Wildwood eNews May 29, 2025

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

important dates mahtomedi public schools

Upcoming Events

Now - May 31: MAEF Thanks a Latte
May 29: 1st Grade Field Trip to Gibbs Farm
May 30: Songwriting Showcase for all grades
May 31: Many Faces Expressions: A Multicultural Arts Festival 10 am-2 pm at White Bear Center for the Arts
May 31: MPTO Color Run
June 2: Field Day
June 2: Purchased yearbooks get distributed
June 3: Field Day (rain date)
June 4: Yearbook Sale-first come/first serve, starts at 8:45 am
June 4: Wildwood Public Library visits 1st Grade
June 5: Lost and Found will be displayed until noon
June 5: Vehicle Fair 6-7:30 pm at Wildwood Elementary School (Rescheduled from May 15)
June 6: End of 2nd Semester/Last Day of School
June 6: End of Year Concert for Staff and Students
June 10: Report Cards Available in ParentVue at noon
June 18: Concert in the Park! Tricia & the Toonies 6-7 pm at Wedgewood Park
June 11: MPTO Meeting @ DEC - Year End Wrap-up TBD

This Issue's Top Highlights

KNOW

The PTO Spring Fling was a huge success! Thank you to everyone who attended and volunteered.

DO

If you forgot to purchase a yearbook and would like one, please come with $30 (cash only, no checks) on June 4th. They will be sold on a first come, first serve basis starting at 8:45 am until supplies last.

Please come tomorrow (Friday 5/30) for our Wildwood Songwriting Showcase! See details below.

Principal's Spotlight on LearningE

Each month, Principal Briske spotlights learning happening at our school.
This month, the Principal's spotlight focuses on Expertise.

This year at Wildwood, our teachers have embraced the Wit & Wisdom literacy resource with remarkable dedication, transforming their instructional practices to deeply connect students to the purpose behind their learning. By explicitly linking every activity to the "WHY," our educators are fostering classrooms where inquiry, engagement, and thoughtful reflection thrive. All of our amazing teachers are becoming literacy experts!

Central to a Wit & Wisdom resource is the deliberate integration of guiding questions. Wildwood teachers consistently review the Essential Question at the start and end of each module, ensuring students grasp the overarching themes that drive their exploration. Similarly, the Focusing Question is revisited at the beginning and conclusion of its lesson arc, helping students make meaningful connections across lessons. Daily attention to the Content Framing Question anchors students’ understanding and keeps learning purposeful throughout each day.

Teachers thoughtfully display these questions in the classroom, making them easily accessible and visible for reference. This constant presence reinforces the connection between daily activities and larger learning goals. Importantly, learning goals are communicated in clear, student-friendly language and formats, empowering students to take ownership of their growth.

Instructional practices at Wildwood emphasize student agency, something we want to grow before students head to OHA through carefully crafted questioning. Rather than simply providing answers, teachers facilitate opportunities for students to respond to text-dependent questions, supporting critical thinking and deeper comprehension.

Throughout each module, end-of-module tasks serve as culminating experiences that bring together content knowledge and skills. By explicitly connecting these tasks back to guiding questions and learning goals, teachers create coherent, meaningful assessments that reflect students’ mastery and growth.

In sum, Wildwood’s commitment to Wit & Wisdom and literacy practices this year has resulted in classrooms rich with purposeful inquiry, active student engagement, and thoughtful reflection. By consistently connecting learning activities to the WHY, using data to inform instruction, and fostering student independence through questioning, our teachers have cultivated dynamic literacy environments where every learner thrives.

School News

Come to Our Wildwood Songwriting Showcase

Earlier this spring, our students had the exciting opportunity to work with guest musician, James Hersch. during a week-long songwriting residency! Each grade collaborated with James to write original songs inspired by beloved children’s books, bringing stories to life through music and creativity.

We’re thrilled to invite families to our Outdoor Song Showcase this Friday, May 30, where students will perform the songs they helped create:
Second Grade – 10:00 AM
Kindergarten – 12:30 PM
First Grade – 2:00 PM

All performances will take place outdoors and will be recorded for families who are unable to attend in person.

Please review the letter previously sent for specific details about performance location and what students should wear for the event.
Kindergarten Letter
1st Grade Letter
2nd Grade Letter

We look forward to celebrating this special musical experience with you!

Wildwood Announces Changes to Open House and Assessment Days for Next School Year

Wildwood is excited to share important updates to the Open House and Assessment Day schedules for the upcoming school year, designed to strengthen family connections and support student success.

Kindergarten ONLY Schedule:

August 28: Open House (4:00–5:30 PM)
Kindergarten families are invited to attend Open House, where they can meet their child’s teacher and specialist staff. Outside organizations including MAC, MAEF, and the PTO will also attend to provide helpful resources and community support. Please note that only grade K and specialist teachers will be present on the 28th. Families with 1st & 2nd graders will meet their teachers on Sept. 2nd or 3rd.
September 2 & 3: Family Connection/Assessment Days & Picture Days
These days have been renamed Family Connection/Assessment Days to emphasize collaboration between families and educators. On September 2 (11:00 AM–7:00 PM) and September 3 (8:00 AM–4:00 PM), kindergarten families can meet with specialist teachers, participate in assessments, and have their child’s picture taken. These days provide flexible opportunities for families to engage with the school and support their child’s learning.
In early August a sign-up for a 40 min time slot for either day will be sent out to Kindergarten families.

Grades 1-2 Schedule

September 2: Family Connection/Assessment Day & Picture Day (9:30 AM–7:00 PM)
For grades 1–5, the traditional Open House has been replaced with an extended Family Connection and Assessment Day. This will be a time for families to meet with teachers see the classroom and take some short assessments. Picture day will also take place during these hours.
September 3: Family Connection/Assessment Day & Picture Day (8:00 AM–4:00 PM)
The following day continues Family Connection and Assessment activities alongside picture day, providing additional opportunities for families to connect with our teachers.
In early August a sign-up for a 40-45 min time slot for either day will be sent out to Grade 1-2 families.

What Families Can Expect

These changes reflect Wildwood’s commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for families to engage with teachers, specialists, and community partners early in the school year. Renaming Assessment Days to Family Connection Days highlights the importance of partnership and communication.

We encourage all families to take advantage of these events to build strong relationships that will support student growth throughout the year.

Around the School

Coding in Media Class

All students have been working hard completing Computer Science coding lessons for the past 6 weeks during Media class. Students are using code.org to learn about sequencing, looping, and events using drag and drop blocks for coding. Then, Kindergarteners used Bee Bots and 1st and 2nd graders used Dash Robots to practice their new coding skills.

Learning About Bees

Mr. Dan, our custodian, taught the kindergarteners all about bees and how important they are!

Kindergarten Programs

Our kindergarteners took families and guests on a musical adventure to the farm in their music program last week! Each class featured a special classroom percussion instrument—from tambourines to cowbells—adding a unique sound to songs about different farm animals. With adorable handmade farm animal headbands, the students sang, danced, and performed with confidence and joy, proudly showing everything they’ve learned in music class this year. It was a heartwarming celebration of creativity, rhythm, and the fun of learning through music!

Hat Day

Our kindergarten students wore some great hats for Hat Day!

Food Truck Friday

Thank you to everyone who recently joined us at Mahtomedi Community Education’s Food Truck Friday! This beloved event is a favorite in our community for a reason–it's all about bringing neighbors together to enjoy good food, great music, and meaningful connection. Click here to see photos and behind-the-scenes moments from the event!

MPTO Spring Fling Message

We want to extend a heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended and supported our Spring Fling fundraiser! Thanks to your incredible generosity and participation, we raised a significant amount of money to support our amazing teachers and students.

We are especially grateful to the dedicated volunteers who helped plan, organize, and run the event—your time, energy, and commitment made all the difference.

Thank you for being such an important part of our school community. We couldn’t have done it without you all!