Panther Newsletter

All of us here at Palmer Lake hope you have a healthy, safe and happy Spring Break! We're excited to see students again on Monday, March 31st.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Elementary Report Card

The elementary report card reflects your child's performance on specific standards and skills that students are expected to learn following instruction. Standards-Based Grading helps ensure that student grades are meaningful, accurate, consistent, and supportive of learning. The report card marks reflect how your child is performing at designated times throughout the year, based on what has been taught to date.

How Are the Report Cards Marked?

Marking codes describe your child's performance on each Reporting Standard compared to grade-level expectations at designated times throughout the school year. The marks will help you and your student understand the skills your student has demonstrated, and the skills he or she has not yet mastered. At the elementary level, teachers use M, I, D for Life and Work Skills and a 4-1 scale for academic areas instead of letter grades.

Teachers consider the multiple pieces of evidence they have collected throughout the trimester that show what a student has learned. Using that information, teachers can determine if students are meeting expectations (M), inconsistently meeting expectations (I), or not meeting expectations (D) for Life and Work Skills or working at an excellent (4), proficient (3), basic (2), limited (1) level in all other marking areas.

For the Life and Work Skills, Teachers Will Mark Using M, I, D:

• M: Meets Expectation - A student exhibits skills or behaviors that are typical and appropriate for their grade level.
• I: Inconsistently Meets Expectations - Student's work towards the skill is developing and inconsistent.
• D: Does Not Meet Expectations - A student does not yet demonstrate behaviors in this skill area.

What Do the Marking Codes 4-1 Mean for Academic Grades?

• 4: Work is excellent, exceptional, or extended. A student working at a 4 level displays excellent quality, performs with high accuracy, applies the learning in complex ways, and/or extends the expectations for meeting the grade level standard.
• 3: Work is proficient, consistent, and accurate. A student working at a 3 level displays high quality, performs with accuracy, applies the learning accurately, and/or meets expectations for the grade level standard.
• 2: Work is basic or simple, and may be inconsistent. A student working at a 2 level displays basic quality, performs with inconsistent accuracy, applies the learning at a basic level, and/or meets the grade level standard at only the simplest level of content, task, or skill.
• 1: Work at this level is limited or there is insufficient evidence of learning. A student working at a 1 level displays limited quality, performs with little evidence of understanding or limited accuracy, and/or applies learning at a minimal level. Work at this level typically does not meet expectations for the grade level standard.

My Child Achieved a 3 in the First and/or Second Marking Period. Does This Mean He or She Has Met Grade Level Expectations for the End of the Year?

Reporting Standards are marked based on what has been taught and assessed so far. When a student achieves a 3 on the T1 (first trimester) report card, it does not mean that the student has learned all he or she needs to learn for the entire year. It means that based on what has been taught and assessed so far, the student has demonstrated grade-level skills. Many subject areas build upon skills throughout the year; as a result, your child's mark will reflect the progression of skills. We would expect the student to master end-of-year grade-level standards if his or her skills continue to progress.

Do the Marking Codes Translate into Letter Grades?

No. The marking codes do not directly translate into a percentage or a letter grade such as A, B, C, or D.

What Does "NA" Mean?

NA means the Reporting Standard was "Not Assessed" during this trimester. Some Reporting Standards will be marked as "NA" because the skill or concept will be taught later in the school year.

Attendance

Attendance will be marked each trimester.

What Skills Do All Marking Areas Include?

Teachers mark reporting standards for each subject area. These statements are broad, and many repeat from grade to grade. There is a Mark Reporting Descriptors Document that is sent out in the Peachjar where you will find examples that describe some of the specific skills that students learn at each grade level. The examples do not include everything that happens in a classroom, but are intended to give more information about what each reporting standard means.

My Child Works with Other Teachers During the School Day. How Is That Work Reflected in This Report Card?

Classroom teachers will complete report cards for students who receive additional services. Classroom teachers will confer with those teachers to make sure the marks on the report card accurately reflect student learning.

What Other Ways Can I See My Child's Progress?

Please keep in mind that report cards are just one way that teachers share information with you about your child's progress. Parent-Teacher conferences, notes, email, and phone calls are other ways for you to learn how your child is progressing in school. If you have any questions about the report card or your child's performance, please contact your child's teacher.

Warmer weather has melted the snow and created puddles and muddy areas near our playgrounds. Please make sure to send appropriate outdoor clothing with your students!

Last year was a learning curve for us with our Year End Reviews and Yearbooks. This year we want to make things easier to understand.

Year End Review: this is what each student will receive for free. These do NOT include photos of all students. The Year End Review is specific to the students grade level. For example, a third grade student will receive a Year End Review showing photos of only third grade students.

Yearbook: ON SALE NOW! Available by order and payment only. These will include photos of all students. We will not have extra Yearbooks available for purchase. If you do not order a Yearbook, you will NOT receive one. Orders are due by 4/11/2025. Order here: https://store.plicbooks.com/projects/b706eb0c-2334-4ef6-907d-5ce03f6b800d

When driving through our parking lot, please use caution and slow down. Arrival and dismissal times can get very busy. It's important to watch for pedestrians, walk in the yellow walking lane, and cross at the crosswalk. Please DO NOT exit out the "Entrance Only" entrance.

March 24-28: No school (spring break)

April 21: Asynchronous Learning Day

April 22: Panther Den Parent Meeting (Media Center, 5:00-6:00pm)

May 9: All school BBQ

May 22: Multicultural Night

June 5: 5th grade graduation

Please read the information below regarding free family advocate services offered by Northwest Family Resource Collaborative.

We are seeing an increase in Norovirus at Palmer Lake. Osseo Area Schools is committed to providing a safe and healthy learning environment for all our students, staff, community, and visitors.

Ensure Sick individuals are sent home from school

Individuals who have a fever of greater than 100.4 degrees, vomiting, diarrhea or are not well enough to participate in learning while at Osseo sites will be sent home. These individuals may return when they have had no episodes of diarrhea, vomiting or fever for 24 hours without the use of medications and are well enough to participate in learning.

If your student becomes too ill to remain in school, school personnel will attempt to notify you immediately. It is your responsibility to make arrangements for the proper care and transportation of your child. In the event we are unable to reach you your designated emergency contacts will be called. Emergency contacts can be added in ParentVue or by completing an emergency form and submitting it to your child’s school.

Ensure sick individuals stay home when not feeling well

Staff, students, and families will be informed of and encouraged to self-monitor for signs and symptoms of many potential infectious diseases as listed on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's website. Individuals with symptoms, even when mild, should remain home until they are well enough to be in the learning environment to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases. For those at increased risk of complications, individuals should reach out to a healthcare provider, even when symptoms are mild, for consultation.

These symptoms include but are not limited to; consistent cough, fever over 100.4 degrees, difficulty or trouble breathing, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chills, muscle pain, excessive fatigue, severe headache, nasal congestion, or severe runny nose.

Individuals who test positive for any infectious disease such as: COVID-19, Influenza or RSV, should:

• Notify their child’s school or childcare

• Follow exclusion periods from schools which can be found on the district website under Communicable Diseases.

All staff and students who are ill should remain out and return to sites when their symptoms are improved, and they are well enough to attend. Staff should follow their sick leave procedure as is laid out in their contract and families should call the attendance line

School nurse:

Tammy Bauer, RN

BauerT@district279.org

763-549-2401

The purpose of this charitable outreach program is to provide free care to low-income children in need. Thousands of dental professionals volunteer their time to this program because they understand the pain and embarrassment many children experience due to untreated dental problems. Since the program’s inception in Minnesota in 2003, 86,000 children have received free care through Give Kids a Smile.

Click here to learn more or find a clinic.

Please make sure the only beverage your student has at school is a bottle of water. Beverages like hot chocolate, lemonade and soda easily spill in lockers (and on floors!) and leave a sticky mess.

Click here to learn more!

We are looking to expand our partnership with local businesses. Partnership could include:

• prize donations for Family bingo
• monetary donation for field trips, guess speakers, family events, supplies, etc
• volunteering with students or preparing classroom materials
• donation of meals for teachers during conference nights
• donation of treats, meals, etc for Teacher Appreciation Week

If you have a connection with a local business who might want to sponsor Palmer Lake, please reach out to:

Sarah Schmidt @ schmidtsarah@district279.org or 763-561-1930 OR

Jen Zipf @ zipfj@district279.org or 763-561-1930

As in previous years, some teachers will have snack time during the day and others will not. New this year, any class that has snack time will have community-provided snack only; no individual snacks from home. Teachers may ask families for snack donations for the whole class. Candy, cookies, chips and soda are not allowed. Watch for communication from your child's teacher at the beginning of the year.

We suggest that cell phones and other non-district devices not be brought to Palmer Lake. If brought to school, cell phones and SmartWatches should not be seen or heard in the school building, or when outside. Staff will collect cell phones at the beginning of the day, lock them in a secure place, and return them at dismissal time.

If a staff member sees or hears a phone or SmartWatch, it may be taken from the student. The first time a phone or SmartWatch is taken, parents will be notified and the device will be returned at the end of the school day. Any occurrences after that, parents will be notified and an adult will need to come pick up the device. If it becomes a chronic concern, PL staff will work with the student and parents to make a plan. Any device brought to school is the responsibility of the student. Palmer Lake will not be involved if a cell phone, SmartWatch or non-district device is lost or stolen.

If a parent ever needs to send a message to their child(ren) during the school day, please call the office and we will communicate the message to your student. Thank you in advance for partnering with us to ensure students are focused on their learning rather than distracted by their device.

Our #1 job is to ensure the safety of everyone at Palmer Lake. If your child will be picked up by a parent or other adult at dismissal, please follow the Parent Pick Up expectations.

• Students will be dismissed for pick up at 3:15pm. Please be on time and ensure students are picked up by 3:30pm at the absolute latest.
• Drive slowly and pay attention!
• Cross at the cross walk. Wait for the adult to signal it is your turn to cross.
• Handicap parking spaces are only for drivers who have a valid handicap permit. The permit MUST be easily visible each time you park there.
• Parents are encouraged to pick up their student(s) at the fence along the sidewalk in front of the building. You may also park and meet your child near the cross walk.
• Follow the expectations on the Parent Drop Off/Pick Up map (below and linked). Drivers who do not follow the expectations create unsafe situations and/or back up traffic.
  

The arrival bell rings at 8:35am. Students may line up outside of the front doors beginning at 8:30am. There is not supervision before 8:30am, so that is the earliest students should arrive. Students who arrive to school after 8:50am are considered tardy and the student(s) will need to check in at the office to receive a pass.

Dismissal of students who are walkers or parent pick up is at 3:15pm. Students who ride a bus are dismissed at approximately 3:20pm.

AM VPK: 8:35am-11:20am

PM VPK: 12:50pm-3:20pm

It is very important that we have accurate information for all students, especially phone numbers for parents and emergency contacts. Please take a few minutes before school starts to update Back to School Forms. They are available online through ParentVue.

Unfamiliar with ParentVue? Please click the link to get started: https://mn-oas-psv.edupoint.com/PXP2_Login_Parent.aspx?regenerateSessionId=True

Safety is our number one priority. ANY person wishing to enter Palmer Lake will be expected to wait in the vestibule and speak with office staff via doorbell camera and microphone. Please have your ID ready for office staff to scan. Forgotten items (lunch boxes, instruments, etc.) can be left on the table in the vestibule for a more efficient drop off. Again, ANY person wishing to enter Palmer Lake will be expected to wait in the vestibule and speak with office staff via doorbell camera and microphone.

If you would like to speak with an administrator or teacher, you are strongly encouraged to call ahead to schedule an appointment.

January

Family Science and Engineering Night: 28 (5:30pm-7:00pm)

February

Spring parent/teacher conferences: 19, 25, 27*

March

Spring break: 24-28

April

Panther Den parent meeting: 22 (5:00pm-6:00pm)

May

All school BBQ: 9

Multicultural Celebration: 15 (5:00pm-7:00pm)

*Conferences will be scheduled by your student’s teacher on one of the above conference dates for each season.

https://pl.district279.org/

Transportation Office: 763-391-7244
BusQuestions@district279.org

Office hours-

School in Session: 6:00am-5:00pm
Non-Student Days: 6:00am-4:30pm

https://schools.mealviewer.com/school/OsseoISDElementarySchools