June 2022 Parent Newsletter
Greetings, MCS families!
It is hard to believe another school year has come to an end, and I hope your children had a wonderful time learning and growing at Magnuson this year. It was a joy to get to know so many of the students when I subbed this year. I wish you all a fantastic summer with your families.
Please enjoy the last blog post of the 2021-22 school year—we have many terrific photos and anecdotes to share in the June edition!
~Julia Arnold (a.k.a “Mrs. A”)
Field Trip Fun
On April 28th, the 5th and 6th grade classes enjoyed a day trip to the Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning Center in Sandstone, Minnesota.
Mrs. Johnson shared the following about this special day: “Students participated in archery, an Ojibwe hike, and an orienteering class. Learning to use a compass to navigate a course in the woods was great fun! We are thankful for our parent chaperones and a fantastic day of learning in the Lord’s beautiful creation!”
Annual 4th Grade State Float Project
Each year, Ms. Ahrenholz has her fourth-grade class work on a “State Float” project. Students and parents look forward to the creative State Float Parade each spring!
Ms. A shares some details about the project: “The goal of the state float is to have students explore the unique features of their chosen state. They are “promoting” their state to their audience in a creative, colorful, and fun way! The floats are portable and are set on top of a coaster wagon. The students wrote a creatively written description that was read during the parade.”
Bottle Buddies
Each spring, second graders create a “bottle buddy.” Ms. Coleman explained the goal of this creative, cross-curricular project: “Second graders researched a Famous American. Some examples include presidents, inventors, writers, or politicians. This was a cross-curricular learning experience as students were writing, researching, using technology and creating as well. The research and writing were done in class. Students used Google Docs as their final publishing step to create a riddle for their audience to try and solve who their Famous American was. The Bottle Buddies were created at home with some provided guidance and steps.”
Field Day, MPTP, and Magnuson Dads Unite
Magnuson Dads Unite is a group of MCS dads who help out around the school, church, and local community. They recently assisted Mr. Severson with Field Day, during which they participated in an epic Dads vs. 5th/6th Grade Tug o’ War contest!
Mr. Severson, our P.E. teacher, shared this: “God blessed us in many ways on Field Day! Thank you to our hard-working volunteers for making this event happen. The teachers endured through eleven stations and kept their classes moving through the whole event. The students had a blast as they demonstrated good sportsmanship and used their talents in a variety of ways. It was especially fun to watch students work together during relay running and go all out during Tug of War! This was an amazing event!"
In addition, the MDU and Magnuson Parent Teacher Partnership (MPTP) hosted a fun-filled year-end party on June 2nd, serving up grilled delights and root beer floats to MCS families. The weather was beautiful, and everyone had a blast! It was a great way to celebrate a successful school year.
Spring Concert
On the evening of May 24, MCS families enjoyed an incredible Spring Concert organized by Ms. Lee. MCS parent and pianist Kara Leiser accompanied the students on piano.
The choir, band, and music classes—kindergarten through sixth grade—did a fantastic job! The church Sanctuary was filled with families gathering to hear the joyful music that culminated in a school-wide version of “Happy.”
Principals for a Day
This spring, one of the most prized Gifts for Growth Gala auction items was the chance to be “Principal for the Day.” Two students had the opportunity to be principals, with Director Mrs. Norman spending the day with them and giving them plenty of leadership opportunities (and a special Jimmy Johns lunch!). The brother-and-sister duo, Carter and Ava, had a terrific time. The best part? They gave the whole school extra recess and popsicles! As you can imagine, they were very popular directors.
Magnuson Talent Show
Last but not least of the much-anticipated spring events was the MCS Talent Show. On Friday, June 3, students in grades kindergarten through sixth grade had the opportunity to share their talents with the Magnuson community. It was an afternoon filled with music, laughter, sports, and more!
Verse of the month:
This month, I’m sharing my 12-year-old son’s favorite verse. I think it’s a wonderful one to commit to memory at any age, whether you are starting a new chapter, about to begin a journey, or achieving a new milestone.
I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13
Blessings to you and your families this Summer!
~Julia Arnold