Lester Park School Newsletter - #10

We decided to sneak a newsletter in before Tracy left on her trip tomorrow. Next week's newsletter will go out on Friday, Oct 26, due to the trip.

While Tracy is gone, Brianna will be manning the office desk all day. If you do have questions for Tracy, feel free to email her, but know that there will be a delay in her response.

Thank you!

~Tracy Thompson & Brianna Solberg

Your friendly faces at the Front Desk!

• Oct 18...1st School Spirit Day (Activity/Hobby Day!)
  
• Oct 19-20...NO SCHOOL (MEA Break)
• Oct 27...PTA Dance (more info below)
• Nov 8...Picture Retake Day
• Nov 10...School Spirit Day (Red White & Blue!)
• Nov 23-24...NO SCHOOL (Thanksgiving)
• Dec 4...NO SCHOOL (Staff Development Day)
• Dec 7...PTA Holiday Craft Night
• Dec 21...School Spirit Day (Pajama Day!)
• Dec 22-Jan1...NO SCHOOL (Holiday Break)

Lester Park School Calendar is on our website HERE.

We will be adding more dates to our school calendar!

The Specialist (Day 1-4) Calendar can be found HERE.

This Thursday and Friday is our MEA Break.

There is no school for Students or Teachers.

Tomorrow, October 18...Dress up in your favorite Activity/Hobby (theater, sports, etc)! No weapons please.

Dress up, or come as you are!

This is also a Fundraiser for the 5th Grade Wolf Ridge Trip!

5th Graders and staff/volunteers will be selling:

Pizza, juice boxes, glow sticks

and Lester Park stickers!

CASH ONLY

So come join us for a night of family fun and dancing

And help support the 5th Graders trip to Wolf Ridge ELC in April!

Please see this video about School Bus Safety:

https://fb.watch/nKnXpca4Av/?mibextid=cr9u03

At Duluth Public Schools, we strive to give students the personalized support and resources they need to grow and excel. Mental health and academic support, a diverse range of class options and access to state-of-the-art learning technology are critical to achieving these goals for every student.

Over the past few years, we have reaffirmed these commitments as key parts of our district’s three-year strategic plan and by supporting some of these services with federal COVID-relief funding. Going forward, it will cost an estimated $7.9 million to protect this progress and advance these goals for students.

On Tuesday, November 7 residents in our district will vote on two ballot questions that, if approved, will protect these investments in academic and mental health support, invest in enhanced course offerings for high school students and implement an integrated technology program.

To help inform our families we are hosting a virtual forum on Oct. 17 from 5:30-6:15 p.m. RSVP to receive a Google Meet link: https://forms.gle/P9mUVBRfWzMX4s6o9

The cooler weather has definitely arrived! Please be sure your child comes to school with appropriate outerwear for recess...jacket, hat, etc.

In the past, the bells would ring at 7:30 - when the doors unlock, and 7:45 - when school is officially in session.

We have added an additional bell at 7:43. This 2-minute warning will let students know that class starts very soon.

If you missed ordering pictures in time for Picture Day...

You will still get a chance to, but you will need to wait until the other picture orders arrive...which should be next week or the week after. You will receive a sample of your child's picture and ordering information.

If you do not like your child's picture when you receive your original order...

You can have your child's picture retaken on Picture Retake Day. Simply send the portrait package back to school on that day. Also, please let the teacher know ahead of time. Classes do not go all together on Retake Day like they do on Picture Day. We will remind you of this process as we get closer to Picture Retake Day.

Picture Retake Day is Wednesday, Nov 8th.

* Below is the Picture Retake form. There are hardcopies in the front vestibule. There will be Picture Retake forms the day of retakes, as well.

* You do NOT need to fill out a picture retake form if you placed an order for the Original Picture Day. They will use that information for the retake order, which is why they ask you to return your original package.

This form is to voluntarily participate in a public family directory of Lester Park students and families, so students can contact their classmates and friends via telephone or email. We are not including physical addresses in the directory.

By completing and submitting this form, you acknowledge you have read and understand the following:

This directory is not being created by ISD 709, Lester Park Elementary or any of its representatives, and is a volunteer effort by the Lester Park PTA. By filling out and submitting this form, you acknowledge that you are aware that you are making your contact information public, and that the Lester Park PTA does not have control over how this information may be used by those who access the directory.

The Lester Park PTA will create a public Google Doc that will be made electronically available to members of the Lester Park Elementary School family community. The Lester Part PTA is not the source of the information, therefore has no control over its accuracy. We will remove information from the directory upon written request, but this process may take a few days due to the volunteer nature of our organization. By submitting your information here, you acknowledge that you have read these terms, and understand that the Lester Part PTA is not responsible for misuse of any information you choose to make public through this directory.

Click HERE: 2023-24 PTA Lester Park Elementary Public Directory Form

Ways the PTA supports the LPE community:

• Family and community events, picture day, meals for conferences and more.

• Wellness Council - Walk & Bike to school day, Apple Crunch Day, Green Day and Ice Skating!

• Our meetings provide a forum to discuss issues & provide education on certain topics.

• Memberships, book fairs & donations help fund events for our kids, staff and families.

A paid membership is not required to attend the 3-4 board meetings a school year. Sign up for monthly PTA emails ptalp709@gmail.com and/or follow us on Facebook-@LesterParkmnPTA.

The classroom that returns the most new/renewed memberships by October 24th, wins an extra recess!

Join the PTA $15 individual/$20 family

Sign up online https://lesterparkpta.memberhub.com/store

Or return this form to school, make check payable to Lester Park PTA.

Name:____________________________________________

Email:____________________________________________

Child(ren)/Teacher:____________________________________ ___________________________________________________

Short on time and want to support the PTA? Consider a one time donation. $30, $50, other.

We want to hear about your experiences with your child’s education. It includes questions about your child’s learning, school safety, and interpersonal relationships, as well as your attitudes about the institutional environment and your personal involvement in school. Your responses will be very helpful in improving student relationships, learning conditions, and the overall school environment.

All your responses are completely anonymous. We have no way to connect you to your answers, and results will only be reported as group responses. There are no right or wrong answers. We just want to know about your personal experiences.

As you respond to each item, think about your own personal experiences as a parent or caregiver at your child’s school. Please answer all items, or your answers won't count. This survey should take approximately 10 minutes.

Survey Link

Thank you for your time and participation!

Ms. Jordan Fleek

MTSS/SEL Coordinator

Lester Park Elementary

218-336-8875 x 3165

You can find the information on our school website. Click on "Parents" on the menu bar...then "Family Involvement".

For Positive COVID Results or Symptoms:

please click HERE.

What do I do if my child is going to be absent from school?

• Email lesterattendance@isd709.org (the office & nurse will both see these emails)
  

• or call attendance line 336-8875 then “3” to leave a recorded message

• Please list any specific symptoms.

• Teachers may have a preferred way for you to report an absence to them.

• If the office does not know why a student is absent, an automated phone call and an email message will be sent out at sometime between 8:30-9:00. This is for safety reasons.

Some helpful links:

• Is My Child Well Enough To Go To School
  
• You can also call our school health office at 336-8875 x2654

Previous Community Flyers can be found HERE.

Lester Staff Directory (firstname).(lastname)@isd709.org

Email: lesterpark@isd709.org
Website: https://www.isd709.org/lester-park-elementary
Location: 5300 Glenwood Street, Duluth, MN 55804, USA
Phone: (218) 336-8875
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lester-Park-Elementary-1900216436910729