Congratulations to our New Prague Elementary Math Masters!

Students from all three New Prague Elementary Schools teamed up to compete in the Annual Fifth Grade Math Master Competition in Belle Plaine on Friday, April 25. The Math Masters of Minnesota competition is designed to promote excellence in thinking skills pertaining to mathematics. More than 5,000 students competed in 2013 at 42 different sites around the state of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Colorado as teams and individuals. These challenges are the culmination of year-long preparation as team members work to improve their math skills. Math Masters includes individual and team competition in a wide range of math areas to provide students with many interests and backgrounds in which to excel.  All students who participate in Math Masters are to be congratulated and all are winners! 

Students from New Prague formed teams in February and practiced several times per month under the direction of their coach, Mrs. Jodi Prchal.  The Math Master Program is offered by New Prague Community Education to all area fifth graders.

The following students competed: The Divisor Destroyers (Jack Baribeau, Adam Brandt, Jaden Emmers, David Gaulke, and Josh Simon), Beast Mode (Carson Bittner, Ian Lillquist, Drew Otteson, and Jeff Wacker), The 80’s Team (Brayden Evenson, Ryan Musil, Nick Schmidberger, Ava Phillippi, and Dylan Vilt), and Reach to Infinity (Sidney Dickenson, Emily Wright, Mara Simon, Lexi Trachte, and Jayden Tupa).

In the individual fact drill competition, Drew Otteson placed 4^th out of 175. In the individual problem solving competition he placed 1^st out of 175! For the team competition, two New Prague Teams placed in the top 20. Reach to Infinity placed 12^th and The 80’s Team placed 14^th out of 34. 

MN Math Corps at Falcon Ridge

Falcon Ridge has been awarded a Minnesota Math Corps tutor! We will have one part-time Math Enrichment Tutor next year, who will work with students who need more support to catch up to grade level in math. Math Corps tutors are AmeriCorps members and do not replace teachers. Every year, the program sees real growth in its students.

We are recruiting now for our Math Enrichment Tutor, who will serve at our school for 11 months, beginning in August. In exchange for their service, tutors receive a stipend of about $242 biweekly (part-time) and an education award of $2,822 (part-time) to use towards their own schooling. Tutors implement a research-based curriculum to pairs of 4th – 5th graders who are just below proficiency in math (Tier II children). They tutor students daily in 45 minute sessions to grow their skills towards becoming algebra-ready by eighth grade. Math Corps provides our school with the expertise of an outside math consultant (Master Coach) who provides support and oversight by visiting the school regularly.

Please help in spreading the word about this position. If you are interested or know of someone who might be interested—a graduating college student, a friend in career transition, a grandparent or stay-at-home parent—please direct them to www.MinnesotaMathCorps.org to learn more and apply.  For any other questions please contact JoAnne Torp at 952-758-1655 or jtorp@np.k12.mn.us

Falcon Ridge recieves book donation

Through a local service work project, we recently received a donation of over 175 books from To The Pointe Dance Academy. Pictured below are some of the girls who are dancers at To The Pointe who worked to provide books to teachers and classrooms here at Falcon Ridge. Thank you so much for your generosity!

1st Grade Mala Strana Visits

For over ten years now, the 1st graders at Falcon Ridge Elementary have used proximity to their advantage in taking frequent trips across Columbus Avenue to read to the residents at the Mala Strana Nursing home. Below are some pictures from a recent visit taken by Mrs. McNab's class. These experiences truly benefit both the residents at Mala Strana, and our 1st graders!

Family Fun Night

See the attached pictures from our recent Family Fun Night. While it was raining and snowing outside, the inside of Falcon Ridge was hopping! A great time was had by all!