February 8th, 2025

Last Week You Voted - LEGO Won!

Fun Facts: The name LEGO is an abbreviation of the Danish phrase Leg Godt, which means "play well".

The largest Lego build ever was a brick world that took over three million bricks and five months to build.

Watch a Video About this Masterpiece

Please forward our family newsletter to prospective families and invite them to join one of our school tours!

Monday, February 10 - NAAPID - Specific Timing Shared by Your Child's Classroom Teacher, RSVP HERE

Monday, February 10 - GTCYS 2nd Grade Music Class, 8am

Monday, February 10 - Community Ed Classes, 4pm

Tuesday, February 11 - Phillips Eye Clinic Vision Screening for Grades Kindergarten, 1, 3, and 5

Tuesday, February 11 - 5th Grade Field Trip to Afton Alps

Wednesday, February 12 - GTCYS 2nd Grade Music Class, 8am

Wednesday, February 12 - PTO General Meeting, 6pm

Friday, February 14 -GTCYS 2nd Grade Music Class, 8am

Friday, February 14 - Valentine's Day - More information to be shared by your child's teacher

Monday, February 17 - No School, President's Day

Tuesday, February 18 - PTO Black History Celebration, 6pm

Wednesday, February 19 - GTCYS 2nd Grade Music Class, 8am

Friday, February 21 - GTCYS 2nd Grade Music Class, 8am

In the coming weeks, our team will begin sharing a series of informational videos/resources/documents to help you support your student's learning. What are the topics? We need to hear from YOU to help us investigate what you think is important! To make it a little more fun, your student will come home with a B-I-N-G-O card to fill out at home. Each week, a new space will be called in this section... or during the video. When your child has a B-I-N-G-O, send them to school with their card for a prize!

Help us get started by giving us feedback - What do you want to know about?

Saint Paul Public Schools has prepared several fun activities for students to participate in throughout the month! Also, check out the Black History Month Reading Recommendations!

• Bookmark Contest (PreK-12): We want you to design our Saint Paul Public Schools library bookmarks! This year's theme is "Read Every Day". Winning designs will be selected for different age groups (PreK-5, 6-8, and 9-12) and distributed at SPPS schools! Use this bookmark template to create your artwork and return to any SPPS school library. There is also a PreK-2-friendly entry form.
• 40 Book Challenge (PreK-8): Students are encouraged to participate in our 40 Book Book Reading Challenge during the month of February. Pick up your participation sheet at your school library or access it using this entry form for grades PreK-3 and this form for grades 4-8. Students who finish the challenge will receive a journal, pencil, and bookmark or sticker, and will be entered into a raffle for the grand prize!

The L’Etoile du Nord (LNFI) PTO is a community of parents and teachers coming together to build, strengthen, and support educational, enrichment, and extra-curricular opportunities within a Francophone environment for L’Etoile du Nord French Immersion School students.

Monthly PTO Meetings: Join us for our general meeting; Wednesday, February 10th from 6-7pm on Zoom. This month we will spotlight our Intern Program! Discover the process it takes to welcome native French-speaking interns to our school, the benefits and how to get involved!

Questions for the intern committee? Complete this form: https://forms.gle/2fe5LnXjtJMwvrLM9

Zoom meeting link: https://zoom.us/j/6115505320?pwd=SkhLL2MreTloVEpza2UwcVNXNGFCdz09&omn=97878764083

All virtual meetings are recorded and available on our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/@letoiledunordpto

Donate your gently used winter clothing to help keep our students warm this season! Your generous donations will ensure that our students have the clothing they need to safely enjoy the winter weather. Items can be dropped off in the office until Friday, February 14th.

Black History Month Celebration: Join us Tuesday, February 18th, 6-8pm for an evening of storytelling! Activities will also include crafts, games, face painting, music and refreshments. We look forward to celebrating together! Enter through the recess doors.

Join the Kermesse planning team!!! Kermess is our highly anticipated Spring Fair and we are in need of 5-10 volunteers who want to help plan games and crafts, ticket sales, concessions, silent auction and more!! If you're able to help, please contact communications @lnfi-pto.org

Merci!

When: TOMORROW! Sunday, February 9, 5-7 pm

Why: To meet each other, build community, and discuss how we might work together to support our amazing kiddos at L’Etoile du Nord in 2025 and beyond. Space will be provided for kids to hang out separately. Supportive families and siblings are welcome. Soup provided - Bring a snack and/or beverage.

Norms to Guide Us:

- Identities of participants will be kept confidential

- Privacy will be prioritized - no photos, recordings, or sharing of stories outside the group
- Chosen names & pronouns will be honored

- Participation in conversation is invited and optional

Email your questions to gsdpride.lnfi@gmail.com

LNFI is known for our dedicated and experienced teachers. Whether you have been connected to our school for years or this is your first experience, we want to introduce you to our amazing team. You may see familiar faces or some brand new, but everyone is part of our story and why we love working at L'Etoile du Nord French Immersion School!

Mme Ananou is one of our experienced Kindergarten teacher and joins us from Togo, a country in West Africa! Mme Ananou has taught at our school in many different roles, including: 1st grade, 2nd grade, Gym, and World Cultures, but her favorite is Kindergarten! Fun fact: Mme Ananou's daughter went to L'Etoile du Nord, then followed the French Immersion Pathway to Hidden River Middle School and finally through Central High School where she is studying now!

Dear L’Etoile du Nord Families and Community,

We are deeply aware of the challenges our community is facing, and our hearts are with those who are affected by the current climate in our nation. At our school, we believe education is for every student, and every student deserves to feel seen, valued, and safe in their learning environment.

Every student deserves to feel like they belong and can learn without fear. Our teachers and staff are here to create a safe space where all students can grow, face challenges, and celebrate their successes. Our team of educators is dedicated to fostering an environment where students can not only overcome challenges but also celebrate the unique qualities that make them who they are.

L’Etoile du Nord French Immersion School is proud of the many different backgrounds and cultures that make our community special. We celebrate all the things that make us unique and human. Together, we will keep moving forward, making sure every student feels valued and can succeed.

Thank you for your continued support as we work together to nurture a safe, inclusive, and respectful learning environment.

Standing Together,
Lauren Bolopue, Interim Principal

As we continue to navigate through flu season and various illnesses, our team understands how crucial it is to stress the importance of hand washing. Encouraging our students to wash their hands regularly can greatly assist in halting the spread of illness. Thank you for your commitment to fostering a healthy environment for our students and staff.

SPPS follows state education guidelines that allow districts to offer e-learning days due to inclement weather. The district may call a non-instructional day or e-learning day if:

• Wind chills are forecasted to be -35 or colder at 6 a.m. OR

• Snow makes it too difficult for our students and staff to safely get to school

Saint Paul Public Schools uses Blackboard Connect to communicate with families during emergency situations, including severe weather, that may affect the school day. Contact information for Blackboard Connect is synced with the district's student information system, Infinite Campus.

SPPS uses a variety of methods to inform families, staff and the community about school closures and cancellations including spps.org, local media, social media, and direct communication through email, text messages and phone calls. Families should make sure their contact information is up-to-date through Campus Parent.

• School begins at 9:30 am and ends at 4:00 pm. Students may enter the school at 9:15 am and not prior. Please, never leave your child unattended. We do not have staff available prior to 9:15 am, and front office doors will not be open prior to 9:15 am.

• If you arrive after 9:30 am, bring your child to the Main Office to sign them in.

• If you need to change your child’s dismissal procedure for the day, please call the office before 3:15 pm. Notes to your child’s teacher are easily lost and emails to the teacher may be missed as they are working hard to support student learning all day. The only reliable communication is a phone call to the Main Office before 3:15 pm. We have one office clerk, and once the pack-up and dismissal process begins it is unlikely we will receive your message in time.

• Students may only ride on their assigned bus. We cannot send any students home on a different bus than what is listed on Campus.

• Many of our teachers are involved with after-school activities and we do not have staff available to supervise students after 4:15 pm. Please do your best to pick-up your student(s) by 4:00 pm. If you have an emergency and will be late, please call the Main Office (651) 744-6970.

• Parents/guardians drop off students on Ames Place, in front of the school.

• Please follow the cars lining up.

• Please wait your turn and do not go in front of other cars already in line.

• Pull up as far as you can behind the car in front of you, without leaving gaps between cars.

• Students get out on the right side (curb). Exiting on the left side puts them directly into oncoming traffic.

• There will be staff there to assist if needed.

• When your student(s) is out of the car, please safely pull out of the line and use the circle to turn around on Ames Place.

• Drive slowly as you exit in case there are students/families crossing the road (Please avoid parking and crossing the road as much as possible).

• Parents/guardians pick up students on Ames Place, in front of the school.

• Please follow the cars lining up.

• Place your student information sheet (Name/Grade) in a visible location (passenger window or right dash).

• As you get closer to the building, a staff member will radio your student information to the team waiting with students inside the building.

• Please continue to move forward, closing all gaps between cars as you wait.

• Students get in on the right side (curb). Entering on the left side puts them directly into oncoming traffic.

• There will be staff there to assist if needed.

• When your student(s) is in the car, please safely pull out of the line and use the circle to turn around on Ames Place.

• Drive slowly as you exit in case there are students/families crossing the road (Please avoid parking and crossing the road as much as possible).

• At 4:15, any student still left will be escorted to the main Office and the parent/guardian will be called. Please come to the Main Office for late pick-up.

Please make sure always to report your child's absences. You can do this in two ways:

· Dial the attendance line directly at 651-744-6973

· Email us at alan.stump@spps.org and CC your child's classroom teacher

Please include your child's name (spell their name if you are calling), grade, reason for absence, your relationship to the child, and a return phone number where you can be reached if we have questions about the reason for absence.

Please click on this link for district attendance information: https://www.spps.org/attendance

We always welcome parents and visitors to our school. If you choose to come during teaching hours, please make sure you have an appointment or a planned visit with the respective staff member. We ask for your understanding that our teaching staff are very busy during the school day and will likely not be available to meet with you unless you have a scheduled appointment. Please always stop by the office to check in, sign in, and get a visitor's badge.

Past Newsletters

School Website: https://frenchimmersion.spps.org/
Location:1760 Ames Place E, Saint Paul, MN 55106
Phone: (651) 744-6970

Hours: 9:30 am - 4:00 pm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LNFIschool