Baba Dioum said, “For in the end, we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught.” Check out the stories, pictures, and video clips under the News and Calendar section of our website. The 6^th graders have been at Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center all week. They have had tremendous learning experiences that are not available here at Horace Mann. Students get the opportunity to take risks and challenge themselves physically and emotionally on the high ropes course and rock climbing. They learn about their impact on the environment while canoeing and studying pond life. They learn about the history of the land and people while studying the Oneota and pioneer life. The students, of course, think they are just having a good time. In reality, they become conservators of each other and the natural world.

End of Year Celebrations and Activities There are many field trips, learning experiences, and fun events the last few weeks of the year. Students are celebrating their accomplishments, their hard work, and each other. Our two last big events are an all-school field trip to the Ordway next Thursday and the Spring Carnival next Friday night. I hope to see you all at the Carnival.

HELP! We are still in need of volunteers and/or supplies for the Horace Mann School Carnival. The Carnival is Friday, May 30th from 5-8:00pm. Volunteer opportunities include kickball games, raffle nook, water wars, face painting, photo both, kiddie games, or the cakewalk. Time slots are in two-hour increments, 4:30-6:30 or 6:30-8:30 p.m. Supplies include books for the Book Nook, bottles of fizzy beverages for Ring Toss, and salty snacks for Bingo. Thanks you for helping make Carnival a great community event!

Upcoming Safety Drill We will conduct two drills on Tuesday, May 27 at 9:00 a.m. We will evacuate the building with a fire drill. We will then move into a secondary evacuation drill. Students will walk with their teacher and class to Highland Catholic. Saint Paul Police and the Saint Paul Public Schools Office of Emergency Management have been informed. This drill is a part of our ongoing effort to ensure strong safety procedures and practice with students.

Barnes and Noble Book Fair and Book Signing Join Kate Kysar, editor, and contributing writers of Riding Shotgun: Women Write about their Mothers at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 31^st for a reading and book signing. Look for a green voucher coming home soon. Barnes and Noble will donate a percentage of sales to our school for anyone who presents the voucher at Barnes and Noble on May 31.

New Teacher(s) and Coaching for Next Year Next year we will welcome at least one new staff member. There were so many neighborhood kindergarten students that we will be adding a kindergarten classroom. Ms. Mary Beth Muehlenbeck will be moving to kindergarten. The following year she will bring her students to 1^st grade with her. The new teacher will be in 1^st grade next year.

We are also changing coaches. I want to say a public thank you to Christine Lema, our Math Coach, for her service to the teachers and students at Horace Mann. Our new coach will be working on gifted strategies with the staff. 53% of our students qualify for gifted and talented service support. We need to begin moving towards a building-wide approach to service. I am very excited to begin the journey. The bottom line is that the strategies that support gifted learners support all students!

We may also be able to add a 5^th/6^th grade teacher. Our current enrollment projection ranges from 81-102 for 5^th/6^th and 346-387 for the building. We have some new families from which we are waiting for confirmation. We still have 25 current families who are unsure of their enrollment for next year.

If you are on our list as unsure and your decision has been made, please let us know as soon as possible. It will greatly help our planning and staffing for next year. The sooner we know the better chance we can hire the best candidate. Judy Browne or I will be calling to verify enrollment if we don’t hear from you.

5^th and 6^th Grade Families Invited to Walker Art Center  5^th and 6^th grade students have been writing their way through the arts. Students have had four field trips to the Walker Art Center. They have studied and written about the art they have seen. The Walker Art Center is inviting the 5th and 6th grade students to share their writing with their parents followed by a reception for the families on Tuesday, June 3rd from  7 - 8:30 p.m.

Upcoming Events

• Monday, May 26 - Memorial Day
• Wednesday, May 28 - Mrs. Long & Students' Art Show 5:30 p.m.
• Thursday, May 29 - All School Field Trip to the Ordway  9:45 - Noon
• Friday, May 30 - Spring Carnival  5:00 - 8:00 p.m.