LPA Elementary August Newsletter

Welcome Back, Lake Park Audubon Families and Students!

I’m excited to welcome you to a new school year at Lake Park Audubon Public Schools! This year is extra special because we are opening our newly reconstructed and constructed school building. Our updated facilities are designed to give students a modern and safe place to learn and grow.

I’m looking forward to seeing our hallways filled with students and our classrooms buzzing with energy. Whether you’re returning or new to our school, you are an important part of our LPA family.

Let’s work together to make this school year one of the best yet. We’ll face challenges, celebrate successes, and create lasting memories.

Welcome back, and here’s to a great year ahead!

Best,

Dr. Brittanie Watson

Principal, Lake Park Audubon Elementary School

Preschool: Anne Braseth, Denelle Baumgart, Izzie Vareberg

Kindergarten: Stephanie Carlson, Rachael Johnson, Laurie Mattson

1st Grade: Beth Anderson, Stacey Stalberger, Rachel Wilson

2nd Grade: Sammi Anderson, Katy VanHavermaet, Sandy Vetter

3rd Grade: Kristen Frank, Abby Nagel, Geri Nelson

4th Grade: Megan Hanson, Erika Pake

5th Grade: Kari Boyd, Kristina Gordon, Jim Hopkins

6th Grade: Hunter Frank, Ellie Moltzan, Addie Vancura

Music: Katie Cermak, Andrew Eklund, Tammy Teach

Physical Education: Nikki Adams, Janna Nelson

STEAM: Jackie Godfrey, Hanna Moler

Specialists: Gina Kinney, Monika Nelson, Nicole Perman, Anna Ronnebaum, Megan Williams

WIN Teachers: Jenny Browning, Kathleen DiPaolo, Jackie Godfrey, Debbie Hueby, Tammy Lundstrom, Angie Nelson

School Social Worker: Lisa McLeod

Under the Compulsory Attendance Law, every child from ages 7 through 16 must be enrolled in school unless excused for mental, physical, or moral reasons.

There is a direct link between regular attendance and academic success. At Lake Park Audubon Elementary School, we believe that attendance habits begin in the first year of school, and these habits become behavior patterns by the time students reach high school. “Every Student Succeeds” legislation states that each school needs to have a minimum of 90% attendance in order to achieve success. Parents, students, and the LPA staff need to work together to be sure that students arrive on time and attend school regularly.

If your child/children are going to absent from school, email the elementary school administrative assistants at elem_attendance@lpa.k12.mn.us Please include your child's name, grade, and reason for the absence.

Absences:

• Students who arrive at school more than 30 minutes after the start of the school day will be marked ½ day absent.
• Students who arrive 5 minutes after school starts will be marked tardy.
• Students who leave 30 minutes prior to dismissal 3:08 will be marked ½ day absent.

Excused Absences:

• Illness of the student
• Serious illness, death, or emergency in the family.
• Religious reasons
• Unsafe weather conditions
• Family trip with prior approval and notification
• The principal may designate other absences as excused as situations arise.

Unexcused Absences:

• Oversleeping
• Missing the bus
• Absences without prior approval
• Any absence without parental permission
• The principal may designate other absences as “unexcused” as situations arise.

Tardiness:

• A student who reaches four unexcused tardies will be considered truant for one school day.

Upon returning to school after an absence, a note (email) of explanation signed by a parent must be given to the office (doctor’s note as relevant).

The note should include:

• The reason for absence
• The date of the absence
• A signature of a parent

Absences will be unexcused if the school does not receive notification for the reason of the absence within five days.

The back to school open house for the elementary school will be on Thursday, September 5th at the elementary school.

Schedule:

3:30-4:00 p.m. Ribbon Cutting (Open to the public)

4:00-7:00 p.m. Preschool to 5th Grade Open House

Click the button below to sign up for a time slot for the kindergarten to 5th grade open house. If the time you need is already full, feel free to come at that time anyway. The sign-up is meant to give teachers more individualized time with families, but we want to ensure that everyone can attend. (If you’ve already signed up - you’re good to go!)

Preschool students and their families are welcome to visit the preschool classrooms any time between 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

If your child requires medication during school hours, please bring it to the open house or on the first day of school. Our school nurse will be available to collect medications and discuss any medical needs or concerns. All medications must be in their original labeled containers.

On September 5th, 2024, there will be a ribbon cutting ceremony at the elementary school. This will take place in front of the elementary school door I. The ceremony will start at 3:30 p.m. with refreshments to follow. This event is open to the public and the building will be open for the public to tour the school after the ribbon cutting.

Scheduled meetings will take place on September 3rd and 4th, and all kindergarteners will begin school on September 9th. Please check your email to schedule a meeting with your child’s teacher if you haven’t already done so.

We are thrilled to start the school year in our newly constructed and renovated building. ICS has put in tremendous effort to prepare the space, and we deeply appreciate their dedication. To ensure everything is ready for our students, we are postponing the first day of school for the elementary grades (Pre-K to 6th) to Monday, September 9th (preschool will start with parent class on Monday evening). However, the high school (7th to 12th Grade) will begin as scheduled on Tuesday, September 3rd.

Drop off Procedures:

• Students being dropped off by parents or guardians will need to use door H before 8:30 a.m.
• If students arrive after 8:30 a.m., they will need to use door I to enter the building.

Pick Up Procedures:

• When a parent or guardian arrives to pick up a child after 3:05 p.m., they should message the after school remind app with their child's name, grade, and teacher. Staff will then escort the child out of the building.

Elementary Office Hours: 7:30am - 4:00pm

Elementary Principal: Dr. Brittanie Watson bwatson@lpa.k12.mn.us

Elementary Administrative Assistant: Barb Jenson bjenson@lpa.k12.mn.us

Elementary Administrative Assistant: Melissa Mattson

Phone: 218-325-0754

Attendance Email: elem_attendance@lpa.k12.mn.us