Trailblazers

Important Trailblazers Update!!

2012-01-09T11:38:00.002-06:00

Happy New Year! I hope the holidays were festive and enjoyable for you. Let's make 2012 the best year yet! We are busy planning events for the rest of the year and believe it or not, we are even preparing for summer camp.

A couple of things, MAD SCIENTISTS CLUB will start this Tuesday, the 10th of January and there will be many fun experiments taking place. If you have not yet signed up, please do so. Another major event is Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 16th. Trailblazers and Peace of Mind Daycare will be open all day. We will be celebrating with fun, educational activities in honor of Dr. King. Please remember to sign up on the Trailblazers bulletin board sign up sheet if you will be attending that day.

There is still plenty of winter left to enjoy. With that being said, in order to have fun in the snow, all students must have appropraite gear. This means gloves or mittens, a hat, jacket, snow pants, and boots. Please know we have this in place for your child's safety. We cannot believe it is 2012, but we are ready to rock it!

Happy Holidays Everybody!

2011-12-05T09:38:00.004-06:00

Well, unfortunately winter is here, but that doesn't mean that we can't get out and enjoy it. Sledding, ice skating, snow boarding, skiing; get out and groove your body! The holiday season is a busy time of year, but one family event that would be wonderful to enjoy is Holiday Lights in The Park at Phalen Park in St. Paul. In association with King of Kings of Woodbury, this yearly event is open from 5:30 - 10:30 nightly until January 1st, 2012. That's not all however, many other events are coming your way as well.

December is off and running and so are the Trailblazers. With the holiday season approaching, one of the things we love most is hearing all the wonderful music. December 20th is Footprints' holiday concert. We will be starting the "Mad Scientist" club in January, permission slips for this club are due by December 22nd. Students will be participating in experiments and fun findings for 4 weeks and this is open for grades K-6. We hope that you are as excited about this club as we are.

VERY IMPORTANT!!! All programs are closed the 23rd through the 26th of December so there will be no Trailblers until the 27th. Trailblazers will be open from the 27th until the 29th, then all programs are closed from Saturday, December 31st until Monday, January 2nd. Please, please if need be, ask questions- contact us with concerns, and if you have any suggestions for the program, let us know. Have a great holiday season and try and enjoy the Minnesota winter as best as you can!

Sincerely,
Sra. Kim, Ms. Nga, Ms. Ginny, and Ms. Mary

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-23T12:56:00.003-06:00

As Americans, we celebrate this unique holiday which has grown beyond the unification of our states after the Civil War. Are you the football fanatic, a Black Friday strategist, or a traditional turkey overindulger? If you are looking for more information on this topic...check out the History Channel's website @ http://www.history.com/topics/thanksgiving .

Remember, TRAILBLAZERS will be closed both Thursday, November 23 and Friday, November 24.

Also, next Friday, December 2nd there is no school at FPA...BUT we will have a full day of programming including making creative snacks and of course crafting. If your child will be attending that day, please sign up on the bulletin board outside of the gym.

Lastly, take a peek at the newsletters posted on the right hand menu. We have been busy documenting the amazing friendships and endless energy of your kids. The TRAILBLAZER Troupe is grateful for the opportunity to work with them each and every day. THANKS and blessings to all.

Floor Hockey Club starts this week!

2011-11-06T20:16:00.002-06:00

Floor hockey club will begin this Tuesday, November 8th from 4-5 pm and runs on Wednesdays as well. This will be for six weeks and all are encouraged to check it out, however I know with everyone's busy fall schedule, this activity may not fit. Kids are so busy these days it is hard to keep up with them! Ms. Mary will be running the club and Nikki's son Jordan will be assisting her. Jordan did a great job this summer helping out the summer camp and we look forward to him helping out.

Parent's Night Out is Saturday, November 19th from 5pm until 10 pm, so save the date. It is a great way for the students to interact outside of school and it is valuable for parents to get that needed break for a few hours. Fun events are always planned for the night, and it is always very successful. For all your Trailblazers information and needs, please contact Mrs. Scheiderer, Ms. Nga, Ms. Mary or Ms. Kim, and we will be happy to answer your questions. Happy November, I cannot believe that Thanksgiving is right around the corner, yikes!

Welcome Back to School!

2011-10-04T22:15:00.003-05:00

Ahhh, summer--oh wait. Yes, this weather has been amazing and so far the school year is off to a running start. We have new faces in the program but that is to be expected as we always have new students in the program every year as well. Mrs. Sheiderer will be heading up the program along with a familiar teacher Ms. Mary, and a new member to our staff, Ms. Nga. After getting our bearings, we have figured out where the students get dropped off for school in the morning, and which students will be with us each afternoon.

We look forward to starting up new clubs VERY soon, and we are excited for the new changes to be implemented as well as carrying over some of the same mentality from last spring. As a team, we hope to instill the same values of: being honest, knowing expectations, and leaving school areas better then we found them. We look forward to a great year and for the latest information or if you have questions, please feel free to hit up the blog any time!!

Summer Camp Final Week!

2011-08-29T07:10:00.003-05:00

We can't believe it's already here--the last week of summer camp! We have been having so much fun, it seems these last few days have really snuck up on us.

There are some very exciting things happening this final week. We're learning about Australia on Monday and Tuesday. A quick reminder that there is no summer camp on Wednesday, August 31st--all programs are closed. Then on Thursday, the first of September, is Trailblazer's final waster day! Be sure to send your child/ren to summer camp with a swimsuit and towel! And finally on Friday, September 2nd, we are going to cap off our summer with a wonderful lunch and party celebrating the summer!

We are all very excited for this final week, but also sad that the summer is almost over. Trailblazers would like to thank all of the family, friends, and campers that have attended and supported the summer camp, and helped to make it a fun and exciting year!

Friday Campout!

2011-08-23T13:14:00.002-05:00

Hello Everyone!

As you know, this Friday, we have a very exciting campout planned for all the Trailblazers, and any parents that would like to attend! It will be taking place at Nicole Robbins' house, which is located at this address: 290 Neal Avenue North, W. Lakeland, MN 55082.

We will be having a regular Trailblazers day on this Friday. You will drop your child/ren off in the morning as usual, and pick them up in the afternoon as usual. However, if your child/ren are attending the campout, here is the schedule for Friday evening.

7:00am – 6:00pm—Trailblazers All Day!
6:30pm – 7:00pm—Drop off students at Nikki’s House
7:00pm – 9:30pm—Campout Time! Set up tents, tell silly ghost stories, eat dinner (hot dogs and other camp food!), snacks, and other activities!
10:00 pm – 7:00am—Sleep time! There will be ‘look-out’ staff making sure the students are all where they are supposed to be.
7:00am-9:00am—Pick-up time! We will eat a small breakfast (cereal), and continue with cleanup and a few small activities before the students are picked up. The students will need to be picked up before 9:00am because of the Woodbury Days festival on Saturday morning. (Join us!)

If you and your child/ren would like to attend the campout on Friday evening, please let us know via our checklist. You can find one at the front desk, or from a Traiblazers teacher. If you are considering going, but there is a conflict with our schedule and yours, please talk with us! We are very flexible! Also, we are looking for tent options for Friday, so if you can offer a tent, that would be great as well!

We hope to see you out there on Friday! Have a great day!

Bike Day Tomorrow!

2011-08-22T10:20:00.001-05:00

Hello Everyone!

Just a reminder that tomorrow, Tuesday August 23rd, is our last bike day of the summer! It's going to be a great day, and we will have some wonderful time biking.

Also, we will be posting information about this Friday's campout/sleepover at Nikki's house just as soon as it is finalized!

Thanks, and have a wonderful day!

St. Paul Saints Game Tomorrow!

2011-08-18T16:10:00.004-05:00

Hello Everyone!

Just another quick reminder about the St. Paul Saints game tomorrow! Here is what is going to happen!

Ms. Jennie Hargis will be meeting a group of Trailblazers and their families at Footprints Academy in the parking lot/lobby at 6:30pm on Friday evening. Soon after that, they will leave to go to the St. Paul Saints game.

There, around 7:00pm, they will meet the rest of the Trailblazers and families. Ms. Jennie will get the tickets, and everyone will enjoy the game in what we hope is going to be a wonderful, clear evening!

If you decide last minute that you want to go to a St. Paul Saints game, feel free to show up either at Footprints Academy at 6:30pm, or at the stadium at 7:00pm! If you show up, your child will have a ticket waiting for them, however you will have to purchase your own (those of you who already turned in your slips, your tickets have been taken care of).

We hope everyone has a wonderful evening tomorrow, and then a wonderful weekend!

PS: Here are the pictures of Tiny Tiny and Big Bully. May they live the rest of their lives in peace.

Tiny Tiny:

Big Bully:

St. Paul Saints Game!

2011-08-15T07:16:00.002-05:00

Hello Family, Friends and Campers!

Welcome to sports week! This week at Trailblazers, we will be focusing a lot on all different types of sports, how to play them, and how to be a good teammate! We will also be going to the St. Paul Saints game this Friday, August 19th! The St. Paul Saints game starts at 7:05 pm. Everyone is invited, including campers, family, and friends. Your child/ren's tickets have already been purchased, but if you are planning on attending, we can purchase your ticket for you if you fill out the informational sheet before Tuesday, August 20th (these can be found at the front desk, or with the Trailblazer teachers). Otherwise you will have to purchase your own ticket.

Because the game takes place outside of the regular operating hours of Peace of Mind Daycare and Footprints Academy, we will not be providing any official chaperon to the game. However, we will be attending the game on Friday and you can either meet us at Midway Stadium (1771 Energy Park Drive, St. Paul, MN 55108), or meet us at Footprints Academy at 6:30pm, where we will caravan over together!

As always, if you have any questions please ask us! It is going to be an exceptionally fun week, and we are all looking forward to it. Stay tuned for information about next Friday's sleepover/campout! And until then, have a wonderful day!

Session 3 Week 1!

2011-08-07T15:15:00.002-05:00

Hello Family, Friends and Campers,

We are about to start a new and exciting Session three! We have some very cool things coming up this first week, and two field trips near the end of the week.

On Thursday, August 11th we are heading over to Wisconsin for some Horseback Riding! This will be a very fun trip, but before your child/ren can participate in the riding, you do need to sign a waiver. The Trailblazers staff will have copies of the waiver available, and you can drop them off with the Trailblazer's staff or at the front desk. We are also looking for parent volunteers for this field trip (and all others)! If you would like to come along to the Horseback Riding Trip, just let us know! We will be leaving at 9:30am in the morning, and will ride until around 1:30pm, getting back around 2:30pm.

Our second field trip of the week takes place on Friday, August 12th. We will be touring a local farm near Woodbury. There is no waiver for this field trip, but if you would like to volunteer and come along, that would be great! We will have more information about this trip on Monday or Tuesday.

As always, feel free to email if you have any questions: (James at jhron@footprintsacademy.com). We hope your weekend is going well, and we will see you all on Monday!

Looking Forward!

2011-07-31T23:09:00.003-05:00

Hello Family, Friends and Campers!

It has gone fast, but believe it or not it is already the last week of session two! We have some very exciting things planned this week, and coming up for the rest of the summer. On Wednesday, we will be touring a local grocery store in the afternoon! And on Thursday we are having another bike day! But the big event of the week is on Friday.

On Friday, we are inviting all families and friends to come have lunch with us, prepared by the Trailblazers themselves! The lunch will start at Noon on Friday and last for about an hour. If you plan on coming, please let us know so we can get a better estimate on food for Friday!

Coming up in the Trailblazers third session, we have some very cool events! We have Horseback Riding on Thursday, August 11th. We are also attending a St. Paul Saints game on Friday, August 19th. The overnight camp-out will take place on Friday, August 26th, and our summer wraps up at Outback Steakhouse on Friday, September 2nd. There is so much to get excited for, it is going to continue to be an amazing summer!

We hope everyone's weekend went well! Please continue sending sunscreen with your child/ren. Have a wonderful evening!

Bug Hunting and Field Trip!

2011-07-26T14:17:00.003-05:00

Hello everyone!

Just a quick two reminders that we will be touring Classic Pizza tomorrow morning, leaving from Footprints Academy at 9:40am, and getting back around lunchtime. Also, please continue sending sunscreen (non-spray) with your child/ren to Trailblazers, because the school is down to their last bottle to share with everyone!

And, of course, here are the pictures from the Bug Hunting we just finished this afternoon. Enjoy!

Restaurant Week!

2011-07-22T11:42:00.002-05:00

Hello Family, Friends, and Trailblazers!

We are moving on to next week, which is starting our Restaurant week! On Monday we will explore our favorite Restaurants, and what makes Restaurants fun to eat at! On Tuesday, we are going to try again with our Bug Hunting, hopefully it won't be as warm this time!

On Wednesday, we will be visiting a local Restaurant, Classic Pizza. They will take us on a tour of the kitchen and their Restaurant, so we can learn more about how to make food for lots of people, in preparation for the August 5th Lunch for Families! We will finish of the week Thursday and Friday with more food activities.

As usual, if you have any questions or comments feel free to email. Continue sending sunscreen with your child/ren to camp! And, if you have some free time, enjoy our two new slide shows, Heat Wave Art, and our Heat Wave Water Days!

Heat Wave Art

Heat Wave Water Days

Heat Wave!

2011-07-19T11:54:00.002-05:00

Hello Family, Friends, and Campers!

As a few of you may have noticed, Minnesota is in the middle of a heat wave! Unfortunately, this means that Trailblazers will not be able to spend as much time as hoped outside. However, we like to keep things positive here, so we're turning our frowns upside down and having water days (weather permitting) for the rest of the week! Please send a swimsuit and towel with your child/ren to Trailblazers, so we can make the most of the heat!

Stay cool, and enjoy your day!

Cooking Fun!

2011-07-14T14:21:00.003-05:00

Hello Trailblazers, Families and Friends!

As our first week of our second session comes to an end, we just wanted to take a look forward to next week and the upcoming events. But first, we wanted to let everyone know we are throwing a USA Themed Party tomorrow on Friday, July 15th because of the recent success of the US Women's Soccer Team! Woohoo!

Next week, we will be traveling to a park on Tuesday in search of bugs, and learning more about cooking on Monday and cooking on Wednesday and Friday. On Thursday, we are having another one of our water days. Make sure that your child/ren has his or her swimsuit next week on Thursday, July 21st! It's going to be an excellent week, and we can't wait (although we're pretty excited about the party tomorrow too)!

If you have any questions, as always, feel free to email James at: jhron@footprintsacademy.com

Otherwise, have a wonderful evening and weekend! Enjoy the slideshows in the previous post, and keep sending sunscreen with your child! Thanks!

Pictures, pictures, and more pictures!

2011-07-13T10:27:00.006-05:00

Trailblazers Art Show!

Air National Guard Field Trip

Firefighters Spray Kids!

Session 2!

2011-07-11T07:01:00.003-05:00

Hello Campers and Families!

Welcome to the second session of Trailblazers for this summer!

The first session has gone wonderfully, with many great activities, and the second session looks to be even better! Starting out in this first week, our theme is Food Groups. We will be learning more about different types of food, and continue our gardening from last week so that later on in the summer, we can harvest the food from our garden.

Additionally, the Spray Kids has been moved to this Tuesday, July 12th! Please send a swimsuit and towel with your child/ren to Trailblazers on this day, as they will be receiving a safety talk, and most likely large amounts of water. We are glad we got this opportunity, and it will help start the first week of the second session out with a BANG!

Please remember to continue sending non-spray sunscreen with your child. We can't wait for the second session to begin! Have a spectacular week!

Final Week of the First Session!

2011-07-05T06:50:00.003-05:00

Hello Trailblazer Campers and Families,

It's gone fast, but this is the final week of the first session of summer camp! So far we have made our own movies (if you would like a copy of your child's movie, bring a flash drive when you pick them up/drop them off, and we can copy it for you), visited the Air National Guard Museum, learned about saving and investing money, and have had a lot of fun biking and playing with water on our water fun days. However, the first session isn't over yet, and we have one more week packed to the brim with fun!

This week's theme is safety, but we will also do a lot of gardening with the campers. We will be planting green beans today, and we hope that they will give us some food before the summer is up! On Wednesday, we are having a police officer come in and talk about Bike Safety. Because of this, we will have Wednesday, July 6th be a Bike Day. If you wish, you may send a bike to camp with your child so they can enjoy using the safety tips they had received from the Bike Safety Presentation! It will be a very exciting week, and we can't wait for it to begin.

If you have any questions or need anything, feel free to email James at: jhron@footprintsacademy.com or Mary at: mmcneill@peaceofminddaycare.com

Thanks, and have a wonderful week!

Car Wash and Movie Party!

2011-06-28T18:13:00.002-05:00

As many of you know, we have a very exciting end of the week wrapping up week 3 here at the Trailblazers summer camp. This Thursday, June 30th, we are having a car wash, and any and all family members are invited! The Trailblazers will be putting on a car wash that starts at 1:00pm, and ends at 3:30pm. If you would like to have your car washed by a group of our Trailblazers, feel free to show up any time between those times and re-shinify your wheels!

The car wash is completely free, but if you wish, you may donate a small amount to the Trailblazers. 100% of the money will go straight to the Trailblazers, and since this week we are learning about saving and investing money, the campers will be deciding what they invest the money in. It will be interesting to see if they invest in a long-term investment, like a board game, or short-term investment, like snacks for a party.

Then on Friday, July 1st, we will be holding a movie viewing party for all families to enjoy! During the first week of our Trailblazers summer, we took some time to have the campers film movies. Now we get a chance to finally watch the masterpieces! Feel free to arrive anytime between 2:30 and 3:00. We will be in the gym. Then, from 3-4pm, we will move to one of the classrooms, eat lots of popcorn and drink lots of juice, and watch the Trailblazer movies. It's going to be a wonderful time.

I sure hope everyone has the opportunity to make at least one of the two events later this week, but if not, remember you are always welcome anytime at Footprints Academy. Just a quick reminder to continue sending sunscreen with your children to the summer program (but not the spray sunscreen--some kids get rashes). If you have any questions, feel free to contact James at jhron@footprintsacademy.com, or Mary at mmcneill@peaceofminddaycare.com

Have a wonderful night, and we hope to see you later this week!

This Friday, and New Excitement in Week 3!

2011-06-23T12:47:00.003-05:00

Hello Campers, Family and Friends!

We are almost on to week three of our amazing summer! But before we take a look at week three, lets finish up week two!

Tomorrow (Friday June 24th), we are heading to the National Guard Museum. The bus is leaving at 10:00am, and our tour starts at 11:00am. We should be back from the museum just in time for a late lunch, around 12:30pm or 1:00pm. It is going to be a fun time!

Next week, we have our first Water Fun Day! Tuesday, June 28th is Water Fun Day, and Trailblazers should bring their swimsuits and towel (and of course, the warm sunny weather) so we can have fun with sprinklers and water balloons all day. Then, on Thursday, June 30th, we are hosting our very own car was right here at Footprints Academy! There will be more details to come about that day, but the car wash is going to be held in the afternoon and Trailblazers are encouraged to, once again, bring their swimsuits and towels. Then on Friday, July 1st we are inviting the families of all the Trailblazers to come and join us for a party! We will have popcorn, juice, and we will be watching the movies that the campers worked so hard on during the first week of Trailblazers summer camp.

It's been a fun two weeks so far, and it looks like the impossible is going to happen--it's going to be even more fun in the coming weeks. Keep checking the blog for updates, especially some of the creative art the Trailblazers made for the Art Show (which will be up just as soon as Mr. James figures out how to put them on the blog). Have a wonderful day!

A Spectacular Week 2!

2011-06-21T07:02:00.004-05:00

Hello Campers, Friends, and Families!

We are off to a fast start, and on to Week 2 of the Trailblazers Summer Camp! We had an excellent week one making our own movies (which can be viewed at a party on Friday, July 1st), and had some very creative art through our Art Show!

Week 2 is looking to be just as exciting. On Wednesday, we have some veteran pilots coming in to talk to the campers about what it is like to be a pilot, and some of the gear that they use. On Thursday, we are going on our first bike adventure! This is a reminder that on Thursday, the campers should bring their bike and bike helmet to Trailblazers! Then on Friday, we are all going to the National Guard Museum (leaving at 10am) for a tour of the museum. This is looking like a very exciting week!

Just a few reminders about the camp. Campers should continue bringing sunscreen daily, as well as tennis shoes. Also, Trailblazers will now have the option of morning snack. We have noticed that some of the campers are getting hungry before lunch (breakfast ends at 8:40), so we are going to provide time for the campers to eat a morning snack that they bring from home. Trailblazers won't be providing food for this morning snack option (but we will continue to provide the afternoon snack), so it must be packed from home. It is optional, however, and a morning snack is not required. Just remember, please do not pack any snack with peanuts or peanut butter. Peace of Mind Daycare is a peanut free facility.

Thanks for your support, attendance, and enthusiasm so far this summer! We look forward to this week and the coming weeks, and all the fun we are going to have!

Kung Fu Panda Friday!

2011-06-15T13:48:00.003-05:00

Hello families and friends!

We've kicked off the Trailblazers summer with some wonderful children, and some wonderful fun! Today, we will be filming the movies we have been working on over the last two days, and we will eventually get those in digital form for viewing.

On Friday, we will be attending the Woodbury Theater to watch Kung Fu Panda 2, at 12:20pm right after lunch. Transportation and the movie fee is provided. It is going to be an exciting day! If you have any questions about Friday, the summer program, or the following weeks, feel free to email me (James Hron) at: jhron@footprintsacademy.com

We also need to make sure each child has their permission slips signed for the Summer! At last count, there were 14 students who still needed a signature for that part of the paperwork. We will double check with families as you pick up and drop off your child. It would also help if you could stop by the front desk for a few seconds to make sure you have that portion signed. If that portion of the paperwork is not signed, your child cannot go to the movie this Friday. Of course, we don't forsee this happening. If we can work together on this over the next two days, everyone will be able to enjoy Kung Fu Panda 2! Thanks for your support, and we hope you have a good day!

Meet the Summer Traiblazer's Staff!

2011-06-13T07:12:00.004-05:00

Jennie Hargis

My name is Jennie Hargis. My husband Mark and I, along with our dog Brinley, moved to Woodbury, MN last May to be closer to his family. Mark grew up in Woodbury, MN and after being married here in July of ’09 it wasn’t hard to convince me to make the move. I immediately started my position here as a Trailblazer leader for the summer youth program and at Peace of Mind as the Lead Pre-K teacher for the “Sparkly Sharks” this past fall. What a great year!!!

I grew up in Houston, TX where all my family still remains; my parents, 2 brothers and their wives, 4 nieces and a nephew. Family is so important to me! I went to school at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, where I majored in Child Psychology. I have enjoyed working with kids through my youth group and coaching recreational sports leagues. I love children and feel like being a teacher/mentor is my passion. I also enjoy volunteer work throughout the community. Please introduce yourself as you have time! I love meeting the families of these wonderful kids! I am looking forward to another great summer full of exciting activities!! Please feel free to contact me at: jhargis@peaceofminddaycare.com

Kelley Vanderbeck

Hello! My name is Kelley Vanderbeck. I started here at Peace of Mind at the beginning of January and have been working with the Trailblazers program ever since. When I’m not with Trailblazers I can be found in the young toddler room enjoying the high energy and fun environment! I have lived in Cottage Grove my entire life and still live there currently with my 16 month old son, Aidan. I enjoy living in Cottage Grove, close to my friends and family. I attended college at Minnesota State University, Mankato for a couple of years and then I transferred up to Rasmussen College in Lake Elmo where I am finishing up my degree in Early Childhood Education. I have worked with kids for many, many years and it is definitely my life’s passion. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my son, going to Twins games, reading, going for walks, fishing, swimming, boating, and going to the beach. I’m a summer person J I am so excited to be partnering with James, Mary, Ashley, and Jennie to create a fabulous summer camp experience! I look forward to meeting each of you and also feel free to contact me at kvanderbeck@peaceofminddaycare.com if you have any questions or concerns…or just to say hi!

Mary McNeill

My name is Mary McNeill, and I recently became a team member of FPA and Peace of Mind in March of this year. I grew up in New Brighton and attended high school nearby. I went to college at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, and then I joined the working world here in the cities. I have always tutored or volunteered helping kids even though it was not a part of my job description. I just came back from teaching abroad in June of 2010, and I had my daughter in September. I really enjoy working with kids, and I love to see their personalities grow and to hear their stories. I am looking forward to a fun summer!!

James Hron

Hi everyone, my name is James Hron. I have recently graduated from UW-Eau Claire, and am just starting here at Footprints/Peace of Mind for the summer. I enjoy reading, writing and playing a sport called Ultimate Frisbee. I really look forward to meeting you and your families the in the coming weeks of the summer. If you have any questions or comments, or just want to chat, feel free to email me at: jhron@footprintsacademy.com

Thursday, June 9th and Friday June 10th

2011-06-08T15:02:00.002-05:00

Hello,

There is NO all day care for Thursday, June 9th. However, there IS all day care for Friday, June 10th. Please call the school with any questions you may have. All day care for Friday, June 10th is $40.

Summertime Fun!

2011-05-26T16:08:00.005-05:00

Hello All,

School is almost finished and summer camp is just around the corner. With Memorial Day weekend coming up, I am sure that you all have many things planned to celebrate the three day weekend. James Hron, who will be heading up summer camp full time -will be here tomorrow, which is Friday, May 27th. We welcome James to the Footprints and Peace of Mind team, and we look forward to having him help us provide a safe learning environment for the kids.

We just finished our school showcase this week and in less than two weeks, we will be starting summer camp. June's theme will be COMMUNITY. Each week will have a different focus so the kids can learn, create, grow and have fun. In the first month of camp we will make our own movies, learn how to make, spend, and save money; and we will visit Air National Guard Museum. They have helicopters and plane on display so the kids can see firsthand what these machines look like and how big they are. The last week will be devoted to safety, including bike safety and fire safety, and the local police will visit to instruct kids about safety.

July's theme will be FOOD. We all enjoy food and the kids will be learning about: the food groups, touring different restaurants, cooking, and grocery shopping. We will talk about becoming a chef and what it takes to aspire to that title. A cooking instructor will visit us on Friday of that week and elaborate on that topic as well. The following week we will use what the instructor taught us to cook for class. As we come to the end of the month, we will be preparing and serving lunch for all the parents to conclude the FOOD themed month.

August's theme will be OUTDOOR ADVENTURES. We will be touring a local farm, horseback riding, learning how to set up a tent as well as campfire safety. We will also have an overnight campout, sounds like so much fun! As summer camp winds down and the kids are exhausted from all the activities, will have some water fun and one last visit to Outback Steakhouse for a very delicious meal. I hope you have a fabulous summer. James and I look forward to having a great time with the kids.
-Mary

April

2011-03-30T13:33:00.009-05:00

Spring Break was a blast. The picture to the left is of the "Minute to Win It" Contestants. The games played were: Coffee Topper, Breakfast Sample, Face the Cookies, Hut/Hut/Hike, Sharp Shooter, Yank Me, Roll with it. The kids had an awesome time and the congratulations to all the winners.

Trailblazers also had a blast at Pinz enjoying bowling and a Pizza party. We had many strikes, spares, and a few gutter balls even though the bumpers were up. Pinz is always one of the highlights of the year for the kids and staff.

We also celebrated St. Patricks day with a trip to Bielenberg Sports Complex. The kids took part in many activities including soccer, football, baseball, and other games. When we got back we enjoyed green sprinkled cookies with green juice. We even tried to catch a leprachaun throughout the day without any luck.

Can you believe how fast the year has gone? Summer will be here before we know it. Please remember to sign up for Summer Camp 2011 and Trailblazers 2011-2012 today. Spots are filling up fast and you don't want to miss out. Registration Packets and Calendars can either be picked up at the school or online. Please feel free to contact us for more information.

Reminder, that ALL PROGRAMS WILL BE CLOSED April 22nd.

February

2011-02-03T11:59:00.003-06:00

What a wonderful week of weather we had. The snow is melting and it is getting sloppy outside. We will try and get outside as much as we can, but if it is too wet, we will find other indoor activities to do.

We have Basketball Club starting in March 3rd. Chess Club will also be starting Tuesday, February 22nd. Sign ups are on the gym doors. Reserve your spot today.

Our next school release day will be Friday, March 11. Trailblazers will be going to Pinz at 10:00 for bowling and then a pizza party after. Also, our spring break schedule is out. Please see the gym doors for all the fun activities.

The summer camp registration packets and summer calendars are also out. Please register today to reserve your spot. We have many new and exciting adventure so don't miss out on all the fun. If you have any questions, please see me.

What a great spirit week Footprints had at school. It was great to see so many dress up each day. All the activities such as the Valentine's Dance and Magician were big hits.

Remember, if you have any questions or need drop in care, please contact me. Only 4 more months of school left. Wow, sunshine and water fun will be here before we know it.

Christmas Break

2011-01-06T12:12:00.005-06:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. Trailblazers had a great time over break and did some new and fun activities. I was glad to see so many of you there and even a few that came back to visit. I know that the Trailblazers staff had a blast along with all of the kids.

On December 23, we put our cooking hats on and became chefs making pizzas. We also made igloos using marshmallows and frosting and some even enjoyed them for snack. Over Christmas break, the kids enjoyed a board game bash and sledding outside in all of the snow. We also roller skated, roller bladed, scootersed around the gym to music, strobe lights, and even a disco ball. The kids had a blast and we look forward to doing it again. Then we had a News Years Party which we had our own ball drop with the Pre-K friends. The kids had a blast blowing on their noisemakers and sang "Happy New Year" to the tune of "Happy Birthday". All the kids were given dilly bars for snack to cap off a wonderful week.

We have Soccer Club starting on Thursday January 13-February 3.

The club will be from 4-5pm. Please sign up today!

Our next school release day will be on January 17. This is our Annual Snow Tubing event at Afton Alps. We will be leaving the school at 12:30pm and getting back at 3:30pm. The cost is $20 for your bus and tubing passes. Invite your friends and family members for this awesome event.

We will be having a summer kickoff extravaganza on January 29th from 2-4pm. We will be previewing our summer program and also be having our summer packets ready. Don't miss out and see the changes we have made for a great Summer.

Be looking for sign up for cheerleading, chess, and coooking clubs. These clubs will be coming up soon so don't miss out.

Thanks for such a great 2010 and I look forward to all the fun and excitement in 2011.

2010-12-02T11:36:00.004-06:00

Can you believe December is here? Only a few more weeks until Christmas. The Trailblazers staff and kids have been enjoying sledding outside afterschool and also enjoying some arts and crafts on those snowy days. We have many fun things planned for December so I hope to see you all there.

On Friday December 3, the Trailblazers traveled to the Howard Conn Fine Arts building to watch the Youth Performance Company's producation "Winnie the Pooh, A Christmas Tail." The kids had a blast watching the characters and then meeting them at the end.
On Thursday December 23, we will become chefs making our own pizzas and then enjoy them for lunch.

The week of christmas break looks like this:

12/27 : ALL PROGRAMS CLOSED 12:28: Board Game Bash/Sledding

12/29: Roller skating party at FPA 12/30: New Year's Pajama Party

12/31: ALL PROGRAMS CLOSED

We look forward to seeing you all at our school release days. All sign ups are on the gym doors.

The picture to the right is from our school release day in November. We had a blast using the jumper, parachutes, scooters, and hula hoops. More pictures are poster on the bulletin board by the gym doors. Don't miss out on all the fun.

Remember to drop off your new, unwrapped toys in our provided boxes for our toys for tots drive. We will be accepting toys until Friday, December 17.

We hope everyone has a safe and happy holidays!

Happy November!

2010-10-25T09:35:00.009-05:00

Our first school release days over MEA were a blast. Thursday, we made halloween pumpkins, haunted house landscapes, and also wrote Halloween stories. On Friday, the kids had a blast carving pumpkins. A lot of the kids weren't too sure about cleaning the inside but loved making their own faces and carving them out. Ms. Gloria also took all of our pumpkin seeds, baked them and we ate them for snack. Thanks for joining us for all the fun.

Remember that the weather is changing, we will try and get outside a least for a little bit each day after school. Please have weather appropriate clothing to wear.

Look for sign ups for our Floor Hockey Club. Floor Hockey will be on Wednesdays from 4-5pm in the gym. The Club starts on November 10 and goes until December 1. Sign up today!

Our next School Release Day will be November 12. We will be using the Jumper in the Gym and other gym activities. Look for sign ups on the gym doors. For those Trailblazers that are in still in school, Trailblazers will be providing transportation as usual.

Remember ALL PROGRAMS will be closed on Thursday November 25 and 26!

Enjoy the weather and lets keep this Trailblazer's year going Great!

Fall is Here!

2010-09-27T10:44:00.003-05:00

Can you believe fall is here and we will be entering the second month of school already? After a very rainy last week, hopefully we will be able to get outside and enjoy nicer weather. Last week we did a lot of cool crafts such as perler beads, beaded necklaces, and cool beaded friendship pins.

We have our first school release days coming up October 21 and 22. We will be making Halloween Masks on the 21st and then carving pumpkins on the 22nd. Please bring in your own pumpkin to carve. Sign up on the gym doors in advance to save your spot.

Each kid has done a fabulous job getting to know the routine of Trailblazers and jumping into our daily activities. It is nice to see many new faces to the program and also everyone that has come back. The Trailblazers staff have a lot of fun school release days planned and are looking forward to the rest of the year!

Also, please join us on Friday, October 15 from 6-7:45pm for Family Fun Night. We will be playing "Minute to Win It". Food will be provided. Also, bring your ideas to help make Trailblazers Summer 2011 the BEST SUMMER EVER!

Remember, if you have any questions please contact me at cstrinmoen@footprintsacademy.com

And as always Go TWINS and VIKINGS!

2010-08-23T14:46:00.004-05:00

Summer is coming to an end, but we still have two fun filled weeks ahead of us. This week we are going to Bielenberg Sports Complex for some sport activities and next week to Chutes n Ladders Park area for an end of summer bash.

A couple highlights from the past few weeks are the Woodbury Fire Department stopping by and spraying us with their fire hoses. Even Ms. Jennie and myself got to try it out.

We also put on a Puppet Show for the preschoolers. Each camper helped out with the stage and helped make all the puppets. Everyone had a blast!

Remember to sign up for Trailblazers for the 2010-2011 School Year. There are still spots open, please see me with any questions. Also, let us know soon if you will be needing transportation as we are organizing our bus schedules. We have many fun clubs planned and very exciting school release days ahead. Don't miss out on all the fun.

Footprints Academy's "Back to School Night" is September 2nd from 5-6. I look forward to seeing all of you there!

August

2010-08-04T15:41:00.004-05:00

Today the 3rd-8th graders ventured off to Vertical Endeavors! The kids had a great time challenging each other and challenging themselves. Here our a few pictures from our day! Other than that don't forget Friday is Movie Day! Hope everyone is staying COOL!

Board Game Day

2010-07-29T16:01:00.002-05:00

Today was a great day! This week is game week and the kids have had such a great time with all the different activities. Today their activity was to make their own board game. They were put into group of 3 or 4 and worked together to create a game. The games created included:
Group 1: Disaster
Group 2: Panda Races
Group 3: Silly Soxs Game
Group 4: Oops
Group 5: Ghost Hunters
Group 6: Oopsey Doopsey
Group 7: Dungeon Escape
Group 8: Sports Track

The groups spent over an hour working together to create their masterpieces. After they were done they had to present their game to the class and afterwards we voted for the best game. Group 3 came out on top with the Silly Soxs Game! They then had the chance later in the afternoon to play each other games. What a great way to end Thursday!

Tomorrow will be another great day! We are off to Pinz for some bowling to end game week! We will be leaving around 10:30 and return around 1:30. We will be eating pizza there however, if your child doesn't like pizza (crazy!) feel free to pack a lunch! We hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!

Field Trips

2010-07-20T13:35:00.007-05:00

I was just talking to one of the JCC's this morning who goes to Hill Murray and we were saying school starts in a little over a month. That means before you know it the State Fair will be here, we will start seeing the Vikings apparel more, and of course the Twins will be taking on the Minnesota weather outside. This summer is just flying by and we continue to have fun everyday! We have explored science this past week or so both at the Science Museum as well as The Works Museum. The kids had a blast learning how things work or why things happen.

We love seeing our scientist start to bloom and try out things they haven't before. Today at The Works Museum the kids had a chance to build their own castles, race cars made from Kinexs, and create crazy pictures of themselves.

The kids also loved looking at themselves in the mirror to see how their bodies looked in different settings. They do such a great job and they are a great group to bring out into the community.

The Works Museum did a great job. We were able to explore on our own and then attend a class afterwards. The kids all learned about circuits and how short circuits are made. We also learned that electricity is lazy just like we can be sometimes. Electricity runs like people, it is always easier to take the shorter way! We hope everyone had as much fun as we did. Next week we are off to Pinz on Friday for some bowling and we all know how much fun that is. We hope this little glimpse of pictures brought you into the summer life here at Footprints!

Happy 4th of July

2010-07-07T12:26:00.002-05:00

First and foremost we hope everyone had a safe and fabulous holiday weekend. We know we all enjoyed the weather and it was fun to hear stories about all the fabulous holiday fun!

Water, water everywhere we're going to get WET! The kids had so much fun on Thursday! I think we spent 75% of our day in the awesome water slide. As you see above Corey and I even like to get involved. This kids LOVE when we spray them. I think I even went home with a blister on my hand from spraying the kids so much. This is why we truly love summer! It is so much fun to get outside and just relax with a great group of kids. The friendships here are irreplaceable and we owe that all to a great place for the kids!

We will be heading to Como Zoo tomorrow, July 8th. We will be leaving at approx. 9:30 and return around 2:30. Please make sure your child is wearing appropriate shoes and clothing for the day. We will be eating lunch at Como Zoo so if you bring a lunch we will have a place for it otherwise Theresa and Jody will gladly pack us lunches. Make sure to sign up for lunch in the morning right away so we know how many bag lunches to bring!
Finally there are sign ups up on the bulletin board for Bike Club and Mural Club. Mrs. Jennie is running bike club from 9-11 Tues-Thurs and Mural Club from 2-4 Tues-Thurs. These clubs are available for a small fee so if you are interested please talk to one of us for additional information or sign up today! As always if you have any questions or concerns don't hesitate to talk to either of us!

SUMMER!

2010-06-22T11:30:00.006-05:00

Today we headed to Davanni's and had a great time there. We were able to get a tour of the kitchen and see how they do things there. While we were leaving I received a comment from someone enjoying their lunch. She said, "what a great group of kids you have there." It is awesome to bring the kids out in public and to receive such compliments. They do such a great job and we couldn't be more proud.

The pictures above are just from the first 2 weeks of summer camp. We have THOROUGHLY enjoyed the new water slide Mrs. Nikki has purchased for us and Pre-k. Roller skating was also a blast. We were so happy with everyone who came out and gave such dedication to something that isn't as easy as it looks. We have water day coming up again this Thursday the 1st. Wow, the first! It is crazy to think that July is just around the corner. Why does summer always go so fast? This is a question I have pondered since my elementary school days. Don't forget we are also closed Monday July 5th.

Finally before I sign off for the day I had the 3rd graders and above answer a great journal question today...What age does a person have to be to be considered old? Interesting question...here are some answers: 55, 70, 50, 61 or 62, 80, 90, 60, and 65. At least Corey and I have some time before they consider us old.

We hope your students are having just as much fun as we are. Let us know if there is anything you need from us!

Summer Camp

2010-06-14T14:59:00.005-05:00

Week 1 is underway and we are so excited to have everyone here! The kids were very excited to begin summer and just relax. Today was a lot of rules and responsibilities as we get everything going. Tomorrow is jumper day so please remember to either wear socks or bring them with.

Our first field trip will take place this Friday. We will be going to Wooddale Roller Skating Rink at 12:15 and return at 3:15. The kids are allowed to bring in their own skates but we ask that they don't bring money. We will be leaving right after lunch and returning at snack time.

This summer we are hoping to have each group put some work into the blog and even have the JCC's give some information about what is going on. We are hoping to have a fun and relaxing summer and what better place to do it then Footprints. Corey and I hope to see more smiling faces as the summer goes on! Stay tuned for pictures and fun by all...

Last Week of School

2010-06-03T09:43:00.009-05:00

As the end of the year approaches many things are starting to change. For one Mr. Corey got married last weekend (May 29th) and we all wished him a huge congrats. The whole school worked together to make a book for Mr. Corey. Their job was to give Mr. Corey some marriage advice. Here are a few things that were said: Kiss her, Dance with her, and buy her a cat (4 years old). Take her to a hockey game (5years old). Take her to a hotel for nine days, buy a house, have a kid, and then get a babysitter (7 years old). Act natural, be nice to Amber or else (8 years old). The advice came from young and old and I was very excited to give it to Mr. Corey as part of his wedding gift. I have already talked to him and they have thoroughly enjoyed the book! Mr. Corey will return Monday the 7th and we are happy to have him back!

With exciting news comes the sad. As the year ends we have students who will be graduating from Footprints and continuing their educational careers elsewhere. I have known these girls since they finished 2nd grade and they have been nothing but great in all the years I have known them. Corey and I will miss their smiles everyday and the jokes they like to play on us.

The nice thing about Footprints is that there is never actually a goodbye. We have so many programs that extend through the summer and we hope they will be a part of them. As they continue on the one piece of advice I can give them is shoot for the stars and all your dreams will come true. They have worked so hard and they deserve everything that happens in their future.

With the end of the school year comes summer. Can you believe the time is already here. I spent some time looking at the blogspot and all the posts that have accumulated this year. It feels like yesterday that I was writing a post for the first school release day. Both Corey and myself are so excited about the summer and we couldn't be happier with this school year. For those of you who aren't sure about next week Trailblazers will open at 1:00pm on Thursday afternoon and will be open ALL day of Friday. If your child's last day of school is Thursday we will still be picking up your students. However, if your child will not be here please let either Corey or myself know. On Friday the kids will be making their own ice cream sundaes. Please let us know if your child will be here on that day. Look for sign ups on the gym doors on Monday so we can have an idea of how many students are coming. Finally if you could bring in sunscreen we are running low and we are big fans of making sure the kids are lathered up. If you have a sunscreen preference please let Corey or myself know. Enjoy the last few days of the school year and get ready for the first day of summer camp on June 14th.

End of the Year

2010-05-20T11:06:00.005-05:00

Can you believe it is almost Memorial Weekend? It is crazy to see and hear about people going to their cabins and getting away for the weekend. It is also wedding season! If you haven't heard Corey is getting married on Saturday the 29th and all the kids are very excited for him. It is so cute to hear them ask if they can come, or if he is going to dance.

We all want to wish Corey Congratulations...I'm sure he is willing to listen to all advice. His last day before the wedding is May 26th so make sure to wish him luck, he will need it! Just kidding Corey, We Love You!

Back on track...the Carnival was a HUGE SUCCESS. Thank you so much for everyone who came out to support us and HSI! With the year ending please bring in sunscreen if you have some! We are spending lots of time outside and the kids are soaking up the sun!

Summer Camp registration is DUE this Friday, May 21st so make sure to turn in your packets. We are super excited about all the things we have planned and we hope you can join us! The last day of school is June 10th. The students are released at 1:00pm. If you can not make it Trailblazers WILL be open then until 6:00. We are also open all day on the 11th with summer camp starting Monday, June 14th. We can't wait to see you all there!

Carnival Time

2010-05-13T09:13:00.003-05:00

First and foremost we hope all you moms had a fabulous Mother's Day! Thank you for all you do for your children, we adore each and everyone of them and you! With Mother's Day coming and going it is now time to look to the carnival. Our annual School Carnival will take play THIS Saturday from 11:00am to 2:00pm. We have a lot going on and we hope that you will be here to join us! We will be having a buisness fair going on as well as the jumper, the all famous CRAZY HAIR, face painting, food, games, silent auction, and plenty more! We are so excited for this awesome event and we look forward to seeing everyone there!

We also have running club in session and Corey and Mrs. Chang are sure making those kids work hard. It is fun to watch them work hard and try to beat records each time. We hope you have enjoyed the clubs this year as much as we have! We look forward to some awesome clubs next year too!

This year is wrapping up and we have had so much fun with everything. Don't forget to sign up for summer camp too!

Running Club

2010-04-29T09:48:00.003-05:00

The sign ups are up for the last club of the school year. We have the sign up sheet posted on the gym doors. Running club will be seperated into two groups. On Mondays students in grades K-2 will run and on Wednesdays students in 3rd and above will run.

Please let us know if you have any feedback about the clubs this year. We hope you have all enjoyed having your child participate! By receiving your feedback we will be able to evaluate our clubs for next year and know the best options for next year, 2010-2011!

Also the carnival is May 15th from 11am-2pm. All the proceeds will be going to support HSI in Washington County! We hope to see you there!

Spring Happenings

2010-04-16T11:28:00.007-05:00

Tis the season for a great time of year! I don't know if you have felt it but summer is for sure in the air! We have started putting sunscreen on your children in the afternoon so if you could help us stock up on supplies that would be excellant! If for some reason your child has a special sunscreen please let us know so we can keep it seperate and label it.

With the months flying by we have a few reminders for May. On Friday May 7th at 6:00pm we have our first Inaugural Gala, Auction, and Dinner put on by the Legacy Builders of Woodbury. We hope to see everyone there! Please turn your RSVPs into the green box located at the front desk!

May is almost here which means the carnival is right around the corner. This years proceedes will be donated to HSI to help support Early Childhood programs in Washington County. Please come and support our community! The carnival is Saturday May 15th from 11am-2pm! We are also doing the silent auction again. All classes will come up with a theme for a basket and then parents are asked to contribute to the baskets. If you have any questions please talk to myself or Corey or of course the place with all the information, the front desk!

Our next club is Running Club...sign ups coming soon!

Happy Friday and enjoy your weekend!!

April Showers

2010-04-06T11:31:00.005-05:00

We hope everyone had a fabulous spring break and a great holiday weekend. Last weeks weather was phenomenal and we are really hoping it returns soon. However, it is nice to see a little rain since we have been lacking moisture in the past month or so.

We can't believe it is already April, where did the time go? The pictures that we have posted are from our field trip last week to Pinz. The students were fabulous and had a great time! They all kept asking when we can go back. Corey and I were excited to say that we planned a trip during summer camp.

We have seen many enrollment sheets for both summer camp and Trailblazers for 2010/2011 school year. Make sure to turn yours in to guarentee a spot for your child. You can find information both on the Footprints website and in the foyer as you walk in the front door. We are excited for all the adventures and we hope to see your smiling faces!

We are also taking a break from clubs for the month of April. We are hoping to be outside as much as possible and enjoy the nice warm weather! We are even hoping to start going outside in the morning as long as the weather cooperates. Please make sure that you are still dressing your child appropriate for the weather or at least throwing a sweatshirt or light jacket in their locker. We know many of the students are excited to start burning some energy in the morning before the head off to school. Look for sign ups on the door for running club. Students will have a chance to get out with their teachers (Mrs. Sloot and Mrs. Chang) and get a nice run in. If you are interested in volunteering and running with your child we would be glad to have you. Please let Corey or myself know if you are interested. Finally as always if you have any questions or concerns please let us know!

Spring Break

2010-03-31T12:36:00.006-05:00

What a great week for Spring Break! It has been so nice to soak up this weather and be outside! We have even been telling the kids you don't even have to feel bad that you didn't go anywhere warm for spring break because Minnesota finally came thru!! VERY NICE!!

Yesterday we took off and went to Bielenberg Sports Center and had the whole dome to ourselves. We packed up supplies from our gym closet and ventured to an open area! The kids had a blast running around and making up their own games to play or one of their favorites. The teachers decided to take on the kids in a game of baseball; a lot of laughs were shared for sure! It was also nice to have some down time and read some riddles and just relax too. We had such a blast with the kids and they did such a great job!

Tomorrow we are off to Pinz for some bowling! I'm sure the teachers will think of an interesting challenge for the students. Don't forget ALL PROGRAMS ARE CLOSED on Friday April 2nd. Lets cross our fingers and hope this weather continues right into summer. As always it has been a great with your children and these days get us in the mood for SUMMER! Remember to also check the Footprints website for Summer Camp information!

March...April...May Reminders!

2010-03-22T10:06:00.004-05:00

It is so nice to look outside and see the sun! It is hard to believe that next week is already spring break (sign ups are still posted on the gym doors). I feel like this year flown by! It's hard to believe that the 6th graders are almost graduates of Footprints Academy! When I first started here they were going into 3rd grade and now almost 7th graders. What a great group of kids they are! However, don't worry, we still have plenty opportunities for them to stick around! Check out the Footprints Website for all the summer camp information. We still have some fabulous deals going on!

With talk about summer camp it brings up another big event here at Footprints. The annual Spring Carnival is right around the corner. It will help on Saturday May 15th here at Footprints Academy. Lets cross our fingers for a beautiful day full of fun filled activities.

Another heads up, Friday, May 7th is the Legacy Builders of Woodbury Inagural Gala: Celebrating Footprints Academy Teachers. The Gala will take place at the Prestwick Golf Club in Woodbury at 6:00pm. Check out www.funds4footprints.org for event information.

Finally the weather is amazing! We still have a few muddy areas on the playground so we are still asking that the students wear boots. It is also a good idea to maybe throw an extra sweatshirt in your childs locker. In the mornings it seems like winter jacket weather but by the afternoon it is too hot! We are still encouraging students to keep their jackets on, especially if they don't have long sleeves. It is a sigh of relief to know that t-shirt weather is on the way so enjoy the picture and lets hope we don't have to count too many days for that to happen.

This is such a great time of year so look to us if you have any questions, comments, or concerns. You can reach both Corey and I by email: ecourtney@footprintsacademy.com and cstrinmoen@footprintsacademy.com.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

2010-03-17T09:22:00.005-05:00

What are beautiful day we are going to have today! 62 degrees and sunny, what a gorgeous St. Patrick's Day! This is such a great time of the year as the weather changes and we begin to see true signs of spring. Lets just hope that we can dodge the snow that they speak of this weekend!

***This is always such a busy time of year as students start venturing to warmer places or even just taking a breath and enjoying spring break. We still have sign ups on the gym doors and we are very excited about our week here. We hope the weather cooperates with us and it is just as warm as those of you traveling south (wishful thinking I know.) We are going to Pinz to do some bowling and Bielenberg Sports Center to play in the field house. Please make sure to turn in your permission slips if you plan on coming!

***Since I am on the subject of field trips it makes me think of summer camp! Hopefully many of you have noticed the table in the foyer area with all the Trailblazer information. On this table you will find packets for summer camp. Please make sure to grab the correct packet, there are three available. One for students entering 1st and 2nd grade, one for students entering 3rd thru 8th, and also our JCC (Junior Camp Counselor) program for students entering grades 6th thru 8th. There are some awesome deals and field trips available so make sure to sign up soon! We are waiving registration fees for reutning Trailblazer families signing up for both Summer Camp 2010 and Trailblazers 2010-2011 by March 26th. A combined registration fee of $100 for Summer Camp 2010 and Trailblazers 2010-2011 if signed up by May 6th. So please sign up today, spots are filling up fast.

***Construction club is slowly coming to an end. The students have enjoyed yet another fabulous club. The next club is Running Club and will not begin until sometime in May. Look for sign ups and come enjoy running with Mrs. Chang and Mrs. Sloot!

***Finally one last reminder...as the weather starts changing and getting warmer we are still asking that the students wear boots outside. It is still muddy and wet from all the snow melting! We also are encouraging students to wear jackets and if they feel it necessary they may also wear their hats and mittens. We have told them that when we feel the weather is warm enough we will let them know if they can unzip their coat or even take it off! Lets hope that boots can be packed away and the sandals can come out, I'm wearing mine ALREADY!!

Have a great green day! Happy St. Patricks Day! :)

Summer Camp Info

2010-03-10T13:17:00.007-06:00

As they say "April showers bring May flower." Ok well it isn't so much April but the rain is coming down that's for sure. It is nice to see something different fall from the sky instead of snow. Lets hope that is all over with and we can continue on to a warm spring and HOT summer!

We should mention however that as the weather continues to change we are asking that as long as snow is on the ground the kids still bring appropriate clothing for outside. It is also a huge plus if the students have extra clothes in their lockers. All of the students are having a blast outside and since the weather has changed the students snow pants are getting wet which in turn has made their pants pretty wet. We will make it through the awkward stage of weather and hopefully transition into sweatshirts!

With all this talk about summer make sure to check out of Footprints website for the awesome deals for summer camp and next year Trailblazers. We are so excited for the summer and all the fun stuff we have planned, we hope you are ready to join in on the fun! Also if you are new to us this year our JCC program was featured on Kare 11 last year. Check it out and sign up!! We can't wait to see you!

Finally, Trailblazers will be open ALL day Thursday and Friday of this week. We will still provide transportation to schools who are in session. Sign ups for Spring Break are located on the gym doors. Make sure to turn in your permission slips to both field trips so we know how many students are coming.

One more reminder...this weekend is day light savings...SPRING FORWARD!

Trailblazer Happenings

2010-02-22T12:15:00.005-06:00

This year just seems to be flying by and here we are reminding you to sign up for the week of spring break. Trailblazers will be open the week (Mar. 29-Apr 2) of spring break, however closed on Good Friday (April 2nd.) We have many fun activites planned! The sign ups are posted and ready for students who are looking for a fun spring break! We are planning two field trips that week. We will be bowling at Pinz and running crazy in the field house at Bielenberg Sports Center.

Trailblazers will also be open all day on March 11th and 12th. If your student attends another school we will still provide transportation on these days. On Monday, March 15th Trailblazers will be open for regular Trailblazer hours.

Just a reminder if you plan on dropping your child off before 7am please remember to use the toddler entrance and drop off in the toddler room. Trailblazer staff does not arrive until 7am. If you continuously need early arrival please let someone at the front desk know so we can staff properly.

Cooking club will end on Thursday but look for the sign up sheet for the next club. Corey will be diving into the world of wood for Construction Club! We have had great turnouts for our clubs this year so keep joining in on the fun! As the year comes to an end look for Mad Science and Running Club too!

Of course who could forget about summer camp! Keep your eyes open for calendars and promotions as the time comes nearer! We are very excited about all the exciting things planned for summer this year. Don't forget to share the information with friends, family, and neighbors so they can join in on the fun!

As the year races by please continue to talk to Corey and myself with any concerns you have!

February

2010-02-12T11:29:00.003-06:00

Is it just me or is time just flying by this year. Another month has gone by, another club has finished, and here we are celebrating Valentine's Day today. All the students were very excited about their classroom parties today and some birthday celebrations as well. It is so much fun watching all of their excitement and enthusiam every day!

We also wanted to thank everyone for coming out and supporting our students last night. The projects for the Science Fair we unbelievable! It is so rewarding to see all the hard work and dedication that all of our students put in; what a great school we have!

Cooking Club started on Feb 2nd and the students have had a great time learning to make simple things that they themselves can do at home. This is our biggest club yet, we have over 15 students enrolled and every Tuesday and Thursday they are so excited to let everyone know that it is cooking club day! Here are a few pictures of some goodies we have made. At the end of cooking club all the students will receive a recipe book of everything we have made.

Last but not least a few quick remembers. Trailblazers in open on Monday for movie day/popcorn party. Please not that if you attend another school we are not open on Tuesday all day. Footprints Academy has school on Tuesday February 16th so Trailblazers with be open ONLY before and after school. As always let Corey or myself know if you need anything. Have a great weekend and Happy Valentine's Day!

Snow Tubing

2010-01-25T15:58:00.009-06:00

HAPPY MONDAY!! What a fun day we had today! Everyone was SO EXCITED to go when they got here today! We hope you enjoy a few pictures from today!

It is always fun to watch the kids go down the first time. They have so much apprehension but after that first run you CAN NOT get them off the hill. It's also great to see the matches that come up with students go tubing together! They always change partners and try to see who will make them go the fastest.

Miss Rachel, Mr. Corey, and myself ventured out with all the kids and we didn't want to come off the hill either. Not to mention the great help from the parent volunteers, thanks Gary, Tom, and Rick! It just shows how great of a program we have and how great our kids are when we go out and people compliment our manners. Footprints is a great school and our students do a fabulous job of representing!

Our day ended at Afton with a nice warm glass of hot cocoa, only two spills not too bad with 40 kids! As always we have a blast and enjoy what we do and that has a big part to do with all of you!

Art Club ends on Thursday, look for sign ups for "Let's Cook."

Have a great week!

The Warm Up!

2010-01-15T09:41:00.002-06:00

I can't believe I am saying this but how awesome does 30 degrees feel. Corey and I are loving this feeling, especially when we get in the vans to do our bus runs and we aren't shivering violently! We have been spending a lot of time outside this week and we can tell the kids are loving this weather as well. At pick up time please don't feel like you have to treck through the snow to pick up your student, we will gladly send them either inside or to the gate. Also if you are looking for us when you pick up remeber the white board to the left of the tuition box has a break down of the afternoon.

Sign ups are still up for Monday the 18th and the 25th. Snow tubing is still open for those who have not signed up yet.

Arts and Crafts Club is off and running! The students completed their tie blankets yesterday and let me tell you that they worked hard. I think they all had sore backs, fingers, and arms last night! This club will run until Thursday the 28th. Afterwards we will into cooking club on Tuesday and Thursdays in February so look for sign ups soon!

Thanks for everything you do!

Welcome 2010

2010-01-06T09:47:00.011-06:00

Welcome Back to the start of a great year! We hope everyone had a fantastic holiday and a great time off! We saw some faces over break but it was great to have everyone back on Monday. With the new year starting we have so much to look forward too! Within this post you will see pictures from our New Years Eve Party. We ate lunch with the pre-k class and Thersea made us a fabulous picnic style lunch. After lunch we went into their classroom and read stories to them. Everyone did fabulous and had a blast!We already have two school release days coming up in January! Don't forget to sign up on the gym doors so we know if you are going to be here. On Monday January 18th we will be having Video Game Day so don't forget your Gameboys that day. Also Monday January 25th we will be going snow tubing at Afton Alps from 12:30-3:30. Corey and I are super excited about this field trip, we had an absolute blast last year. We have even got the kids to start talking about the field trip, this morning all the kids kept asking each other if they were going. This field trip is one that sticks out to so many; students who usually don't come on school release days make the choice to come on this day!

Arts and Crafts club also started on Tuesday the 5th. The kids were very excited to start another club. Please let Corey know if you are still interested in signing up. This club will take place till Thursday the 28th.

It has been hard this week with the weather to get outside but we are hoping next week will bring warmer weather. Please don't forget to bring in your winter gear EVERYDAY! If it is above zero we will make the journey outside even if it's only for 10minutes.

Just another reminder: The PTA is putting on an Internet Safety Night on Monday January 11th at 7:00pm. This class will have Detective Torguson from the Woodbury Police Department. He will be discussing ways to establish rules and talking to your child about revealing identifying information. This is a great class to teach you and your family about social networking, cyber bullying, and inappropriate content. Please RSVP to the front desk Jan. 8th and let them know if you will be attending.

With this cold weather in the air who couldn't be more excited about summer camp? Let Corey know if you are interested and he will make sure to email you the packets as soon as they are out! Look for our packets that will be coming out soon!

As always we hope you are as happy with the Trailblazer program as we are! If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to address us! Below you will find both mine and Corey's email address:

ecourtney@footprintsacademy.com

cstrinmoen@footprintsacademy.com

Happy Holidays!!

2009-12-17T09:39:00.006-06:00

"Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful." Isn't that how we are all feeling now. The weather outside has definitely been on the colder side but we have still continued to have a blast together! When we have had a chance to make it outside the students have had an absolute blast. They are the ones that continue to say, "can we go outside yet?" We have been pleased that almost of our the students are properly dressed and ready to enjoy the outside fun. Also as the snow continues to fall please note that WE provide the sleds for the hill outside. It is a policy of ours that sleds from home remain at home. If you have any questions let us know.

We also want to say a big thank you to all the families that have participated in both Toys for Tots and our Giving Tree donations. It is absolutely amazing to walk into our building and see all the donations our families have given. This is such a great place to be and it shows the kidness in everyones heart as the donations continue to come in. Toys for Tots donations are due by tommorrow, December 18th. Corey will be delivering the toys to the proper location on Monday. Also the giving tree donations are due Monday Dec. 21st. The students council will also be delivering the items on Monday as well. Again we can't thank you enough for all your help!

Finally, the gym doors still have the list for school release days. We are open Dec. 28th thru Dec.31st and CLOSED Jan. 1st. Please note that school resumes on Jan. 4th. Corey and I have a lot of fun things planned for the week after Christmas. We hope to hear all about your holiday and all the presents Santa brought you. Corey and I want to wish you all a safe and Happy Holidays!!

Elves and the Shoemaker

2009-12-07T12:21:00.017-06:00

We hope everyone had a great weekend. How's the holiday shopping coming along? Can you believe it, 18 days until Christmas. Since our students didn't have school on Friday we ventured out on our first Trailblazer field trip. We went to a production put on by the Youth Performance Company and it was FANTASTIC. It was a mix of singing, dancing, and acting. Our students loved it! We were so proud of our students and they did such a great job representing Footprints Academy. If you ask your child about the play they will say without a doubt they were the best group there. It was hard to be patient as we waited for the play to begin but they did such a fabulous job, Corey and I couldn't have been more pleased. After the field trip we came back and enjoyed a relaxing afternoon coloring, playing, and watching "The Polar Express." This is a great time of year to relax inside doing activities we enjoy.

I hate to say it but I think winter is finally here and after tomorrow it will be visible to all of us. Please remember to bring in snowpants, boots, hats, jackets, and mittens because we love to have a blast in the snow. Also, not that we are getting our hopes up, make sure to stay tune to Kare 11 if you have any questions about closings or delays. The first snow storm is always interesting in the state of Minnesota as we often question, "are we really going to get that much snow?" but it is always important to be prepared.

The sign ups are now posted on the gym doors for school release days, Dec 28th-31st, please sign up at your earliest convenience so we are staffed appropriately for the days. Volleyball club ends this Wednesday and our next club won't begin till after the 1st of the year. Arts and Craft Club will begin January 5th.

Stay warm, enjoy the season, and let us know if there is anything we can do for you!

Thanks so much!:)

December Happenings

2009-11-30T12:08:00.006-06:00

Welcome Back! We hope everyone had a fabulous four day weekend. It was great to talk to everyone about their weekend and what they did. Did anyone venture out and go shopping? Ms. Jody said she swore there was over 3000 people at Walmart. Yikes, I'm glad I stayed home!

There are many upcoming events this December and this is the place to stay notified. On the gym doors you will see sign ups for school release days, blogspot information, and after school club sign up. We hope that everyone takes the time to look both at the door and at the bulletin board.

This Friday, December 4th we will be going on our first Trailblazer field trip. We are going to see the " The Elves and the Shoemaker" at the Youth Performance Company in Minneapolis. We are asking that are children who will be here for that school release day arrive by 8:30am. The play begins at 10:00am and we will be eating lunch when we come back. If you attend another school transportation WILL be provided to and from school.

This year Footprints Academy is taking part in the Toys for Tots campaign. There will be bins located in the lobby for new, unwrapped toys. This is a great opportunity and our students did a great job talking about the importance of giving. They all talked about being thankful for things and we then talked about how we have so much and some families have so little. This is a great way to spread a Happy Holidays to all families! If you have any questions please talk to any Footprints Staff member and they can help you. Please pass the word along that Footprints Academy is a drop off site so if your friends and families would like to help we would appreciate it greatly.

Did anyone notice the enormous Christmas tree this morning as they walked into the building. This is the giving tree, it contains ornaments on it that symbolize different organizations. The student council worked with both POM and FPA to make ornaments for the tree. The organizations involved are St. Joseph's Home for Children, Woodbury Christian Cupboard, Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, and the Tubman Church. The back of each ornament contains an item that is needed by these organizations. After you purchase the item please bring the ornament back with it so you know which bin to place the item in. We are asking that the items be brought in by Dec. 21st so they can be given to the proper organization by Christmas. What a wonderful time a year to see everyone working so hard to give to others. This is definitely a great place to be a part of!

A few more reminders:
*Volleyball Club contains Monday and Wednesday until Dec. 9th
*Field Trip Friday December 4th
*Breakfast in served from 8:00-8:30 we need to do our best to be done at this time because preschool comes in for breakfast at 8:30
*As the weather gets colder please bring weather appropriate clothing
*Footprints and Peace of Mind with be sponsoring a guided Holiday Light Tour keep your eyes open for details
*ALL PROGRAMS ARE CLOSED Dec. 24th and Dec. 25th
*Look for sign-ups on the gym door for Christmas Break, we are open for school release days from Dec. 28-31st

Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help brighten your Holidays!

We are Thankful!

2009-11-20T09:44:00.001-06:00

As the week ends together we have been making sure to talk about being thankful in the morning and afternoon. We feel that it is so important for these students to understand all the opportunities they have and to just say a little extra thanks. Below are some responses from each grade:
*Kindergarten*
Mr Corey, my poor sick kitty, my family, friends and pets, for god, for friends

*1st Grade*
school release days, weekends, my goldfish, my mom's camaro, my dog dyson

*2nd Grade*
Grandma's carmel rolls, the color black, Brett Favre, my dad's steak every Saturday-medium
rare, my family, summer vacation, my hamster, food and shelter

*3rd Grade*
Simba my cat, friends, family

*4th Grade*
family, friends, animals, everything

*5th/6th Grade*
my family, french toast, Leo my dog, JCC lounge, hockey, ipod touch

Corey and I couldn't be more thankful for everyone of you, we have developed so many great relationships this year and we couldn't ask for a better group. We hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving and gets a lttle shopping in. Enjoy the long weekend with your families and take the time to let each other know how thankful you are for them.

The month of November

2009-11-13T09:28:00.004-06:00

Happy November! Halloween has come and gone and now we are getting ready to celebrate Thanksgiving. The holiday season will be here before we know it! There is so much to be thankful for and we are excited to share the season with all of you!

We are so lucky that the weather has been holding up. The students have enjoyed spending their afternoons outside, especially because we never know when the last nice day will be. It is even great to go outside in the morning and not feel the chill of the wind. The students have been doing a great job with dressing appropriately which is helping them enjoy the weather outside!

Volleyball Club begins this Monday, November 16th! We have already had students asking when this club was going to start and we are still hoping to get more students to sign up. Volleyball Club will take place Mondays and Wednesdays in the gym from 3:40-4:40. Feel free to come out and watch or even play a set with the students, they would love it!

Please pay attention to the gym door as we continue to have school release day attendance hanging up. Our next school release day will be Dec. 4. We are going to the Childrens' Theatre at 8:45am to see "Elves & the Shoemaker." Please let us know at your convience so we can make sure we have enough spots for everyone!

Just a reminder ALL PROGRAMS are closed November 26th and 27th for Thanksgiving break!

Halloween Party

2009-11-04T08:46:00.012-06:00

We hope everyone had a fantastic time at the Halloween Party! Corey and I had a blast with all of you at 'Pin the Face on the Pumpkin'. Here are some pictures from all the fun we had!

We found our twins!

That is one scary clown!

Funniest Award: Woopie Cushion!

Twister Twins!

I think these girls visited Corey and I the most! Thank you for another great party, we couldn't have done it without you!

Just a few quick reminders about the next few weeks!

* Trailblazers will be open all day tomorrow 11/5 and Friday 11/6. If you child still has school we will be providing transportation.

*Volleyball sign ups are posted on the gym door. We would love to see even more students sign up!

*All programs are closed Thursday November 26th and Friday November 27th for Thanksgiving!

*Don't forget hats and gloves and warm jackets as we are trying to get outside as much as possible before the weather really starts to change!

Here is to a great November! Thanks for everything:)

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-27T11:08:00.005-05:00

I hope everyone is having a fabulous month of October. Just a few quick reminders as the month comes to end. Can you believe it, another month has flown by!

*Sign ups will be up on the door for our Volleyball Club. The Soccer Club turn outs have been awesome and we hope to have just as many for Volleyball!

*Our annual Halloween Party is this Saturday! 10am-12pm come out in your costumes and celebrate the holiday!

*Friday is Free Dress Day for Footprints Students!

*Our next school release days are fast approaching, November 5th and 6th. If you attend another school we will still be providing transportation to your child.

*November 21st is Parents Night Out. It is from 5-10 and it is a great chance for you to have a date night and let your kids come hang out with us!

*DON'T FORGET TO SET YOUR CLOCKS BACK THIS WEEKEND!

We hope to see everyone this weekend in AWESOME costumes. Come find Mr. Corey and myself (Ms. Erin) so we can snap a few pictures of you! A continued thanks for all you do. We wouldn't be such a fabulous program without the help of you and your children!

Happy Halloween!

1st School Release Day!

2009-10-15T09:46:00.014-05:00

Who would have thought MEA Break would start out with a nice snow fall? Not US that's for sure! I asked my dad the other day if this was going to be the Halloween repeat of 1991! I remember it vaguely but way to much snow and my Halloween costume hidden under all of my snow stuff.

We decided today no matter what the weather we were going to have a blast. We started off the morning with some free choice time and let us be the first to say they could play in the overlook all day long!

After we cleaned up we gathered to talk about Halloween and all the fun they have! We decided today would be a great day for Halloween fun! We allowed the kids to let their imaginations run wild and use a simple animal to make it into any kind of animal they want. Some chose to make a mouse, some a fox, some a lion, and some decided to be extra creative and create their own. We love watching all the minds work. We also brought other materials out and the kids made their own spider webs and ghost balloons. It is also great to see the kids work with one another and complete a word find or other Halloween worksheet.

It was also a great day to Welcome Back some faces we missed from Summer Camp. We had students drop in today that don't come to regular Trailblazers during the school year and it is so much fun to watch the relationships rekindle so quickly. We also have a few students that go to FPA that don't come to Trailblazers who came to visit us today. It is a blast to have everyone here and they are truly wonderful kids!

In case you forgot we have a lot of fun things coming up in the next few weeks.

*Soccer Club is off and meeting Mondays and Wednesday from 3:40-4:40 and there is still room to join

*All Programs are closed tomorrow 10/16

*Annual Halloween Party is Oct. 31st from 10am-12pm

*The next school release days are November 4th and 5th for FPA Conferences. Sign ups will be on the door in the next week or so.

Thank you for all you continue doing for us and our school.

October

2009-10-09T11:35:00.005-05:00

Can you believe October is here. We have our first school release day coming next Thursday. We have a lot of fun planned for all of our friends and we are hoping to see everyones smiling faces. We will be making Halloween masks and doing fun Halloween activities. Remember even if you don't come to Trailblazers everyday you can always come for the school release days.

This first month has just flown by. We have completed our first club, flag football, and we are anxious for Soccer Club to start on Monday. Soccer Club will run Mondays and Wednesdays for 4 weeks. We have had a lot of friends sign up and we are still hoping for more! Our clubs are a great way to get involved after school and stay active as the weather starts changing more.

It has been great to see all the relationships forming between all the students this year. We are so happy to have all the new families as well as all the returning families. It is especially exciting to see the kindergartners fit right into the routine and even develop the relationships with the older students. Corey and I can't thank the older kids for being such good role models. The students in 3rd grade and up have been so helpful whether it's bringing kids inside to get a drink or helping them get their jackets out of their lockers. The relationships here and everlasting and it is so much fun to be a part of it.

Just a few reminders to end this great week!

*If you haven't already please initial on the gym doors whether you will be attending on Thursday the 15th or not.
* ALL PROGRAMS are CLOSED on Friday the 16th
*Our annual Halloween Party is Saturday Oct. 31st from 10am-12pm.
*Soccer Club begins Monday Oct.12 at 3:40
*Remember to bring your hats and gloves as the weather starts to get colder in the morning. We are hoping to continue going outside until the snow starts to come. (Cross your fingers we DON'T see it tomorrow morning!)
*Finally, please continue talking to Corey and I with any concerns you have. We want to make sure that you and your family have a fabulous time at Trailblazers!

Changing Weather

2009-10-02T10:27:00.004-05:00

Is anyone else asking themselves what happened to 80 degrees and sunny? Well whether or not we are ready fall is here and more than likely winter isn't too far behind. As the weather starts changing even more we want everyone to know that we will still continue to go outside most mornings so come prepared for the cold. As the weather changes more drastically we will be more than likely in the overlook staying warm. Also in the afternoon we are still planning on soaking up the nice days since they probably aren't going to come around as often. We want everyone to be ready to have fun in the mornings and afternoons so come prepared and dress properly to have fun. If you don't see us outside check the white board to the left of the front desk to find out exactly where we are, usually we aren't that hard to find.

Now that we are a month in we have been encouraging all students to do their homework after school while they are here. We know that evenings get busy at home and we want to help you out by having your student accomplish as much as they can here. Corey and I will be putting a letter together to go home so you can sign your child up for a homework check in after school. We will also have a binder that they can sign off on if they have completed all there homework for the evening. Please look in the next week for a sign up sheet in your files by the elevator.

Don't forget Oct. 15th is our first school release day. Please initial the sign up sheet on the gym doors and let us know if your student will be joining us for Halloween Fun! Also ALL PROGRAMS ARE CLOSED OCT.16th.

Finally the sign up sheet is up on the gym door for our next club. Soccer club begins Oct 12th and will run Mondays and Wednesday from 3:40 - 4:40. Don't miss out on a great time, sign up now!

Thank you as always for everything you do to help out in making Trailblazers and Footprints as successful as possible!

Trailblazer Clubs

2009-09-30T09:47:00.008-05:00

Flag Football club is off and running. The kids are having a great time. It is awesome to see the kids who aren't Trailblazers all the time come out and join all the fun we have. Corey does a great job with these kids and we know they are having a blast for sure!

They have been pretty fortunate for the most part with the weather, however this week has brought in the sweatshirts and pants. Nonetheless these kids don't care about the weather and would play outside all day if we let them.

We are excited for the clubs to contiune going. If you haven't signed up yet don't worry we still have room in most clubs. If you are unsure about signing up for future clubs we will have all sign ups posted on the gym doors a few weeks before the clubs begin so sign up, the more the merrier!

Also don't forget to sign up Oct. 15 School Release Day. The kids will be making Halloween Masks and having some Halloween fun! Just a reminder too, ALL PROGRAMS ARE CLOSED on Friday Oct. 16th!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS OUR ANNUAL HALLOWEEN PARTY IS SATURDAY OCTOBER 31st FROM 10:00-12:00!

As always let us know if there is anything we can do for you! Happy Fall!

Meet and Greet

2009-09-17T09:52:00.007-05:00

We have had a great first week with your children! We have met many new students and watched them jump right on in to the Trailblazer routine. We have gotten the chance to get to know more and more students everyday so we thought it would be a good idea to introduce ourselves to your family.

Corey (on the left) is originally from Spring Grove, MN. He graduated from high school there and then went on to the University of Wisconsin River Falls. He received his degree in Sports Science and Management. In the past Corey worked in preschool and then Corey left us for about 6months to coach baseball but missed everyone so much that he came back in January of 2009 to be the School Age Coordinator. In his free time you will most likely find him on the baseball field whether it be coaching or playing. He (his fiance) is also planning a May of 2010 wedding.

Erin (on the right) is from Woodbury. She graduated from high school there and then went on to the University of Minnesota Duluth. She received her degree in Psychology. After that she went to receive her Masters in Education with a license in School Counseling from the University of Wisconsin River Falls. In the past Erin worked in preschool as well, even with Mr. Corey, but she has found her spot with the Trailblazers. In her spare time she enjoys playing sports; either softball or boot hockey dependiong on the season. She (and her fiance) are also planning a wedding for December of 2010.

We are both so happy to be working with your children and we hope you enjoy hearing a little bit about us. As always, please let us know if there is anything we can do for your child or your family. Thank you so much for becoming part of our family here at Footprints Academy and Trailblazers.

Reminder: ALL PROGRAMS ARE CLOSED FRIDAY OCTOBER 16,2009

First Day of School

2009-09-08T09:33:00.005-05:00

Welcome one and all to Trailblazers and Footprints Academy. We hope everyone got some sleep last night because lets face it, the night before the first day of school is as hard to fall asleep as Christmas Eve. Corey and I (Erin) were even a little too excited last night. But the morning started off great and we are so excited to be back for another great school year. The smiling faces, the new shoes, pants, and shirts are just priceless to see and we couldn't be more greatful for each and everyone of you.

One of our favorite parts about the first day of school is the look on the kindergartners faces when they enter Trailblazers for the first time, especially if they are coming from Pre-K. They have been waiting for this moment forever and the looks on their faces makes Corey and I know we are happy to be doing our job!

In Trailblazers we try to stick with the same routine every morning to help the students get ready for the day ahead of them.
7:00-8:00 Drop off in the gym/overlook
8:00-8:25 Breakfast in Cafeteria

8:25-8:40 Outside (weather permitting) or overlook for morning activities

In the afternoon the students will all brought to the cafeteria for snack. Snack will be from 3:30-3:50 afterwards the students will have a number of activities to pick from. However as the weather stays nice we always try to take advantage of it and go outside as often as we can.

Our afternoons usually looks as follows: 3:30-3:50 Snack, 3:50-5:15 Afternoon Activities (Clubs) and 5:15-6:00 All Trailblazers will be in the gym having free choice and waiting to be picked up. The best thing about Trailblazers is Corey and I are very creative and keep the program at an upbeat pace. The students have a great time and most days don't want to go home. We are so excited that everyone is here and we hope for a great year.

Reminders:

**There is still room to enroll in Trailblazers for the year

**Look for sign ups in the gym for our first club: Flag Football (9/15-10/8)

**First School Release Day: October 15

**All Programs Closed: October 16

Open House

2009-09-03T10:38:00.024-05:00

**WELCOME BACK**
We have missed those who have been gone for the summer! We were so happy to see all the smiling faces last night. The classrooms look great and the teachers are so excited to see the old and new faces! Corey and I were also very excited to meet some of the new students that will be joining us come next week!

To the right...Mrs. Chang's 5/6 Class. They are very excited for the year to start and they made some great license plates!

Not only are there so many new faces in 4th grade but a new teacher is well. Mrs. Anderson will be teaching the 4th grade and some of the boys are to the left.
YAY! Mrs. Krug is back and the 3rd graders were very excited to see their room (to the right) and all she has in store.
Corey and I would have to say the 2nd grade girls had the most enthusiasm last night! They were so excited to be reunited and to include their new friends in the class! Welcome to Mrs. Oian's Class!
On the right you will see the faces of our 1st grade class. They will be with Mrs. A this year and I know they will have a blast! These students are great kids and we are so excited to see all they can do this year!
And finally WELCOME KINDERGARTNERS!! They are so cute and so excited to be here! Mrs. LaRoue is great and she can't wait for the year to start. It is great for Corey and I that we have such great teachers and work so well with us. We are excited to show not only the kindergartners around but also all of our new friends. We are so happy to have you here whether you are a new or returning face. Please let us know if there is anything we can do for you! Hats off to all the fun this summer and lets make this a great school year!!

Final Summer Fun!

2009-08-31T13:47:00.017-05:00

Can you believe that Summer Camp 2009 is almost over! We have had so much fun and created so many memories and only hope your children can say the same. We want to thank all the children for helping out and cleaning this week when we have been moving all around. They are really great children and you should all be very proud of them!

Corey and I (Erin) have had an absolute blast this summer and really have a place for all your children in our hearts. We have friends that our continuing to join us for the school year and others that are saying their goodbyes this week. However, we want everyone to know that there are no goodbyes at Footprints Academy. We hope that many of you come back to see us really soon and maybe even during the school year. Our door is always open and we would love to see each and everyone of you back with us.

Just a few reminders about the next few days:
*Tomorrow (9/1) Trailblazers will be open from 7am-6pm however Peace of Mind is CLOSED
*There is still time left to sign up for Trailblazers for the 2009/2010 school year. The vans are filling up to most schools so sign up quickly!
*Footprints Open House is Wednesday, September 3rd from 6:00pm-7:00pm

Bring a Friend Day

2009-08-11T10:41:00.007-05:00

Happy Tuesday! Today at Summer Camp we have allowed students to bring in a friend. We wanted our students to have a chance to go out and brag to their friends how much fun we have here at Trailblazers. We started the morning outside and have some fun activities planned for the day. They had a blast coloring, playing computer, and playing games all day today. We had a lot of fun and we are so happy he could join us today at Footprints!

Another day of excitement started with Blueberry Muffins for breakfast today. They were also very excited to play baseball outside this morning and run around on the playgroud. This afternoon we are having a scavenger hunt and he can't wait to join in for all the fun! Our kids our great and they were both great leaders, being a great friend and showing him around our school and making sure he knows all of our rules. They also had a blast playing on the computer and hanging out with all of the boys in the 1st and 2nd grade class.

We had friends that were so excited to see their friends here this morning. We even had a friend that hung out by the railing in the overlook so she could see the front door. Their day has involved air hockey, sequence, card games, and coloring. They were also very excited about the activities for this afternoon but at the same time more excited about the prizes. We hope that our friends had a great day here and Footprints and come back to visit soon!

Vertical Endeavors

2009-08-11T10:11:00.007-05:00

Welcome to the new site! We have been having a blast this summer. Yesterday the 3rd-8th graders ventured off to Vertical Endeavors and had a blast. We had students that had been their in the past but also students who were a little hesitant about climbing. Ms. Lisa and myself (Ms. Erin) went along and saw all of our students overcome obstacles and give it all they could. It is so rewarding as teachers to see students complete a task that they didn't think possible. All of the students helped one another whether it was unhooking the clasps or cheering on someone and guiding them up the wall. Ms. Lisa and myself even received support from our group and we conquered some of our own fears as well. We couldn't have been prouder of our students that day. By the time climbing was over we all had red hands and were sweating but it was worth it. The guide from Vertical Endeavors pulled us all together at the end and told us how awesome our group was and that we were welcome back anytime. It is compliments like that that keep us going in the community and building relationships with others. It was a great day and we had a great time!