October News
October 12, 2023
A note from the Principal
Hello Rosa Parks Families-
We are 5 weeks into the school year and we are picking up steam. Being in and out of classrooms I have seen lots of; classroom community building, students working hard at math, increasing our reading stamina, and other early in the year activities. Our staff and Pumas are working hard and off to a great start.
You are likely aware by now that the school district is holding a two-question referendum on November 7. This referendum hits on the following:
Safety + Security at all MAPS school buildings
Early Learning Access for our youngest learners and families
Learning + Wellness Spaces for students and staff
Outdoor Activity Spaces for both high schools, youth recreation and community use
Specifically, Rosa Parks is directly impacted by the following:
- Enhanced cyber security improvements to protect student sensitive data.
- There will be an increase in accessibility to preschool and childcare services.
- East side families will have better access to the pool at East high school.
- Our students will benefit from improvements in co-curricular facilities.
More importantly, future focused improvements to facilities in our district makes our community a better place to be and for children to learn and grow. When improvements happen throughout our District it makes the whole district stronger.
Bond Referendum - Future Focused Facilities
For over 70 years, Mankato West High School has been a cornerstone of our community, serving generations of students and families. Now, it is in need of critical improvements to its learning and wellness spaces in order to meet the needs of today’s learners and beyond.
Watch this brief video, where Principal Sherri Blasing and Activities Director Joe Johnson discuss the current facility challenges at Mankato West High School.
The November 7 referendum will fund the following updates and improvements at Mankato West High School:
Update and expand academic classrooms and flexible learning spaces
Renovate the existing gym area into a fine arts suite for band, choir and orchestra
Build a three-station gym, multi-purpose/wrestling room, locker rooms and classrooms
Convert the decommissioned 1950’s pool area into multi-purpose, flexible learning spaces for students
Build a competition and community use 8-lane pool at Dakota Meadows Middle School
These projects embody our forward-looking approach to providing our students with the best possible educational experience and fostering wellness within our community.
Learn more about the facilities bond referendum at www.isd77.org/vote2023 and make your plan to vote on or before November 7, 2023.
Still need Part-Time Help
We are getting close to being fully staffed. We are still looking for one or two wonderful people to support our students during lunch. If you are willing to be a classroom/lunchroom supervisor, please contact me ASAP. We can be flexible if you are not available everyday!
Thank you for considering.
Dan Kamphoff
507-387-7672
Students are Enjoying our new STEM CLASS
See pics below!
American Indian Parent Advisory Committee (AIPAC)
Tuesday, October 17, 2023, 5:30pm @ Franklin Auditorium
October AIPAC Meeting- Final Grant and Budget Review
Tuesday, February 6, 2024, 5:30pm @ Franklin Auditorium
February AIPAC Meeting- Vote of Concurrence
Tuesday, February 20, 2024, 5:30pm Mankato Room
AIPAC presents Vote of Concurrence to School Board
Monday, April 8, 2024, 5:30pm @ Franklin Auditorium
April AIPAC Meeting - Planning for Celebration
Monday, May 20, 2024, 5:30pm @ Sibley Park Shelter 3
End of Year Celebration for AIPAC families
Student Accident Insurance
Early Release days
MAPS families, we will have early releases on the following Wednesdays:
2-Hour Early Release Days
November 8, 2023
December 13, 2023
January 10, 2024
February 14, 2024
March 13, 2024
April 17, 2024
May 15, 2024
- This means your student will start their day at the normal time of 8am and be released at 12:30pm. Your student will still receive lunch prior to the 12:30pm dismissal when buses will leave the building.
- Optional supervision by school staff is coordinated by the building and provided between 12:30 and 2:30pm. A Google form will be used to sign up again this year.
- Students who stay for the optional supervision and are not enrolled in ACES must have transportation home by 2:30pm, the end of a normal school day.
- Lastly, ExCEL and After School Club programs will not run on early release Wednesdays.
PTO Needs YOU!!
Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
We have our arrival and dismissal procedures in place to keep students safe, and operate in an efficient and effective manner.
Arrival:
- Doors will not open until 7:35 unless you are enrolled in our ACES program. Also, adult supervision does not start until 7:35.
- Students that arrive between 7:35 and 7:50 should either report to the playground or breakfast.
Curbside drop off is in the lower lot, door (#3). Please follow the flow of traffic.
DO NOT PASS cars and skip ahead in line.
Pull ahead as far as possible at all times. It may be super convenient for your kid to exit the vehicle right in front of the door or playground but please be considerate of others. The better everyone follows the procedures the smoother the experience is for everyone.
The upper lot, (door #1) is reserved for buses only. and special circumstances. Should you need to visit the office, use the upper lot to park and enter the building.
Students who walk or ride their bike will approach on the path, on the playground side of the building. They will walk/bike around the building to the bike racks and use the lower door (#3).
THE END OF DAY PICK-UP PROCEDURES - THE NUMBERS ARE HERE TO STAY.
DISMISSAL PROCEDURES
Students who walk home will exit door #7 (near orange playground equipment)
utilize the walking path
must promptly begin leaving campus once they exit the building.
Students who bike home will exit door #7 (near orange playground equipment)
utilize the walking/bike path
must promptly begin leaving campus once they exit the building.
Students who are car riders will exit door #3.
We are committed to keeping Rosa Parks students, families, and staff safe. Thank you for your cooperation!
Each family is given a number that will need to be displayed in the car window
Families will get two numbers to have in multiple vehicles
Display number on the passenger side
When pulling up, always pull up as far as you can and we will load multiple cars at a time.
Staff will communicate the numbers in the order they have arrived into the building.
Avoiding the process and driving to the front will result in your number not being called. Follow the process!
As cars load, they will be dismissed and the next batch of cars will pull in.
Make sure your children know their number for dismissal.
Please make sure your child knows how they will be getting home each day. Inform your child’s teacher or the school office if there is a change in your family’s plan.
TITLE 1 SERVICES AT ROSA PARKS
Rosa Parks is a Schoolwide Title 1 School. In the past, Title 1 funds were available to
provide additional support to students who qualified based on their test scores. As a Schoolwide Title 1 school we are now able to utilize those resources more flexibly to support any students that would benefit. This fits wonderfully with our small group instruction blocks when students receive acceleration or enrichment based on their specific needs. Feel free to contact the school if you have questions.
As a parent, you have the right to request information about the qualifications of your child’s teacher(s). For further information, contact Dan Kamphoff, principal at Rosa Parks Elementary.
Contact Us
Email: dkamph1@isd77.org
Website: rpe.isd77.org
Location: 1001 Heron Drive, Mankato, MN, USA
Phone: 507-387-7672