate
answers that do not make sense.
If a question is proving challenging, you can mark it and move on to other
questions. You will be able to return to marked questions later.
The Test…
 Use your scratch paper! You will be wor king on your own dur ing
the test and it helps to figure things out on paper.
 The test questions are not in any order. Some will be har d and
some will be easy. Even if they seem hard keep going.
 The answers are not in a pattern. Do not try to mar k a cer tain
number of A’s, B’s, C’s, D’s, or E’s, or feel that one answer choice would
not be correct if you used it on the question before.
 Try to find the best answer for each question. Even if you’r e not
sure, mark the one that you think would be best.
Page 7
Elementary News
Teach your child the importance of trying to ‘do
the right thing'
When children are young, they behave well to earn parents' approval and to avoid negative consequences. As they get older,
they begin to show good behavior for its own sake--simply because it's the right thing to do.
Students with good character are more likely to get along with
their teachers and classmates--which contributes to a positive
learning environment. To instill the desire to do what's right:
 Give your child unconditional love. Children who are secure in their
parents' love almost always behave better than those who are not. The reason
is quite simple: They have learned that this is how everyone should be treated.
 Be a role model. Your child is watching you all the time. If he overhears
you telling lies, he'll tell them, too. If you always tell the truth, chances are,
he will, too.
 Correct your child for disrespect. "In our family, we use kind words."
And here's the "model" concept again--use those same kind words when you
talk to your child and other family members.
 Cue your child to think of others. Example: Someone in the family
sneezes and the tissue box is on the counter. Say to your child, "Look on the
counter. Do you see something there that Katie needs?" Praise your child for
following through.
Reprinted with permission from the February 2015 issue of Parents make the difference!®
(Early Childhood Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2015 The Parent Institute®, a division of
NIS, Inc. Source: P. Rosen, "How to Raise a Really Good Kid," Parents Magazine, niswc.com/
good_kid.
Take responsibility for learning with a ‘thinkthrough' sheet
Page 7
Retelling can improve your child's reading
comprehension
You've just finished reading a story with your child. One of the
best ways to check comprehension and boost his understanding
of the story is by asking him to retell it.
Retelling a story requires your child to think about the details
and decide what's really important.
Give your child these three rules for retelling a story:
1. Tell what's important.
2. Tell it in a way that makes sense.
3. Don't tell too much.
Your child should be able to tell you what happens at the beginning, the middle and the end of the story. He should also be able
to name the main characters.
You can prompt your child by asking open-ended questions,
such as, "What happened next?" It's okay if your child doesn't
remember all the details. That gives you a chance to say, "Let's
go back and look at that part of the story again." Revisiting parts
of the story will show your child that he sometimes has to read
things more than once to gain a thorough understanding.
Studies show that this simple activity will help your child become a more thoughtful reader. He will start to pay attention to
words whose meanings he doesn't know. He will focus on the
story structure and pay more attention to important details. All
of these things will improve your child's reading comprehension
and make him a better reader--and a more successful student!
Reprinted with permission from the February 2015 issue of Parents make the difference!®
(Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2015 The Parent Institute®, a division of
NIS, Inc. Source: B. Taylor and J. Ysseldyke, Effective Instruction for Struggling Readers: K- 6,
Teachers College Press.
Your child has to learn many important things in elementary
school. But perhaps the most important thing he can learn is
how to take responsibility for his own learning.
A "think-through" sheet can help your child accomplish this.
Here's how it works. Have your child:
1. Divide a sheet of paper into three columns.
2. Label the first column "I have to." Label the second column "Do I know
how to?" and the third, "Where can I get help?"
3. Write the things he has to do for homework in the first column. For example, his list might include, "Multiply two-digit numbers in math" and
"Write a book report."
4. Fill in the second column. Does he know how to multiply two-digit
numbers? If the answer is yes, then he can go ahead and do the math problems. If the answer is no, he needs to move on to the third column.
5. Think about where he can get help if he doesn't feel confident. Should
he look back in his math book? Can he check with a friend? Should he ask
the teacher for extra help? Have him write down all of his options.
Using this type of checklist will help your child see that there
are things he can do when he's stuck. Over time, he will actually
gain a better sense of how he learns best.
Reprinted with permission from the February 2015 issue of Parents make the difference!®
(Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2015 The Parent Institute®, a division of
NIS, Inc. Source: R. Flippo, Texts and Tests: Teaching Study Skills Across Content Areas,
Heinemann Publishing
Remember the three keys to discipline
Some parents think that discipline means punishment. But the
most effective discipline helps your child learn what he did
wrong--and how he can make a better choice in the future.
Here are three keys to productive discipline:
1. Remain calm. When you lose your temper, you also lose the upper hand.
Giving in to an urge to yell at your child teaches him that it's okay to lose
control when he's upset.
2. Be consistent. It doesn't take long for your child to learn whether you
really intend to enforce rules. Say yes just once to watching TV before school
and you'll have a battle every morning. Don't set rules unless you will consistently enforce them.
3. Avoid criticizing. Just describe the behavior. "It was your sister's turn to
go on the computer and you wouldn't quit playing your game." Then remind
your child of the rule and of the consequence.
Reprinted with permission from the March 2015 issue of Parents make the difference!®
(Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2015 The Parent Institute®, a division of
NIS, Inc.
Start with the basics to teach your preschooler
how to tell time
Of course you want your child to be able to tell time. But she
must first understand what time is before she can meaningfully
look at a clock and inform you that it's 8:21.
Here are some guidelines for teaching your young child to tell
time:
1. Begin by talking about the day. Before telling time, your child should
understand that today is now, yesterday is what happened before she went to
sleep last night, and tomorrow is what it will be after she finishes the next
sleep. Say, "Yesterday you went to school. Today we are at home. Tomorrow, after you get out of bed, we'll go to Grandma's."
2. Move on to broad times of day. Morning is the time between waking up
and lunch. Afternoon is between lunch and dinner. Evening is dinner and
bath. Night is when it's dark. Discussing times of day in these terms will help
your child understand them.
3. Use the words before and after. Say, "Before you brushed your teeth this
morning, you ate breakfast. After you got dressed, we went shopping."
4. Introduce the clock when your child is comfortable with the above concepts. Teach your child the names of the short hand (hour hand) and the long
hand (minute hand). When she knows these, start teaching her the times on
the hour. "See how the minute hand is on the 12, and the hour hand is on the
1? That means it's one o'clock."
Reprinted with permission from the February 2015 issue of Parents make the difference!®
(Early Childhood Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2015 The Parent Institute®, a division of
NIS, Inc.
Page 8
Elementary/High School News
Academic Triathlon—L to R Henry Gathje, Seth Boettcher,
Tessa McMahon, Abbi Gillespie, and Mollie Henry
2015 National Geographic Bee
Congratulations to 8th grader Tucker McCurdy!!! Tucker recently
won the school level competition for the 2015 National Geographic
Bee.
Congratulations to our other finalists: Maxfield Brevick, Joey Steien, Adrianna Crawford (8th graders) Brennen Round, Cael Bartels,
and Logan Johnson (7th graders).
Tucker recently completed a written test in order to try and quality
for the State Bee at St. Cloud State University in April.
Page 8
Jana Clifford reads to Mrs. Finseth’s class during “I Love to
Read Month”!
Chatfield High School
Dress code
Students are required to meet certain standards when it
comes to being properly dressed when they come to
school. There are usually two main categories that are
violated; too much exposure and inappropriate messages written on clothing.
Students need to be properly covered when they attend
school. Short shorts, and skirts, “skimpy” tops (halter,
spaghetti straps, and tube straps), tops that expose the
midriff, visible undergarments and other clothing that
is not in keeping with community standards. Students
should not have any cleavage, underwear, belly (mid
section), upper part of their leg showing.
Students need to wear clothing that does not offend
other students or staff. Inappropriate or lewd slogans,
vulgar language, obscene drawings or pictures are not
appropriate for school. Any type of slogans or apparel
that promotes products and/or activities that are illegal
or ethically wrong for minors are not allowed to be
worn.
Students can be required not to wear items that violate
the above code. Students can also have the following
consequences (not listed in any particular order):
Turn his/her shirt inside out, remove shirt and
put on gym or an alternative shirt and not allowed to wear shorts or skirts, wear a shirt given
by the principal, parents come and pick up student to change clothes, parent notification,
parent/student meeting, detention, in-school suspension, suspension, and suspensionrecommend expulsion.
The best way to resolve dress code issues is at home
before the student comes to school. Administration,
faculty and staff appreciate the support of our parents
with dress code issues. Also, please ask for our support too. It is not uncommon for parents to call and
ask school officials for their advice with dress code
issues.