Lester Park School Newsletter - #12

• Nov 8...Picture Retake Day
  
• Nov 10...School Spirit Day (Red White & Blue!)
• Nov 23-24...NO SCHOOL (Thanksgiving)
• Nov 27...Giving Tree Donations begin (more info to come)
• Dec 15...Last Day for Giving Tree Donations
• Dec 4...NO SCHOOL (Staff Development Day)
• Dec 7...PTA Holiday Craft Night
• Dec 19...Giving Tree Delivery!
• Dec 21...School Spirit Day (Pajama Day!)
• Dec 22-Jan 1...NO SCHOOL (Holiday Break)

Lester Park School Calendar is on our website HERE.

The Specialist (Day 1-4) Calendar can be found HERE.

Our next School Spirit Day is Friday, Nov 10.

It is "Red White & Blue" Day!

Picture Retake Day (Nov 8) is also for students who missed Picture Day!

* Below is the Picture Retake form if your child missed the actual Picture Day. There are hardcopies in the front vestibule.

* To order pictures taken on Retake Day: go to mylifetouch.com and enter EVTW7JHB9.

* You do NOT need to fill out a picture retake form if you placed an order for the Original Picture Day. They will use the previous order information for the retake order, which is why they ask you to return your original package.

If you would like your child's picture retaken...

You can have this done on Picture Retake Day, Nov 8th. Simply send the portrait package back to school on that day. Also, please let the teacher know ahead of time. Unlike Picture Day, students do not go with their whole class on Retake Day. They are sent individually if they need their picture taken.

NEW to Lester Park! If you would like to shout out any teacher or staff at Lester Park for going above and beyond, please recognize them through our "Staff Shout Out Form"!

Please try to be as specific as possible when writing your shout outs and please include either the person’s first and/or last name and job title/position. These will be anonymous in our weekly newsletter. Thank you!

With our new PBIS school-wide reward system, students have been working hard to earn paw coins and super paws to earn classroom and school-wide rewards for being respectful, responsible, safe, and kind. When students are showing any of the four expectations, they earn a coin from any staff member in the building. That student will add their coin to their classroom chart, and when the class chart reaches 50 coins, they earn a classroom reward and a super paw on their door. Super paws are counted for a bigger school-wide reward, and our current goal was 25 (about one per section).

Our reward for 25 super paws is to have the UMD Bulldog athletes come during recess to hang out and play with the students. We have reached our goal and about 20 athletes from dance, football, women's basketball, and volleyball will be at our recess TOMORROW from 10:25-1:00!

Way to go Lester Park Labs! - Ms.Fleek MTSS/PBIS Coordinator X3165

Dear Families,

Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 18 or more days in a school year. Ideally, a student wouldn’t miss more than 9 days in a school year to stay on track, be successful and be engaged in their learning.

Starting as early as preschool and kindergarten, regular attendance is essential for students to gain the academic and social skills they need to thrive. Research shows that when students are chronically absent, they are less likely to read proficiently by third grade, achieve in middle school or graduate from high school.

The good news is that efforts to improve engagement and attendance can benefit our entire society. We all prosper when children and youth, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, neighborhood, economic status or family income, have the opportunity to gain skills and abilities that prepare them for success in school, work and life.

Frequent absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with a bully or facing some other difficulty. Find out if your children feel engaged by their classes, and feel safe.

If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to teachers and school counselors for advice on how to make your child feel comfortable and excited about learning.

Students are more likely to engage in learning and attend school if they feel safe, connected and supported.

If we work together we can make sure our students are an #AttendanceHERO — Here, Every day, Ready and On time!

Please make sure your child comes to school with appropriate outerwear for recess, as well as any other outdoor time they have with their class. This means sending your child with a warm coat, hat, gloves/mittens, and boots. While we currently don't have any snow on the ground, snow pants will keep your child extra warm and dry at recess.

We are looking for donations for students who don't have these items or forget them for recess. Mittens/Gloves can be gently used, but hats would have to be new. If you have gently used snow pants and boots that you would like to donate, we will take those as well! Thank you!

We currently have 3 open para positions at Lester Park School. They are in 3 different rooms.

While we wait for these positions to be filled, we are able fill them with a substitute para. Unfortunately there are not a lot of sub paras out there, which is why we are sending out this request! Para hours at Lester Park School are 7:30am-2:15pm. However if you are only able to help out for part of the day, we can make that happen as well!

First thing is you need to apply here: https://www.teachersoncall.com/talent/apply-now

After you have been approved to be a sub by TeachersOnCall, please email tracy.thompson@isd709.org and we can help you become a full-time or part-time para sub at our school. Thanks!

The Salvation Army is once again providing Holiday Gift Baskets for those who meet income requirements. Families can go to the Salvation Army Office - located at 215 S. 27th Ave. W Duluth, MN 55806. This opportunity is from Wednesday November 1st - Wednesday November 22nd. The hours to sign up for the gift baskets are daily from 1-4 PM. You must provide a form of ID for each family member, both adults and children alike (ID, Social Security card, something from the county) and you must provide proof of residency (Your name on a bill with address). Please call the Salvation Army directly if you have questions: (218) 722-7934

Also...Lester Park School will again be a drop off site for the Salvation Army's Toyland Express. We should be receiving our box in the next week or so. Once we receive it, we will send more information in a newsletter.

You can find the information on our school website. Click on "Parents" on the menu bar...then "Family Involvement".

For Positive COVID Results or Symptoms:

please click HERE.

What do I do if my child is going to be absent from school?

• Email lesterattendance@isd709.org (the office & nurse will both see these emails)
  

• or call attendance line 336-8875 then “3” to leave a recorded message

• Please list any specific symptoms.

• Teachers may have a preferred way for you to report an absence to them.

• If the office does not know why a student is absent, an automated phone call and an email message will be sent out at sometime between 8:30-9:00. This is for safety reasons.

Some helpful links:

• Is My Child Well Enough To Go To School
  
• You can also call our school health office at 336-8875 x2654

JustForKix Dance classes (Grades 1-12)

St Louis Community Connection Newsletter

Vertical Endeavors Nov 5 Event

Previous Community Flyers can be found HERE.

Lester Staff Directory (firstname).(lastname)@isd709.org

Email: lesterpark@isd709.org
Website: https://www.isd709.org/lester-park-elementary
Location: 5300 Glenwood Street, Duluth, MN 55804, USA
Phone: (218) 336-8875
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lester-Park-Elementary-1900216436910729