Welcome to 3Rd Grade

Welcome to 3rd Grade

2012—2013 School Year September

Who’s in 3rd grade?

As I am sure you are aware am familiar with the Sara is out on maternity four students in 3rd leave taking care of her two grade. beautiful daughters, Nora

Visitors to 3rd Grade and Bryn. Sara will be re- turning after winter break in During the summer I spent time with my 3 Kelly Krzyska ASL January. Until then, I, Jackie McNamara, will be year old son and my newborn daughter. Its Lisa Johnson Art teaching 3rd grade. I am really excited to be working so much fun watching children develop new Kari Schmitz OT with your child. skills. I am really look-

ing forward to watch- Debbi Praml Speech This is my 8th year teaching ing your child develop new at Metro Deaf school. I skills daily. Ronda Jo Miller PE have worked in middle school

the past 7 years, however I Erik Queen Tech have worked with many of Please feel free to email me the elementary students in at any time with questions. [email protected] small groups providing language support. As a result, I

REMINDERS!  PE: Tuesdays and Thursdays. Anne Grace Donatucci Please be sure your child wears appropriate clothes and has good shoes. Welcome to the 2012-2013 working with Jackie Mcna- school year, I wanted to take mara this fall. I hail from  Home visits: Jackie and Anne this time to introduce myself Boulder, Colorado and have will be doing a home visit (or to you. My name is Anne an undergraduate degree in I am looking forward to get- another place) with all fami- Grace Donatucci and I am a English Literature from ting to know each one of your lies during the months of graduate student at the Uni- the University of Colorado. students as we explore and September and October. versity of Minnesota. I am I enjoy anything outdoors, discover new concepts this currently finishing up my reading and spending time year. Thank you for the op- More information to come. teaching degree and will be with my family. portunity to participate in your students learning! Page 2 Welcome to 3rd Grade

Kelly Krzyska

Kelly Krzyska earned a Bachelor’s degree in American Sign Language Studies from Gallaudet University and a Master’s degree in Deaf Education and ASL from Western Maryland College. Kelly moved back to St. Paul after 6 years of invalu- able experience working at California School for the Deaf- Fremont as an ASL Language Arts teacher. Kelly looks forward to working with K-12 students to further develop students’ natural language, ASL, and provide a spiraling guide building foundations to become balanced bilinguals. She and her husband have a dog and a cat and they both enjoy cooking and biking. She has a passion for traveling and photography.

Lisa Johnson

Lisa Johnson will be starting her 8th ducing “Artsonia”, which is an year as a teacher at Metro Deaf online student art gallery. Lisa School. This is her 3rd year teach- is setting up a student gallery ing art. Lisa will be teaching art to on Artsonia for MDS so family MDS students of all ages from pre- and friends can see their stu- k to high school. She plans to have dent’s wonderful work through- three annual art shows during the Artsonia ~ online school year. Lisa will also be intro- out the school year! It is a very student art gallery. Be exciting opportunity! Lisa will be sure to check it out!

Kari Schmitz

Kari Schmitz, Occupational learning in their classrooms. Kari Therapist, is starting her fourth enjoys being active with her year at Metro Deaf three children (5, 7 & 9 years School. This will be her 15th old), reading, and is currently in year as a School OT, and is look- nutrition school to learn how the ing forward to helping each stu- food we eat impacts learning and dent reach their highest level of behavior in children. independence and success for 2012—2013 School Year Page 3

Debbi Praml

My name is Debbi Praml, and I am a Speech Lan- guage Therapist. This is my 17th year at MDS. I provide speech services to pre-K and the elementary team. I am married and we have 4 children. We live in Mahtomedi. I enjoy being in-

volved with MDS and all my children’s activities!

Ronda Jo Miller

Ronda Jo Miller is in her 6th year here at MDS. She started as a high school teacher and moved PE: over to the Jr HS last year to teach math and PE. This year she will be teaching PE/Health as well as running Tuesdays and Thursdays MDS’s new Student Life activities and sports program. Ronda enjoys anything related with the outdoors; hiking, camping, traveling and spending time with her two dogs. She is excited about the new school year and the different opportu- nities for students to exercise and stay healthy. Erik Queen

Erik Queen will be teaching joys being out in nature, even technology classes at MDS when it means being away this year! Erik has been with from technology (for a short MDS for the last 7 years as a while). Erik also enjoys being classes understand the won- classroom teacher and is ex- with his family and enjoys trav- derful tools of technology and cited to take the role of eling to see them. Erik would how they can use these tools technology teacher. Erik en- like to see the students in his to make their lives easier and to serve others.