Lester Park School Newsletter #34
April 25, 2024
Lots of Events Next Month!
The last 6 weeks of school are usually filled with lots of grade-level field trips and school events. Below is just a small sampling. Please keep up to date on emails from your child's teacher about upcoming events. We also try to include them on our school calendar.
~ Tracy Thompson & Brianna Solberg
Lester Park Admin Assts
Upcoming Dates:
May 6-10...Teacher Appreciation Week!
- May 8...Walk/Bike to School!
- May 8...4-6pm OEMS open house for current 5th graders
- May 9...School Spirit Day - wear teacher's favorite color
- May 10...Spring Concerts (ONLY come to 1)
- May 14...3rd-5th Grade Fit & Run Run at UMD
- May 21...Battle of the Books
- May 21...All Library Books due back to School
- May 24...Annual Field Day at school (more info to come)
- May 31...PAWS Assembly (more info to come)
- June 4...5th Grade Celebration (more info to come)
- June 5...Last day of school for students
- June 7...Last day of school for teachers
- June 21...School Office closes for the summer
More events on the Lester Park School Calendar HERE.
The Specialist (Day 1-4) Calendar can be found HERE.
2024-25 District Calendar can be found HERE (PD=professional development/NO SCHOOL)
Deadline tomorrow!
Tomorrow, April 26, is the last day to opt out of alternate bus drop off for Walk/Bike to School Day. Please return your slip in your child's folder or complete this google form:
They are still in need of some volunteers to help in the morning. Sign up below:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040D4CABAD29AAF58-48744299-walkbike
More information can be found further down in this newsletter.
K-5th Grade Spring Concert Details
- There are 2 Identical 45-minute performances in our gym...9am & 1pm on Friday, May 10. Please attend only ONE performance. We want to have seating for everyone, and there will be A LOT of parents, siblings, grandparents, etc, coming to hear our students sing.
- For Safety Reasons…families will be unable to take their child home after they sing at the afternoon program. They will need to wait until the normal 2:15pm pick up time. With the quantity of visitors expected for the programs, it is important that students follow their normal after-school routine.
- For Safety Reasons…visitors will NOT be allowed to visit classrooms before, during, or after the programs.
- Front Doors will open at 8:15am and 12:15pm. Anyone who arrives earlier will need to wait outside of the school.
- Similar to Grandparents' Day, we will have a shuttle that will run to/from the One Life Community Church parking lot. This church is located on the corner of 51st Ave E & Glenwood St. The school bus will run from about 8:50am-10:30am & 12:30pm-2:15pm. Due to the bus driver shortage, we are unable to start the shuttle earlier than 8:50am.
- Please be respectful of our neighbors and do not block their driveways. Thank you!
Wondering what your child should wear? Ms. Simon, our fabulous Music Specialist, says there is no official dress code, just bring your singing voices!
3rd-5th Grade Fit-n-Fun Run
Our 3rd-5th Graders will participate in the annual Fit-n-Fun Run on Tuesday May 14. Here is what you need to know:
- Permission forms are being sent home with 3rd-5th grade students today or tomorrow
- Please sign the permission forms and send back to your child's teacher by May 2
- If you have questions about your child's participation, email your child's teacher
- The event is at UMD. Students will ride a bus to and from the event.
- If you need to pick your child up from the event, you will need to sign a school district field trip release form ahead of time.
- The Rain Date is Thursday, May 16
- These dates are on the school calendar
- If you would like a digital copy, click here: Digital Copy
Next School Spirit Day!
Our next School Spirit Day has been changed to Thursday, May 9. This is due to the Spring Concert on Friday, May 10.
In our next school newsletter, we will have a list of all our teachers' favorite colors. We will also include this list on the School Calendar as well.
Changing from Lifetouch to Jostens
For the 2024-25 school year, the Duluth School District will test out using Jostens for Elementary school pictures and yearbook. As a result, you will notice some changes, but we hope they are all good ones!
Below is a little blurb from Jostens that we wanted to share with you:
Fall 2024 Pricing
As costs continue to rise everywhere we want you to know that JostensPIX has your families and their pocketbooks in mind. We are proud to announce that we are holding steady on our pricing from the 2023 season! This fall we will also be offering a new discount - Families ordering for three or more students will receive a “Family Discount” of 30% off their entire order. These can be packages or a la carte portraits sheets. There are no promo codes required, discount will automatically be taken off at checkout.
We have our dates set and on the school calendar for Picture Day and Retake Day. They are Oct 2 and Nov 6.
2024-25 Parent/Caregiver Input Forms
For Current K-4th Graders
It's time to start thinking about the next school year! Later in May, we will begin looking at the 2024-25 classroom placements for our current K-4th graders. One part of the process is to look at any parent input forms submitted during the spring.
Below you will find a link to the online Parent/Caregiver Input Form. It is a similar format as in previous years. This is an optional form.
2024-25 Parent/Caregiver Input form
Only 1 child per form. Form Deadline is Sunday, May 5.
While we do not take formal parent requests for classroom placement, we do all we can to honor the input of parents as we are partners in your child's education.
Family Climate Survey
Dear Lester Park Families,
We are asking all parents/guardians to fill out our school climate survey. Your input is extremely valuable to us and provides schools with a comprehensive understanding of how families perceive school climate. This information will be used to inform school and district plans to make improvements.
The survey is anonymous and voluntary and you do not have to provide your name and have the option to select “Prefer not to answer” on all items including demographic information. Thank you for taking the time to complete this to help us move forward at Lester Park!
TAKE THE FAMILY/PARENT SURVEY - fill out our school climate survey
"Walk to School Day" Opt Out form for Bussers
Walk/Bike to School Day is on May 8, 2024 (rain date is May 15).
Students are encouraged to walk or bike to school as able.
Similar to last year, Students who ride the bus will also be included in this event. Instead of being dropped off at the school, they will be dropped off at the Anchor Point Community Church parking lot (5202 Colorado Street) and walk up 52nd Avenue to the school bus doors. Many volunteers will accompany the students.
- If you wish your child to to opt out, please fill out this form by April 26: Alternate Bus Drop Off Opt Out. It is then your responsibility to notify your child to remain on the bus.
- If no opt-out form is completed, the assumption is that your child will participate in the alternate drop off.
- Please fill out one Opt Out form PER STUDENT.
- Questions? Please email ptalp709@gmail.com
Volunteers needed to guide Bussers safely to School!
The PTA/Wellness Committee is asking for volunteers to help along the route mentioned above!
If you are interested, please fill out this form: "Walk/Bike to School" Volunteer form
Also, please indicate if you would be available to help on the Rain Date 5/15/24.
Volunteers should park and meet at Lester Park School. From there they will be directed to their station - will require a short walk.
Thank you to the PTA & Wellness Committee for organizing this fun event!
In Need of Gently Used Leggings and Sweatpants
Community Flyers & Registrations
CSS Saints Football All-Sports Youth Camp
Lakeside-Lester Park Community Club:
GIGANTIC LIQUIDATION BOOK SALE !
Friday & Saturday, May 3rd & 4th
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
All books 50 cents, unless posted otherwise
Previous Community Flyers can be found HERE.
ABOUT US
Website: https://lesterpark.isd709.org/
Location: 5300 Glenwood Street, Duluth, MN 55804, USA
Phone: (218) 336-8875
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lester-Park-Elementary-1900216436910729