Welcome! Our vision is to be a school where:

• Everyone respects themselves and others
• Everyone is safe and having fun
• Everyone does their very best

We welcome new members to our community and continually seek feedback as to how we can be a better place for children.

We are a community of learners consisting of about 890 students in grades K–5. We are one of six elementary schools in the Minnetonka School District. Minnewashta is the westernmost school in the district and is located on the scenic south shore of Lake Minnetonka. We are a neighborhood school in which 100+ exceptional staff members collaborate with a dedicated and involved parent community to provide the best possible learning environment for children.

On our most recent parent survey:

• 94% of families report the principal as accessible
• 92% know what their children are learning
• 65% check Facebook daily — Minnewashta has over 1,000 followers and posts each school day
• 90% say their children have adequate time to make friends during the school day
• 95% report the curriculum as challenging

Our students like coming to school and consistently perform at high levels by both state and national norms.

Measure of Academic Progress

We use the NWEA Measures of Academic Progress to track student growth in reading and math from fall to spring each year. The data shows our students consistently gain more than a year’s growth in a year’s time.

• Kindergarten:Math at mid-1st grade; Reading at beginning of 1st grade
• 1st Grade:Math at early-to-mid 3rd grade; 95.2% made targeted growth. Reading at mid-to-end of 2nd grade
• 2nd Grade:Math at mid-3rd grade; Reading at mid-to-end of 3rd grade. 75%+ made targeted growth
• 3rd Grade:Math and Reading at beginning-to-mid 5th grade
• 4th Grade:Math at beginning of 6th; Reading at mid-6th — students gained two grade levels!
• 5th Grade:Reading at end of 9th grade; Math at beginning of 11th grade with 81.1% meeting growth targets

Immersion Option

In addition to our outstanding English-language education, families may opt into our Spanish Language Immersion program starting in kindergarten. Entry is only available in kindergarten unless a student demonstrates adequate Spanish fluency. Families are asked to make a six-year commitment. Immersion students are included in NWEA math data and, for Spanish proficiency, 5th graders exited with reading comprehension at a 7th grade level. Among our first Immersion cohort to reach high school, 100% scored 3 or higher on the 2016 AP Spanish exam as 9th graders.

Daily Specials Offered

In addition to core academics, we offer instruction in physical education, music, band, orchestra, choir, art, and media/information literacy. All students participate on a five-day rotation.

Physical Education

Students develop physical fitness, motor skills, and teamwork strategies. PE is provided 100 minutes every five days with a licensed specialist.

Grades K–2 focus on:

• Orientation and personal space
• Locomotor skills and directions
• Movement concepts and hoops
• Balance and body management
• Fitness and flexibility basics

Grades 3–5 include:

• Aerobic games and circuits
• Group fitness and jump rope
• Sports: basketball, soccer, volleyball, etc.
• Cooperative activities and dance
• Recess games, tumbling, racquet sports

Music

In music, students will:

• Identify and describe musical elements
• Read and notate music (solfege, numbers, or symbols)
• Sing and play with pitch, rhythm, and expression
• Explore global music traditions

In 4th grade, students may join orchestra (violin, viola, cello, bass). In 5th grade, they may choose choir, band, or orchestra in place of general music.

Art

Students attend a 50-minute art class every five days. Our curriculum follows a Discipline-Based Art Education (DBAE) model that includes art history, criticism, production, and aesthetics. Each unit highlights an artist or cultural focus.

Welcome to Minnewashta! I look forward to partnering with your family to inspire curiosity and a love of learning in your child.

Sincerely,Cindy Andress, Principal