Panther Newsletter

Greetings, Palmer Lake Families!

Thank you to all of you who came to our Family Bingo and Book Fair last Thursday evening. I saw a lot of smiling faces. A huge shout out goes to Culvers on 69th and Brooklyn Boulevard for their generous donation of gift baskets.

A huge thank you goes out to everyone who supported the recent bond referendum, as well. Work at Palmer Lake will include a remodel of our Media Center, flexible learning space, and an outdoor learning area. This work will be completed over the next four years and will include input from students, families, and staff. Have a great long weekend!

Sarah Schmidt, principal

Friday, January 12 - Asynchronous Learning Day (more information below)

Monday, January 15 - No School - MLK Day

Winter Conferences: January 31, February 6, & February 8

Monday, February 5 - No School - Licensed Staff Workshop

ROAR students will be collecting non-perishable food items from November 27th-December 15th. This will be a competition between all classes and grades to see who can collect the most. Winners get a popcorn party!

Asynchronous school day – students work from home that day while staff have planning time.

- Students will get work through Seesaw or paper copies.

- Teachers are available over Google Meet from 9:00-11:00 am for questions. This is called Office Hours. Teachers will share their Google Meet link with families. The purpose of this time is for students or caregivers to ask questions about the assigned work.

- There is no time that students are required to log into Google Meets. It’s only if they have questions.

- Students will bring devices and charging cords home on Thursday 1/11 and need to return them on Tuesday 1/16.

We are thrilled to announce an exciting collaboration with Good in the Hood (https://www.goodinthehood.org/) to bring a monthly food distribution event to our community, beginning on Tuesday, December 12! This initiative aims to support those in need, ensuring that our community has access to fresh and nutritious food.

When: Second Tuesday of the month, starting December 12

Time: 12 p.m. - 2 p.m.

Where: Zanewood Recreation Center – 7100 Zane Ave N

This event is open to everyone, regardless of age or situation. There is no need to sign up or meet any specific requirements. We believe that access to quality food is crucial.

Distribution Details:

Each individual is eligible for up to 30 pounds of food, and each dependent will receive an additional 15 pounds. No sign-up is required; show up and pick the food you want. First come, first serve while supplies last

What Sets Us Apart:

Fresh dairy products like milk and eggs, nutrient-rich fresh produce, meat and protein sources.

We understand the importance of providing fresh food to our community. Our goal is to positively impact the well-being of our community members by offering a diverse selection of nutritious options. Please spread the word to friends, family, and neighbors. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those who need it most.

We look forward to seeing you at the Zanewood Recreation Center on the second Tuesday of every month!

THANK YOU to everyone who donated to our clothing drive. It was a huge success!

December Breakfast

December Lunch

The cold weather is here! Please make sure students are being sent to school with appropriate clothing including jackets, hats, mittens and boots for when the snow comes. Thank you!

Picture day (and retake day) is complete! Any questions regarding photo viewing or ordering can be sent directly to the company here.

Although report cards won't be ready for quite a while, we want to remind parents and guardians to make sure they have a ParentVue account in order to view them! If you do not have a ParentVue account set up yet, please call Amanda at 763-561-1930 🙂

Please remind Panther bus riders of the importance of sitting in their seats while the bus is moving. Bus drivers may assign seats if there are any safety concerns.

A late arrival will be marked for students that arrive at school after 8:50am. Late arrivals can be marked as excused, or unexcused, based on reasoning. Arriving at school on time is incredibly important for your child so they are a part of all classroom community building and learning opportunities.

Out of respect for instructional time, family and religious choices, and many food allergies, birthday treats are not permitted in the classrooms. This is a district wide policy.

Talent Development, Academic Challenge and Gifted Support (TAG) services are available to Palmer Lake students in kindergarten through fifth grade to strengthen interests, extend grade-level content, and apply skills and concepts in authentic ways. To learn more about TAG services, please click on Palmer Lake TAG Services - Community Letter

Please make sure the parent/guardian contact information linked to your student(s) is updated and current! We need to be able to reach you in case of emergency or health concern.

Please call the office at 763-561-1930 with any changes in afternoon transportation before 2:45 pm. While TalkingPoints messages and e-mails to teachers are helpful, we need to make sure the changes are communicated with the office!

Families are strongly encouraged to complete the Educational Benefits form. Families who qualify may access free or reduced prices for iPad and Chromebook repair and replacement, band/orchestra instruments (5th grade), home electricity bills through Excel Energy, and home internet from some providers, other benefits.

In addition, schools receive additional funding based on the number of students who qualify for Educational Benefits. Palmer Lake receives a significant amount of money that is used to hire additional teachers and ESPs to support students. Filling out this form will help to ensure Palmer Lake can continue to provide that additional support to students.

Educational Benefits application

Starting this fall, all students will receive free lunch courtesy of the Free School Meals for Kids law. Each student can receive one free lunch meal each day. Students who would like to have a 2nd lunch, or just a milk, will need to pay for those items.

Breakfast will continue to be free for Palmer Lake students every day.

Parent Vue is a web application used by Osseo Area Schools for parents to access their child's report card, sign up for conferences, view health information, etc. It is critical that all parents/guardians have access to Parent Vue. To use, simply install the app on any smart phone and create your account. To ensure confidentiality, each student has their own access code.

The Palmer Lake parking lot gets busy and crowded during arrival and dismissal. PLEASE drive slowly, pay attention, and be patient and kind to others. Click on the parking lot map for details.

Students may arrive at 8:30 am. There is no adult supervision prior to that time; students should not arrive early. School doors will open at 8:35 am.

Morning Drop Off

Parents who are dropping off are encouraged to enter the drop off line and line up at the curb by the black fence. Students should leave their vehicles at 8:30 am and wait at the school doors; please do not have students wait in their vehicle until 8:35 am when doors open because it backs up traffic. Students should only exit their vehicle when the vehicle is stopped at the curb, not in the lane for vehicles to leave. Parents should remain in their vehicle except if a pre-k or kindergarten student needs assistance with the vehicle door.

Afternoon Pick-Up

Students who are parent pick-up are dismissed at 3:15 pm. Parents are encouraged to use the pick-up line rather than parking. Please remain in your vehicle. There are multiple staff who assist students to the correct vehicle. Students should be picked up from school NO LATER than 3:20 pm.

Parking

Parents may also choose to park in the morning or afternoon. Parking spaces are limited. Handicap spaces may only be used by vehicles with a handicap sign clearly displayed. Please use the designated walkway and cross walks. Wait for your child near your vehicle or near the cross walk. Please do not wait for your child by the doors of the school.

You will receive an email from our Transportation Department with your child's bus number, bus stop, and pick up/drop off times the week before school starts. Bussing information for your child is also available on the Parent Vue app. If you have any questions regarding this, please call 763-391-7244. Changes or cancellations to transportation can be sent to busquestions@district279.org.

• Arrive 5 minutes before the bus is scheduled to pick up
• Keep safety in mind (no horseplay, games, chasing, or pets)
• Wait on the sidewalk, boulevard or edge of the roadway. Stay away from houses, garages, and porches
• When you see the bus approaching, form a line to board the bus. Stay in line until the bus comes to a complete stop.