Dear Nokomis Families,

August 31, 2015

Your child is assigned to Nokomis Montessori North campus (985 Ruth Street). Students
living in Area A and Area C (East Side of 35E) attend North campus. Students living in Area B
attend South campus (525 White Bear Avenue).
Please join us at our annual Open House & PTA Ice Cream Social on Thursday, September 3
from 4:30-6:00 p.m. to meet your childs teacher and bring your school supplies. During the
Open House, parents will:
Receive a copy of our 2015-2016 Nokomis Calendar including Title I Family-Community
Engagement Plan in the lobby (one copy per family).
Sign up for November Parent-Teacher conferences in the lobby.
Deposit money in your childs meal account, complete a free/reduced lunch application
(apply online at ns.spps.org) and practice paper keypad with your childs PIN for lunch.
PTA Ice Cream Social in the cafeteria
PTA pre-ordered Staples School Supply Kits will be delivered to your childs Montessori
classroom.
School begins for students in grades 1-5 on Tuesday, September 8. Our school hours are
9:35 a.m. 4:05 p.m. Students can enter the building at 9:20 a.m. School buses will arrive and
depart from our bus lane. Parent transported students can be dropped off in the morning at the
front door and picked up from the cafeteria tables in the foyer after school. If you need childcare
before 9:20 a.m. or after 4:05 p.m., please call our Discovery Club Program at 744-7445 for
more information.
School begins for our Early Childhood students (4 year old and Kindergarten) on
Thursday, September 10. Our Morning PreK classes meet from 9:35 a.m. 12:05 p.m. Our
Kindergarten students participate in all day Kindergarten class. Parents meet with their
Childrens House or ASD Teacher on Tuesday, September 8 or 9. Please call your childs
Montessori teacher if you need to change your conference time. Our PreK students do not eat
lunch at school.
A yellow postcard was mailed on Thursday, August 27 with your childs bus transportation
information by our district Transportation Department. Please attach this yellow bus card to
your childs backpack to communicate bus stop with bus driver. If your home or daycare
address has changed for bus transportation, please call Secretary Debbie at 744-7440.
If you think you may qualify for free or reduced meals, parents need to complete an
application (one per family) at the beginning of the school year. Forms are available online at
www.spps.org and go to application. Reminder, reduced price meals are now FREE for
students. Students pick up their free breakfast to go in the foyer and then eat breakfast in their
classrooms. Please pick up the paper practice keypad from Nutrition Services at Open House to
help your child learn their six digit lunch number. September breakfast and lunch menus are
online at www.ns.spps.org

Our Montessori classrooms teachers at North campus are:

Childrens House (PreK & Kindergarten):
Elizabeth Elcombe, Room 1402
Molly Donvoan, Room 1305
Julia Kallmes, Room 1403
McKenna Richards, Room 1404
Mary Schmidt, Room 1307
Tonia Secor Schmitz, Room 1405
Elementary I (grades 1-3):
Danielle Blehm, Room 1203
Jenna Harrison, Room 1406
Kristin Kantola, Room 1407
Betsy Miller, Room 1204
MaiKa Vang, Room 1207
Greg Williams, Room 1205
Elementary II (grades 4 & 5):
Ching Xiong, Room 2404
Marcey Xiong, Room 2206
Leslie Young, Room 2203
Christine Moerkes Autism classroom, Room 2208.
Welcome Rebekah Orensten, our new Librarian, serving both campuses!
Welcome Jennifer Mickelson, our new K-5 Literacy Prep teacher, serving both campuses!
Welcome Mary Lee, our new Nutrition Services Supervisor
Join us for our Montessori Parent Education Night on Thursday, October 1 at North
campus to learn more about our Montessori instructional methodology. We strongly encourage
new parents and current parents whose child transitioned to a new Montessori classroom to
participate in our Montessori Parent Education Night. A flyer with more information is enclosed
in your childs Nokomis Montessori folder.
Please call the office at 651-744-7440 if your child is not attending Nokomis Montessori North
campus this year. We have many students on our waiting list.
Were looking forward to welcoming our students back to school in September! If you have any
further questions, please John Andrastek, Assistant Principal, or myself at 651-744-7440.
Sincerely,
Melissa McCollor, Principal