Having Successful Parent-Teacher Conferences It doesn’t matter if you’re the student, the teacher, or the parent, parent-teacher conferences are bound to cause some anxiety. Yet these one-on-one meetings are priceless opportunities for families to get a better understanding of their children. By preparing well for your meetings with teachers and following up with both your children and their teachers afterward, you can strengthen your children’s school success. Before the conference, you can:

• Be on time. Schools tightly schedule parent-teacher conferences because there’s only so much time available and dozens of families to see. Show up at least a few minutes early, so you know you’ll be set to begin when it’s your turn. Be patient if a teacher is running behind. It can be difficult for us to politely cut off a conference with a parent.
• Find a babysitter. It’s important to make sure that the time you have with the teacher is as productive as possible. Sometimes the teachers want your child along. If not, having your student or other children in the room is distracting. Either hire a babysitter or trade off with another parent so that your children don’t tag along.
• Take notes. In addition to presenting the questions and concerns you brought to the meeting, make sure to take notes about what the teacher is telling you about your child. Be sure to address these important areas: strengths, weaknesses, and social skills. Sometimes conference news can catch parents by surprise. Taking notes can help when you are surprised or need to work through an issue.
• Keep emotions out of it. It is always difficult to hear that your “angel” or “young Einstein” isn’t exactly the person you thought he or she was in the classroom. Keep your cool and bear in mind that the teacher is offering constructive criticism.

Next week I’ll offer some tips to help after the conference.

Silent Auction Exceeds All Expectations! With about 99% of the "precincts" reporting, we can project a "winner" for this year's Silent Auction -- just over $21,000.00 was raised, thanks to a huge effort on the part of our entire school community. As a point of reference, last year's auction record was a little over $8,000.00. Thanks again, everyone!

Students Set Readathon Bar Higher Than Ever Horace Mann students are amazing readers. Our Readathon goal for the month of February was 400,000 minutes. We set no monetary goal because our focus was on the reading. The students read 501,274 minutes. Wow! They also raised $15,695.66. Way to go students and families!

Go Green…Shop the Horace Mann Plant Sale…Save time & gas….….  Today you will be receiving your order form for the Horace Mann Spring Plant sale.  Gertens supplies our healthy and beautiful plants – you don't want to miss this great opportunity to buy plants and support our school!  We encourage you to reach out to neighbors, family and friends to order.  Additional order forms are available in the office.  Order forms are due to your child's teacher or directly to the office by Tuesday, April 8.  Forms returned before spring break are greatly appreciated!   Plant pick-up is just in time for Mother's Day, on Thursday, May 8th in the school parking lot off Kenneth.  If you have any questions, please contact either Kari Chase (karichase@gmail.com / 651-690-4432) or Lois Johnson (Lois.Johnson@fsis.usda.gov/ 651-698-3703).

Intent to Return I mentioned last week that we would ask for a form at conferences to indicate if you are returning next year, are not returning, or are unsure. I am also going to ask for the names of any incoming kindergarten siblings in a continuing effort to project class sizes and enrollment so that I can plan the staff for next year. I know that we have 9 siblings from out of the attendance area. I would like to know how many total from attendance area, reassignment, and daycare transfer. Thanks.

Thanks Art Adventure Volunteers! Our K-4th graders had a great time exploring Animals in Art in February thanks to a great partnership between the PTA, parent volunteers, and our teachers and staff. The parents who volunteered their time to bring the Art Adventure program to life said they enjoy it as much as the kids do.  However, it is still a big commitment and we want to thank them for their time and enthusiasm: Deb Johnson, Carla Gillespie, Cathy Paper, Shawnine Anderson, Karen Lewis, Tara Henderson, Bill Aerts, Deanna Olson, Deanna Thompson, Kathy Shanahan, and Catherine Leimbach. Also thanks to the K-4th grade teachers, Jim Litwin and Judy Browne who all helped us coordinate classroom schedules and MIA tours. We really appreciate them making time for Art Adventure. Finally, thank you to the PTA for continuing to fund this program. Without the financial support, Art Adventure would not be possible. Thank you all! Dondi and Scott Kazukewicz, Art Adventure Coordinators.

[Editor’s Note: I would like to personally thank Scott and Dondi for a wonderful job coordinating. Not only have they set up all of the volunteers, but they have also helped coordinate the field trips for Kindergarten-4^th grade to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.]

Lost and Found was full and overflowing once again. We set out the stuff on tables in the hall by the office. We will donate anything that is left after conference time. Please check out the “lost and found” before conferences.

Family Fun:  Horace Mann Family Spring Break Trip to Grand Marais!  Haven’t made plans yet for Spring Break?  It’s not too late to have a great family getaway!  There are still rooms available for the fun-filled Horace Mann Family Getaway in Grand Marais the weekend of April 4-6th.  A full roster of enjoyable family-friendly activities and two meals are included in the rate for the weekend.  Plus the hotel is giving back 15% of bookings that week to Horace Mann!  The event flyer can be downloaded from our main web page, or you can pick one up in the office. If you’re interested in participating or if you’re planning to come, call Katie Sterns at 651-295-1730 and she will fill you in on the details.

Site Council Has Parent Openings Beginning 2008 Interested in advising the principal? Like input into school improvement plans? Concerned about policies? Just want to stay connected in another way? Site Council is a great opportunity. The Site Council is an advisory group for the principal made up of parents and staff members. It meets monthly on Wednesday evenings during the school year. The time commitment for the year is about 20-30 hours. There will be three openings next year. Parent candidates will submit a letter of interest to the Site Council by March 28. Letters of interest will be limited to one page and printed in the Perspectives. You can give them to Judy in the office. Election forms will be distributed on April 11 with the Perspectives and will be due April 18. New Site Council members will be announced on April 25 in the Perspectives.

Parent preparation tips for the MCA-II Horace Mann students in grades 3 through 6 will be taking the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA-II) between April 15 and May 2, 2008.  To help parents and students prepare for the assessments, which measure student performance in reading and math, Superintendent Meria Carstarphen offers the following proven tips:

• Encourage regular attendance: Successful students are always in school.
• Study regularly: Taking good notes and studying every day helps students succeed.
• Inquire about your student's day.
• Turn off distracting electronic devices: Good studying cannot be accomplished with the television, radio, computer or other audio or video devices on.
• Promote consistent reading: Students are encouraged to read a minimum of 20 minutes each night.
• Ensure that students eat: Breakfast is perhaps the most important meal of the day.  On the day of their MCA-II testing, students who eat a protein-based breakfast will have increased attention spans.
• Ensure students are hydrated: Research tells us that the brain requires hydration to function well.  A general rule of thumb is students should drink one cup of water per hour.
• Ensure students get a good night's sleep: Adolescents need a minimum of ten to eleven hours of sleep per night.
• Help reduce student's stress: Tips include positive self-talk (“I know I can do this”), avoid being rushed and taking deep breaths (the brain needs oxygen to think clearly).
• Ensure students exercise: Encourage students to spend a minimum of 15 to 20 minutes a day in active physical exercise of some sort.
• Believing in your student's success: Parents can best support their student by talking and listening about the student's school day actively, and always providing encouragement and support.

[Editor’s Note: Other than illness or a family emergency, student absences will not be excused on testing days. Watch for specific dates in future Perspectives.]

Parent of Gifted Students Support Group The next meeting will be Monday, April 14 6:00-7:30 p.m. at Champp’s on West 7^th. We will be discussing Chapters 4-6 of the book. All parents are invited. The discussion will be rich whether you have read or not. Please RSVP to Judy in the office if you can come.

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