Here's the Scoop
Hamilton Ridge News and Events - April 2024
A Note from Mr. Fredrickson
Happy Spring Break!
This month my column is about partnerships. Children don’t learn in a vacuum. They need a community to support them. One of our School Improvement goals this year is to build community and offer students greater consistency in their educational experience. To do this we have been engaging in enhancing relationships with students, families and with each other. We attest to the power of teacher/family partnerships to support learning and are extremely thankful for the child advocates we have in our parents and other caregivers.
On a larger scale, we are also deeply grateful for the partnerships we have with our parent groups, the PTC and the DOGS. You may remember the PTC Walk-a-Thon this past fall as well as other fundraisers like Restaurant Nights, Butter Braids and Lakefront Music Fest. But what do the funds from these fundraisers go to? Great question! See the list and pictures below to see how our community’s gifts of money and time have supported Hamilton Ridge.
Community Events
Two Movie Nights
Six Donuts with Grown Ups
Spring Fling (coming in May)
Student Support
A projector system for the gym (see below)
The Caught Climbing Ticket Box (see below)
Playground Equipment
Funds for classrooms to meet individual needs (student benefit dollars)
iPad Stands for Document Cameras to increase visual learning (see below)
Equipment holder for our motor room (currently being installed)
Multiple scholarships for field trips
Teacher Recognition
Two catered meals for staff during conferences
Two meals provided by families and their crockpots for staff during conferences
A new fridge for the staff lounge
The “Coffee Cart” for one morning to get teachers through to spring break (see below)
An organized and stocked staff lounge
Updating our family room to be more relaxing for new mothers and a respite for staff
Do the funds raised by the PTC support our school? Do your donations augment your child’s school experience! The answer to both questions is, “Absolutely!”
Your partner in education,
Mr. Fredrickson
We need your input! Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools has begun a strategic plan review and is seeking input to help establish a shared vision among community members.
To participate, families, staff, students and community members will have an opportunity to provide feedback during community meetings being held February - April. Input gathered from these meetings will be reviewed by a Strategic Plan Core Team of diverse community members who are working together to form a draft that identifies key priorities and defines the roadmap for learner success in PLSAS. The draft plan will then be reviewed by the School Board in May.
Please consider attending the remaining community meeting outlined below:
April 9, 6-9:00 p.m. @ Prior Lake High School, 7575 150th St. West, Savage (RSVP for dinner to mwalz@plsas.org)
State Wide Assessments - MCAs
Hamilton Ridge third, fourth and fifth grade students will be taking the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs) beginning the week we return from Spring Break. The testing schedule is below. Please schedule appointments and vacations around testing dates. It is most important that all of our third, fourth and fifth graders are present for the state tests.
Please contact your child's teacher or Kirsten Schoeller (kschoeller@plsas.org) with any questions.
Attendance = Student Achievement
We place a high priority on attendance, as it directly correlates with student achievement. We are working hard to track absences, communicate trends, and support families in their efforts to engage children in learning. However, we acknowledge that keeping students home when ill is one of our greatest mitigation strategies. With this in mind, we are looking to partner with families to keep students in school whenever possible. You can find our Student Attendance Policy on the district website.
Please be sure to call the attendance line if your child is or will be absent from school for any reason. If a student's absence is not reported to the school, it will be recorded as unexcused in Infinite Campus. For safety reasons, the attendance monitor will then be required to call a parent/guardian to determine the absence reason for the student. Program 952-461-7801 into your phone for easy access.
Third quarter attendance letters will be sent home with progress reports on April 12th. Students will receive a letter if they have missed 10% or more days this school year. This letter is informational and meant to keep you up to date as to the status of your child's attendance.
Call the Dean of Students, Kristin Stier, at 952-461-7809, if you have any questions or concerns about your child's attendance.
From the Health Office
Hello! It's getting to be that time of year again where students will be running around more and with that can come injuries.
Just a reminder that the health office has to approve all medically related restrictions (if a student has to refrain from PE/recess or needs elevator access.). Once the restriction has been approved, the health office will scan a copy of the doctor's note into the student file and inform all teachers who might need to be aware.
All doctor notes pertaining to illness or injury should be sent to the health office.
Thank you in advance!
Hamilton Ridge Music Performances
2nd Grade Music Concert
Thursday, April 25th at 10:00 a.m. in the Hamilton Ridge Gym
3rd Grade Music Concert
Thursday, April 25th at 2:00 p.m. in the Hamilton Ridge Gym
1st Grade Class Performances
Week of April 29, during music class (1:15-2:05 p.m.)
Choir Concert
Tuesday, May 7th at 7:00 p.m. in the Hamilton Ridge Gym
(only 4th and 5th grade students that are participating in choir through Community Ed)
5th Grade Graduation May 31 at 10:00 a.m., HRE Gym
Kindergarten Graduation May 31 at 2:30 p.m., HRE Gym
Hamilton Ridge PTC Update
Hello from the PTC! Here are our monthly updates:
Upcoming Events:
April Meeting: 4/9 @ 6:30
April Restuarant Night: Culvers 4/29 from 4-7om
SAVE THE DATE: The Spring Fling is May 17
Community Partnerships: We have started partnering with our local small businesses more. We are not able to promote them via school communications so please be sure to follow us on Facebook so you don’t miss out!
Yearbooks:
We would love your help uploading your own photos to be added to the yearbook. Just visit this link, upload your photos, and enter our student's info.
Examples of good pictures are first-day-of-school pics, homework pics, playing with friends on the playground, etc.
Also, don't forget to order your yearbook!
Choose Order Pictures and Yearbooks, and use the online ordering code YB28300. The deadline to order is April 5.
Why do we do so much fundraising: We realized some of you may not know where all of the money we earn goes. Here are some of the ways we have financially supported our school lately:
The projector in the gym! This was our big purchase for the year
Field trip scholarships
ESTEM day
Drums and xylophone for the music room
Clay for the art room
Noise-blocking headphones for students
iPad stands for all teachers
Student benefit dollars for each staff member to spend as needed
A coffee cart for teachers on a Friday for a little mid-year thank you
Movie license, snacks, and popcorn for movie nights
Handwarmers for the noon supervisors
Stamps for teachers to send students postcards
So thank you to all of you for helping us do these amazing things for our school!
Welcome to the Class of 2037!
Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools' kindergarten enrollment for the 2024-25 school year is now open. Visit our website to enroll your child: click here.
The following are some resources you may find helpful as you prepare for your child's entrance into kindergarten at PLSAS.
- View our Kindergarten Information Night December 12 recording.
- Click here for ideas to help prepare your student for kindergarten.
- Check out our kindergarten brochure with helpful information.
- Sit down with your soon-to-be kindergartner and watch our new video that highlights the fun learning that lies ahead at PLSAS!
Planning for 2024-25
We are in the process of planning for the 2024-25 school year. If parents have input regarding their child's needs, please send an email to kschoeller@plsas.org for a link to the required electronic form. Thank you!
Legacy Book Club
Dear Hamilton Ridge Families,
Hamilton Ridge is offering an option for families to purchase books in honor of students and help our library grow! It is called Legacy Book Club. This is a positive way for your child to give a unique gift to all students at Hamilton Ridge.
If your family chooses to purchase a book to donate to the Hamilton Ridge Media Center, we will place a book plate in the book with your child's name, and he or she will be the first student to check out the new book. Click here for more details.
Thank you,
Amy Schwingler
Important Dates
- April 1-5 No School; Spring Break
- April 10 2-Hour Early Release at 1:50 p.m.
- May 1 2-Hour Early Release at 1:50 p.m.
- May 27 No School; Memorial Day
- June 5 Last Day of School; 3-Hour Early Release at 12:50 p.m.
Contact Us
Student School Hours 9:20 a.m. to 3:50 p.m.
Main Office Hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Attendance Line 952-461-7801
Main Office 952-461-7800
Fax Number 952-461-7849
Health Office 952-461-7806, Tiffany St. Michaels, LPN tstmichaels@plsas.org
Social Worker/Counselor, Andrea Carin, MSW acarin@plsas.org
Sam Fredrickson, Principal sfredrickson@plsas.org
Kristin Stier, Dean of Students kstier@plsas.org
Kirsten Schoeller, Administrative Assistant kschoeller@plsas.org
Emily Connelly, Administrative Assistant (attendance) econnelly@plsas.org
IT Help Desk 952-226-0048 or ithelpdesk@plsas.org
District Transportation 952-226-0050 or jswedberg@plsas.org
Prior Lake Bus Company (after hours) 952-440-1166