Welcome to Tatanka Elementary

Tatanka Elementary STEM School - Engineering our future

Tatanka Elementary STEM School is a magnet school with a specialized curriculum that helps students become thinkers and problem solvers. Here, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics concepts are integrated into classroom lessons. Through these experiences, students Collaborate, Communicate, Think Critically, and use Creativity to develop a deeper understanding of all the STEM components. We build upon children's natural curiosity to help them research questions, investigate problems, and develop answers using STEM concepts. This active, "minds on" approach prepares students with the skills they need to be successful in the 21st century. Tatanka serves approximately 530 students in grades K-5.

Announcements & Upcoming Events for the 2018-2019 School Year:

December 2018:

Star Student Assemblies: Thursday, December 6, 2018. 8am = Grades 2 & 4 / 1:40pm = Grades 1, 3, 5
PTO Meeting: Thursday, December 6, 2018. Tatanka Elementary 6:30pm.
FUN FRIDAY: December 7, 2018. Students will have the opportunity to purchase a mystery item at recess for $1.00

December 24, 2018 - January 1, 2019: Winter Break. No School. School will resume on Wednesday, January 2, 2019.

If you are new to the area or have moved boundaries, please call ahead to register your child. Please contact the Tatanka Office at 763.682.8600 for an appointment. If you are unsure of your boundary area, you can click on School Boundary Search to find your boundary area school. If you would like to expedite the registration process, click on Registration Forms and fill out the paper work before bringing them in to your appointment.

Tatanka Holiday Food Drive

The holidays are fast approaching! We are asking your family to help prepare 275+ Holiday baskets for Buffalo residents in coordination with local churches, Love Inc, and the Buffalo Food Shelf.

Students should bring in the following items the week of December 3-7:
-Monday: Box of Potatoes (ex. scalloped, au gratin, mashed, or sweet)
-Tuesday: Box of Dessert Mix (ex. brownie, cake)
-Wednesday: Can of Vegetables
-Thursday: Can of Soup
-Friday: Can of Cranberries

Zion Church will distribute the baskets Thursday, December 13 and we will need 4-6 volunteers to transport the food to Zion. If you would like to help transport the baskets Thursday morning, please email us at tatankapto@gmail.com.

This is an excellent way for the students to participate in giving during the holiday season. If we reach our goal of 275 baskets the whole school will receive a treat and the class that donates the most baskets will also receive an additional classroom prize.

On behalf of Tatanka PTO, Happy Holidays!

Winter recess! Brrr!

Please be sure to send your students to school dressed in their outdoor winter gear, prepared to be outside for at least 20 minutes each day. Students go outdoors for recess everyday unless the temperature and/or wind chill are below 0 degrees. Students will need the following clothing items to play on the playground when there is snow:

1. Warm coat

2. Snow pants

3. Boots

4. Mittens or gloves

5. Hat or hood

Please contact Principal, Mr. Metzler in the Tatanka office if your family does not have the means to provide warm winter clothing.

Give Kids a Smile - Free Dental Care

Free Dental Care: February 1st & 2nd, 2019

Give Kids a Smile Program

Each year, dental professionals from across the state participate in Give Kids a Smile, providing free dental care to children in need. The event takes place on the first Friday and Saturday of February and is made possible by the collaborative effort of the Minnesota Dental Association, volunteer dentists, and many generous sponsors. Last year, 2,330 underserved children received care statewide over these 2 days. There were 124 clinics, 263 dentists and 1,678 volunteers who made this all happen.

Thursday May 24, 18

Literacy Tutor - Minnesota Reading Corps

K-3 Literacy Tutor

Tuesday Aug 21, 18

School Start and Stop Time

Students cannot be dropped off before 7:25 a.m. Students must be in the classroom at 7:45 a.m. to not be counted absent or tardy. Classroom teachers take attendance at that time. The school day ends at 2:25 p.m. The shuttle bus bell rings at 2:10 p.m. and leave at 2:15 p.m. to go to Parkside or Northwinds. All other students are dismissed at 2:25 p.m.

Thursday Apr 7, 16

Tatanka Launches School Newscast!

Tatanka Elementary STEM School has entered the digital age! We have started a weekly schoolwide broadcast with our 5th-grade students. Each week a different group of 5th-graders will report the news to the rest of our school. Mr. Kuklok, Curriculum Integration Coordinator at Tatanka Elementary, is working with fifth grade students on this project. Check out this page for updated newscasts!