Science Fair/Math Masters Information

Math Masters

5th Graders...do you have number sense and a love for problem solving? This program challenges students to use critical thinking skills and problem solving abilities in mathematics. Math Masters of Minnesota is open to all area 5th graders from all local schools and home schools. Students will form teams of 4 or 5 and practice as a team and as an individual for the competition that will be held on Friday, April 22 in Lakeville. Students will be excused from school and bussed from New Prague and Elko/New Market for the competition. Questions can be directed to the coach, Jodi Prchal at jprchal@isd721.org. Jodi Prchal and National Honor Society Members will run 7 practices: session dates are January 28, February 18, March 22, March 31, April 7, April 12, April 19. A shirt will be provided at the competition and we will stop for lunch after the tournament (bring money for lunch or bag lunch) Sessions run 4-5 pm. Cost is $40. Practice held at Falcon Ridge Room 131. A minimum number of students are needed to run the team so sign up soon with community education!

New Prague Elementary School Science Fair

Attention Scientists and Engineers in Grades 4-6....

WHERE: New Prague Middle School Commons, Gym and Auditorium. 

WHEN: Saturday, March 12

• Registration/Set-up 11:30 a.m.
• Judging 12:30-2:30 p.m. 
• Open Viewing 2:30-3:00 p.m.
• Awards Ceremony 3:00-4:00 p.m. 

KICK-OFF event  is Tuesday, January 5 from 7-8 pm New Prague Middle School. Enter front or north doors (commons area) Our KICK-OFF event will be meaningful and full of great information to get you started. Display boards can be purchased, packets picked up and questions answered! 

HELP SESSIONS will be held from 4:00-5:00 p.m. in the each school's computer lab.  Each elementary school will host a science fair help session that everyone is welcome to attend. Feel free to attend a different school’s session if the dates don’t work for you! A teacher and volunteers will be on hand to help guide the children with project selection, researching, or just pulling it all together. Please send a note with your child to school for permission to stay after and plan to pick up your child at the main door of the school afterward.

Eagle View Tuesday, Jan 19 & Thursday, Feb 11 Karry Helgestad - Instructor 

Falcon Ridge Tuesday, Jan 12 & Tuesday, Feb 23 Jodi Prchal - Instructor 

Raven Stream Thursday, Jan 14 & Tuesday, Feb 16 Cathy Ilkka - Instructor

Sign up for science fair and help sessions through community education. Contact Mrs Jodi Prchal with questions at jprchal@isd721.org or 952-758-1659.

WeDay

A 5th grade group from Falcon Ridge recently attended WeDay, a celebration of youth gathering to dedicate themselves to making a positive difference-both locally and globally. This group has already taken steps to make a difference at Falcon Ridge by helping to mentor and connect with younger students, and in taking a stand against bullying along with creating a welcoming atmosphere for our parents for our conferences. We are fortunate to have such a group of committed students at Falcon Ridge!

Elementary News from Early Childhood-November 2015

NEW CLASS OFFERING: Drop in stay and play! Friday from 11:15 a.m-12:15 p.m. at the Early Childhood Center in New Prague. The classroom will be open and Ms. Kayla and Ms. Pam will be ready for you and your child. There will be circle time fun too.  Parents you can either stay in the classroom with your child or Ms. Julie will have a make and take project for you to work on in the parent room. The make and take will focus on a math or literacy game that you can complete while your child is in the classroom.  Only $7 per family, per time.  Dates:  October 23, 30, November 13, 20, and December 4, 11, and 18. Please call the prior Thursday by noon to let us know if you will be attending so Ms. Julie can be prepared with the materials needed for the make and take.  

Help!  I can’t get my child to write their name!  A class for parents on Tuesday, November 10 from 6:00-7:15 p.m. at the Early Childhood Center.  Get some tips and information about helping your child gain this skill.  Please register by November 3.  Free for parents; child care fee is $6 for one child, $12 for more than one child.

Stranger Safety for Your Preschooler: Thursday, November 19, 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Early Childhood Center.  Please register by November 12.  A police officer will discuss ways to keep safe and make good decisions.  For ages 3-5.  FREE.

Donuts with Dad: Saturday, November 21, 9-10 a.m. at Eagle View Elementary Preschool.  Please register by November 14. Time for kids to spend with Dad or any father figure.  A children’s teacher will have fun activities for you to do together.  Donuts will be served!  For ages 2-5.  Fee is $6 per child.

Katie McKy Author Visit

Each student and staff member at Falcon Ridge was fortunate to meet author Katie McKy this past week. McKy's non-conventional approach resonated with those who were a part of her presentation. While her focus with students was on writing, her general message to her audience has revolved around the importance of getting each child to realize their full potential. Additionally, there was a parent informational session that took place at Raven Stream Elementary.

Katie McKy captivated her audience by using various prompts and different motivational strategies to get students to think and write "outside of the box". Students were engaged, excited, and above all-proud of the work they did.

Making Your Mark at Falcon Ridge!

I'm happy to announce that we acknowledged our first 'Making Your Mark' recipients of the school year at Falcon Ridge. Students that have been honored with this acknowledgement have gone above and beyond to demonstrate caring and empathy in our community. For Mackenzie and Matthew Johnson, Anthony Fuentes, and Rylie Alain, it meant giving of themselves for a family in their Lonsdale neighborhood.

In late August, a fire damaged a home near the students so they took it upon themselves to host a lemonade stand, with the profits going towards the family in need. Through their efforts, they were successful in raising over $600. Falcon Ridge-along with their parents and families-are proud of Mackenzie, Matthew, Anthony and Rylie!

Elementary News for October from Early Childhood

Your 3-5 year old can still join preschool! Limited spots are available.

Join us for a field trip to Barten’s Pumpkin Patch on Thursday, October 8! We will enjoy a hayride, some playtime, and children will learn uses of pumpkins, fun pumpkin facts, and several ways to decorate their pumpkin. Each child will get a pumpkin to take home. The school bus will leave at 9:30 a.m. from the ECC in New Prague. We will be back by 11:30 a.m. This event is for parents and children birth to age five; $10 per person; children under one year are free. Please call 952-758-1670 to register.

NEW CLASS OFFERING: Drop in stay and play! It starts Friday, October 9 from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the ECC in New Prague. The classroom will be open and Ms. Kayla and Ms. Pam will be ready for you and your child. There will be circle time fun, too.  Parents can either stay in the classroom with their child or Ms. Julie will have a make and take project for you to work on in the parent room. The make and take will focus on a math or literacy game that you can complete while your child is in the classroom.  Only $7 per family, per time; classes will be held on October 9, 23, 30, November 13, 20, December 4, 11, and 18. Please call the prior Thursday by noon to let us know if you will be attending so Ms. Julie can be prepared with the materials needed for the make and take.  If you are not interested in the make and take, just come to class (no registration needed). 

Halloween Fun Night! Join us for a safe, non-scary evening of games, treats, storytelling, and other fun on Friday, October 23, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the CEC in New Prague. This event is for parents and children birth to age six; $5 per child; children under one are free.  Call 952-758-1670 to register.

ECFE classes have started, but it is not too late to join. Visit ce.isd.721.org for information and registration or call 952-758-1670.

Total School Cluster Grouping

The New Prague Area School District has begun implementing the Total School Cluster Grouping method in grades K-5 with the support of Purdue University and Dr. Marcia Gentry. This model is research-based and focuses on meeting the needs of all students of all abilities through overall improvement of teaching, learning, and achievement of all. Our staff professional development will focus around differentiating our instruction to meet the needs of all of our learners and embedding this into our daily instructional practice. Each spring teachers place their students by looking at their overall classroom data and determining the student's achievement level on a scale. Students are placed each year in a cluster suited for them and given a fresh start on a yearly basis. For more information check out our district webpage at NPAS Gifted and Talented

Homecoming Week

Our Falcon Ridge students and staff worked together to make it a special homecoming week. Throughout the week, everyone showed their Trojan Pride by sporting homecoming buttons designed by our 4th graders, and bought red and black pom poms.

On Friday, our entire building watched the parade, enjoying the band, floats, and of course the candy that was thrown. We were fortunate enough to have the Trojan Football players visit classrooms again this year to play Math Mania with many of our classes. Best of luck to the Trojans as they attempt to "Tame the Panthers!"

Little Free Library

Following a growing trend in our community, Falcon Ridge is both excited and proud to provide a lending library available to all of our students. Anyone is welcome to use, take and donate books as they see fit. Our goal is to provide quality reading materials for students at various grade levels.

A special thank you goes out to Kate Kluegel, Johna Anderson, Becky and Bruce Wolf, and Dan Wagner. Their passion and creativity will provide children in the Falcon Ridge and New Prague community the opportunity have books. We are grateful for their dedication in helping to foster a love of learning with the young readers in our community!

Welcome Back Picnic

Falcon Ridge's annual Welcome Back Picnic was another great success, as over 800 people attended. We had near-perfect weather, and were able to take advantage of the sun and blue skies. Along with free hot dogs, chips, cookies, and water, our families were able to enjoy three inflatables to jump in and crawl through. Thanks to everyone who attended-our Falcon Ridge community is the best!

What a Week!

Our first week of the 2015-16 was a great one! We are proud to show off a new look near the entryway to our building, with revamped landscaping and a more effective drainage system.

For the first time ever, the New Prague Area Schools held Fall Assessment Conferences where families were invited into our buildings before the school year started, in the hope that our staff could better connect with students and families. These conferences replaced our traditional fall Open House, and allowed students the opportunity to meet their teachers and conduct a brief reading assessment. Additionally, parents got information on our Transportation and Food Services Departments, students could tour a bus, and families could meet with building and district nurses to update student's medical status. Our initial feedback from parents was very favorable.

The first days of school were also very successful, as we opened the doors to nearly 650 students at Falcon Ridge. We also began offering breakfast to all of our students in the hopes that they will start their day more prepared to learn than ever before.

We concluded our week with our 3rd annual Red Carpet Welcome, where the NPHS band played and we greeted our students as they entered the building. Our staff believes that Falcon Ridge is a great place for everyone to learn; there's no better way to demonstrate this than to show our appreciation for our students!

September 2015 Early Childhood News

• FREE Fall Kickoff Event, “Wendy’s Wiggle Jiggle & Jam”, Fun for the whole family! Thurs., Sept 17, 6:30-7:15 @ the Early Childhood Center in New Prague.
• ECFE classes start Sept 21! You can still sign up for class. We offer 13 different classes that provide flexibility to fit into your family’s schedule.  Nine special events coming this Fall! Check out the brochure! 

Why should my child attend the district preschool?

1. Connection to district kindergarten expectations and curriculum provides a smooth transition to kindergarten.
2. OWL curriculum that focuses on literacy, math and social emotional growth and meets the MN Early Learning Standards.
3. 4 Year degreed teachers in Early Childhood licensed by the State of MN.
4. We promote parent involvement.
5. Your child will love it!!
6. Some preschool classes are full do not miss out on a spot for your child call 758-1670 today!

Fall Assessment Conferences

As a district, we are once again excited to be holding our first ever Fall Assessment Conferences. Parents are encouraged to sign up online if they haven't done so yet.  Please contact your child's teacher directly, or call the Falcon Ridge office at 952.758.1601 for more information. The days and hours for the conferences are as follows:

Monday, August 31: 11AM-8PM

Tuesday, September 1: 9AM-6PM

Minnesota Reading and Math Corps Tutors Still Needed!

Falcon Ridge Elementary is looking for 2015-2016 Reading Corps and Math Corps Tutors!
Would you love to help children grow their reading or math skills, succeed in school and get extra support? If your answer is yes, you can be trained to serve as a tutor with Minnesota Reading Corps and Minnesota Math Corps at Falcon Ridge Elementary.  

In addition to extensive training, tutors will receive on-site support from specially trained school mentors. Tutors come from many backgrounds and include recent high school and college grads, career changers, stay-at-home parents, and retirees. Tutors earn a living allowance (biweekly before taxes: $544 for full-time member/ $272 for part-time member), educational award ($5,730 for full-time member / $2,865 for part-time member), federal student loan forbearance, and other benefits, and have the chance to make a real difference in the life of a child.

Apply here! Questions? Contact recruitment@servemnaction.org or 866-859-2825. 

Bike Safety

We recently had our district liaison officer-John Madigan speak to our Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade students about the importance of bike safety as we approach the summer months. Our students were able to hear the importance of reading STOP signs, wearing a bike helmet, staying away from construction areas, and overall bike safety. Not every police officer can captivate an audience of around 300 six, seven, and eight year-old children-we are truly lucky to have Officer Madigan working in our schools!

Yearbooks still available!

Don’t miss out on purchasing a yearbook! Plain yearbooks may still be purchased until the extras have been sold out. A check or cash can be placed in an envelope with the child's name and homeroom teacher on it. These orders will be filled on a first come first served basis until sold out. The cost of the yearbook is $16. They will arrive the last week of school. If you have questions, contact Mrs Jodi Prchal at jprchal@np.k12.mn.us or 952-758-1663.

ACES in the Sun!

All Falcon Ridge students enjoyed a great day outside celebrating the importance of teamwork and physical fitness. We had 28 stations that were prepared by physical education teachers Mrs. Herrmann and Mr. Wagner. We had incredible parent support to assist in pulling this event off, as over 56 volunteers gave of their time so that students could participate in the various activities. Everyone's help-big or small-was greatly appreciated!

Fall Assessment Conferences

Save the date!

K-5 Pre-School Assessment Conferences will be held for ALL elementary students on August 31 and September 1. There will be NO school on these days so please plan accordingly. The first day of school will be September 2. Continue to watch your mailbox this summer for more detailed information!

Math Masters Competition

Congratulations to our Falcon Ridge 5th grade students who participated in the recent Math Masters competition at Lakeville North High School. Along with advisor Mrs. Prchal, students from across the district spent the majority of an entire day showcasing their math knowledge against several other area schools. Great job everyone!

"Being the Good!"

Last week, a group of 4th grade girls at Falcon Ridge stepped up in support of one of our 2nd grade students, Braden Flicek. Braden is currently fighting neuroblastoma-a form of cancer. The girls made rubberband/wristbands, and made them available for sale last week for $1 to everyone at Falcon Ridge.

Our students bought...and bought...and bought. Over $560 was donated to the Flicek family to help them-and Braden in their battle for a clean bill of health. THANK YOU to everyone who stepped up in support of Braden!

2015-2016 Student Placement Form

 As we look ahead to next year and placing our students in the best possible classroom to be successful, we do allow for parents to give feedback on the teaching and learning styles that best suit their children. While individual teacher requests will not be honored, individual descriptors for your child will be taken into consideration. Please use the link below to enter your child's information.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1LQ-M0DQ78nSMaf8iJu1KtJs-kw3iClySKyFisHq0ShY/viewform