Laura MacArthur Eagle Update
Family Newsletter - March 2019
A message from Mr. Erickson
Last week we celebrated I LOVE TO READ week. We had a great time reading a variety of different books, in a variety of different locations, by several different readers. It was a lot of fun to share these experiences with our students. I encourage everyone to take the time to enjoy reading at home with your student. Find books that they are interested in and share the love of reading!
We will continue our reading during March Madness Reading. We have created brackets using our favorite Caldecott books. Our classes will be reading several Caldecott books and voting on which book they like best. We will be starting with 16 books and getting down to the most selected book and selected winner. We will share the winner in the next few weeks.
Positive Behaviors Interventions and Supports - PBIS
For the 18-19 school year, we are very excited to introduce
PBIS to Laura MacArthur students and staff.
What are Positive Behavior Supports?
Improving student academic and behavior outcomes.
PBIS provides an operational framework for achieving these outcomes.
PBIS is NOT a curriculum, intervention, or practice, but IS a decision making framework that guides selection, integration, and implementation of the best evidence-based academic and behavioral practices for improving important academic and behavior outcomes for all students.
Four integrated elements:
Data for decision making
Measurable Outcomes supported and evaluated by data
Practices with evidence that these outcomes are achievable
Systems that efficiently and effectively support implementation of these practices.
What does it mean to SOAR like an Eagle?
Be Safe
On Task
Act with Kindness
Respectful
Behaviors and expectations are taught in all areas of the school including:
Classroom
Morning Arrival Duty
Cafeteria
Playground/Recess
Bathroom
Hallways
Rewards
Students and classrooms earn eagle feathers when making positive decisions and following the SOAR expectations. Rewards have include extra recess or Gym time.
We look forward to sharing more about our PBIS initiative.
Register for September 2019
Do you know people getting ready to send their child to high school, middle school or kindergarten in September 2019?
- High School Registration, February 1 - 25
- Middle School Registration, January 22 - February 25
- Kindergarten Roundup Events, March & April
Kindergarten Roundup
Dates
- March 28 - 4-6 PM
- March 29 - 9-11 AM (KG students will not attend school during the day)
Sign in - folder of information
Welcome - Kolar's room (4-4:30)
History of Laura MacArthur
Overview of School
Activity - Borich's room (4:35-5:00)
Enrollment paperwork - Eaton's Room - (5:00-5:30)
Bus ride (All go together) - request from transportation (5:30-6:00 PM) (10:30-11 am)
Winter Clothing
If you need outdoor clothing assistance, we have resources here at school, as well as have some great community partners who can assist. Please plan accordingly for we do not have the volume to supply if students simply forget their items. Sending an extra pair of socks for our wet winter days is helpful.
Thank you for your partnership!
Attendance Tips
Help your child succeed in school.
Build the habit of good attendance early to build school success.
Impact of attendance on learning
Starting in kindergarten, too many absences can cause children to fall behind in school.
Missing 10 percent (or about 18 days) can make it harder to learn to read.
Students can still fall behind if they miss just a day or two days every few weeks.
Being late to school may lead to poor attendance.
Absences can affect the whole classroom if the teacher has to slow down learning to help children catch up
Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school—and themselves.
Start building this habit in preschool so they learn right away that going to school on time, every day is important.
Good attendance will help children do well in high school, college, and at work.
What can you do?
Set a regular bedtime and morning routine.
Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
Find out what day school starts and make sure your child has the required shots.
Introduce your child to his/her teachers and classmates before school starts to help his/her transition.
Don’t let your child stay home unless he/she is truly sick. Keep in mind complaints of a stomach ache or headache can be a sign of anxiety and not a reason to stay home.
If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to teachers, school counselors, or other parents for advice on how to make him/her feel comfortable and excited about learning.
Develop back-up plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, a neighbor, or another parent.
Avoid medical appointments and extended trips when school is in session.
Student Absence - Call the Attendance Line
Elementary School Tardiness
The school day begins at 7:45 am each day. Please know that district policy states the following:
"A student is considered tardy up to fifteen (15) minutes late for the morning or afternoon section. If a student arrives to either section more than fifteen (15) minutes late, the student is considered absent for the section."
Please call the attendance line or bring in a note within 24 hours if your child is going to be absence.
Phone: 218-336-8900, press option 3.
Leave your child's name, reason for absence, date of absence, and child's teacher
Drop Off / Pick Up
Families of Laura MacArthur,
Because of the the lack of parking spaces in the front lot, families have been parking on both sides of the one way driveway. This parking condition creates blind spots for our children walking to and from the building.
To remedy this situation, I would like to ask the following to ensure our children travel to and from the building as safely as possible:
The circle drive is a one way, starting from Central Ave and exiting on Central Place.
Please do not park on the left side of the driveway as you enter. There are No Parking signs on that side of the drive for reminders, and also indicated with solid yellow curbs.
If you have to double park on the right side (cut out side), please limit the time to 5 minutes.
Please exit the driveway with caution.
We will help instruct students to walk around the driveway using the sidewalk rather than walking across the driveway.
If you choose to park on Central Ave, please use the crosswalk where available. Our safety patrol will be happy to assist.
Please do not park on the crosswalk near Central Ave.
Parking in handicap spaces, tags are required.
Please do not drop off children in the bus loading zone on Central Ave. This is indicated by the curb cut out and the yellow stripes on the road.
- Please do not park vehicles in the bus loading zone on Central Ave or in the front circle drive. These two areas are for buses only from approximately 2:00 pm - 2:25 pm.
We appreciate your attention to these matters as we strive to provide a safe environment for our students.
Mental Health Resources and Support for Students and Families
Please contact our school Social Workers at school 336-8900
Addie Smith, Ext. 2227
Christine Ziegler, Ext. 3124
or the main office
MCA Testing Schedule for Grades 3-5
The list below shows tests by subject and the grades they are given.
- Reading: MCA or MTAS (grades 3-8, 10)
- Mathematics: MCA or MTAS (grades 3-8, 11)
- Science: MCA or MTAS (grades 5, 8, and once in high school)
Schedule of the tests can be seen below.
YEARBOok orDERS - last chance - due march 29
PTA News - Next Meeting - April 18 - 3:30-4:30 pm
Get involved with our family/staff group. This is a great way to get involved and help with Laura MacArthur activities and events.
Meetings:
- April 18 - 3:30-4:30 pm
- May 9 - 5-6 pm
- This Wednesday night the PTA is hosting another open gym. From 5 to 6:30pm. Parents must be present.
- Next Monday we will be starting the Penny drive. Buckets will be given to each class on Friday. The winner at the end (In April) will get an ice cream sundae party.
- Last, remind your students that they can only by a yearbook till March 29th. That's it! So make sure to get their orders in. More order forms will go out in the weeks Wednesday folder.
Lost and Found
Thank you.
- 3/20: PTA Sponsored Open Gym/Family Night - 5-6:30pm
- 3/21: 5th Grade to Minnesota Ballet
- 3/28: KG Roundup 4-6pm
- 3/29: KG Roundup 9-11am
- 4/18: Peacemaker Assembly - Media Center
- 4/2: McTeacher Night at McDonalds-4-7pm
- 4/8-12: Spring Break-No School
- 4/16: 5th Grade fundraiser - Chipolte 4-8PM
- 4/18: PTA Mtg
- 4/26: Math Masters Event
- 4/30: Parent information meeting for Wolf Ridge - 5:00 pm
- 5/9: Parent Camp 5-7:30pm for all grade 5 parents
- 5/9: Grandparents/Special Friend Day Program
- 5/9: PTA Mtg
- 5/9: Parent Camp for 5th Grade Parents - Lincoln Park MS - 5-7:30pm
- 5/10: Peacemaker Assembly - Media Center
- 5/15: Goldstar Teacher Award 7-9 Lincoln Middle School
- '5/16: Eaton/Borich KG to Hartley Nature Center
- 5/22: Kolar KG to Hartley Nature Center
- 5/24: Field Day
- 5/27: Memorial Day-No School
- 5/28: Rain Date for Field Day
- 5/31: 5th Grade Graduation/Honors Program
- 6/3-5: 5th Grade to Wolf Ridge
- 6/5: End of the year School Picnic
- 6/7: Last day of School
I love to Read week!
- Monday-Assembly
- Tuesday-Switch Teacher Readers
- Wednesday-Community Readers
- Thursday - Flashlight Reading
- Friday - Drop and Read day/Laura MacArthur Spirit day
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Peacemaker Awards/Assemblies
The purpose of the Peacemaker award is to recognize two students in each class that have demonstrated the following: sought to teach, to transform, to make friends, to heal, to defeat injustice and to choose love over hate. Several students were recognized on March 8th by their teachers in front of their peers and guests to receive their Peacemaker certificate. A short reception followed the assembly.
8:00 - KG/1st Grade
9:00 - 2nd/3rd Grade
10:00 - 4th/5th Grade
Upcoming Peacemaker assemblies:
Thursday, April 18
Friday, May 10
Peacemaker Award recipients
Some of our FEBRUARY PEACEMAKERS!
congratulations Reading club
Cultural/Family Night - Thanks to all that came and made it a great success!
Prairie Fire Theater - Amazing Performance of Sleeping Beauty!
5th GRADE PARENTS - SAVE THE DATE
A parent camp will be offered to all 5th Grade parents at Lincoln Park Middle School for those interested.
DATE: Thursday, May 9
TiME: 5:00pm-7:30pm
Parent Camp will focus on many topics within LPMS. It is a great way for parents to learn about LPMS, meet other parents, have many of their questions answered, etc
5th Grade Fund Raisers - Wolf Ridge (see all below)
Chipotle Fund Raiser
- Laura MacArthur Elementary
- 04/16/2019
- 4:00pm-8:00pm
- 1600 Miller Trunk Hwy Ste F13C, Duluth, MN 55811
- Do make it count! Three ways to guarantee your purchases count:
- Show the cashier a digital flyer prior to paying
- Show the cashier a paper flyer prior to paying
- Flying flyer-free? Just mention the fundraiser to the cashier prior to paying
- Do pay in store - Online orders will not be included in the fundraiser total
Kwik-Trip Car Wash Cards
- ($36.00 each) Each card has 5 Premium car washes.
- Order by stopping in at the school of office or contacting Mr. Metzer.
- Lead time on orders is roughly two weeks.
- The money raised goes to help our Laura MacArthur fifth graders go to Wolf Ridge.
Beef Stick Fund Raiser
Wolf Ridge Parent Information Meeting
KEYZONE
To ensure enrollment, register early!
Open to area children (need not attend ISD 709).
For students who have completed kindergarten through completed 5th grade.
Field Trips, Enrichment & STEAM Activities, Physical Activities & Team Sports, Support for Learning Goals, more.
Program Dates: Monday June 17 - Friday August 23 (closed July 4)
Hours: 6:30AM - 6:00PM
Summer Sites: Congdon Park, Laura MacArthur, Lester Park, Lowell KEY Zone Outdoors
Rate: $39 Daily Rate (includes weekly field trips). $30.00 registration fee for each child (only if you did not participate in the school year program)
**NEW** KEY Zone Outdoors at Lowell Elementary
Be active in the outdoors, learn and play in a nature-based setting. Build forts, learn about plants & animals, hike, garden and more.
For information and to register for Summer KEY Zone, www.duluthcommunityed.org or Phone 218-336-8900 ext. 2
Keyzone Summer Dates - June 17-August 23, 2019
Join the Movement and Like Laura MacArthur Elementary School on Facebook
Want to see what is happening at Laura MacArthur? Like the Laura MacArthur Elementary Facebook page to get updates, see photos and videos from around our school, and get connected with our PTA.
Join the movement and see what happens at Laura MacArthur on Twitter
Want to see what is happening at Laura MacArthur? Go to JamesWErickson on Twitter to get updates, see photos and videos from around our school, and get connected with our PTA
Jim Erickson, Principal
Email: James.Erickson@isd709.org
Website: www.isd709.org/laura-macarthur/index
Location: 720 North Central Avenue, Duluth, MN, USA
Phone: 218-336-8900
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LauraMacEaglesRewardSchool/
Twitter: @JamesWErickson