Everyday Activities to Reinforce Math Skills Everyone knows the importance of reading to their children. But how many parents realize that it’s equally essential to help their children understand math—both math concepts and how it’s part of their everyday lives? Here are some fun, easy ways to incorporate math learning into your family life—without a lot of time, effort, or expense.

• In the kitchen. Cooking and baking using a recipe not only is a terrific way to help children better understand fractions, it’s great bonding time. (And you get to eat the results!) With younger children, show them all the different sizes of measuring cups and spoons and show them how measuring two halfcups of flour or sugar gives them exactly the same amount as one full cup. Ask older children to help you cut a recipe in half or double a recipe. Have them write down the new measurements and doublecheck them together—making sure they understand that, when you cook, it’s important to get your math just right.
• At the grocery store. Bring a simple calculator with you to the grocery store when you shop with your children. Young children can add up how much you’ve spent on groceries or saved with coupons. Kids in third grade or higher can help you figure out which size of detergent, for example, is the best value, or whether using a particular coupon will end up costing less than buying the same product from a different manufacturer.

Site Council Election Results Announced New parent representatives have been elected for next school year. Joining Site Council will be Denise Seck, Martha Faust, Jeff Larson, and Karin Roof. Please join me in extending thanks to Paul Meekin, Danica Linssen, and Stephanie Hawkinson for their years of service to the school community!

Carpeting…Need for Volunteers Almost every classroom will be re-carpeted this summer. Some staff members may need assistance packing and boxing up everything in their rooms. Everything must be placed in cupboards, on counters, or removed from the rooms. Teachers will need to pack before their last day on June 6. Please let me know if you could help out. Thanks.

Band for 2008-2009 The school district has given us our band allocation for next year. The program was cut from 2.5 days a week of band instruction to 1.5 days a week. Band allocations are based on the school enrollment for grades 4-6. Although we will continue with the band program next year, its configuration and schedule will take some time to determine.

Clean those closets! Bring Used Shoes (no skates or boots) for RECYCLING!  Collection boxes will be in the office and at each door until May 2.  Any questions, call Chris Aerts at 699-6575.

Thanks for Wild Towel Help A heartfelt thank you to each of you who showed up to put towels out for the Minnesota Wild Playoff games!  Your presence and participation go a long way toward helping our school maintain a positive relationship with the Wild.  What a great opportunity for our school and children!  A special thank you to Amy Kortuem for coordinating the opportunity and to all parents who took a leadership role.

Next G/T Support Group Scheduled May 12^th, 2008 at 6:15 in the library. Thanks to all who were able to attend our last meeting. We had a great discussion over the remainder of our book.  As a group we decided that for our final meeting of the year, we would have everyone share favorite books for student summer reading and favorite activities for the summer.  It seems finding appropriate books for our young readers is an ongoing challenge.  We also felt that we can provide good resources and we need to share our wisdom! Come to our final meeting of the year with several book title suggestions and any summer activities you would like to share with the group.  Everyone will leave the meeting ready to have the best summer vacation ever! If you have any questions, please contact Mariana Tennyson.

Horace Mann Welcome Wagon We would like to match a current Horace Mann family with a new family to start next school year. Volunteer families would meet their match at “Meet the Teacher” Night in the fall, maybe the first day of class, and have other check-in points during the year. If you would be interested in being a member of the Horace Mann Welcome Wagon, please contact Danica Linssen at 651-698-1060 or djlinssen@yahoo.com.

Update on the Horace Mann birthday card for Minnesota's 150th birthday We've got photos of an apple farm, Aerial Lift Bridge, Bear Paw resort,  Big Ole in Alex, Buffalo Ridge Wind Farm, Camp du Nord, Gooseberry Falls, Harriet Island, Itasca, Lake Superior, Minnesota State Fair, Mississippi Headwaters, Parkway Bunny, Paul Bunyan and the Split Rock Lighthouse.  Do we have you?  The card presentation is just 2 weeks away at the May 7 concert and there's room to add more pictures! Label your photo with name and place, and send your photo in with your student.  There's tape by the card, so go to it!

Mark your calendars, Grade 1-2-3 concert ahead! Rehearsals have begun for our upcoming concert on May 7 at 9:45 a.m. in the gym.  If you cannot come then, there's a dress rehearsal on May 6 at 9:45 a.m. This concert will feature songs which celebrate Minnesota's businesses, natural resources and people, AND presentation of our very own birthday card to a very special representative of the State of Minnesota!

Planning for the Horace Mann Carnival has begun!  We are excited about many new events we have planned for this year. We will have a basketball tournament; “Mixed up” kickball games and relay games.  We are looking for individuals who are interested in taking a lead role in one of these events.  If you are interested, please contact Danica Linssen at djlinssen@yahoo.com or 651-698-1060.

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