This is the first Thursday Family Newsletter of the new school year. We have lots to tell you, but will limit it to a handful of things for this newsletter.
Some of you may receive this email even though we have disenrolled your child. Families who have moved to another state, or their children will now be going to a private school, will continue to receive our emails through Sept 3rd. The reason has to do with how these type of disenrollment work in Infinite Campus.
We know you have lots of questions and we will do our best to answer them in this newsletter. We will send out a newsletter every Thursday afternoon, as well as separate emails if there are important updates that we want you to know about ASAP.
Due to the high workload this time of year, emails work better than phone calls. If you do call, please leave a voicemail. We aren't always at our desk, or we could be on another line.
Thank you and we can't wait to see all of our students and families again!!
~Tracy Thompson
Senior Lester Park Admin Asst
Aug 23 (3pm)...Teacher assignments posted on Infinite Campus (more info below)
Aug 27...District-wide Staff Development - ALL buildings closed
Aug 28...K-5th Grade Open House (more info below)
Sept 3...First day of school for 1st-5th Graders
Sept 5...First day of school for Kindergartners
Sept 3-4...Individual Family Meet&Greet with Kindergarten Teachers
(lots of more important dates to be posted soon)
Lester Park Calendar HERE
2024-25 District Calendar can be found HERE
(PD=professional development/NO SCHOOL for students)
Yesterday you received an email from the school district about bussing. If you noticed incorrect bussing on the parent portal of Infinite Campus...
- If your child is in K-5th grade...please email Tracy Thompson or lesterpark@isd709.org.
- If your child is in Preschool...email earlychildhood@isd709.org
If you have emailed Tracy or the school over the last couple of weeks (excluding the last 24 hours), your bus requests have been submitted but may not have shown up on Infinite Campus yet. If you do not see it by Next Wednesday, please email Tracy or lesterpark@isd709.org.
At the Open House, teachers will have a list of bus information for any of their students who will ride the bus. If you see an error, please stop in the office on your way out.
Transportation changes can take up to 5-7 days per the school district, so let's get them done now!
This open house is for families with a student registered at Lester Park School for the 2024-25 school year in K-5th grade.
Please try to come only during your designated time:
4:00-4:30pm Last names starting with A-I
4:30-5:00pm Last names starting with J-Q
5:00-5:30pm Last names starting with R-Z
We understand that schedules may be challenging in the evening. Please try to attend during your designated time slot unless absolutely necessary. This will allow all families the opportunity to speak with the classroom teacher. If your family fits multiple time slots, please select the one that works best for you.
- Plan on extra time to find a place to park, and possibly walking a couple of blocks. We have A LOT of families coming.
- Teachers will provide a few forms from the office for parents to fill out and send back by the first day of school. These are IMPORTANT!
- K-5th grade students may bring their school supplies with them.
- If your child is a busser, be sure to check with the teacher if the bus stop is correct. If not, stop in the office on your way out.
If you are unable to attend the Open House, please email your child's teacher once you find out who the teacher is. Supplies may be dropped off in the school office before Aug 27 if you are unable to attend the Open House.
Due to privacy laws, we are unable to provide the name of your child's teacher over the phone or in an email. So, please make sure you are able to log into the Parent Portal of Infinite Campus prior to next Friday.
The Parent Portal is how you access your child's school information on Infinite Campus. Some items you will find are: Bus Assignment, Lunch Balance, Report Cards, and Teacher Assignment.
* Parents should update phone and email contact information via the Parent Portal.
* If you forgot your password or username, please click HERE and follow the instructions.
* If you do not have an activation key email Tracy Thompson or lesterpark@isd709.org
* After one year of nonuse, the parent portal access is discontinued, so be sure to log in a couple of times during the year. You will use it even more as your child/children move on into middle/high school.
Each school year, parents must fill out a new online Blended Learning Agreement. This allows their child/children to have full access to Duluth Public Schools Digital Resources (Chromebook, tablet, curriculum online programs and testing, etc.). More information here: https://www.isd709.org/academics/digital-innovation
Below is the link. You do NOT need to enter your child's school email.
Duluth Public Schools Blended Learning 1 to 1 Agreement for 2024-2025 - Digital Form
See below on how to look up your child's Student ID #
* If your child participated in the EXCEL/ESY this summer, then you will have already filled out the 2024-25 form.
How do I find out my child's Student ID # (Lunch #)?
* Log into Infinite Campus:
https://duluthmn.infinitecampus.org/campus/portal/duluth.jsp
* Click on your child's picture
* Their Student ID # is under their small picture.
The K-5th Grade 2024-25 School Supply Lists can be found on our school website or by clicking here: https://secure.smore.com/n/29kef
Families may bring in their child's school supplies at the Open House. Donations can be dropped off at the school office.
Thanks to the Minnesota Legislation, student lunches will be free permanently! Breakfast is also free.
The MN Free School Meals Program is a state funded program that provides reimbursement for meals served to students who do not qualify for free or reduced-price meals so all students receive the meals at no cost. There will be a small fee for extra milk, or milk for students who bring a cold lunch.
Duluth Public School Child Nutrition program’s goal is to provide nutritious meals to students to promote healthy eating habits and enhance learning and eliminate the stigmatization of children who are unable to pay for meal charges.
HOWEVER...we still need parents/guardians to fill out the Application for Educational Benefits, formally known as the free and reduced lunch form. The school district, as well as Lester Park School, receives additional funding based on our percentage of qualifying students. So please fill out this application via the parent portal of Infinite Campus.
More information can be found here: https://www.isd709.org/families/child-nutrition
ABOUT US
Email: lesterpark@isd709.org
Website: https://lesterpark.isd709.org
Location: 5300 Glenwood Street, Duluth, MN 55804
Phone: (218) 336-8875
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lester-Park-Elementary-1900216436910729