A weekly publication of the Lake Harriet Community School PTA ...

A weekly publication of the Lake Harriet Community School PTA
April 26, 2011
From the Desk of the Principal:
Dear Families,
We have now received confirmation that Mr. Skendi will not be returning this year. We have also
received confirmation that Mr. Skendi has selected not to return to the Lake Harriet Community School for
employment next year. We are, therefore, filling his position with a long-call reserve teacher to carry
through to the end of this school year. The long-call reserve teacher beginning on Tuesday, April 26 th in
Mr. Skendi’s place is Nicky Odermatt. Ms. Odermatt comes highly recommended from both principals at
Field and Anthony Middle School.
We are posting Mr. Skendi’s position for application within the school district. The Interview and
Select internal process for filling positions within the MPS for the 2011-12 school year will begin in a week.
Hopefully, we will be able to inform families this spring as to who will be the new middle grades social
studies teacher for next year.
We have a few more staffing changes for next year. Mr. Dahlen, the media teacher at the upper
campus has decided to retire at the end of this year. Also, Ms. Neher who teaches middle grades
language arts is retiring. They have both been served the Lake Harriet community well for many years.
The spring of the school year is always a whirl-wind. Vocal, band and strings concerts are
intermixed with Field Day events. The fun of the school Carnival adds to the excitement. In addition,
better weather, longer days, class picnics, eighth grade dance competition, spring sports and the middle
grades dance all contribute in teasing our students to pull away from sustained academics until the end of
the year. However, we are still in business for seven more weeks and ask for your support in helping the
children stay focused.
fun!
Ellen Murphy, Merry Tilleson and I hope to see you all at the Carnival this Friday night for lots of
Sincerely,
Mary Rynchek
Lake Harriet Kids Win First Place at the State Destination Imagination Competition
Five LHCS 8th graders are members of a Destination Imagination team that took 1st place in the Middle
School Division at the DI State Tournament held on Saturday, April 16 at Champlin High School. The team
named "Polyoxybenzymethylenglycolanhydride" includes Piper S-A, Seth C-P, Hannah F., Nathaniel L. and
Becca T.and former LHCS student Kaj A-M. Some of the judges' comments included, "Very polished
performance" and "Your presentation was highly entertaining." This DI team has been together since 4th
grade. While they have won at the regional competition and performed at state three times and they are
happy to end their middle school experience with a trip to the DI National Competition in May. We wish
them the best of luck!
Why STEM for LHCS?
Did you Know?

In a recent poll, more than half Americans aged 18-34 admitted that they often say they can't do math.
The STEM workforce accounts for more than fifty percent of the nation’s sustained economic growth.
There is a projected shortage of 3 million workers with U.S. College Degrees by the year 2018.
LHCS has included in its mission statement an additional focus: STEM. The STEM Acronym -for
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math- is now used to describe an approach to learning. Read the
article at http://lakeharriet.mpls.k12.mn.us/uploads/stem_at_lhcs_2.pdf more information.
Community Meeting
When: Thursday, May 5th, 6:00-8:00 pm
Where: Linden Hills Park Building.
Jennifer Sommerness, an independent educational consultant, is hosting another community meeting to
continue to discuss inclusive practices in neighborhood schools. We will pick up where we left off last
month, but you didn't have to attend the last meeting to join in with us on this one. Please come and join
the conversation, and spread the word! All are welcome! Please email me if you have questions, or to let
me know you can attend: carl3326@umn.edu. I hope to see you there!
Spring Music Programs
Be sure to attend the LHCS Lower Campus Spring Music Programs in the lower campus gym!
Date: Thursday, May 5, 2011
Morning program: 9:50 Kindergarten: rooms PC, 106A & 108A
Grade One: rooms 102, 107 & 109
Grade Two: rooms 101 & 203
Afternoon program: 2:30
Kindergarten: rooms PC, 106P & 108P
Grade One: rooms 110 & PD
Grade Two: rooms 201, 202 & 204
Lake Harriet Community School Wind Ensemble Spring Concert
The Lake Harriet Community School Wind Ensemble (Grades 6-8) will present their annual spring concert
on Thursday, April 28, 2011 at 3:15 in the school gym. Our program will feature marches, and original
works by Warren Barker, Larry Clark, and Elena Roussanova Lucas. The students have been working hard
towards this performance. We invite all families and community members to attend.
Lake Harriet Community School Chamber Orchestra Spring Concert
The Lake Harriet Community School Chamber Orchestra (Grades 4-5) will perform in their annual spring
concert on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 2:30 in the school gym. In addition to a program of light classics,
the group will also perform fiddle music and contemporary orchestra arrangements. The students have
been working hard toward this performance. We look forward to seeing families, friends, and community
members at the performance.
Lake Harriet Community School Concert Band Spring Concert
The Lake Harriet Community School Concert Band (Grades 4-5) invites you to their annual spring concert
on Friday, May 13, 2011 at 2:30 in the school gym. The concert band will present a program of
contemporary band music along with small ensemble works. The students have been working hard toward
this performance. We look forward to seeing families, friends, and community members at the
performance.
Spring Concert Season Arrives– Don’t miss it!

The student musicians of Lake Harriet always look forward to their spring performances. We invite you to
share in our musical experiences. Please join us for the performances listed below.
Please mark your calendars!
Thursday, May 26, 2011 • LHUC Gym
Grades 3-5 perform at 10am
Grades 6-8 perform at 2:30pm *including orchestra*.
We hope to see you there!
Spring Music Programs, Lower Campus Gym
Date: Thursday, May 5, 2011
Morning program: 9:50am
Kindergarten: PC, 106A & 108A
1st Grade: 102, 107 & 109
2nd Grade: 101 & 203
Afternoon program: 2:30pm
K'inderarten: PC, 106P & 108P
1st Grade: 110 & PD
2nd Grade: 201, 202, 204
Recycle Your Bicycle!
Do you have an old bike collecting dust in the garage?
Has your child already outgrown a bike?
Burroughs Community School is hosting a bike drive to benefit Sibley Bike Depot, a local non-profit
community bike shop. Sibley Bike Depot's mission is to be an open, accessible space to educate and
empower people to use bicycles as transportation, helping to build a sustainable environment and
community.
Sibley Bike Depot makes bikes more accessible to children and adults through a number of programs
including: a free Open Shop to fix your bike, Earn-a-Bike providing people a bike at no cost, Youth
Apprenticeship Program educating and employing youth, Junior Mechanic Classes teaching youth
bike mechanics while acquiring school credit, free Adult Classes in bicycle mechanics, Community Partners
Bike Library loaning bikes to low-income community members, holiday bike donations,
numerous community-partnerships and much more!
Saturday, May 7
10am-1pm
Burroughs Community School
1601 West 50th Street
All you need to do is bring a bike that is not being used and we will connect it with someone in need.
All bike related donations, in any condition, are welcome and eligible for a tax-deductible receipt.
Please feel free to visit u s at www.sibleybike depot.org, email devon drosdeck@gmail.com, or simply to
say “Hi” and learn more about our organization. stop by the bike drive to say “Hi” and learn more about
our organization.
Hello Haiti Tapestry - Connecting Kids Across Borders
Stop by the lower campus to see the "Hello Haiti Tapestry", created by K-2 students as a part of this

year's school-wide Service Learning Initiative focusing on Shelter and Safe Spaces to Play. The project
was initiated to help the students reflect on what they had learned from a presentation about the
American Refugee Committee's (ARC) ongoing efforts to help the people of Haiti to rebuild after the
devastating earthquake of Jan, 2010; and to serve as a bridge connecting our students to children in Haiti
through their shared love of play. The tapestry includes over 950 student self-portraits and sketches that
symbolize their favorite ways to play with friends and family. ARC will present the tapestry to the children
of Terrain Acra Camp in Port-au-Prince, along with the funds that our school community is raising to help
build homes in Haiti. This project was made possible through the generous support of many people:
American Refugee Committee (ARC), Teachers at Terrain Acra Camp, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Child-friendly
Spaces, The Sanneh Foundation, LHCS Teachers, Principals and students, the LHCS Diversity Committee &
Fiber Artist Lea Rae Duma, Graphics-Sara Boehnke and Photographer-Keri Pickett
Sleep out for Shelter in this week's mail
Check your child's backpack for detailed information about the Sleep Out for Shelter which is on Friday,
May 20, 2011. We hope you and your family are excited to participate in this service learning opportunity
Get Ready for the Sleep Out for Shelter!
Get Ready for the Sleep Out for Shelter! The LHCS Sleep Out for Shelter is Friday, May 20, 2011. LHCS
families that wish to participate will give up their shelter for one night and collect pledges for housing for
families who lost their homes due to the earthquake. The LHCS goal is to raise enough money to purchase
8 homes for families in Haiti. Our school is partnering with the American Refugee Committee, whose
overall goal is to build 2,000 transitional homes for Haitian families
(http://www.arcrelief.org/site/PageServer).
We hope that many LHCS families will participate. Parent “toolkits” will be available from the American
Refugee Committee (will be provided at the school). These toolkits will contain information about Haiti, the
transitional shelters, and provide reflective questions that you can discuss as a family after spending the
night in your tent or alternative shelter.
If you are interested in having other LHCS students camp in your backyard, such as your child’s friends,
you must agree to be the chaperone and complete a criminal background check. Please see LHCS
volunteer policy (http://lakeharriet.mpls.k12.mn.us/volunteer_policies_3.html) for more information.
If you want to host other students, you must complete this form in the next several weeks, as the process
takes a minimum of 2 weeks to complete. Please fill this form out no later than May 5, 2011. Staff person
Jenna Myrland, from the American Refugee Committee, will be coming to the student council meeting on
Tuesday, April 19 to help the student council plan for this exciting service learning event. Stay tuned for
more information in next week’s Connection.
Contact Maree Hampton (mmhampton@earthlink.net) with questions.
Tickets on Sale Now for Parties Galore Fundraisers

These parties are available online now for purchase, go to http://lakeharriet.mpls.k12.mn.us/ and click on
the yellow Parties Galore Button.
We haven’t met our fundraising goal for the year, so by attending these parties you are supporting our
school all while having a great time! Hurry, parties will fill up fast. Keep your eyes on the website for more
parties that are in the works.
This weeks Party...
5 th Grade Kickball BBQ
Join other 5th grade parents and their 5th graders in a game of kickball followed by a BBQ.
Hosted by: Mary Jordan & Jeanne Witzig, Tamara Imbertson & Kevin Jagielski, Marci Johnston & Cam
Moore, and Fiona and Paul Lefebvre Location: Mary and Jeanne's, 5059 Vincent Ave So.
Date: Sunday, May 1st Time: 4:30pm Cost: $25 per person, your 5th grader is free (no other siblings
please)
Introducing the NEW 6th grade Party...
6th Grade Moms’ evening of Refreshment and Rejuvenation.
Hooray! We've (almost) survived our first year of middle grades! Come celebrate with other mothers of
6th graders for an evening of relaxation and conversation. Appetizers, desserts, and beverages will be
served. We'll also have a massage therapist on hand to give free chair massages (tips appreciated).
Hosted by: Lori Bakken, Sara Chechik, Rhonda Pittman Gingrich, Sara Wuest, Ellen Young Location:
4708 Upton Avenue South Date: Friday, May 20 Time: 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Cost: $25 Number of Participants: 60
May
Sunday, May 1 st - 5 th Grade Kickball BBQ
Friday, May 6 - 3 rd and 4 th Grade Mom’s Party at the Linden Tree
Thursday, May 12 th - LHCSalooza
Friday, May 13 - Kindergarten – Progressive yoga, wine and cheese party.
Thursday, May 19 th - Lake Harriet Moms - Girls' Night Out at Hot Mama!
(Must buy by May 20th): Tuesday, June 14 th - LHCS Night at the Twins Game! - Against the Chicago White
Soxs
Friday May 20 th - 6 th Grade Party
Saturday May 21 st - All School Casino Night
Saturday, May 21 - 4 th Grade Backyard BBQ and Meat Raffle
Sun, May 22 nd - 1 st Grade Bowling Party
June
Friday, June 3 - 2 nd Grade Mom’s Cocktail Party

Saturday, June 4th - 3 rd Grade Mamasitas Fiesta
Saturday, June 4 th - 7th Grade - All America BBQ!
Saturday, June 4 th - 8 th Grade - " Farewell Lake Harriet . . . Hello, High School!"
Saturday, June 11 th - All School Fiesta
2010 - 11 Connection Contacts:
Anna Mraz: anna1028@gmail.com
Gwen Spurgat: gwen.spurgat@objectpartners.com
Published every Tuesday. Deadline for submission is 4pm the preceding Thursday.
Submissions: email to anna1028@gmail.com or use the online submission form at
http://lakeharriet.mpls.k12.mn.us/connection1.html. Please try to limit each submission to approximately
150 words in length.