St. Paul’s Lutheran School
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Log Date: January 8, 2007

A lot of work has been done to get the compaction rate required for our building.  Additional digging had to be done and manufactured fill had to be added.  Then when stability was secured, forms were made and the footings/foundation were poured on Friday, January 5.  Today additional work getting ready for the wall panels is being done.

Some important decisions have been reached.  First, the heating system for all of our school will be converted to LP before the next heating season.  This means that we will not be burying another fuel tank.  Secondly, the top level of the new addition will be air conditioned since the cost to include that at this time was minimal and the amount is covered by savings by the conversion to LP.  However, the locker rooms will not be air conditioned since that could interfere with the dehumidification system already included.

 

Log Date: January 16, 2007

The major accomplishment of recent days is that the “stub walls” have been poured.  What that means is that the footings/foundation are well down in the ground, and these stub or short walls have been poured on top of the footings and the tip-up wall panels will sit on top of them.  Having the footings down deeper will keep them from being so affected by freezing temperatures that can cause ground to shift.  This should give greater stability to our new addition.

 

Log Date: January 31, 2007

As you go past MVL you will see what looks like a big baggie in the area where the addition is going up.  That is there to protect the mortar as the interior block hall walls are being put up.  So, although there isn’t much to see at this point yet, work is continuing.  Once the exterior wall panels are erected, you will see the visual proof of work being done.

On Thursday, February 15 2:00pm we will have a pep fest in the gym. If you have any suggestions of activities for the pep fest please let me know.

Third quarter church attendance cards are completed. Please submit a report of church attendance from quarter two into my mailbox. Send home the church attendance cards in the report card envelope. Copies of the form are available in the forms folder.

Conference request forms were placed in your mailboxes last week. If you request a conference, please do so with this form. Parents are also given the opportunity to request a conference. Please include this form in the student report card envelope.

Last week copies of a parent letter were placed into grades 4-8 mailboxes. The letter had blank spaces for teachers to fill out 2-3 academic goals for the student given classroom work, observations, and testing results. These we made due on Thursday, January 25.

Two copies should be turned into the office, the original and one photocopy. The original will be mailed to parents. The mailing will take place from the school office.The photocopy will be filed.

Julie Luetke from Jesus Cares will be in New Ulm on Monday, January 29 after 12:30 p.m. If anyone would like a classroom presentation on this minstry, please let me know.

Maggi Decker presented the MAPS (Measures of Academic Progress) test to principals on Friday, January 19. After the presentation, principals discussed the positives of the program including: the tests are intented to be more formative than the current program, questions adjust to more closely find actual level of ability, results are immediate, frequency the measurement tool may be used is up to 4 times per calendar year, encourages a reflective practice among educators. Logistical and technological difficulties were identified at some sites. Concern arose over the stance CPS may have on this system.

Next steps . . . We are looking for a presentation date for faculty members from PLS and St. Paul’s. (potientially, St. John’s Sleepy Eye) We would like the faculty members to see this tool as a representative speaks about it. At this point PLS and St. Paul’s are moving ahead to make this tool a reality beginning in the 07-08 school year.

MLC EFE week will host students from St. Paul’s again this year. Wednesday, February 28 is the date. The grade levels and classrooms making the journey up the high will be announced at a later date.

Leah Wilbert nee Pekrul has asked to EFE in our school. (507)766-0815. Preference is grades 1-5. Her email is leah_pekrul@hotmail.com. please reply to pick her up.

During the month of March, we will pilot a breakfast program per BOCD directive. We would plan on promoting this during Febraury.

Obviously, we will need to rearrange cafeteria seating during the test run. Breakfast will be served from 7:30 until 7:50. Students would need to be completed with meals by 8:05. Kitchen staff will work supervise. A menu is being developed.
With this pilot we hope to a) discover level of interest true program interest, b) calculate program financial feasibility, c) plan for space considerations, and d) observe student traffic patterns. March is National Breakfast Month.