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NRHEG Elementary Newsletter
April 2022
Panther Pride - Be Positive, Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe
Upcoming Dates
April 15-18... No School, Spring Break
April 29... 2 Hour Early Release
April 5 - May 5... MCA Testing for grades 3-5
The district calendar can be found here.
Dr. Seuss Week - Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast
Panther Pride at NRHEG Elementary
Golden Awards are presented to classes who consistently show Panther Pride in our different school settings. Our March Golden Award winners were...
Mrs. Lassahn/2nd - Golden Shoe (PE)
Mr. Fischer/5th - Golden Shoe (PE)
Mrs. Kitzer/2nd - Golden Book (media center)
Ms. Erickson/5th - Golden Creation (STEAM)
Ms. Dobesh/3rd - Golden Recorder (Music)
Mrs. Dobberstein/K and Mr. Fischer/5th - Golden Dust pan (custodians)
Mr. Beynon/3rd - Golden Lunch Tray (cafeteria)
Mrs. Dobberstein/K - Golden Whistle (recess)
Mrs. Buendorf/1st - Golden Whistle (recess)
Mrs. Kitzer/2nd - Golden Whistle (recess)
Mrs. Johns/3rd - Golden Whistle (recess)
Ms. Garlow/4th - Golden Whistle (recess)
Ms. Erickson/5th - Golden Whistle (recess)
On Friday, March 11th, our high school students came over and read But It's Not My Fault with our elementary students to help teach responsibility. This was the second time this year our high school students have helped with our school-wide behavior instruction.
Booktalk of the Month By Ms. Ryks (Teaching and Learning Coordinator)
Do you know it's impossible to be ANGRY if you're laughing? The World Needs More Purple People is a humorous book with some serious tips. What we say and how we act toward other people changes how we feel about ourselves. "The more purple work you do, the more purple you'll become." Plus, we already have A LOT of purple in MN. Click this link to listen to the book. You could even listen in the car! This link is special because it's read by the author (Kristen Bell) and the illustrator (Daniel Wiseman). You might recognize the author's voice from a popular movie.
Celebrating Our Staff
Brenda Dobberstein - Kindergarten Teacher
What are people saying about Brenda?
Brenda makes her kids feel special. She listens to them and speaks in a quiet, comforting voice when they need her.
Brenda always has a positive attitude. She cares about each of her students and makes learning fun!
Her passion for providing her students with multiple avenues of learning depending on what they need!
The environment that she welcomes her students into every morning.
The time she spend intentionally planning what she is teaching both academically and social emotionally.
Brenda always has a positive attitude. She cares about each of her students and makes learning fun!
She is an amazing co-worker and always has a smile on her face. Brenda is a very caring person.
She is involved in the community both in and outside of school. Brenda is passionate about not only the kindergarten program, but our entire school. She is loyal, dependable and an extremely hard working teacher. You see her car in the parking lot well past contract hours.
Her willingness to contribute to conversation based on her prior experiences and determination to provide our students with the best experience.
Being an amazing mentor teacher that has continued to provide an outstanding support system throughout the year.
Amy Johns - 3rd Grade Teacher
What are people saying about Amy?
Amy holds high and achievable expectations for her students. She helps them to truly grow in their learning and independence.
Amy uses her students abilities and interests to guide her to include fun hands on learning activities.
Amy incorporates many fun and rewarding activities for her students to praise their hard work which makes learning fun in her classroom.
Amy is incredibly patient and kind, she is prepared and goes above and beyond to give her kids a great experience, and she is very loving towards all her students!
Amy is dedicated - she is usually one of the first teachers at school in the morning. Amy is creative - she is a very talented at drawing, especially people. Amy is caring - she cares for each and everyone of her students.
Amy is super helpful and shares her knowledge and ideas with co workers.
Amy keeps a positive attitude and is truly happy when interacting with her current students and students in other classes and grades.
Amy always has the best interest of her students at all times!
She takes charge and loves sharing her ideas, she's an amazing artist, and she puts others' needs ahead of her own!
Amy goes above and beyond to help her students be successful.
Laura Garlow - 4th Grade Teacher
What are people saying about Laura?
Laura is a great listener. She knows her students well because she takes the time to listen to each one of her students. Laura is also supportive of her students in and out the classroom. She volunteers to be at their sporting events and actively cheer them on.
She is engaging. She finds ways to make learning fun and apply to real life situations.
Laura is such a positive and patient person. Her students greatly benefit from her calm demeanor. She actively seeks out ways to improve her teaching and make learning more meaningful for her students. She makes learning fun!
Laura is a collaborator. She works well with all colleagues. Laura is very personable. People like her because they feel they can relate to her. Laura is a fun person to be around and she has great stories.
From day one Laura seemed to slide into her role and make it appear as if she had been here for years with her smoothly run classroom. She didn't hesitate to join several committees and offer great feedback and ideas. Laura is a fun and positive colleague/friend!
Community Ed Opportunities
Contact Macy at mwhiteside@nrheg.k12.mn.us or call 507-417-2667 to register.
PANTHER PRESCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: Registration & Open House for the 2022-2023 school year on Tuesday, April 19 in Ellendale or Thursday, April 21 in New Richland. You can attend either site and register for either site on these days. The Open Houses are from 6:00-7:00pm. Swing in during this time to check out the classroom, meet the teachers, and register! The registration fee will only be $20 if you attend one of the Open Houses register before April 21st, 2022. The registration fee after April 21st is $35 per child. Registration information will be available for the 2022-2023 preschool program on our website starting Wednesday, April 6th. Please check our website: www.nrheg.k12.mn.us. Go to the Community Education tab, click on Early Learning, then Registration Forms.
SCHOOL AGE CARE: Full time / part time / drop in care available! Daycare for children ages preschool - 5th grade. Open Monday-Friday 6:45am to 5:45pm, year round (we will bring your children to/from preschool). You choose your schedule and pay accordingly (there is no fee charged while your child attends Panther Preschool).
Fore more information & prices visit: https//www.nrheg.k12.mn.us/domain/680 or contact Rachel Powell at 507-416-2137 or email rpowell@nrheg.k12.mn.us for more information!
GRASP: A correspondence summer program designed to reinforce math & reading skills learned during the school year just completed. GRASP is a workbook program designed for students who have completed grades K-8 to keep their skills current over the summer months. Students complete nine lessons in math, reading, or both over the summer. Each lesson takes about one hour to complete. Mail the lessons in, then they are scored, results recorded and returned to the children. Children receive a medal soon after Labor Day. Books will be distributed to students the last week of school. Register for the grade just completed. If interested, please email Macy at mwhiteside@nrheg.k12.mn.us for registration forms.
Registration deadline: Monday April 25. Cost: Math = $26, Reading = $26. Both = $48
SUNFLOWER PAINTING CLASS- Watercolor painting class. Adult & Adult/Child (2nd grade and up). Looking for an artistic night out by yourself, a creative night out with friends, or making it a date night with that special ‘little’ someone in your life? Register for Judy Tweeten’s Painting class and learn a new skill or brush up on your old one! This class is geared toward the artist and is for adults & adult/child combinations. Adults will paint using watercolor while their children paint their very own flower pot to plant a sunflower seed in at home! Wear paint shirts!
Date: Wed. April 27 Time: 5:00-7:00pm. Cost: $30.00
Location: NR Secondary School, room D153. Register by: April 20
T-BALL & COACH PITCH: T-ball for children ages 4 - Kindergarten, Coach Pitch for children ages 1st & 2nd grade. Season runs June 7-30. Reminder that registrations are due by April 14th! Contact Macy at 507-417-2667 or email mwhiteside@nrheg.k12.mn.us for a registration form if you need one! Cost: $25 per child. T-ball is Monday/Wednesdays 6:15-7:15pm & Coach Pitch is Tuesday/Thursdays 6:15-7:30pm.
HOME ALONE SAFETY: Grades: 3-5 Instructor: Macy Whiteside
The school year is already upon us and that may mean your child will be home alone for an extended period of time until you get home from work or an outing. Whether left alone for an hour or a few hours a day, your child should feel comfortable being alone. This workshop for children will address several topics relating to being “Home Alone”. Topics include personal safety tips, stranger danger, basic first aid, gun & fire safety, dealing with loneliness & boredom, storm safety, dealing with siblings, as well as trust & honesty. You also get your own first aid kit to bring home with you! Wednesday May 11 3:15-5:15pm $26 per student Ellendale Media Center Register by: Thursday, May 5
POWER HOUR: Adult fitness classes with Emily Schultz. All fitness levels are welcome! Join Emily for a unique and customized group workout experience at the New Richland Secondary School! She understands that every person is unique and every goal is personal, so by working together we can build healthier, happy people! Our unique personalized workout classes offer a wide variety of movements, routines, and challenges based on the strengths of the coach, the equipment available to us and the spaces we are provided. This is a truly customized group fitness class that offers multiple workout options 3 days a week so eventually you will discover multiple options/pathways within each of our workouts to help you achieve your goals! Location: NR Secondary school weight room, enter through door #17. Session 4: Feb. 28 - April 29, $85 for 9 weeks. Session 5: May 2 - July 1 MWF, 5:00-6:00am. $85 per person for 9 weeks.
Order your 2021-2022 Yearbook Today!
If ordering in the office, please send cash or a check written out to NRHEG.
Health Office Information
elemhealthoffice@nrheg.k12.mn.us
sechealthoffice@nrheg.k12.mn.us
Covid Related Health Office Contact Information
Elementary Covid Line... 507-416-2104
Secondary Covid Line... 507-417-2651
Weekly Drive-Thru Covid-19 and Flu Vaccine Clinics
Health Office Staff
Carrie Petsinger, School Nurse
Linda Bergstrom, LPN
Crystal Studier, Health Office Aide
Please should continue to watch your child for COVID-19 symptoms, which include:
● Fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
● New cough or a cough that gets worse
● Difficulty/hard time breathing
● New loss of taste or smell
● Sore throat
● New nasal congestion/stuffy or runny nose
● Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
● Muscle pain
● Extreme fatigue/feeling very tired
● New severe/very bad headache
● Chills
Our School Needs Substitutes!
From the Cafeteria
NRHEG Elementary
600 School Street
Ellendale, MN 56026
507.684.3181
Elementary Office Staff
Jean Greenwood, Admin Assistant
Melissa Harmening, Admin Assistant/District Data Coordinator
Marah Ryks, Teaching and Learning Coordinator
Nick Jurrens, Elementary Principal