Past issues of the eNews are available at www.mahtomedi.k12.mn.us/enews
O.H. Anderson Elementary School
Upcoming Events
Feb. 28: 5th Grade field trip
March 1-31: National Reading Month
March 3: Positive Peers Gold 8:15am and World Music Ensemble- 8:25AM. Math Masters 3:45pm
Mar 5: Student Council Mtg. 8:25am
March 5, 19, 26: Strategy Games - 3:45 pm - 4:45 pm at OHA (No session March 12 due to Spring Break)
March 7: Dress Up Day- Hats off to Reading/ Beach Day and Beach Bingo 3-3:30
March 10-14: Spring Break
March 19: Community Education Summer Registration Opens on Eleyo
March 21: Dress Up Day- Read a shirt
March 26: Dress Up Day- Dress up like a favorite book / Team up for reading- sports clothes
March 27: 3rd Grade Music Program 3A (Voit, Zemke, Feustel, Gibson, Ostrowski)
March 28: 3rd Grade Music Program 3B (Nestrud, Loosbrock, Dworak, Hanson)
Dress Up Day- Dress up like a favorite book / Team up for reading- sports clothesMarch 31: Dress Up Day- We “read” all month - Wear red
This Issue's Top Highlights
KNOW
We thank you for partnering with us at conferences.
DO
Please make sure your child is reading for 20 minutes each night as this is our schoolwide homework at OHA.
SHARE
Check out plans for March which is National Reading Month.
Principal's Spotlight on Learning
Each month, Principal Susie Prather spotlights learning happening at our school.
This month, the Principal's spotlight focuses on Personal Success.
Dear OHA Students and Families,
Kofi Annan stated at International Literacy Day in 1997, “For everyone, everywhere, literacy is, along with education in general, a basic human right.” For the past three years, Mahtomedi K-5 teachers have been dedicated to building a coherent literacy system aligned with the science of reading, ensuring that our students achieve both academic and personal success through literacy.
All K-5 teachers have completed the first half of their LETRS training and will continue their professional learning in the 2025-26 school year. Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) is an in-depth professional development course that equips educators with the knowledge and tools necessary to support reading, spelling, and language development across any curriculum.
Throughout this year, we have implemented research-based resources recommended by the Minnesota Department of Education. Our approach thoughtfully integrates word recognition and language comprehension, as illustrated by Scarborough's Reading Rope, to develop skilled, confident readers.
In grades K-2, we have focused on building strong foundational and word recognition skills using UFLI, which emphasizes phonological awareness, decoding, and sight recognition. In grades 3-4, we have implemented Functional Phonics and Morphology to deepen students’ understanding of Greek and Latin roots.
To strengthen language comprehension, we have utilized Wit & Wisdom modules, which support knowledge building, vocabulary development, and reading comprehension.
Here are some highlights from K-5 showcasing how our students have grown into skilled readers, writers, and critical thinkers.
Kindergarten: Developing critical thinking skills through noticing and wondering about text
First Grade: Learning about animals and successfully writing an informative paragraph.
Second Grade: Working on informative paragraphs including an introduction, main topic, supporting details, and conclusion.
Third Graders are writing complete sentences to create 4-paragraph essays with introductions and conclusions.
Fourth Graders are making connections to other texts they are reading and writing paragraphs with text evidence to support their thinking.
Fifth Graders are also writing more extensively with paragraphs with text evidence to support their thinking.
Take care of yourself, your family, and each other.
Mr. Briske, Principal of Wildwood Elementary
Ms. Prather, Principal of O.H. Anderson
Ms. Scanlon, PK-12 Literacy Coordinator
Ms. Livingston, K-5 Literacy Coach
Dr. Reichel, Director of Teaching and Learning
Ms. Prather, Principal
susan.prather@isd832.net
School News
We are Celebrating National Reading Month in March at OHA!
Our school-wide goal is that every student is forming a reading habit and is reading, or being read to, for 20-30 minutes a night. Research shows that this habit makes a huge impact on vocabulary acquisition and standardized test scores. Check out research that was shared at conferences about the importance of reading.
What school events will we have?
Dress up days
March 7- Hats off to Reading/ Beach Day
March 21- Read a shirt
March 26- Dress up like a favorite book / Team up for reading- sports clothes
March 31- We “read” all month - Wear redBook Brackets like March Madness
Decorate school with our hot reads
Mystery staff readers on announcements
High School Guest Readers
All School Read (DEAR) will be on March 31st
#CaughtReadingatOHA- Email fun photos of kids reading at home to Ms. Prather at susan.prather@isd832.net. They will be displayed in the display case by the office.
How can we support this at home?
Choose books that are at an appropriate reading level for your child.
Choose books that match your child’s likes and dislikes.
Keep plenty of reading materials in your home: books, magazines, newspapers, and comic books.
Be excited about reading with your child. It’s contagious!
“Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.”
- Emilie Buchwald
Midyear assessment data
Midyear assessment data is now available in Parent Vue. Remember this is one piece of data in a child’s data story. We use this data to look for growth and to discuss if students may need extra support or extensions.
Not attending Mahtomedi 2025-26 school year
If you are moving or not planning on attending Mahtomedi schools, please let the office know at beth.hennen@isd832.net.
More Food Choices Coming to Elementary Schools
Exciting news—starting Monday, March 3, we’re expanding our à la carte options! Students have been asking for more variety, and after a successful pilot program, Nutrition Services is making it happen. Now, kids can purchase yogurt parfaits, granola bars, and more!
Check out the new à la carte items (highlighted in red) and prices on our website. If you’d like to set spending limits or opt your child out, you can update their account through SchoolCafe.
Event Cancellation: Make up day for Ice Fishing for Ms. Loosbrock, Ms. Nestrud, Ms. Dworak and Ms. Hanson’s classes.
The make-up day for ice fishing for Monday, March 3rd is canceled due to the warm weather conditions across Minnesota. We apologize for the inconvenience as we know many students and volunteers were looking forward to the make-up event. However, student safety is our top priority. We believe this decision is necessary to ensure everyone’s safety and well-being. Thank you for understanding.
Volunteers Needed for Career Fair
We are seeking volunteers to support Mahtomedi High School students at the MHS Career, Internship, and Volunteer Fair on April 11, 2025.
Business/Organization Volunteers: Whether you're looking to recruit dedicated interns, employees, or volunteers, this fair is your chance to build meaningful connections with MHS students.
Community Volunteers: We are also seeking volunteers to share their time reviewing student resumes, providing tips, and answering student questions on interviewing or other preparation ideas.
Mahtomedi Community Education Summer Catalog Now Available
The Mahtomedi Community Education Summer 2025 Catalog is now available to view on Eleyo! Get a first glance at the hundreds of opportunities available for you to explore your passions, connect with others in your community, or develop a new hobby. Browse opportunities for ages ranging from preschool to adult, and start planning your summer. Print catalogs will be mailed to Mahtomedi families and the community in early March.
Around the School
Student voices infused at conferences
We want to support our students in becoming agents of their learning. We want them to know themselves as learners with strengths and goals for their future. Our students shared at conferences who they are as learners and practiced speaking skills.
OHA Food Drive for Kindness Month
We donated 1112 pounds of food to the Mahtomedi Food Shelf. Thank you for the donations and thank you to Student Council for organizing this service project to spread kindness. Congratulations to the winners of the food drive sculpture contest. These classes earned an ice cream treat.
3- Loosbrock- Love MN
4- Baker- Eiffel Tower
5- Geis’s Disney Land
Kindness Stations
Our students spent time on Feb. 14 spreading kindness outside OHA. Thank you to all the volunteers for making this possible. They made:
Thank you treat bags for Mahtomedi guest teachers and bus drivers
Artwork and placements to share with the residents of St Andrew's Village
Positive cards for first responders in our community
Kindness messages and friendship pins for guests of The Wildwood Tavern and The Wild Bean Mahtomedi
Fabric hearts for babies and their parents at the Hennepin Healthcare NICU (the hearts are for babies and their parents in the hospital to have the scent of their parents or baby when they are not at the hospital)
Ice Fishing
Cross Country Skiing
It was a blast for kids who had warm temperatures for cross country skiing.
E-Learning Day
Thank you for all of your hard work and support during e-learning days.
Good News Phone Calls
We love celebrating academic and personal excellence at OHA. Good News calls are a hit celebrating with our families.
Smile Makers donation from Ty Haschig
Thank you to Ty Haschig State Farm insurance for donating dental kits for National Dental Month to all 5th graders at OHA.
Wall of Fame
Congratulations to this week’s Wall of Fame honorees! Every week, students are selected from our Ticket Bowl for being Respectful, Responsible, and giving everyone the right to learn.
A heartfelt thank you to all the incredible volunteers who dedicated their time and energy to making the teacher buffet, book fair, and spirit wear events a success! Your hard work, kindness, and commitment bring so much joy and community spirit - we are truly grateful for each and every one of you.
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.
Get Involved
Volunteers are needed for Strategy Games, click here to volunteer.
About eNews
The School eNews contains information about our students, staff, and programs. The School eNews is published once a week and archives are available at www.mahtomedi.k12.mn.us/page/enews
All OHA families and staff are subscribed to this newsletter.
651-407-2300
www.ohanderson.mahtomedi.k12.mn.us/
Ask a Question Form