OHA eNews April 24, 2025

Past issues of the eNews are available at www.mahtomedi.k12.mn.us/enews

important dates mahtomedi public schools

Upcoming Events

April 26: RITE of Spring Community Event 10-1 pm at WW
April 28: Coffee & Conversations: 10-10:45 am DEC
April 29-30: 5th Science MCA’s 9:30-11:30
May 1: 3rd Grade Field Trip. Nature Night 5-7 pm at WW
May 2: School Council Dress up day- wear fancy/formal attire. MCA Celebration
May 5: aReading Testing
May 5-9: Teacher Appreciation Week
May 6: aMath
May 7: MySAEBRS, Safe Routes to School Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Day. Community Lunch 11:30 am-1 pm at DEC
May 8: Staff Appreciation Breakfast - Sign up Here

This Issue's Top Highlights

KNOW

Check out our Principal’s spotlight on how O.H. Anderson has a world class educational system.

DO

Teacher Appreciation Week is May 5-8. Please complete a Zephyr Celebration Form to recognize our outstanding teachers at OHA.

Please sign up to volunteer for: OHA Passion Day May 23, 2025
Track and Field Days MAY 27-29, 2025

Principal's Spotlight on Learning

Each month, Principal Susie Prather spotlights learning happening at our school.
This month, the Principal's spotlight focuses on World Class Education.

Dear OHA Students and Families,

In today’s dynamic world, delivering world-class education in elementary schools is essential and is a part of our strategic plan. These elementary years shape not only students' academic abilities but also their social, emotional, and critical thinking skills. But what defines world-class elementary education, and how can schools implement it effectively?

World-class education goes beyond mastering reading and math standards. It fosters well-rounded learners who are curious, resilient, and socially responsible. This includes:

Academic Excellence: A rigorous curriculum that challenges students while providing high levels of support.
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL): Programs that develop empathy, emotional regulation, healthy relationships, and an understanding of multiple perspectives.
Technology Integration: Utilizing modern tools to enhance learning and digital literacy.

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL): O.H. Anderson fosters empathy, emotional management, and problem-solving through daily morning meetings and the Second Step SEL curriculum. Morning meetings include a greeting, sharing, group activity, and morning message, creating a welcoming community atmosphere while reinforcing speaking and listening skills. The Second Step program builds skills in four areas:

Skills for Learning: Focusing attention, listening carefully, and assertively seeking help.
Empathy: Recognizing and respecting one’s own and others’ feelings.
Emotion Management: Techniques for calming down when experiencing strong emotions.
Problem Solving: Approaches for resolving conflicts positively.

Technology Integration: Every student at O.H. Anderson has access to a Chromebook and uses Google apps to share learning, collaborate with others, and show creativity. Students create and present morning news slides via Google Meet, modeling purposeful and responsible technology use. Check out these examples of fifth-grade book trailers students created to persuade others to read books during National Reading Month: Wings of Fire, Enemy Pie, and Spy School.

World-class elementary education is not just about academic achievement—it’s about cultivating compassionate, innovative, and open-minded people. O.H. Anderson’s commitment to academic rigor, social-emotional growth, and technology integration demonstrates how world-class education can become a reality.

School News

MCAs

Students at OH. Anderson Elementary School have been taking the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs) in reading, math the past 2 weeks and have done their best work to show what they know. Next week only 5th graders will be taking Science MCAs. We use this data to monitor how our system is doing, meeting state standards. We also use the data as a part of a student’s data story to determine if students may need extra support or challenge. Results will be available to families in the Fall as they need to be finalized by the state.

Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Day is May 7th

We want to encourage our students to walk to school, bike to school or roll to school on May 7, 2025.

Our Safe Routes to School committee has worked to recommend new Safe Routes to OHA. Check them out on the map linked here. These are suggested routes that are intended to encourage adults and students to consider walking and biking to school. Adults are responsible for choosing the appropriate option based on their knowledge of the route and the skill level of the student. A test run is suggested to evaluate the suitability of the student.
Join us to celebrate all students and staff that participate in this event on May 7, 2025, at 8:45 at the OHA Playground. You will get a sticker, make a tally for your class, enjoy some fruit and water, and play with friends. The class in each grade that has the most students and staff participating will win an extra recess and treat with Ms. Prather to show our love for exercise.
Families can ride their bikes to school with their kids or start a walking group. I know some students ride a bus to school so you could drop them off on a designated route to encourage exercise to school.

Parent Volunteers Needed for Track and Field Day

Mr. Wanner is excited to give our Zephyrs a memorable experience during field day, and he needs your help. He is seeking 25 volunteers for each day of our field days on May 27th- (3rd- 9:40-2:30), 28th- (4th-9:40-2:30), and 29th- (5th-9:40-2:45). *Make up date in case of bad weather- Friday, May 30th. Please use the following link to sign up to be a volunteer.

Volunteers will be asked to manage field day stations and record performance of each class. Volunteers will check in at the front office between 8:45 and 9:15 am and meet behind the building on the playground to prepare for the day. Please wear your volunteer badge at all times.

Please note that you will be asked to complete a Volunteer Background Check before your volunteer date. If you have previously completed your background check with the district, you may sign up for a volunteer spot now. If you need to complete a background check please use the following link to complete the process Volunteer Background Check. Feel free to contact Beth Hennen or Tonya Voight at 651-407-2300 with any questions. Thank you for your help.

OHA Passion Exploration Volunteers Wanted

We are looking for volunteers who would like to share their passions and interests with OHA students. We are looking for you to spend 45 minutes with a small group of OHA students sharing a hands-on learning experience with your group.
Ideas may include:

Cooking
Jewelry making
Photography
Yoga
Basketball
Fishing
Drama
Music- Dance, Guitar, Piano
Slime
Spanish
Chess

When? Friday, May 23, 2025 2:45-3:25 pm
Why? Our strategic plan celebrates students finding passions. This is an exploration of learning for our students. Volunteers will share their passions and students will learn from them and explore their personal interests.
How? Sign up here if you are interested. We can reimburse you for expenses from PTO up to $20 a class. Please save receipts.
All volunteers will need to complete a background check through the district.

Welcome Events for Incoming 3rd Graders on 5/20/25

Students
There will be a student presentation and scavenger hunt with a 3rd grade buddy starting at 9:30 or 10:45 am at O.H. Anderson. Wildwood students will be bussed to OHA for an in-person visit.

Parents/ Caregivers only
Parent Night with tours and a presentation from 6-7 pm at O.H. Anderson. The agenda includes a presentation by Ms. Prather and two third-grade teachers and tours of O.H. Anderson by some of our students.

If you are unable to attend, we have virtual options:

Here is the Family slideshow with all of the information linked.
A video of the presentation is linked here.
Incoming 3rd Grade Welcome Letter

Around the School

Fun Photos This Week

Follow OHA on Instagram to see more photos of what we've been doing this week!

Celebrate Our Staff

If you want to celebrate a teacher or staff member please fill out this Zephyr Celebration Form. It makes a staff member's day for going the extra mile. We will deliver the kind wishes to them and we will celebrate how they make a difference in the lives of a child.