February 6, 2025

Dear Park Spanish Immersion Elementary School Community:

We hope that you are having a great week! Our fourth graders ventured to Orchestra Hall to see "American Symphonic Tapestry" on Tuesday, and our second graders went to the MN Zoo on Wednesday. We are grateful for our students to have these enriching learning opportunities!

As a reminder, to be entered in the PSI lottery for 2025-2026, kindergarten enrollment must be completed by February 11. Current families with incoming kindergartners still need to complete the online process. Click here for the SLP enrollment website.

Thank you for sharing your children with us. We are grateful for our amazing 531 learners. 

Take care, keep reading, and see you soon.

In partnership,

Corey Maslowski, Principal

Megan Paulis de Rangel, Assistant Principal

In this section, we are featuring some of our amazing PSI Staff so the community can get to know every adult in the building as we work together to support each student at PSI!

This week we want to highlight two PSI staff members. Sra. Tori Reed-Meyer and Srta. Sara Bernal are both first grade teachers at PSI! We are so happy to have them here!

Valentines Day Reminder

A group of staff members, with community input, met in the spring of 2016 to establish a beliefs statement regarding parties in our building:

Acknowledging the needs of the whole child, we want students to celebrate relationships through meaningful and inclusive social experiences.  We believe parties foster and build community, while creating opportunities for families to be involved.

We have three school-wide party days annually. This year, our parties are:

• Fiesta de otoño (Friday, October 11) (Note, the day before MEA break is a Family Connect Day)
• Fiesta de invierno (Friday, December 20)
• Fiesta de primavera (Thursday, March 27)

As a school, we do not exchange pre-packaged Valentine's or treats on February 14. Each classroom community celebrates friendship and community in many different ways throughout the year. Some of our classes may choose to highlight friendship and care on February 14, but it is not a party day for us.

National African American Parent Involvement Day (NAAPID)

February A-E Day Calendar

Sharing Culture

Based on community feedback, we are adding a new section to La Prensa, Compartiendo Cultura (sharing culture). This section will highlight the many ways that we help students bring to life our SLP public schools’ vision statement, in becoming their best selves as globally minded contributors to society. 

In this issue, we want to highlight a few of our classrooms that learned about the lunar new year last week, on January 29. Srta. Joyner decorated her classroom and Srta. Evans had some guest speakers, Mingyi's parents, come share about their culture.

School District News

Emergency Contact Information

Update Your Emergency Contact Information

As part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all students, please update your child’s emergency contact information. Having accurate and current contact details allows us to reach you or a trusted adult quickly in case of an emergency.

Why This Matters:

Up-to-date emergency contacts help us support students effectively, especially in urgent situations. We understand that families’ circumstances can change, and we want to ensure we have the correct information at all times.

What You Can Do:

• Review your child’s emergency contact information 
• Complete this form to update any phone numbers, addresses, or emergency contacts that may have changed
• Add at least one trusted adult who can be reached if you are unavailable

Please know that all information you provide is kept confidential and used solely for emergency purposes, and you are welcome to reach out if you have any questions!

PTO News

February Connect Time Staff Meals

Please sign up to help provide meals to our teachers and staff during February Family Connect Times, scheduled for February 13 and 14! Catered main dishes will be provided both days and need to be supplemented with sides, beverages and desserts. Please bring all items to the PSI main office by the times listed in the signup. Thank you for your generosity!

Click here to sign up!

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

Each year, PSI typically 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 for one semester, allowing both an opportunity for greater language learning and cultural exchange.  Please consider hosting an Amity Intern this spring.  A unique and wonderful experience that can benefit 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 Interns" 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 Interns" 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

Order your PSI Yearbook Today!  

The 2024-25 edition of the PSI Yearbook is on sale now! Order online at https://ybpay.lifetouch.com/ (yearbook ID code is 3271925). Cost is $16.75/book. Order deadline is April 19th, with yearbooks delivered towards the end of the school year. Do it now before you forget!