¡La Prensa! - The latest news for you

October 13, 2022

An academic bilingual community fostering global citizenship

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UPCOMING...

Please find the Specialist Teacher Rotation Schedule HERE.

Sept. 15 - Oct. 15: Hispanic Heritage Month
Oct. 13: DEADLINE for PTO Spiritwear Order - more info below
Oct. 14-28: PTO Leer-a-tón (Read-a-thon) - more info below
Oct. 16: PTO K-2 Playground Fun from 12:30-5:00 pm - more info below
Oct. 19: UPSTANDER Day - Students & Staff are encouraged to wear orange! More info below
Oct. 19: PTO Book Fair from 2:30-8:00 pm.
Oct. 20-21: NO SCHOOL - MEA (Minnesota Education Association)
Oct. 26 & 27: PTO Scholastic Book Fair from 2:30-8:00 pm - Orange Room at PSI
Nov. 3: PTO Family Fitness Fun event - SLP High School football field from 6:30-7:30 pm

From the Principal

October 13, 2022

Dear Park Spanish Immersion Elementary School Community:

We hope that you have had a great week! As I've been spending time in classrooms this week, I've experienced moments of great joy and seen students engaged in learning. I encourage you to ask your child, "What was easy for you today? What was something challenging to understand? What was exciting?"

With great intentionality, the majority of what we ask students to work on outside of class is to read. See here for an FAQ about why we believe reading is so important.

Please note that our PTO-sponsored Leer-A-Tón begins tomorrow, Oct. 14. See below for more information.

Thank you for entrusting us with your children, and thank you for being a member of our community.

Sincerely,

Corey

PSI News

Lost & Found

We have already accumulated a lot of Lost & Found items. Please stop by to check any time you're coming to school.

Also, PLEASE label your child's items so we can return them to you. Click HERE for some examples of label options you may consider purchasing for labeling all your child's clothing and other misc. items.

Attendance Reminders

As we finish our 6th week of the school year, we want to continue building consistent routines for our students and for them to be inside their classrooms by 7:45 am daily.

Parents/Guardians, if your child will be absent, please remember to call the 24 hour attendance line (952-928-6570) ANY time your child will be late or absent from school.

Kiss and Ride morning drop off time is between 7:28 and 7:42 a.m. Students should be inside their classrooms by 7:45 am. The school day ends at 2:15 pm. Not calling in your child’s absence will result in an automated attendance call, AND will result in an unexcused tardy or absence per the school attendance procedures. Click here for the St. Louis Park Attendance Policy .

October is National Bully Prevention Month

Throughout the month of October, School Counselor, Anne Moore, will be teaching classroom counseling lessons about how to identify bullying behaviors and how to be an Upstander. An Upstander is someone who stands up for others and stops bullying when it happens. Upstanders are important to prevent and stop bullying from happening. More than half of bullying situations (57%) stop within 10 seconds when a peer intervenes on behalf of the person being bullied (StopBullying.gov).

Wednesday, October 19th, we will celebrate Upstander Day! Students and staff are encouraged to wear orange to show that they will be an Upstander by spreading kindness, acceptance, and inclusion of others.

For more information on how to talk to your child about bullying, click here. More information about Upstander/Unity Day can be found here.

School District News

Help Review What is Taught in Classrooms:

Join the District Instructional Programs Advisory Council (DIPAC)

Want to help review what is taught in St. Louis Park Public Schools classrooms? We invite families to apply to join the District Instructional Programs Advisory Council (DIPAC). You do not need any educational background to join. The Committee will review the process of our curricular and instructional program offerings.

Apply by October 14, 2022
No background required (just your interest to participate!)
Seeking diverse perspectives
Attend approximately 4 meetings (1.5 hours each).

Learn more about DIPAC and what we hope to do.

Real-time Bus Information: Download the App

We encourage families to download the Traversa Ride 360 app or visit the website.

Why families like Traversa Ride 360

Real-time mapping for school bus arrival for pick-up and afternoon drop-off
Easy access to bus information (bus number, bus stop location, and bus stop time)

Download “Traversa Ride 360” from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. Get step by step instructions on how to access your student’s bus information in the app or on the website.

We Invite Families to Apply to Openings for

School Board Appointed Seats on City Commissions

We invite family members to apply to be appointed as representatives to serve as liaisons on various City boards and commissions. Currently, the Board is seeking to fill the following commission vacancies:

Community Technology Advisory Commission - advises and collaborates with the city council and boards and commissions on the application of technology for the purpose of improving city services and the quality of life for St. Louis Park's citizens, businesses and visitors. The commission consists of seven regular members, one of which is appointed by the school district, one voting youth member, and ex-officio members.

Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission - reviews matters related to long-range park and recreation plans. The commission also may offer recommendations in new development areas in relation to park and recreation space. City council may ask the commission to study and advise on other related items. The commission consists of seven regular members, three of which are appointed by the school district, and two youth members.

Human Rights Commission - advises city council on how to ensure equal opportunity and participation in housing, employment, public service, public accommodations and education. The commission consists of 10 regular voting members; one is an attorney, one is appointed by the school district and two are youth members.

If you are interested in serving in one of these roles, please click on the link below to apply. Applicants must live in St. Louis Park. All applications are due on Tuesday, October 18, 2022. Board action will be taken at the October 25, 2022 regular business meeting to appoint representatives.

Apply here

PTO News

Leer-a-tón and Book Fair

It’s time for the annual PSI read-a-thon! This year's Leer-a-tón will run from October 14-28. Each student is challenged to read for as many minutes as possible. Top readers will win prizes and have their names on the Wall of Fame. Listening to audiobooks or having someone read aloud also counts!

The Leer-a-tón is a major fundraiser for our Amity Intern Program and each student is encouraged to raise $100 to support our Amity interns, though any amount is appreciated. If the PSI community raises $20,000, students will celebrate with a teachers-versus-students basketball challenge!

Mark your calendars for October 25 and October 26 at 6:00 and 6:30 pm for two special Storytime Nights with our Amity interns in the PSI Media Center. Stop by the Orange Room while you’re there to peruse the Book Fair.

Click here to see the Leer-a-tón flyer in English.

Click here to see the Leer-a-tón flyer in Spanish.

Leer-A-Tón flyers were also be sent home in backpacks.

The Scholastic book fair will be in-person this year! Come shop for books in Spanish and English. The book fair will be open Wednesday, October 26 from 2:30-8 pm and Thursday, October 27 from 2:30-8 pm. To alleviate parking issues, please plan to arrive for the book fair AFTER dismissal when buses have departed the parking lot.

We need several volunteers to help set up student previews, work registers during shopping hours, and tear down the event. Sign-up to help on the Book Fair SignUp. If you have questions about a specific volunteer opportunity please contact janachristian10@gmail.com. Online shopping starts Oct 19 (Shop here).

PSI Spiritwear store closes TODAY

Dont forget to order your fall PSI Spiritwear- The store closes today, October 13. You can choose direct ship OR pick your order up at PSI, in plenty of time for holiday gift-giving. Proceeds support PSI and the Amity program.

https://psielementaryspiritwearfall2022.itemorder.com/

Welcome Amity Intern, Franklin Díaz

A special thank you to Lisa & Jesse Valley for hosting Franklin this semester! And thank you to the following cousin families: Kristin & Craig Pladson and Brianna & Vanan Murugesan. Franklin is assisting 5th grade classrooms this fall.

Hello everyone, my name is Franklin Diaz, I am from El Salvador. I was born in San Miguel city in 1997, I have lived in El Salvador all my life, with my parents: Esmeralda Diaz and Tomas Paniagua, my grandmother: Silvia Diaz and my younger brother: Osvaldo Díaz.

Before coming to Minnesota I was studying and working at the same time, actually, I was finishing my Bachelor of Arts in Modern Languages (English & French) at Universidad de El Salvador (State University of my country) and doing an internship as a Translator. My parents are business people, we have a small business store where we provide all kind of spices to the communities around ours. My brother Osvaldo is studying to be a math teacher, he is currently in his last year at college, he loves numbers. As for me, besides learning and teaching languages, I love biking, running, playing soccer and ping-pong. I am super excited to go to Minnesota because it is my first time traveling abroad and I like the idea of meeting new people, new places, in a different culture. On top of that, I will be able to learn from the US education system and share the beautiful culture of my country, El Salvador.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR - Family Fitness Fun Night is Back!

Your family is invited to the St Louis Park High School football field on Thursday, November 3rd, 6:30-7:30 PM for a fun night of CAPTURE THE FLAG at the High School football stadium!

Sr. Chris Watkins, fantastic PSI gym teacher, will run the event. Bundle up, and come ready to hustle or cheer under the bright lights at Oriole Stadium!

*Please note, there will be no access to bathrooms or water fountains at this event. Please bring a labeled water bottle if needed.”

Playground Meet-Up for Grades K-2

Have a child in kindergarten, 1st, or 2nd grade? Stop by Pennsylvania Park on Sunday October 16th and connect with PSI families! The times below provide a grade-level focus, but this is an informal meet-up. Come early and stay late!

When: Sunday, October 16

Kinder: 12:30-2:00 PM

1st Grade: 2:00-3:30 PM

2nd Grade: 3:30-5:00 PM

Where: Pennsylvania Park @ 1459 Pennsylvania Ave S.

*In the event of poor weather, a cancellation notice will be posted to the PSI Parents Facebook page.

Community News

City of St. Louis Park: Absentee Voting

All eligible St. Louis Park voters may choose to vote early before Election Day through absentee voting. Ballots for absentee voting are available 46 days before an election and can be submitted in person or by mail, instead of at a polling location.

City hall is currently open for in person early voting through November 7. When voting early, either in-person at city hall or through the mail, you must complete an absentee ballot application in order to receive a ballot. To learn more about the process, click HERE.

Friends of the Arts: Annual Fundraiser - Thursday, Nov 17th

at REM5 Virtual Reality Laboratory

Mark your calendars now!

Join Friends of the Arts for our annual fundraising event. Reconnect around all the great art projects FOTA did this past year, connect with community members also invested in the Arts in St. Louis Park, and learn about what the future holds.

We're excited to be holding this years event at REM5! REM5 is premier virtual reality art studio right here in St. Louis Park. Experience hands-on art engagements as you chat with friends from across the Park.

Click HERE for more information.