North Branch Area Public Schools

NBAEF announces grant recipients! On Monday, Feb. 12, representatives of the North Branch Area Education Foundation (NBAEF) made their annual trip through the hallways of North Branch Area Public Schools (NBAPS) to deliver good news to staff - grants have been approved! This year the NBAEF, with a generous donation of $10,000 from ECMC Foundation (Educational Credit Management Corporation) Foundation, awarded nine grants to staff at the Sunrise River School, North Branch Area Middle School, the Norse Area Learning Center, and North Branch Area High School, totaling over $17,000. The 2023-24 NBAEF grants will provide a wide variety of opportunities for students, including a “Zen Den” calming room and Outdoor Adventures field trip at North Branch Area High School, a classroom set of ukuleles, and a set of Sphero Robotics at the Sunrise River School, a mentoring and leadership program and behavior incentive items at North Branch Area Middle School, exercise equipment at the Norse Area Learning Center, classroom “clickers” for classrooms K-5, and recreation and field trip opportunities for the Chisago County Schools’ Life Work Center. “We are so grateful, and so fortunate, to have the North Branch Area Education Foundation providing these incredible opportunities for our students and staff year in and year out,” said NBAPS Supt. Sara Paul. “Viking innovation is at the heart of how we become better every day, and the foundation provides the opportunity for creative ideas to be put into action!.” Since 2010, the NBAEF has raised over $509,000 and awarded grants over $231,300.

A great time was had by all Friday night at the NBAEC's Grandparents Day Open House. Roughly 240 adults and 125 children attended the event, which offered the chance for grandparents and kids to paint, do crafts and puzzles, play games, explore the Move and Learn Room, and more.

To celebrate "I Love to Read" Month 📚, guest readers from North Branch and the @St. Croix River Education District are joining kindergarten classes to read 'Let's Go Play,' a book about glasses, wheelchairs, hearing aids, other tools, and the importance of all learners feeling included! 😊 SCRED director Nicole Woodward had a blast with Johannah Gillquist's class!

Coming up in Community Ed! An Introduction to Voiceovers…Getting Started in Voice Acting Virtual Class Ages 18 and older: Register and make an appointment Internet/Social Media Safety and Drug Information for Families: Feb. 20 6:15-7:15 FREE to attend Photo Organization- Print and Digital Virtual Class: Feb. 21 6:30-8:30 PM Toddler Sports Camp - Baseball Night: Ages 2-4 Feb. 22 5:30-6:30 PM BONUS! Children get their own squishy baseball to keep. Registration here: https://northbranch.cr3.rschooltoday.com/public/getprogram/ or call 651-674-1025.

Taher and NBAPS are proud to present Display Chef Tony Menk! Chef Tony will be at the high school on Feb. 28 to do prep work with Pro Start and serve his delicious Mongolian Grill. On Feb. 29, Chef Tony will be at the NBAEC sampling fresh fruit with students. Welcome Chef Tony!

If you have a kindergarten age eligible child for the 2024-25 school year, please mark your calendar and plan to join us for our Taste of Kindergarten event on March 4th at the North Branch Area Education Center!

Thanks to our guests for a great Patron Tour last Friday, and to Norse Area Learning Center students for being such good hosts! NBAPS is hosting one more Patron Tour this year, on Friday, April 19. If you'd like to join us, contact Pat Tepoorten at ptepoorten@isd138.org.

Congratulations to NBAMS eighth grader Alexis Sway, who was recently chosen as Miss Teen Minnesota! As part of her prize she was given can goods to donate to her local food pantry, and Alexis decided to donate them to our own Viking Vittles! Thank you Alexis!

How're we doing? Taher wants to know what families think of school lunch. You can take Taher's brief school lunch survey by scanning the QR on the poster, or by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/48YLyiI

The NBAHS Snow Court visited buildings on Friday with the new Vikings mascot, and wrapped up with a pep fest at the high school. The only thing missing from Snow Week was snow!

NBAMS eighth graders completed a sand art unit with impressive results! This bold project uses sand, contact paper attached to cardboard, and Xacto knives. Students emphasized the color and shape of their ideas and were encouraged to use the "stained glass look" to make their ideas pop out by adding contrast. Everything you see in the artwork is sand! Some students created custom colors and used blending techniques to further add complexity to their ideas. Proud NBAMS art teacher is Lee Ann Falen.

Coming up in Community Ed! Beginner Knitting: Feb. 12&29 6:30-8:30 Rubber Stamping of Cards: Feb. 12 7:00-9:00 PM 55 Driver Improvement Refresher Class: Feb. 13 / 5-9 PM Dine and Discover - Diagnosed with Dementia: Feb. 15 *This class is offered a variety of places and times, call for more information* Special offerings to fill your child’s non-school day Friday Feb. 16 Child and Babysitting Safety Grades 4-8: 9AM -12PM Coco Cut with Kidscreate Studio Age 4-9: 1-4 PM Home Alone Grades 3-6: 12:30-2:30 PM Labradoodle Love with Kidcreate Studio Age 5-12: 9 AM - 12 PM Registration here: https://northbranch.cr3.rschooltoday.com/public/getprogram/ or call 651-674-1025. Good to know! Open Co-Ed Volleyball Age 18 & Older: All are welcome to join - no registration required. Pay at the door. $5 for the night or purchase a punch card good for 5 times for $15.

Interested in FTC Robotics for next year? If so, come to our scrimmage on Tuesday, Feb. 6 from 6-7:30 in the Middle school south cafeteria. Come check out our state bound robots and get questions answered. Eligible students must be entering grade 7 or higher - Fall 2024.

Congratulations to Peyton Verdon and Alan Otterson, your 2024 Snow King and Queen! Click in for more photos from the ceremony.

We Are All The Same Sock Hop is back this year! Check out the flier for the details of this great event, along with wonderful fundraising opportunities. T-shirt sales close February 13. Scan the flier QR or visit this website to order!: https://sockhopdance2024.itemorder.com/

Congratulations to the following 8th grade Spanish students, who passed a placement test to see if they are ready for Spanish 2 as freshman in high school. This is a great accomplishment! Students moving on to Spanish 2 next year include: Jayden Albrecht, Lilyonna Daubenspeck, Blake Laffin, Jada McRae, Julian Nelson, Samuel Starkey, Tessa Hammel, Josie Hubbling, Brody Leland, Tsavneej Moua, Landon Olson, Miranda Otterson, Ethan Thelander. Not pictured is Eva Bailey.

Coming up in Community Ed! Learn the Sport of BMX Bike Racing: Classes start Feb. 1 5:30-7:45 PM Beginner Piano Lessons Grades K-5: Classes available on Monday’s, Wednesday’s or Friday’s. Call to schedule an appointment time. Classes beginning Feb. 2 Motion in Lotion: Feb. 3 10-11 AM Cute LIttle Bird with Hat Painting Ages 15 & Older: Feb. 5 6:30-8:30 PM Heart Health for Women Virtual Workshop: Feb. 5 6-7:30 PM Overcome Your Carbohydrate Cravings Virtual Workshop: Feb. 6 6-7:30 PM Instant Pot Basics: Feb. 7 6:30-8 PM Essentrics - Restorative Fitness: Feb. 7 6:30-7:30 PM Drivers Education Zoom Class: Starts Feb. 9 3-6 PM Adult/Child/INfant CPR with AED: Feb 9 5:30-8 PM Pediatric/Adult CPR and First Aid: Feb. 10 9 AM - 1 PM Primary focus on children Good to know! Open Walking Club - Just $3 This walking club is designed for those citizens who want to walk indoors. For security reasons, you need to wear a security badge when walking. Please stop by the community education office to purchase your walking badge. Please enter in Door #11 at the High School. Walking Club is available Monday - Friday 4-8 p.m. when school is in session.

The Viking Newsletter - January 2024 is now available! You can read it here: https://www.smore.com/21kg4

It's just one week away . . . please join us for Kindergarten Parent Information Night! If you have any questions about kindergarten that you want to ask before this event, please call 651-674-1220.

Congratulations to 8th grader Anna Welker! Anna's NBAMS Yearbook cover was chosen by peers to be the face of the 2023-2024 yearbook. A huge thank you to Art teacher, Lee Ann Falen for including the yearbook cover contest in her 8th grade classes. There were many excellent submissions! To order a Middle School yearbook, visit ybpay.com Yearbook Code: 13306924 Contact Jessica Richter with any questions - jrichter@isd138.org