November Newsletter
A Note from the Leadership Desk: Mrs. K, Instructional Coach and Mentor Teacher
Hi! I’m Kerry Kliman, the Instructional Coach.

This is my first year here at Friendship Academy, and I am excited to assist our teachers in improving instruction. I work in collaboration with teachers to support their lesson planning, plan and provide professional development trainings throughout the year, model effective educational strategies, and coach teachers in any and all areas they need! I also observe teachers and provide them with feedback on a regular basis. 

I am frequently in classrooms, working with students, and conferencing with teachers to positively impact student achievement. I want Friendship Academy to be a safe, equitable school that captivates students with engaging, rigorous, and meaningful teaching. By helping teachers provide a quality education, I hope to close the achievement gap and make our school a great place to be!

- Mrs. K
Upcoming Events
Week of November 25
Monday, November 25
School Board Meeting, 5 p.m.
Wednesday, November 27 - Friday, November 29
Thanksgiving Holiday - No School

Week of December 9
Thursday, Dec. 5
Middle School Trip to Junior Achievement Biztown
Monday, Dec. 8 - Friday, Dec. 13
NWEA Testing
Friendship Academy Book Fair
Tuesday, December 9
Family Night, 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Friday, December 13
End-of-Trimester Performances, 2:30 p.m. - 4 p.m
Calling all family members!






Middle school students have been working hard learning financial literacy and entrepreneurship, and are excited to participate in a field trip to  BizTown  on Thursday, December 5th. We need volunteers to join in the fun and be a part of this pretend "business town!"

If you are available to volunteer on Thursday, December 5th from 9:30 AM - 3 PM at the site location in St. Paul, please email [email protected] or call the main office at 612-879-6703. Thank you!
In the Classroom...
Ms. Buth's second grade class received two very special visitors on Thursday, November 14: two football players from the University of Minnesota!

Winston Delattiboudere and Micah Dew-Treadway came and spoke to our second grade scholars about their own journeys to excellence. They shared their thoughts on the importance of academics, and how hard they work to maintain a balance between athletics and schoolwork. Scholars were able to discuss skills like dedication, having motivation, and believing in yourself.

Scholars then did a teamwork exercise with the players--involving passing around a watermelon! Afterwards, they reflected on how it was OK to make mistakes during the game and maintain a positive attitude.

Scholars have been promised that Winston will come by every Thursday from now on to work with them--as long as they have done their best that week.

Thank you to Ms. Buth for organizing this!
Family Members of the Month: The Family Partnership Committee

At our Family Night on Tuesday, November 8, three Friendship Academy family members were announced as this year's Family Committee members of the Family and Community Collaboration (FCC) Team.

Portia Jackson is this year's President . She will collaborate with school leaders and the school board to help create long-term plans for family partnership and fundraising. Ms. Jackson has two sons at FAA in kindergarten,.

Hope Patterson is this year's Vice President . She will plan and execute family partnership initiatives set forth by the FCC Team. Ms. Patterson has one daughter at FAA in seventh grade.

Jessica Stallings is this year's Secretary . She will keep notes of all Family Collaboration Meetings and partner with fundraising staff. Ms. Stallings has one daughter at FAA in kindergarten.

Please say hello if you see them around the building or at one of our monthly Family Nights!


Portia Jackson, President




Hope Patterson, Vice President




Jessica Stallings, Secretary
Staff Shoutout

Friendship Way Team
The Friendship Way team is made up of 6 Friendship Academy staff:

  • Ms. Vannessa Buth, Second Grade Teacher
  • Ms. Tiffany Chism, First Grade Teacher
  • Ms. Kayla Demery, Third Grade Support Staff
  • Ms. Lala Joseph, Middle School Support Staff
  • Mrs. Janice Phillips, Kindergarten Teacher
  • Ms. Carlene Williams, One-on-One Support Staff

We focus on keeping up a warm, friendly, and fun school culture with bright, engaging decorations, events such as our Sock Hops and staff parties, and weekly "Shout-Out Fridays," in which scholars and staff all have the opportunity to give a schoolwide shout-out over the loudspeaker to someone they've seen do something great that week.

If you'd like to get more involved with our Friendship Way team's work, you can sign up to volunteer here !