Want to help out a classroom? Recognize a teacher? We asked our teachers and staff and below are some supply requests and gift ideas!
Pre-K- Beth Odegard
- Classroom wish list items:
- What can parents do to help the most:
- Favorite restaurant:
- Favorite color:
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Kindergarten – Jessica Stevens
- Classroom wish list items: Laminating Paper, Cream of Tarter (for making playdoh), Building Toys, Fun Read Alouds,
- What can parents do to help the most: Read our weekly newsletters, communicate, send a snack for their child
- Favorite restaurant: Sushi/Tavern Grill/Cherry Pit
- Favorite color: Pink
- Favorite snacks: Popcorn/Strawberries/Bananas
- Favorite candy: Reese’s PB Cups/Sour Patch kids
- Favorite dessert: Cheesecake
- Favorite drink: Cold Coffee/Sparking water/Dr. Pepper/Caribou Campfire Mocha (skim/milk chocolate)
- Favorite sports team: MN Vikings
- Favorite flower: Daisy
- Favorite scent: Mint
- Favorite gum: Mint
- Favorite hobby: Reading/Baking
- Dislikes: Mushrooms/Candles (weird thing about scents 🙂
Kindergarten – Katie Hintz
- Classroom wish list items: Laminating sheets, cardstock paper, wipes, paint brushes, arts and craft supplies
- What can parents do to help the most: Volunteer, ask questions, have open communication! 🙂
- Favorite restaurant: Chick-fil-A/Chipotle
- Favorite color: Pink
- Favorite snacks: Popcorn/Raspberries
- Favorite candy: Kit-Kats
- Favorite dessert: Cheesecake
- Favorite drink: Coffee/Green Tea/Vanilla Latte
- Favorite sports team: Green Bay Packers
- Favorite flower: Rose
- Favorite scent: Floral scents
- Favorite gum: Mint
- Favorite hobby: Shopping/baking
Grade 1 – Heidi Johnson
- Classroom wish list items: White Board Markers, Lamination sheets, Card Stock
- What can parents do to help the most: Listen to readers, be supportive
- Favorite restaurant: Canes/Olive Garden
- Favorite color: Teal
- Favorite snacks: Popcorn/rasberries
- Favorite candy: M&Ms
- Favorite dessert: Cheescake
- Favorite drink: Mountain Dew
- Favorite sports team: MN Twins
- Favorite flower: Lilies
- Favorite scent: Baking bread/spring flowers
- Favorite gum: Mint
- Favorite hobby: Crafts
Grade 1 – Eleanor Menso
- Classroom wish list items: Still working on it!
- What can parents do to help the most: Volunteering when possible
- Favorite restaurant: Chipotle/Panera
- Favorite color: Purple
- Favorite snacks: Cheez-its/Grapes
- Favorite candy: Dark Chocolate
- Favorite drink: Lemonade/hot chocolate
- Favorite flower: Irises or lilacs
- Favorite scent: Lavender
- Favorite gum: spearmint
- Favorite hobby: Swimming, running, yoga
Grade 2 – Katie Dykhuizen
- Classroom wish list items:
- What can parents do to help the most:
- Favorite restaurant: Raising Canes / Any sushi Restaurant
- Favorite color: Blue or Yellow
- Favorite snacks: Chips of any kind/Watermelon
- Favorite candy: Chocolate
- Favorite dessert: Ice Cream
- Favorite drink: Mountain Dew
- Favorite sports team: Twins
- Favorite flower: Daisy
- Favorite scent: Lavender
- Favorite gum: Mint
- Favorite hobby: Painting
Grade 2 – Kelli Meredith
- Classroom wish list items: Books, individual fruit snack packs for kids who don’t bring a snack
- What can parents do to help the most: Be patient and please contact me for any reason if you have concerns or ideas!
- Favorite restaurant: Teresa’s/McDonalds
- Favorite color: Mint Green
- Favorite snacks: Popcorn/Berries
- Favorite candy: Any
- Favorite dessert: Cake
- Favorite drink: Coke/Vanilla Cappuccino
- Favorite sports team: Vikings
- Favorite flower: Gladiolus
- Favorite scent: Fresh Linen
- Favorite gum: Bubble gum
- Favorite hobby: Reading
Grade 3 – Lexi Weller
- Classroom wish list items: New Stapler, Laminating Sheets, Astrobright Card Stock & Paper, Amazon wish list.
- What can parents do to help the most: Read weekly updates & communicate with me! Support their student, and read with them at home.
- Favorite restaurant: Panera/Chipotle/Starbucks
- Favorite color: Yellow
- Favorite snacks: Cheez-its, White Cheddar Popcorn/Mixed Berries
- Favorite candy: Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels/Any dark chocolate
- Favorite dessert: Anything Chocolate/Coffee
- Favorite drink: Red Wine, Chai Tea
- Favorite sports team: Not a sports fan
- Favorite flower: Sunflowers
- Favorite scent: Eucalyptus, Sandalwood
- Favorite gum: Spearmint
- Favorite hobby: Traveling/Reading
- Dislikes: Seafood
Grade 3 – Kay Willenbring
- Classroom wish list items: Laminating Sheets, Colored card stock, Large colored construction paper 11 x 14; Teacher List Wish List; Amazon Wish List;
- What can parents do to help the most: Volunteer in the classroom
- Favorite restaurant: Chipotle/Panera/Sushi
- Favorite color: Purple
- Favorite snacks: Pistachios/blueberries
- Favorite candy: Almond joy/Dove
- Favorite dessert: Cake/Brownies
- Favorite drink: Spritzer water/Caribou/Dunn Bros
- Favorite sports team: Green Bay Packers
- Favorite flower: Sunflowers/Roses/Lillies
- Favorite scent: Lavender
- Favorite gum: Bubblegum
- Favorite hobby: Travel
Grade 4 – Bobbie Duncan
- Classroom wish list items: Wipes, colored cardstock, laminator sheets, colored chalk, dice, dry erase markers and playing cards
- What can parents do to help the most: Donate supplies
- Favorite restaurant: Jersey Mike’s/Jensen’s Supper club
- Favorite color: Maroon
- Favorite snacks: Nuts/Watermelon
- Favorite candy: Laffy Taffy
- Favorite dessert: Cheesecake
- Favorite drink: Dr. Pepper/White chocolate mocha
- Favorite sports team: St. Paul Saints
- Favorite flower: Tulip
- Favorite scent: Jasmine
- Favorite gum: Cinnamon
- Favorite hobby: Baking and cooking
Grade 4 – Angela Jacobs
- Classroom wish list items:
- What can parents do to help the most: Be flexible
- Favorite restaurant: Dairy Queen
- Favorite color: Red
- Favorite snacks: Popcorn/Watermelon
- Favorite candy: Lindt truffles
- Favorite dessert: Cake
- Favorite drink: Lemonade/Hazelnut flavored coffee
- Favorite sports team: Denver Broncos
- Favorite flower: Lilies
- Favorite scent: Pine
- Favorite gum: Any
- Favorite hobby: Reading
Grade 5 – Amy Sullivan
- Classroom wish list items: white board markers
- What can parents do to help the most: Check emails
- Favorite restaurant: Chipotle/IWA Sushi
- Favorite color: Green
- Favorite snacks: Honey twist chips/Asian Pears/Honeycrisp Apples
- Favorite candy: Twix
- Favorite dessert: Vanilla shake
- Favorite drink: Unsweetened tea/water/turtle mocha from Caribou
- Favorite sports team: Mississippi State University
- Favorite flower: Daisy
- Favorite scent: Sandalwood
- Favorite gum: Mint
- Favorite hobby: Jump rope/hula hooping
- Dislikes: Soda/Flavored Drinks
Grade 5 – Dori Bokusky
- Classroom wish list items: cardstock, glitter paper, laminating sheets, arts and craft supplies
- What can parents do to help the most: Keep up with the newsletter and volunteer for events
- Favorite restaurant: Canes/Buffalo Wild Wings
- Favorite color: Green
- Favorite snacks: Dots Pretzels/Berries
- Favorite candy: Lindt Lindor Truffles/Starbursts
- Favorite dessert: Cheesecake
- Favorite drink: Iced Tea/Hot or Iced Mocha
- Favorite sports team: MN Twins
- Favorite flower: Sunflower
- Favorite scent: Lilac or Fireplace
- Favorite gum: Grape Icebreakers
- Favorite hobby: Knitting
Middle School – Julie Thilgen
- Classroom wish list items: 6-8 grade level books
- What can parents do to help the most: Make sure that their planner is used at home!!
- Favorite restaurant: Golden wok/Olive garden
- Favorite color: Red/blue
- Favorite snacks: Pickles/ pickle roll ups with pastrami/Strawberries/raspberries
- Favorite candy: Hershey’s cookies and creme
- Favorite dessert: Mint ice cream
- Favorite drink: Orange pop (fanta/crush)
- Favorite sports team: Bemidji/Vikings/Twins
- Favorite flower: Rose
- Favorite scent: Most things except lemon or cinnamon
- Favorite gum: Mint
- Favorite hobby: Reading/crafts
Middle School – Mike Colenso
- What can parents do to help the most: Stay up-to-date on your student’s grades and behavior
- Favorite restaurant: New Fresh Wok/Buffalo Wild Wings
- Favorite color: Green
- Favorite snacks: Pretzels/Cantaloupe
- Favorite candy: M&Ms
- Favorite dessert: Pumpkin Pie
- Favorite drink: Diet Mountain Dew/Black coffee
- Favorite sports team: MN Vikings
Middle School – Zack Lee
- Classroom wish list items: Pencils, Pencil sharpener, Turn in bins
- What can parents do to help the most: Keep in communication
- Favorite restaurant: Chipotle/Red Lobster
- Favorite color: Purple
- Favorite snacks: Pistachios/Pineapple
- Favorite candy: Salted nut roll
- Favorite dessert: Apple pie
- Favorite drink: Arnold Palmer
- Favorite sports team: MN Twins and Wild
- Favorite flower: Lavender
- Favorite scent: Cinnamon
- Favorite gum: Mint
- Favorite hobby: D & D
Middle School – Allen Hubert
- Classroom wish list items: Folder organizers
- What can parents do to help the most: Stay in touch with what students are learning. If you have any questions let me know so I can help.
- Favorite restaurant: Cheesecake Factory/Five Guys
- Favorite color: Ocean blue
- Favorite snacks: Doritos/Strawberries
- Favorite candy: Three musketeers
- Favorite dessert: Cheesecake
- Favorite drink: Hubert’s Lemonade
- Favorite sports team: MN Twins
- Favorite flower: Sunflower
- Favorite scent: Vanilla
- Favorite gum: Spearmint
- Favorite hobby: Fishing
STEM – Adeline Angst
- Classroom wish list items: Clorox Wipes, Hot glue sticks, Science/Math/STEM books or items, any kinds of reusable/recycle items we can use for building (you can always send an email if unsure!)
- What can parents do to help the most: Encourage your student to be a creative, independent thinker! Also, donating any recycled building materials (think cardboard, boxes, plastic bottle caps, wire, wood pieces, foam, etc)
- Favorite restaurant: Jimmy Johns/Firehouse/Chili’s
- Favorite color: Blue
- Favorite snacks: Popcorn, Triscuits, strawberries
- Favorite candy: Kit Kat
- Favorite dessert: Brownies
- Favorite drink: Hot tea, Hot Chocolate, Smoothie, juice, fruit drinks
- Favorite sports team: MN United
- Favorite flower: Lilies
- Favorite scent: Rose, lavender
- Favorite gum: All
- Favorite hobby: Reading, Hiking, Camping
Gym – Dan Chapman
- Classroom wish list items: Footballs, mats, balls that are soft
- Favorite restaurant: Chipotle
- Favorite color: Orange
- Favorite snacks: Chips/banana
- Favorite candy: Skittles
- Favorite dessert: Brownies
- Favorite drink: Dr. Pepper
- Favorite sports team: Dallas Cowboys
- Favorite hobby: Golf
Music –
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Special Education – Regina Collinson
- Classroom wish list items: Drumsticks
- Favorite restaurant: El Burrito/India House
- Favorite color: Blue
- Favorite snacks: Ranch Doritos/Bananas
- Favorite candy: Dark Chocolate milky way
- Favorite drink: Starbucks Verona
- Favorite flower: Iris
- Favorite scent: Vanilla
- Favorite gum: Peppermint
- Favorite hobby: Music
Middle School Resource Teacher/Advisory – Katie Comacho
- What can parents do to help the most:
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Special Education Interventionist – Elizabeth McCabe
- Classroom wish list items: books, dry erase boards and markers, laminator sheets
- Favorite restaurant: Anything Thai/nightingale, stray dog, pizza luce
- Favorite color: Purple
- Favorite snacks: Popcorn/Watermelon
- Favorite candy: Toffee
- Favorite dessert: Lemon bars
- Favorite drink: Bubbly water/iced coffee
- Favorite flower: peony, bee balm, dahlia, freesia
- Favorite scent: Citrus
- Favorite gum: Fruity
- Favorite hobby: Gardening
Pre-K Director/Student Support Manager- Lea Rydel
- Classroom wish list items: Fun Posters
- Favorite restaurant: Panda Express/Olive Garden
- Favorite color: Blue
- Favorite Snacks: Peanuts/Peaches
- Favorite candy: Gummies
- Favorite candy: Chocolate Stuff
- Favorite drink: Monster energy/Mountain Dew/Hazelnut coffee
- Favorite sports team: Minnesota United
- Favorite flower: Fake ones – Lea kills everything 🙂
- Favorite scent: Blue
- Favorite gum: Mint
- Favorite hobby: Running
Special Education paraprofessional-
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Educational Assistant- Julie Johnson
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Educational Assistant- Samantha Keppers
- Favorite restaurant: Jersey Mike’s/Taproom
- Favorite color: Blue/Green
- Favorite snacks: Potato Chips/Raspberries
- Favorite candy: Anything sour
- Favorite dessert: Brownies
- Favorite drink: Barq’s Root Beer/Iced Mochas
- Favorite sports team: MN Gophers/Wild/Twins
- Favorite flower: Dahlias
- Favorite gum: Spearmint
- Favorite hobby: Photography
Custodian/Maint- Dan Witt
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Kitchen Manager- Jodi Jones
- Classroom wish list items: 4 inch hotel pans
- What can parents do to help the most: Ask me any questions they have or call with any concerns
- Favorite restaurant: Tom Moi Chinese/Olive Garden
- Favorite color: Turquoise blue
- Favorite snacks: kettle chips with top the tater/strawberries
- Favorite candy: Reese’s PB cups
- Favorite drink: Rockstar zero grape/caramel iced coffee
- Favorite sports team: MN Wild
- Favorite flower: Carnation
- Favorite scent: Lilac
- Favorite gum: Orbit sweet mint
- Favorite hobby: Reading
Discovery Kids Club- Maria Ramos
- Classroom wish list items: Disinfectant wipes/facial tissues/reams of copy paper
- What can parents do to help the most: Educate their kids about basic social skills, good manners, respect to others, consideration to their classmates and sensitivity to cultural differences or any other differences.
- Favorite restaurant: Chick-fil-a/Chili’s
- Favorite color: Mustard Yellow
- Favorite snacks: Sweet and salty cashew bars from Aldi/Guava
- Favorite dessert: Apple pies
- Favorite drink: Coke/Starbucks latte
- Favorite sports team: NY Yankees/MN Twins
- Favorite flower: Tulips
- Favorite scent: Mint
- Favorite gum: Mint
- Favorite hobby: Sculpture ceramic
Office Manager-
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Director of Operations- Shannon Benalshaikh
- Classroom wish list items: Fun magnets for filing cabinets
- Favorite restaurant: Chipotle/Crave
- Favorite color: Aqua/Teal
- Favorite snacks: Sesame sticks/trail mix/pineapple
- Favorite candy: Skittles
- Favorite drink: Hot tea/black coffee
- Favorite sports team: DSU
- Favorite flower: Orchids
- Favorite scent: Anything not fruity/foodie
- Favorite hobby: Reading
Executive Director – Heather Lines
- Favorite color: Blue
- Favorite snacks: Wasabi Almonds/Any Almonds/apples/strawberries
- Favorite candy: Mounds Bar
- Favorite drink: La Croix Water/Dark roast coffee
- Favorite sports team: U of M
- Favorite flower: Lilies
- Favorite scent: Lavender or Rosemary
