Want to help out a classroom? Recognize a teacher? We asked our teachers and staff and below are some supply requests and gift ideas!
Kindergarten – Jessica Stevens
- Classroom wish list items: laminating pages, cream of tarter (for making playdoh), cardstock paper, astrobrights paper
- What can parents do to help the most: Read our weekly newsletters, communicate
- Favorite restaurant: Chipotle/HyVee Market Grille
- Favorite color: Pink
- Favorite snacks: Popcorn/Strawberries
- Favorite candy: Reese’s PB Cups
- Favorite dessert: Cheesecake
- Favorite drink: Cold Coffee/Sparking water/Caribou Campfire Mocha (skim/milk chocolate)
- Favorite sports team: MN Vikings
- Favorite flower: Daisy
- Favorite scent: Mint
- Favorite gum: Mint
- Favorite hobby: Reading
- Dislikes: Candles (weird thing about scents 🙂
Kindergarten – Katie Hintz
- Classroom wish list items: Books, construction paper, astrobrights paper, expo markers, paint, etc.
- What can parents do to help the most: Volunteer, ask questions, have open communication! 🙂
- Favorite restaurant: Chick-fil-A/Cheesecake Factory
- Favorite color: Pink/Gold
- 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: Lavender
- Favorite gum: Wintergreen
- Favorite hobby: Anything outdoors (walking, biking, hiking etc)
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 – Grace Jacobs
- Classroom wish list items: Laminating Pouches, Whiteboard Markers, Blue Painters Tape, Clorox Wipes
- What can parents do to help the most: Communicate and Support Me
- Favorite restaurant: Jersey Mike’s/Taco Bell/Olive Garden/Buffalo Wild Wings
- Favorite color: Black but Turquoise if I have to choose
- Favorite snacks: Dots Pretzels/bananas
- Favorite candy: Kit Kats
- Favorite dessert: M&M Cookies
- Favorite drink: Tea (Iced/Hot) Sprite/Starbucks iced latte
- Favorite sports team: St. John’s University
- Favorite flower: Daisy
- Favorite scent: Lavender
- Favorite gum: Spearmint
- Favorite hobby: Reading/drinking coffee
- Dislikes: Dark Chocolate
Grade 2 – Kayla Olson
- Classroom wish list items: Pens, Post-it’s, fun games
- What can parents do to help the most: Volunteer when they can or are able!
- Favorite restaurant: Chipotle/Tavern Grill
- Favorite color: Light Blue
- Favorite snacks: Popcorn/Stawberries/Pineapple
- Favorite candy: Reese’s PB Cups
- Favorite dessert: Ice Cream
- Favorite drink: Coffee/Starbucks Iced Latte
- Favorite sports team: University of St. Thomas
- Favorite flower: Sunflower
- Favorite scent: Anything girly
- Favorite gum: Wintergreen
- Favorite hobby: Crafting
Grade 2 – Angela Bianchi-Rossi
- Classroom wish list items: Kleenex, extra books, colored paper, pencils
- What can parents do to help the most: Give recommendations of things that work best for the children; be supportive
- Favorite restaurant: Chipotle/The Tavern
- Favorite color: purple
- Favorite snacks: salt & vinegar chips/pineapple
- Favorite candy: snickers
- Favorite dessert: cheesecake
- Favorite drink: iced coffee/iced vanilla
- Favorite sports team: MN Vikings
- Favorite flower: Sunflower
- Favorite scent: sea-breeze clean
- Favorite gum: mint
- Favorite hobby: outdoor activities
Grade 3 – Lexi Weller
- Classroom wish list items: Masking Tape, Laminating Sheets, Card Stock, 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/Any Mexican restaurant
- Favorite color: Yellow/Aqua
- Favorite snacks: Pretzels/Rasberries
- Favorite candy: Reese’s PB cups
- Favorite dessert: Tiramisu
- Favorite drink: Orangina/Sweet Cream Vanilla Cold Brew
- Favorite sports team: Not a sports fan
- Favorite flower: Sunflowers
- Favorite scent: Cinnamon/Nutmeg
- Favorite gum: Spearmint
- Favorite hobby: Traveling/Reading
- Dislikes: Seafood
Grade 3 – Kay Willenbring
- Classroom wish list items: Flexible seating on Donors Choose
- What can parents do to help the most: Read with students/cut out needed items
- Favorite restaurant: Chipotle/Panera
- Favorite color: Purple
- Favorite snacks: Almonds/grapes
- Favorite candy: Almond joy/Dove
- Favorite dessert: Cake/Brownies
- Favorite drink: Spritzer water/Almond or Hazelnut coffee
- Favorite sports team: Green Bay Packers
- Favorite flower: Any
- Favorite scent: Lavender
- Favorite gum: Sugarless bubblegum
- Favorite hobby: Biking
Grade 4 – Casey Difronzo
- Classroom wish list items: Any books would be great!
- What can parents do to help the most: Volunteer in the class/help prep projects and activities
- Favorite restaurant: Dairy Queen/Chilis
- Favorite color: Teal
- Favorite snacks: Chips/apples
- Favorite candy: Kit Kat
- Favorite dessert: Cookies
- Favorite drink: Hot chocolate
- Favorite sports team: MN Wild
- Favorite flower: Lilies
- Favorite scent: Coconut
- Favorite gum: Mint
- Favorite hobby: Crafting
- Dislikes: Dark Chocolate
Grade 4 – Jessica Scott
- Classroom wish list items: 15 personal whiteboards, math manipulatives, electric pencil sharpener, class set of crayons and liquid glue
- What can parents do to help the most: Small group pull outs, recess monitor, help students catch up on missing work, help students edit work, chaperone trips, cut and staple, organize
- Favorite restaurant: Chipotle/Outback Steakhouse
- Favorite color: Olive green
- Favorite snacks: Chips/Strawberries
- Favorite candy: Starburst/Snickers
- Favorite dessert: Chocolate chip cookies
- Favorite drink: Juice/Ice latte w/ caramel and vanilla
- Favorite sports team: MN Wild
- Favorite flower: Peony
- Favorite scent: Subtle scents
- Favorite gum: Cobalt/Spearmint
- Favorite hobby: Kayaking
Grade 5 – Amy Sullivan
- Classroom wish list items: paper clips, command strips, cardstock
- What can parents do to help the most: volunteer to come and help with small groups
- Favorite restaurant: Chipotle/Jimmy Johns/Sushi
- Favorite color: Green
- Favorite snacks: Almond/Asian Pears
- Favorite candy: Twix
- Favorite dessert: Peanut butter & chocolate ice cream
- Favorite drink: Unsweetened tea/water/turtle mocha from Caribou
- Favorite sports team: Mississippi State University
- Favorite flower: Daisy
- Favorite scent: Cucumber melon
- Favorite gum: Juicy fruit or grape
- Favorite hobby: Painting/Reading
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
Grade 6 – 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
Grade 7 – 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
Grade 8 – 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
STEM – Adeline Angst
- Classroom wish list items: Notebooks, Pencils, Clorox wipes, tissues, recycle items (cardboard, tubes, boxes, bottle caps, bottles, containers, pictures, wood, etc.)
- What can parents do to help the most: Donate any STEM items they may have at home or have in their recycling. Think construction and building supplies.
- Favorite restaurant: Jimmy Johns/Firehouse
- 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: Lilac, 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 – Jessica Erickson
- Classroom wish list items: Kleenex, Clorox wipes, hand sanitizer, donations for large instruments
- Favorite restaurant: Noodle’s and Company/Mucci’s
- Favorite color: Blue
- Favorite snacks: Cheez-its/Goldfish/Strawberries
- Favorite candy: Nerds/Gobstoppers
- Favorite dessert: Apple Pie/Apple Crisp
- Favorite drink: Water/Chai Tea Late
- Favorite sports team: Twins/Vikings
- Favorite flower: Anything that is not an orchid
- Favorite hobby: Reading, playing with cats, cuddling my baby
Art – Amber Rogers
- Classroom wish list item: Tempera Paint, Acrylic Paint, watercolor paper, hot glue guns and sticks
- What can parents do to help the most: Donating supplies; especially paper
- Favorite restaurant: Chipotle/Ansari’s Mediterranean Grill
- Favorite color: Ultramarine Blue
- Favorite snacks: Bacon/Raspberries
- Favorite candy: Sour Patch Kids
- Favorite dessert: Apple Crisp
- Favorite drink: Coffee
- Favorite sports team: Green Bay Packers
- Favorite scent: Lavender
- Favorite gum: Mint
- Favorite hobby: Painting
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
Special Education – Sophia Leurquin
- What can parents do to help the most: Communicate with me positively
- Favorite restaurant: Panda Garden/Applebee’s
- Favorite color: Lavender
- Favorite snacks: Pickles/Popcorn/Mango
- Favorite candy: Kit-Kat
- Favorite dessert: Brownies
- Favorite drink: Sprite/Hazelnut or iced with almond milk
- Favorite sports team: Green Bay Packers
- Favorite flower: Tulip
- Favorite scent: Apple cinnamon or fall scents
- Favorite gum: Mint
- Favorite hobby: Running or reading
Title I/Intervention – 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
ELL – Amber Garrison
- Classroom wish list items: Pencils/black whiteboard markers
- What can parents do to help the most: Read to your kids everyday
- Favorite restaurant: Cane’s/Red Robin
- Favorite color: Purple
- Favorite snacks: Pistachios/Banana
- Favorite candy: Reese’s PB cups
- Favorite dessert: Cake/brownies
- Favorite drink: Lemonade
- Favorite flower: Daffodils
- Favorite hobby: Reading
- Dislikes: Coffee/Tea/Licorice
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
Educational Assistant- Mandy Mitlyng
- Favorite restaurant: Panda Express/Perkins
- Favorite color: Purple
- Favorite snacks: Sunflower seeds/Strawberries
- Favorite candy: Milk Duds
- Favorite dessert: Strawberry Shortcake
- Favorite drink: Mountain Dew/Holiday Coffee
- Favorite sports team: MN Twins/Vikings/Wild
- Favorite flower: Lily
- Favorite scent: Light outdoorsy scents/fresh linen
- Favorite gum: Wintergreen
- Favorite hobby: Photography/Scrapbooking/Camping
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- Luis Mejia
- Classroom wish list items:
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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- Alicia Landa
- Classroom wish list items: Pens/Sharpies/note pads
- Favorite restaurant: Chinese/Chipotle
- Favorite color: Pink
- Favorite snacks: Peanuts/Strawberries
- Favorite candy: Chocolate with almonds
- Favorite dessert: Cream cheese pie
- Favorite drink: Cherry Coke/any coffee
- Favorite sports team: Patriots
- Favorite flower: Rose
- Favorite scent: Flowers
- Favorite gum: Watermelon
- Favorite hobby: Vollyball
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
