Dowling Newsletter

Friday, March 7, 2025

Reminder: Daylight Savings begins on Sunday, March 9. Don’t forget to turn your clocks ahead one hour!

From Principal Page

Dear Families,

I am writing to update you on the budgeting process for Dowling for the 25-26 school year. I want to thank all of the families who submitted a survey, came to the Site Council and/or the PTO meeting and are now reading this information to engage with the process. 

Dowling has been designated to receive Title I funding for the 25-26 school year. All schools in Minneapolis who have 35% of their families qualify for Educational Benefits were allocated Title I Funds. 40% of Dowling families qualify for Educational Benefits. Title I funding will provide additional funding to staff positions that will help students reach higher levels of achievement. 

Dowling will provide the following Classroom Configuration for next year:

Positions that MUST be funded due to Predictable Staffing (the positions required for each school) or District Departments:

• Predictable Staffing - This includes teachers, specialists (Media, PE/Pool, Environmental Education, Art, Music), health office staff, principal, secretary, etc.
• Associate Educator (40 hrs. per week) (Family Communication, Transp. Lunch Support)
• Talent and Development (Increase from 1 day to 2 days per week)
• Special Education DCD-3 Teachers
• Social Worker Shift .8 Sp. Ed..2 General Education (previously it was .6 Sp.Ed. and .4 Gen.Ed.)

Positions that will be reduced:

• Multi-lingual- Reduction from 2 teachers to 1 teacher
• Special Education Resource Teachers- Reduction from 2 teachers to 1.5 teachers
• Special Education Assistants- Reduction to each DCD classroom. New allocation will be 1 Teacher and 2 Special Education Assistants assigned to each room

Positions funded that were priorities for Dowling Staff and Families:

• Associate Educator - Social Emotional Learning (40 hrs. per week) (Breakfast/Lunch/Dismissal Support)
• Associate Educator - Intervention Support (30 hrs. per week) (Intervention, Lunch Support)
• Teacher Intervention Support (.6-part-time teacher)
• Special Ed. Support (.5) Additional part time position to support both SERT and DCD classrooms
• An additional teacher for Grade 3 to reduce class size at this grade

There was a lot of conversation regarding third grade class size. Discussion included funding an additional classroom teacher or funding an additional intervention teacher, There was positive rationale for both of these positions to be funded but there was only enough funding for one position. I listened carefully to the staff and parents that gave their opinions about what should be funded. I then studied all the data and information regarding these two options carefully.  Ultimately, I am making the decision to fund a classroom teacher. It is my belief that reducing the class size for this group of students will provide the best learning environment beginning on the first day of school for these learners. 

I recognize that this decision may be in favor of some parents’ viewpoint or in opposition. My hope is that all felt heard during this process and that you continue to engage in conversations to best support our Dowling learners. I also realize that there may be some questions about the special education reductions.   I will make myself available for further conversations, emails or phone calls if you should want to discuss these topics further. 

Again thank you to the Site Council, Parent Teacher Organization, Parent Advocacy Group, Staff Small Group Budget Committee and the Staff Large Group Budget Participants. I also want to thank our students who talk to me about the changes they would like to see at Dowling. Most involve more recess and their favorite foods, but I still listen 🙂

I continue to be proud to serve as your principal and I look forward to a great 25-26 school year!

Sincerely,

Kari Page

Important Transportation Information

The Transportation department will be implementing new routing and GPS systems over this winter and spring- Tyler Technologies and Samsara, respectively - that promise to streamline operations and enhance parent communication. These new systems will be fully operational for summer school 2025.

• Synovia & Here Comes The Bus will be replaced by the new system over spring break.
  • This means there will be no GPS visibility to schools or families from Fri, March 28 to the end of the school year.

Be Ready - Family Emergency Planning

Please see these tools and resources to ensure you know your rights and that your family is prepared for unexpected emergencies:

Be Ready. Be Strong

From the Dowling Library Media Center

Read Across America Day

Thanks to Free Spirit Publishing/Teacher Created Materials, each Dowling student will receive a free backpack of books for Read Across America Day on Wednesday, March 5th, 2025. The publisher will also share SEL & Literacy activities with classrooms.

What Students are Learning

Though schedules and routines were disrupted during February due to the closing of the library for painting, students have still been checking out books and engaging in lessons.  K-2nd graders are enjoying Minnesota Star of the North books and will be voting for their favorites on March 25th.  First graders learned about the research process as they began biography research.  Third-5th grade students have been engaged with the Dewey Decimal Passport challenge, which encourages reading nonfiction books.  Fourth and fifth graders are also learning about strategies to analyze news sites to determine if they are fake or present facts.  Third-fifth graders also have the opportunity to participate in the Maud Hart Lovelace Award program.  Voting will begin on March 25th. 

Book Donation

The Dowling Library received a donation of 125 new books from Carla Larsen, a member of the ALSC Notable Children's Book Committee, in honor of Laurie Forshee, former first grade teacher at Dowling, who passed away a couple of years ago. Thank you Carla!

Lost Books

Please encourage your students to keep their books in their backpacks if they bring them home.  If a book is lost, it can be replaced with a new book of the same title, or a book of equal value in excellent condition.  Please contact Ms. Mangal with any questions.  Thanks for your support in helping students become responsible library users!

Lost and Found

Lost and found is overflowing! We strongly urge families to label student items, this would help us reunite students with their lost items. We would like to remind families that any items left in lost and found at Spring break will be donated. 

Dowling Wishlist

We are in need of snacks for our various affinity groups. We have a few new groups started. Families can also drop off snacks purchased from other vendors in the office. Marisa has a storage space for them. Thanks!

www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/14PSR0XTC8HAL?ref_=wl_share 

Wolf Ridge Overnight Trip

Reminder to fifth grade families: the Wolf Ridge trip has been moved to April 7-9 due to it originally being scheduled during Ramadan. We apologize for this oversight.

Fundraising

If you are able to donate to help cover the cost of this trip, please visit the GoFundMe that Dowling parents created: https://gofund.me/bb1d154c Please feel free to share!

MPLS Kids

MLPS Kids Jr registration is now open for the 2025-2026 school year! Please check out this informational flier to learn more and please feel free to share with others in the community. Program and registration information can be found here: https://ce.mpschools.org/youth/mpls-kids/mpls-kids-jr 

MPLS Kids Summer Program registration opens on Friday, February 14th at 7am. Please see the summer program website for more information: https://ce.mpschools.org/youth/mpls-kids/summer-program 

Community Opportunities

Try out Irish Dance with MacTir 

Summer Nature Day Camps through Minneapolis Parks

Join PBS KIDS “Skillsville” Premiere Party! March 8

From the PTO

March Month at a Glance

3/12- Final day to turn in Read-A-Thon envelopes. 

3/21 - Dowling School Dance 

3/28 - No School 

3/31- Spring Break Begins

Read-A-Thon!

Hopefully, your student returned their Read-a-thon envelope today! If this got missed in the shuffle of a busy week that included a snow day, send it with your student by Wednesday 3/12.  

The Read-a-thon raises almost 2/3 of the PTO's annual budget. If you’d like to contribute, you can make a check out to the Dowling PTO or include cash in your student’s Read-a-thon envelope, or donate at the link here: https://www.givemn.org/story/Dowlingreadathon. Check if your employer does matching donations and share with those who might want to contribute to your student’s school! Venmo is also an option (phone last 4 digits: 9409)!

 

Call for Yearbook Photos!

Do you have pictures from class activities, field trips, or Dowling community events for our yearbook? Upload photos to this Google Folder link by March 28th. PTO creates and funds Dowling’s yearbook. Our sincerest gratitude to talented and generous parent volunteers, Dana Koehler and Katy Olson, who are creating this year’s yearbook!

Get Your Groove On! Volunteers Needed!

The Dowling School Dance is set for Friday, March 21! We have a small group ready to plan the dance but there is always room for more! If you are interested in planning this event we will be doing a virtual meeting the evening of Tuesday 3/11. A separate call will be made for volunteers to staff the event. Email board@dowlingpto.org if interested in volunteering!

Next PTO Meeting 

Please join us Monday 4/21/2025 6:30-7:30pm by Google Meet.

meet.google.com/ohv-sphv-oak 

Phone Numbers(‪US‬)‪+1 678-653-1972‬ PIN: ‪871 538 047#

Save the Date! Carnival & Seeking Leadership Interest

Please mark your calendar for the Dowling Carnival on Thursday, May 29, 2024 (afterschool). Volunteer today to help plan by emailing  board@dowlingpto.org!

Any interested in taking a PTO leadership role for the 2025-2026 school year? Roles for Co-Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary will be open. Email board@dowlingpto.org to inquire or express interest.

Fridays “Stay to Play Time on the Ramps” from 4:05-5:00 p.m.

Continue to stay after school on Fridays to play on the Ramps Playground, connect with old friends, and make some new friends. Our continuing gratitude for parent Katie Murray, who is coordinating again this year!

MembershipToolkit - AKA the way to find your kids’ friends!

Please register or update your profile now to connect with the families who are in your child’s class. Last year’s directory was wiped at the end of August for data management purposes, so your previous information does not carry over. The district cannot release any personal information, so registering for school does not include you in the school directory. Membership Toolkit allows you to be included in the directory as well as receive important messages and updates from the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) over the summer for informal meet ups and start of school opportunities. Please let us know if you have questions or concerns.

Register here: https://dowlingpto.membershiptoolkit.com

Let’s Stay in Touch!

Dowling PTO Website
Facebook page: “Parents and caregivers of Dowling Elementary Students
Instagram: @dowlingpto
Membership toolkit: Dowling Elementary School PTO
Volunteer: Dowling Volunteers
Email: board@dowlingpto.org