Clara Barton Open School

No Bugle Today, No School Friday, Spring Break Next Week

The Bugle will not be published today.  Don't forget that Friday is a no-school day and spring break begins next week.  Classes resume Monday, April 9th. 

V is for Violas

Click here for more Barton ABC's.

The Good Scarf Project and Knitting Nell

Barton kids (and kids-at-heart) have been knitting scarves this winter with hearts filled with good thoughts and learning the story of Knitting Nell in Community Education classes coordinated by Cindy Smedberg. 

On Thursday, March 22nd at 7:00 p.m. in the Commons, the after school Drama Club (K-2) will be performing the story of Knitting Nell  as part of an All Age Variety Show that also includes improvisation by the Drama Club (3-6) and Irish Step dancing and more.  In the story, a shy little girl, Nell, sits and knits and listens to others, but never says very much.  It isn't until the County Fair that her friends find out that Nell rarely knits for herself but mostly for others - including the town's orphans and people in war-torn countries.  By the end of the book, Nell finds her voice as she teaches her friends to knit too. 

Barton parent Julie Jersild Roth is the author and illustrator of Knitting Nell  and the creator of the Good Scarf Project .  The scarves knitted this winter will be donated to charities.  The good thoughts dedicated include stitching for peace, the delight of music, sunshine, comfort, giggles, helping others and more.  The scarves are on display in the main 1st floor hallway of the school.

2007-2008 District Calendar

The Minneapolis Public School's 2007-2008 District Calendar is now available and a link is provided on this site in the LINKS Section.  Scroll down this page to find the LINKS Section in the left-hand sidebar below the CALENDAR and COUNCIL MINUTES.  Other useful LINKS available are District Advisory Council (DPAC), School Lunch Menus, and Origins-Responsive Classroom.

U is for Understanding People

What is an Open School?  What do you see, feel and hear at Barton?  Who makes our school special?

Students found answers to these questions for each letter of the alphabet during an Options project last spring.  To view the entire project click here.

Barton Makes Strong Showing in City-wide Math Contest

On Saturday, March 10, sixth graders from schools across the city converged on North High School for the Minneapolis Public School’s 6th Grade Math Competition. After three hours of challenging individual and group problem solving, the results were announced.

Our group of twelve had an outstanding showing with every team receiving honors!  One team earned the First Place Team ribbons and the other two teams received Honorable Mention honors.  We also placed first in the overall competition which combines individual and team scores.  And that is not all!  First Place and Third Place individual awards were also earned by our math masters and five students earned awards for Fact Drill !!

Congratulations math masters!  Thank you to Katrina, "the best math teacher", for coordinating Barton’s participation in this program. Thanks to all the parents who were cheerleaders and homework helpers throughout our preparation.  Special thanks to our parent coaches and to the others who served as checkers, double checkers, and proctors at the competition. 

Snow!

160 fifth and six grade students enjoyed a three-day adventure at Long Lake Conservation Center near Aitken from February 26 - 28.  Thanks to the weekend snowfall, they were the first group to experience the snow related outdoor activities this season.  The days were packed with activities where students experienced the winter wonderland and learned about environmental and animal adaptation, survival and conservation.  Activities included cross country skiing, snowshoeing, snow snakes game, thicket, deer browse, alpha wolf, hypothermia lesson, orienteering and wilderness meal. 

The woods were beautiful!  We went howling for wolves under a bright moon.  We built a fire in the snow using one match and prepared a scrumptious wilderness meal.  While snowshoeing, we saw two porcupines up in the trees.  Several world records were broken in the orienteering race.  Participants will long remember these fascinating nature experiences, but also the lessons learned in teamwork, personal responsibility and respect for each other and our environment. Click here for more photos.

Area C District Parent Advisory Council Introduction

Below is a letter from Ahndi Fridell, Area C District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC) Chair, to the Lake Harriet School newsletter.  She also passed it on to other DPAC reps and suggested that we print it in our newsletter.   The DPAC representative for Barton is Peggy Clark,  612-247-2632, clarkpeggy@comcast.net

To the Lake Harriet School community:

I am one of 10 representatives from 22 schools in Area C (Lakes, Uptown, South and Southwest) on the District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC).  We advise the Superintendent monthly on issues of importance to the schools in our Area and learn by communicating with the representatives from the two other Areas (North/Northeast and Southeast).  In the next few weeks and months, you will be reading and hearing about a lot of activity in the Minneapolis School District.  I want to give you a brief rundown of what’s happening and invite you to contact me or any DPAC representative with questions or comments.

• A proposed new district-wide academic agenda, including a magnet review & audit 
• A budget shortfall of $16 million for next year and similar projected shortfalls in future years
• Projected declining enrollment of 5,000 children in the next five years
• A plan to close and consolidate schools (There are classrooms for 50,000 students and a current attendance of 36,000 students)
• Middle school reform
• Changes in the High Schools’ small learning communities and enrollment criteria

The best way to stay informed regarding these issues is to watch the school board meetings, held every Tuesday at 6pm on Cable Channel 15, or listen on KBEM radio, 88.5FM, or download a podcast or audio onto your computer.  The District’s website, http://www.mpls.k12.mn.us/ has more information, and you can find the DPAC section under the Parents link on the home page.

A good way to give and get feedback is to attend an Area C meeting.  The next one will be held Monday, March 19 from 6:30 to 8:30 at Field Community School, 4645 4th Avenue South.  Area Superintendent Craig Vana will be present as will DPAC members.

Finally, one thing you can do is help our community and our legislators understand how important it is to fund the public schools.  Please call your representatives and let them know they need to fund public education!  For more detailed information, the Association of Metropolitan School Districts has set up a website which allows people to track education issues both locally and nationally. In addition, you can sign up to receive email action alerts when an important issue is up for vote. Their website is located at http://amsd.org/. Just click on the Take Action icon to sign up.

Ahndi Fridell, Area C DPAC Chair

Lake Harriet parent

612-836-0273

afridell@comcast.net

T is for Teachers

Click here to view all of the letters in the Barton ABC's.

After-School Activities Cancelled Today (Thursday March 1)

Breaking News

Minneapolis Public Schools has canceled all after-school activities for today, including school conferences and athletic events due to severe weather conditions. Minneapolis Kids school-aged childcare will remain open until 6 p.m. If you have any questions regarding other scheduled activities, please call your child’s school directly.

All Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) classes scheduled to begin after 4 p.m. are canceled. Early Reading First classes scheduled for Friday, March 2, are also canceled.

All Community Education classes are canceled. This includes Adult Basic Education classes as well English Language Learner classes.