O.H. Anderson eNews
March 25, 2021

Dear O.H. Anderson Students and Families,  

I am proud of the learning at OHA. Our Zephyr Value is Curious.  We want our students to ask questions, pursue their passions, and continue to learn new things.  

This week I want to highlight some of our Distance Learners who will be sharing examples of how they have modeled Learner Agency this year with the Mahtomedi School Board.  Check out this presentation and watch them tonight as they share their experiences from this year.  Thank you to all of the Distance Learning Teachers who will be presenting as well.

Please remember: due to Covid guidelines we ask that you do not drop off items at school. We can supply lunches, lend a chromebook, jackets and provide schools supplies should your student forget them.

PLEASE BRING CHROMEBOOKS CHARGED WITH CHARGERS EVERYDAY!

Check out students in our wall of fame for being respectful, responsible, and giving everyone the right to learn.

Please take care of yourselves, your family, and each other.
#wecantakeithigher

Ms. Prather, Principal

susan.prather@isd832.net

Follow me on Twitter to check out what’s happening at OHA!  @prathesm  

 Minnesota is bound by federal and state law to administer annually the following Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs)

• Reading: grades 3-5

• Math: grades 3-5

• Science: grade 5

OHA will have the MCA’s for Distance Learners on April 13 & 20 for grades 3-5 and also April 27 for grade 5 only.  This school year has brought unique challenges and our primary concern is the health and safety of our students and staff.  The online and paper MCA testing can only be completed in person and at school.  There will NOT be an option to administer the test remotely.   Please minimize absences during this time.

• Please minimize absences during these days.

• Please make sure your child has a chromebook fully charged, charger, and headphones each day.

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. McCabe pamela.mccabe@isd832.net

 or Ms. Prather susan.prather@isd832.net.

Please note our school day starts at 7:45.  Students can enter the building at 7:35 so please aim for that time to get to school in the morning.  Our doors lock at 7:45 for safety and security reasons so all students need to enter the building at the main entrance if after 7:45 and this is a tardy.  Thank you for understanding our safety protocols and please try to get to school on time

Ramadan is April 13- May 12, 2021.  If your child needs accommodations, please contact  Mrs. McCabe pamela.mccabe@isd832.net  or Ms. Prather susan.prather@isd832.net.  We will make a plan for alternate activities.

Each spring, teachers and support staff meet and confer to develop class lists for the coming year, striving to create classes where optimum learning for all students can take place.  It is our goal to have balanced classes across each grade level.  Although teacher requests are not considered, if you have specific information about your child that should be taken into consideration, please complete this form. Note that this form is optional and must be completed each year.  Additionally, information that comes in after the deadline will be more difficult to consider since the placement process will have already started.

We consider many factors as we try to balance our classes and accommodate individual needs such as emotional/social combinations, the balance of performance levels, special learning needs, teaching/learning styles, and behavioral factors.

Please consider sharing academic interests and abilities, emotional and behavioral development, e.g., social awareness or interpersonal skills, and any additional information you think would help us plan for your child. Link for 2021-22 Family Input Form for Student Placement in Mahtomedi Elementary Schools

This is due March 31, 2021.

Have an issue with your Chromebook or iPad?

1. Shut the device down (don’t just sign out).

2. Restart the device and check if the issue has been resolved.

3. If not, complete the Student Help Desk Google Form (https://bit.ly/mahtstudenthelpdesk).

Please note, you will need your child’s student ID number to complete the form.

4. A member of the District Technology Department will contact you to troubleshoot the issue.

For device guides, tips and tricks, and to reserve study spaces, please bookmark and visit the Device for Every Learner website (https://www.mahtomedi.k12.mn.us/devices) or access it under Quick Links on each of our school web pages.

Device Overview for OHA Families 

Meet: Ms. Lipovetz


She is a Paraprofessional at OHA

Fun Fact  - I have lived in Washington DC, Hibbing, MN,Venezuela, Babbitt, MN, Marquette, MI, Montreal, CANADA and now Mahtomedi.

 What I love about OHA! "I love watching the kids from little 3rd graders, all the way to the end of 5th grade grow into strong, respectful human beings.  Love how kind students can be to those who may need a little extra help.  It makes my heart happy."

Tech issue Student Help Desk Google Form 

Using Chromebook Message Mrs. Erlenborn in Google Classroom or email elizabeth.erlenborn@isd832.net 

Questions on Assignments Email or message your teacher

Questions on Student Supports Please contact Special Education Case Managers, English Language Teachers, SEL Specialist, Counselor, and Interventionists individually with questions.

General questions about school call office at 651-407-2300 or email Ms. Prather at susan.prather@isd832.net

Attendance  651-407-2308 or email   kristina.vaughan@isd832.net

Change Contact Information email beth.hennen@isd832.net

Tier 1/ MAC Contact Jamie O’Hara at 651-407-2350 jamie.ohara@isd832.net

COVID-19 Protocols During In-Person Learning

Quarantines: During in-person learning, students are seated three feet apart. It is important to note that quarantine guidelines have not changed. It is still a rule per the Minnesota Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that if you are within 6 feet of someone contagious with COVID-19 for 15 minutes or more over the course of a day (24 hours) you will need to quarantine. Therefore, if we have a student who is contagious at school, students who are within a 6-foot radius of that person in class will have to quarantine. Since our students are no longer seated 6 feet apart in the classroom, we will not allow shortened quarantine for students at school. Note that there may be situations where full classrooms will need to be quarantined (i.e. such as younger elementary classrooms where physical distancing rules are more challenging to follow). 

Household Symptoms and Testing: If someone in your household has symptoms of COVID-19, is symptomatic and getting tested for COVID-19, or is symptomatic and awaiting test results, ALL household members must stay home until test results are known. If symptomatic and opting not to test, & for those that test positive for COVID-19, please reach out to your Building RN for specifics on how long the rest of the household should stay home. We need families to help us keep students in-person and taking this simple step will help to cut down on the number of students that will need to quarantine at school. 

The health and safety of the Mahtomedi School community is a top priority.   Check out our COVID-19 Protocols.  Thank you for your partnership in reporting positive COVID-19 cases and quarantining.    

COVID-19 Reporting 

• We ask that families continue to report COVID-19 positive cases to our health office. By reporting positive COVID-19 cases, we are able to track accurate quarantine data and contact trace. 

• Please also let the health office know if your student is a close contact to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. 

Activities & Athletics Quarantine Reminder- If your student is told that they are a close contact from a sports association or other activity outside of school, they also need to quarantine and not attend school. 

If your child is in an activity or athletics quarantine, please contact your Building RN to discuss the length of quarantine. We do not receive quarantine information from associations and activities, we rely on families to inform the school of these quarantine situations.

Please know that there are shortened quarantine options available, but all of these situations must be approved by the Building RN or District Nurse. You may end up having a different length of quarantine in the activity your child participates in compared to school. Please see the MDH Decision Tree for further information regarding decision making for COVID-19 related absences.

Health Office Contact Information
Marcia Senkler, Building RN O.H. Anderson School  Marcia.Senkler@isd832.net 651-407-2335 

Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccine Connector Information- The State of Minnesota has announced the launch of the Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccine Connector, which is a tool that helps Minnesotans find out when, where, and how to get their COVID-19 vaccine. Click here for more information.

Click here to access our COVID-19 Protocols for the 2020-21 School Year

Attendance COVID Guide for Families

Home Screening Tool for Families

What to Do While You Wait for a COVID-19 Test Result.  

MDH Decision Tree. 

Please click on the graphic for the link to Food Support. 

Please click here for more information about the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program.

Mahtomedi Food Backpack Program click here for more information

  

Mrs. Frye's class making tangram puzzles
 

• Spirit wear

Gear up for spring with new Zephyr wear! A portion of the proceeds go directly to the PTO to support our elementary teachers and students. Shop today at https://apparelnow.com/mahtomedi-pto-apparel

• Yearbook Deadline is fast approaching!

The link to purchase the Wildwood and O.H. Anderson yearbook will close on April 1st.
They are$20. www.ybpay.lifetouch.com  yearbook ID code: 1366621
(It will say Wildwood Elementary, but is for both schools).

Yearbooks will be delivered to classes during the last week of school.  

We will have extra yearbooks for sale on a first come first serve basis during the last week of school for $25.

If you have any questions please email Becky Peer at peerbecky@gmail.com.

The PTO is committed to supporting Wildwood and OHA Students and invites you to play an active part of their organization.  Visit mahtomedipto.com for opportunities to get involved and to sign up for their directory.

Upcoming After School Enrichment

Canvas and Clay (grades 3-5) 
Wednesdays, April 14-May 5
Register here. - 3 spots available

OHA Boys Basketball (grades 3-5)
Work on basketball skills and drills in a fun environment with the MHS Girls Varsity Basketball Coach. Each week, different skills and drills will be taught/practiced. 
Mondays, May 3-24
Register here. - 9 spots available

Gizmos and Gadgets - Gravity (grades 3-5) 
How did toys work before batteries? They relied on natural forces like gravity. Put science to work as you explore the how and whys of gravity by experimenting and building a gadget that really works.
Register here.Thursday, May 13


" CLICK HERE to register for Summer 2021! "