Aquila Communicator

September 26, 2024

Greetings Families,

To acknowledge the International Day of Peace on September 21, Aquila students wrote what peace means to them. Their work is displayed in the hallways.

We will see you at the Aquila Back To School Dance tomorrow, Friday, September 27!

Paz,

María and Olivia

María Graver, Aquila Principal

952-928-6502 ~ graver.maria@slpschools.org

Olivia Tolzin, Aquila Assistant Principal

952-928-6508 ~ tolzin.olivia@slpschools.org

Key Dates

Friday, September 27 ~ Aquila Back To School Dance, 5:30-7:30 PM

Tuesday, October 1 ~ Picture Day

Tuesday, October 1 ~ AQ PTO Meeting, 6:00 PM

Thursday, October 3 ~ No School, Rosh Hashanah

October 7-16 ~ AQ PTO Spirit Wear Sale

Tuesday, October 8 ~ ASD Family Meet Up - 6:00-7:30 PM

Wednesday, October 9 ~ Dine Out For AQ, Parkway Pizza

Tuesday, October 15 ~ Family Conferences - 2:30-6:30 PM

Tuesday, October 15 ~ Book Fair

Wednesday, October 16 ~ No School

Wednesday, October 16 ~ Family Conferences - 7:30AM - 3:30 PM

Wednesday, October 16 ~ Book Fair

Thursday, October 17 ~ No School, MEA

Friday, October 18 ~ No School, MEA

Tuesday, October 22 ~ Dine Out For AQ, México City Café

Tuesday, November 5 ~ No School, Election Day

Wednesday, November 6 ~ Fall BINGO Night (note date change)

Wednesday, November 6 ~ Picture Retake Day

November 10-16 ~ Aquila Gives

Tuesday, November, 12 ~ ASD Family Meet Up - 6:00-7:30 PM

Tuesday, November 19 ~ Kindergarten Talent Development STEAM Showcase

Wednesday, November 27 ~ No School

Thursday, November 28 ~ No School

Friday, November 29 ~ No School

Click here for the District Calendar

Staff Spotlights

Gaminee Sura - Occupational Therapist

Meghan Settingsgard - Resource Room

Katie Lail - School Psychologist

Kristina Doyle - Speech Language Pathologist

Michele Purdy - Evaluator

Brandon Sigüenza - Resource Room

Erin McChesney - SEL Teacher

Maddie Magnuson - Resource Room

Allie Nerison - Setting 3 Teacher

Janaki Vivekananda - Social Worker

Maddie Anderson - Setting 3 Teacher

Culturally Relevant Literacy Coaches ~

Omar Adams & Dr. Lee-Ann Stephens

Omar Adams and Dr. Lee-Ann Stephens have had a variety of roles in the district. For the last two years they have been at Aquila as Culturally Relevant Literacy Coaches. They work with staff to engage, sustain, and deepen culturally relevant literacy and instruction.

Mr. Adams enjoys spending time with his elementary-aged daughter. You will find Mr. Adams out in nature and traveling in his free time, from skiing to scuba diving. He loves to experience other cultures and tasting the local cuisine.

Dr. Stephens lives in SLP with her husband. She has two adult children who graduated from SLP. She enjoys trying new vegan restaurants. When she is not at Aquila, she spends time with family and friends.

Volunteer Opportunity

We are looking for volunteers to help in the Aquila cafeteria. Volunteers would help keep tables clean and engage with students.

Click here to sign up. Thank you!

Picture Day Info

Click here for more information.

Aquila PTO Information

The mission of the Aquila Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is to enhance the educational experience of all Aquila students and support all Aquila community and staff through fundraising and community events.

AQ PTO October Events - Click here

AQ PTO Yearlong Calendar - Click here

AQ PTO Website - Click here

AQ PTO Facebook page - Click here

AQ PTO Volunteer Interest Form - Click here

Back To School Dance ~ Tomorrow!

Volunteer Opportunities:

Click here to help at the Back To School Dance!

AQ PTO Meeting ~ Everyone Is Welcome To Attend

AQ PTO October Events 2024

Aquila Breakfast & Lunch Menus ~ September 2024

Breakfast Menu - Click Here

Lunch Menu - Click Here

District News ~ St. Louis Park Community Education and City of St. Louis Park Movies In The Park Nights

Saturday, September 28 - 7:30 PM, Fern Hill Park ~ IF

Friday, October 4 - 7:30 PM, Browndale Park

The Addams Family 2

Shout Out Loud ~ This Saturday, September 28

Shout Out Loud to Host it’s 5th Annual

Suicide Prevention Wellness Carnival

Saturday, September 28

11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

St. Louis Park, Rec Center ROC

3700 Monterey Dr, St Louis Park, MN 55416

Rain Or Shine – Event is Outdoors yet covered with a Canopy from the elements.

We also need a lot of volunteers to pull this off. It is a perfect event to have your teens volunteer at if they need volunteer hours. Quick 2 hour shifts! Sign Up - Here

District Health Office Reminders

As we enter the fall season, this is a time when illnesses like colds, flu, and other respiratory viruses tend to spread more easily. To help prevent the spread of illness within our school community please follow these important guidelines.

Situations when your child should stay home:

Fever of 100 degrees or more. The student should stay home for 24 hours after their temperature returns to normal without the use of fever reducing medication.
Vomiting/diarrhea more than twice in the preceding 24 hours. Stay home until 24 hours after the last episode.
Any uncontrolled cough, respiratory virus symptoms that are worsening or not improving and not better explained by another cause such as seasonal allergies.
Rash with a fever and/or unknown cause. Check with your family physician/clinic before your student returns to school.
If feeling ill/unwell and the student is unable to fully participate in school activities.

CDC Respiratory Virus Guidelines:

Respiratory virus symptoms can include fever, chills, fatigue, cough, runny nose, and headache, among others. The guidance for common respiratory illnesses (flu, COVID, RSV) is to stay home for 24 hours until both:

Your symptoms are getting better, and
You have not had a fever without taking fever-reducing medication.

Practice Good Hygiene:

Remind your children to wash their hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Encourage them to cover their coughs and sneezes with a tissue or their elbow and avoid touching their face.

Vaccinations:

Keep your child up-to-date with vaccinations to reduce the risk of contracting vaccine preventable diseases and prevent serious illness.

Communicable Disease Alerts:

Pertussis (Whooping Cough) - There is currently an outbreak of Pertussis (Whooping Cough) in Hennepin County and cases have been reported in our school district community. The first symptoms of pertussis are similar to a cold. After a week or two, the cough worsens and may occur in sudden, uncontrollable bursts. Sometimes coughing will lead to vomiting or a high-pitched whoop sound when breathing in. Anyone with symptoms should stay home, contact their healthcare provider and consider getting tested for pertussis. MDH Pertussis Fact Sheet

Measles - There is currently a measles outbreak in Minnesota. The outbreak began in May 2024. It is primarily affecting unvaccinated children in the Twin Cities metro area. However, anyone who is not up to date on their measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is at risk of getting measles. The MMR vaccine is safe and extremely effective at protecting kids, families and the entire community. Unvaccinated people exposed to measles need to stay home and away from others (quarantine) for 21 days. MDH Measles Fact Sheet

Free Family Opportunities through St. Louis Park Community Education