May 29, 2025

Dear Park Spanish Immersion Elementary School Community:

It has been an exciting week around school! This week, we celebrated PSI spirit week; see here for some pictures. Like all Fridays, we encourage your child to dress in Park/PSI pride tomorrow.  

Yesterday, graduating seniors returned to PSI for an elementary parade/walk and to visit with staff members. It was wonderful to see so many students and to hear about the great things that they have done and are planning to do. See here for a few photos. We look forward to celebrating with our fifth grade families next week as they transition to middle school years!

Tomorrow, we will celebrate our students' Cartonera books! See here for the schedule. It is always so much fun to showcase teaching and learning in this venue. If you are planning to join us, please plan accordingly with parking. Take care, and see you soon!

In partnership,

Corey Maslowski, Principal

Megan Paulis de Rangel, Assistant Principal

Notes from our Retiring Staff

Kandy Bowles:

Dear Parents,

I wanted to let you know that at the end of the school year I will be retiring from the school district. Working at PSI for the past 8 years has been a wonderful experience so the decision wasn’t an easy one. I’ll continue to work part time with students to provide private speech therapy sessions as well as tutoring students to develop their reading and writing skills. I’ll also now be able to spend more time visiting my son and daughter in Montana and playing pickle.

My gratitude to the PSI community is tremendous and I am so grateful to all the parents and my fellow colleagues. I treasure all my time with the students and will miss them dearly.



Kandy Bowles

Speech/Language Pathologist

Kelly Etienne:

During my time in St. Louis Park I’ve had the opportunity to work in all of the elementary buildings. Along the way I have been lucky to teach with so many amazing teachers, work for wonderful principals and teach a lot of great kids! I will miss the hum of a classroom, or when a student has an “aha” moment of discovery and satisfaction of figuring it out. I feel fortunate to live and work in a community that believes in education and supports teachers. I am grateful that I have been apart of the SLP school district for the past 32 years.

Ricardo Franco:

I am retiring after almost 30 years of teaching, 25 years of those years at PSI. I am very grateful for the opportunity to have worked with excellent colleagues, administration, staff & community during these years. I taught to make a positive difference in students. It is my hope that I have made a difference so that my students can accomplish their goals in life. I am excited to move into the next stage of life and spend more time with my family and friends. My plan is also continuing teaching/tutoring virtually part-time. Thank you all for making my time here so rewarding. I wish you all the very best for the future.

¡Muchísimas gracias!

Señor Franco

Mariela Rodriguez:

My experience working at PSI was truly rewarding. I gained a deep understanding of the challenges and joys faced by both educators and students.

From assisting in classrooms to supporting school initiatives, I further developed a profound appreciation for the importance of education and community involvement. The interactions with students were especially meaningful, and I feel privileged to have contributed to their growth and development.

As for my next chapter, I am looking forward to trying to find ways to stay healthy and active. In addition, I would like to learn new things, take up potentially some new hobbies and increase the amount of reading. However, I am most excited about spending more time with my husband and family and getting the opportunity to reconnect with old friends whom I haven’t been able to see due to a lack of time. I thank God for meeting all the wonderful and kind people at PSI.

End of Year Calendar of Events

Media Center Inventory Volunteers Needed

We are beginning inventory in the PSI Media Center and would love some extra help. It's a bit monotonous, but if you like the satisfying sound of a scanned barcode, then this is the volunteer job for you! Even a one hour shift would be greatly appreciated. 

We are looking for people who are available anytime after 10:30 on the following dates: 

Monday, June 2nd, anytime between 10:30 and 4:00

Tuesday, June 3rd, anytime between 10:30 and 4:00

Thursday, June 5th, anytime between 10:30 and 4:00

Email vandewalker.sara@slpschools.org if interested! 

Cartonera Project: Tomorrow



Would you like to see how we used hundreds of cereal boxes? It’s almost time for the unveiling of our Cartoneras. On May 30, students will be sharing self-published books that they wrote and illustrated. These Cartonera books are incredible! They will be on display and available for reading May 30, 8:30-9:30 and 10:30-11:30 (see schedule below) on the west lawn. Your child is invited to bring a blanket or towel to sit on as they take in the stories. Please join us for this wonderful literacy event!

Click here to see the schedule for when your student(s) class will be sharing their Cartoneras.

If we need to reschedule due to inclement weather, we will communicate this to you. The rain date is Tuesday, June 3.

 Adopt the School Garden This Summer! 

That’s a wrap on Garden Club for the season! This week marked our final gathering, and the photos say it all — pure joy in the garden. It’s been a true gift to watch this community take root, and we’re so grateful for the support that brought this initiative to life.

We’re in love with the K–1 garden outside the kiss-and-ride doors and are already dreaming up what’s next. Our goal is to add playful, creative elements to the Grades 2–5 garden outside the main office — a space that sparks exploration and imagination.



To help bring that vision to life, we’ve put together a short wishlist. Check it out here! Thank you again, and we look forward to continuing to grow this community throughout the summer.

Girls on the Run Sale: Today!



Attention, Attention! For their end of year project, Girls on the Run will be holding a lemonade stand with bracelets and maybe even some baked goods! All proceeds will be donated to the Children's Hospital. Stop by the main door number 1 at PSI on Thursday, May 29th from 2:45-4:00! 

June A-E Day Calendar

Mark Your Calendars... PSI Media Center 2024 Summer Hours

The PSI Media Center will be open the following dates this summer:

JUNE:

Wed., June 18 from 3:00-5:00 pm (please ENTER and EXIT the building at DOOR #2)

Wed., June 25 from 3:00-5:00 pm (please ENTER and EXIT the building at DOOR #2)

JULY:

Wed., July 9 from 3:00-5:00 pm (please ENTER and EXIT the building at DOOR #2)

Wed., July 16 from 3:00-5:00 pm (please ENTER and EXIT the building at DOOR #2)

Wed., July 23 from 3:00-5:00 pm (please ENTER and EXIT the building at DOOR #2)

Wed., July 30 from 3:00-5:00 pm (please ENTER and EXIT the building at DOOR #2)

AUGUST:

Wed., August 6 from 3:00-5:00 pm (please ENTER and EXIT the building at DOOR #2)

"Summer Activities" Compiled by PSI Teachers

Please click here to see grade level specific summer activities from our teachers!

Lost and Found

Please visit the lost & found located between the gymnasium and library before the end of the day on June 6th. All items left after this date will be laundered and donated.

A Note From the Health Office

Student medications, with the exception of controlled substances, will be sent home the last few days of school. Health Services will package student medication/supplies in a labeled bag and send it home in their backpacks unless you make alternative arrangements with the health office. Once at home, please remove all medication and store safely.

• Infrequently used medications: will be sent home with students sometime during the last 5 days of school
• Frequently used medication, Epi pens, inhalers: will be sent home with students on the last day of school.
• Controlled substances (such as methylphenidate, Ritalin, Adderall, diazepam, ect.) will not be sent home with students. These medications must be picked up in person by a parent or guardian. If you are unable to pick up the medication, please contact the health office. 

Contact the health office if:

• your child will not be in attendance on the last day of school
• you would like to make alternative arrangements for medication pickup

Thank you for your help and have a great summer.

PSI Health Services

Phone: 952-928-6554

SOMOS UNO Affinity Group: End of Year Party, Tonight!

This week, we want to highlight one of our second graders in Sra. Hoffman's class, Peter. Peter gave a presentation on the Edmund Fitzgerald, a ship that tragically sank in Lake Superior in 1975. While he was presenting, Peter was able to share about the Ojibwe and their name for Lake Superior: gichi-gami which means "great sea". Thank you Peter for sharing your brilliance!

School District News

Cart Art in the Park Contest



Through the new Cart Art in the Park contest, members of the St. Louis Park community are able to submit original artwork that reflects the theme of organics recycling to be displayed on organics carts at multifamily drop-sites. Residents living in apartments, townhomes and condos can use these carts to dispose of their food scraps instead of throwing them in the trash. Food scraps are then composted, and the resulting compost can be used to create nutrient-rich soil for gardening and landscaping.

The winning artwork will be displayed as a two-dimensional, 11-inch by 17-inch decal on organics carts at the 11 multifamily organics drop-sites located throughout the city for a minimum of one year.

Your art could inspire more residents to sign up for city organics programs and divert their food scraps from the garbage!

Fire Department Open House 

June 10, 5 – 7:30 p.m.

Fire Station 1, 3750 Wooddale Ave. S.

Join fellow community members for the annual St. Louis Park Fire Department Open House, a free, all-ages event featuring food, drinks, hands-on equipment displays, live-burn demonstrations, photo stations, vehicles to explore, educational booths and more! No registration required. Shuttle transit is available.

PTO News

Spring Fundraising Drive

Check backpacks for the PSI PTO’s Spring Fundraiser Flyer. If you are able to contribute, every amount helps. We hope to welcome eight Amity Interns from Spanish-speaking countries from around the world to the PSI community for the 2025-26 school year. Amity interns deepen the language and culture immersion for our children every day by collaborating with our classroom teachers. The administrative fees and work stipends are ~ $6,700 per intern. The Amity Intern Program is fully funded by the PSI PTO. We have raised 86% of our annual budget so far!

To donate, click here or scan the QR code!

CARNAVAL Survey

Please provide feedback here.

If you are interested in helping to plan for next year, reach out to psivolunteers@gmail.com.

Click here to see photos and videos from the event!

Application to Host an Amity for the 2025-2026 School Year Now Open!

We are currently seeking three more wonderful families to host an enthusiastic intern for the Fall semester in the upcoming 2025-2026 school year. This is a fantastic opportunity to support the development of future educators, and enrich your families experience with your time at PSI!

Each year PSI welcomes Amity Interns from Spanish speaking countries who assist our teachers in the K-5 classrooms. These interns are either pursuing or have recently completed a college degree with an education focus, and are between the ages of 20-30 years old. Amity interns live with PSI host families one semester allowing both an opportunity for greater language learning and cultural exchange. Please consider hosting an Amity Intern this fall. This is a unique and wonderful experience that benefits your entire family. Plus, it's a great way to give back to the students, staff and entire community. Want more info? Contact us at psiamity@gmail.com, we are happy to answer any questions or meet up to talk about it.

Ready to sign up? Go to psiparents.ptboard.com, click Amity Program to find the Host Family application. Fill yours out today! 

Not able to host, but interested in supporting the Amity program in another way? We also solicit volunteers to be a Cousin Family.

The Cousin Family is an extension of the host family and supports both the intern and their host family throughout the intern’s stay. This is most successfully achieved when the cousin family takes the initiative to reach out and communicate frequently with both parties. This effort allows families to build lasting connections with one another and brings a sense of community to the intern. The more involved the cousin family is with the intern the greater the opportunity is for language learning, cultural exchange and lasting relationships for all.

Go to psiparents.ptboard.com, click Amity Program to find more information about the Cousin Family role along with the Cousin application. Fill yours out today!

Thanks for considering these amazing opportunities!

Your Amity Coordinator Team,

Steve Kalpin

Darlene Kuykendall

Kelly Marinello

Kevin Russell

Community News

RELATE Counseling Summer Program

2025 Flint Hills Family Festival: May 30 & 31

Latin headliner, Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band, tickets on the Ordway stage were reduced to $8 for all tickets (down from $24-$34)! Keeping national and international acts accessible to families is our goal. Please see https://ordway.org/festival.

Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band is a multiple Grammy award winner and has also been awarded an Emmy. People Magazine lists this musical group #1 in "Coolest Kids' Music" and Billboard states they are ... "a musical artist you should know." Lucky Diaz will perform the opening show during the Festival on Friday, May 30 at 6:30pm. $8 tickets will also be available at the Ordway box office starting at 6:00pm.

There are other engaging performances at the Ordway on Saturday, May 31 and the outdoor stage and activities in Rice Park are all free. This Festival is a community treasure. We hope to see you there!