Meet the PSI Staff

In this section, we will be featuring some of our amazing PSI Staff so the community can get to know every adult in the building better, as we all work together to support all students at PSI!

This week we want to introduce you to three PSI Staff members. Gustavo Hernández is the Kinder-2nd grade Talent Development teacher, Julie Harris is the 2nd and 3rd grade English teacher and Sara VanDeWalker is the PSI Library and Media Specialist. We are so happy to have them! Please help us welcome them to the PSI Community.

Elders' Wisdom Children's Song Project

Our fourth graders have begun the Elders’ Wisdom, Children’s Song (EWCS) project. EWCS is a program that incorporates community, history, education, and celebration through storytelling, song, and spoken word. Each fourth-grade class will adopt an elder from the community who will share his or her story. Each elder’s story will be recorded, analyzed, and interpreted by students. Then, inspired by the life story of the elder, each class will write a song that they perform to honor the elder.

If you have a fourth grader, they may seek your assistance to identify elders in your community who would be willing to share their stories and be honored at a spring PSI community celebration. Elders might be grandparents, neighbors, coaches, etc.

Contact Sra. Wieber with questions.

Order your PSI yearbook today

Please order your PSI yearbook here and enter the ID code 3271924.The order deadline is April 12, 2024.

From the PSI Health Office

As we head into cold and flu season, we’ve noticed an increase in illnesses commonly seen in the school setting including colds, covid/flu, strep throat, stomach flu, and pink eye. To help prevent the spread of these illnesses, wash hands frequently, do not touch eyes, nose or mouth, cover mouth and nose with elbow when sneezing or coughing, disinfect commonly touched surfaces and stay home for the following reasons: 

• Fever of 100 degrees or more. The student should stay home for 24 hours after their temperature returns to normal without the use of fever reducing medication.
• Vomiting or diarrhea. The student is to stay home until 24 hours after the last episode.
• Any uncontrolled cough.
• Rashes with unknown causes. Check with your family physician/clinic before your student returns to school.
• Feeling ill/unwell and the student is unable to fully participate in school activities
• Please let the attendance line know the reason for your absence.

Free COVID tests can be ordered at the links below:



MDH: Order Your Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests

COVID.Gov: Order Your Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests

Lost and Found

Please visit the Lost & Found located between the gymnasium and library before February 25th. All items left after this date will be laundered and donated.

K-5 A-E Specialist Calendar

In our SLP elementary schools, our specialist classes rotate on an A, B, C, D, E day schedule. We do this so that students do not consistently miss classes on a particular calendar week day. Please see the January rotation schedule.

School District News

St. Louis Park High School Presents: Check out A Trip to the Moon by Tracy Wells Jan. 19-21!

Set in the summer of 1969, A Trip to the Moon highlights the impact of the Apollo 11 lunar landing on daily life back on Earth. Fragmented perspectives follow more than 40 characters, including a frazzled NASA engineer, a conspiracy theorist, a hopeful groom, a mother dreading her son’s daft letter, a runaway clown, and families gathered around their televisions to witness Neil Armstrong’s famous first steps.

Due to construction at the High School, all performances will be held at the Middle School Performing Arts Center, located at 2025 Texas Ave S. Performances are Jan. 19 and 20 at 7 p.m. and Jan. 21 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for students and senior citizens, and free with student ID for all SLPHS students.

Purchase tickets

For more information: Jodi Schifsky by email at schifsky.jodi@slpschools.org or by phone at 952-928-6221.

Superintendent Search Update

• Magnets: We are aware that many families received multiple magnets instead of the intended one per household. Our printing vendor accidentally missed the important step of merging duplicate addresses. We sincerely apologize for the wastefulness. Please know that our printing vendor is crediting the district for costs related to this error. If you have extra magnets, please consider dropping them at your student’s school and we will distribute them to staff and community members. 

• FAQs: Superintendent Search FAQs: We’ve added 45+ questions to the online FAQs about the superintendent search. Visit the super search webpage to learn more.

• Online and Hard Copies of the Superintendent Survey: The online community superintendent search survey is open through January 18. Hard copies of the survey can be picked up and dropped off at your school’s main office. Please turn in the hard copy of the survey by January 22. The survey is available in English, Spanish and Somali. Take the survey - open through Jan 18

Accessibility of Menstrual Products in School Bathrooms

All St. Louis Park Public Schools’ school bathrooms will be getting the addition of menstrual products and dispensers. The stocked dispensers will be installed by the end of January.   In the interim, products will continue to be available in the health offices of all school buildings. The distribution of menstrual products will be discreetly placed in designated dispensers within the restrooms, and our custodial staff will monitor and replenish the supplies regularly. This change, required by Minn. Stat. § 121A.212, aligns with our commitment to fostering a safe and nurturing learning environment for all students.

PTO News

Staff Meals for Upcoming Conferences



Families, the Spring teacher-parent conferences are approaching quickly. Providing meals for our amazing PSI staff is a great way to show our appreciation for all they do for our kids. Please consider signing up to supplement a meal or volunteer your time as we plan to provide two meals to over 70 staff members.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0B4AAAA62FABFF2-47173219-psispring

Thursday, February 15th will be potluck style soups, sides and desserts. On Friday the 16th, we will serve a combination of baked goods and catered breakfast sandwiches. Both will be buffet-style so that staff can pop in to serve themselves during a break in conferences. 

Please bring all items to the PSI office by the time noted in each SignUp Genius volunteer slot. Be sure to label and arrange pick up of any non-disposable kitchen items you bring from home. 

Thank you for your generosity; the staff is always so appreciative of this special treat!

The PSI Student Directory Is Here!

The PSI online directory, where you can find contact information for classmates, has been updated. It can be found here. For first time users, be sure to register using the email you have on file with the school district. For detailed instructions on how to access the directory and edit your info, please click here.

Math Night is Coming!

The PSI PTO is excited to host Math Night for families on Thursday, February 8th from 5:45-6:15 for sensory sensitive families and then open to all families from 6:15-7:30PM in the PSI gym. Stop by for a night of fun math games and activities such as Quick Chess, Mancala, Towers of Hanoi, Code Breaker, Chances are, Money Bingo and more! This eent is an opportunity to build student enthusiasm for math and offer caregivers a few ideas of how they can support math skills at home. 



Math Night is sponsored by Mathnasium of St Louis Park. Volunteers are needed to make this event a success! Look for the sign up in future La Prensas.