Lighthouse School Newsletter
December 8, 2021
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Hello, Lighthouse Families,
We are excited to jump into the new trimester with a fresh start on our learning plans. Take time to reflect with your child on what things were successful last trimester and what things they might want to try or change about their work habits that will help them continue to grow as learners. We will be doing the same at school to help support our students in meeting their highest potential.
Reminders and Updates:
● Schedule Change: Starting the week of December 13, students in grades 7 and 8 will have their Physical Education time at 1:10 p.m. during the second break on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This will still allow these students to get physical movement in the afternoon and have additional time to work on their learning goals.
● Game Design: Mahdi, our Panther Sweepstakes winner, has chosen a game design event for the sweepstakes prize for Lighthouse. On Friday, December 17, students will have the opportunity to participate in the event. We will have a game designer come to teach students the different types of board games and the work behind the creation of a game. Another guest speaker will teach students about games with social interaction but no game board or cards. Students will then have the opportunity to play the different types of games. Throughout the trimester, students will have the opportunity to take what they have learned and create their own games.
● Science Fair: This is a great opportunity for students to participate. They combine their Trimester 2 inquiry project and the Science Fair Project. The Twin Cities Regional Science Fair registration is due January 4, 2022. Student Registration is $25 per student for projects, $20 for papers. Judging takes place at the State Fairgrounds February 25-27, 2022 – Find more information here. There is also the MN State Virtual Science and Engineering Fair, March 20-27. Find more information about this event here.
● Trimester 1 final grades will be available beginning Wednesday, December 15 and can be accessed through Campus Parent Portal. Watch a video tutorial on how to access your student’s report card. Information on grading is in the Need to Know section of the newsletter.
● Winter Break: We have a few weeks to get this trimester under way before Winter Break. There is no school Dec. 23-31. School resumes after Winter Break on Monday, January 3.
Have a great week!
With Gratitude,
Lisa Cisewski
Reading the report card
1st-8th grade may receive (NY, OnG, P, A):
● NY: This means “NOT YET.” The student has not met their negotiated work plan goals for the term nor have they finished a course.
● Ongoing: This means that the student has not completed the course, and a plan is in place to meet the course goals. (This occurs in Rosetta Stone and ALEKS most often when students are working to earn High School credit. This work often takes more than a term to complete).
● P: This means “PASS.” Students have met their daily work goals and shown growth.
● A: On occasion, a younger student may meet the “Essential Learning Outcomes” for High School Credit. This happens quite often in Rosetta Stone and ALEKS Math and rarely in Art, Literature, Writing Plan, and Inquiry. (The Lighthouse does not award high school credits to our younger learners (1st-8th grade) unless they receive an A as we do not want to hurt their High School GPA before they are mature enough to risk the consequences. Once they take a concurrent class at the high school, however, they are under the high school rules.)
9th-12th Grade learners may receive (OnG, A, B, C, D, F):
- Ongoing: This means that the student has not completed the course, and a plan is in place to meet the course goals. (This occurs in Rosetta Stone and ALEKS most often when students are working to earn High School credit. This work often takes more than a term to complete).
- A, B, C, D, F: Students will earn A, B, C, D, and F grades. Grades of A, B, C, D will receive high school credit
Winter weather protocols
Winter weather has arrived! While we’ve seen only a few flakes, we know more will be on the way. Please take some time to review our approach to school closings and alerts in response to weather and make sure your contact information is updated in Campus Parent Portal. Directions on how to update your information can be found on the school closing and alerts page. Email, text, voicemail and SLP app will be used to communicate any closings or adjustments to schedules due to weather.
Unless communicated, assume school is in session. Should we need to, there are four primary scenarios possible with winter weather and school closings:
- Schools are closed for the day.
- Schools are released early.
- Schools have a delayed start.
- School buildings are closed and there is a flexible learning day with learning continuing online using Schoology and/or Seesaw.
Our goal is to always have school in session. Visit the school closings and alerts page to learn more about our winter weather protocols.
Optional, rapid COVID-19 testing for students: Pre-complete consent form
Spring Lake Park Schools has partnered with our local and state public health offices to offer rapid COVID-19 testing for students in our schools. Testing is optional and free for students experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or for students when they have been exposed to someone with COVID-19. Testing is done at school with parental consent using the Cue Test which provides accurate results in about 30 minutes.
You may choose to complete a COVID-19 Cue Testing Consent Form now and keep it on file with our schools. Completing the consent form before testing is needed helps speed up the process when, or if, a student needs a test. School nurses only administer a test with a signed consent on file and will communicate with families before any test is done.
Look for an invitation in your email in the next day or two inviting you to complete the consent form for your student(s). Testing and/or pre-completing the consent process for your student(s) is entirely optional. Review and sign consent forms for your student(s) by logging into the Campus Parent Portal. Select the Surveys link from the main Message Center screen and select "COVID-19 CUE TESTING CONSENT FORM." You will find links to complete for each child you have enrolled in Spring Lake Park Schools.
Opportunities for students
Free Intro to sports day at the National Sports Center - December 12, Grades K-4
Students ages 2-9 are invited to the National Sports Center this Sunday, December 12 to learn more and try out their intro programs and all the different sports they have to offer. This free event includes all equipment, plus those who attend will receive a discount for their next registration. Learn more and register here.
Schedule:
- 3:45-4:30 p.m. - try baseball, basketball, flag football, lacrosse, soccer and volleyball
- 4:30-5:15 p.m. - try hockey and skating
Safari Adventures Robotics, Grades K-4
Your animal lover will create their own animal-inspired robotic models and make them come to life! Campers will learn about gear ratio, sensors, simple machines, and programming as they build insects, birds, gorillas, and more. Your child will be sure to have a wild time as they build, learn, and play with these interactive animal creations! Presented by STEM Builders. Register today.
Slime-Tastic Art, Grades K-4
It’s a slime takeover! In this class, slime is the main event. We’ll explore different slime recipes as we create tons of gooey, sparkly, stretchy, messy goo. Register today.
Opportunities for families
Family Snowshoeing
Join us for a fun and relaxing snowshoe hike on Springbrook Nature Center trails. Learn a little bit about how snowshoes work, and how to put them on and take them off. Look for animal tracks and signs, listen for birds, and enjoy the crisp winter air. Register today.
Opportunities for adults
Tai Chi
This non-martial, gentle exercise reduces stress, strengthens the body, and restores internal and external balance. In this class, participants will learn a 40 posture Yang family form done in sequence. Register today.
Save the Date for the Panthers for a Purpose Party & Silent Auction
The Panthers for a Purpose Party is Saturday, February 26, 2022 at Bunker Event Center, at 7 p.m., featuring Twin Cities Band, Good for Gary. Tickets will go on sale the first week of January. Plan now to join us and celebrate with the Spring Lake Park Schools community and enjoy appetizers, games and dancing. The Silent Auction will be open to all of the Spring Lake Park Schools community the week leading up to the party and will have no cost to participate.
December
December 14: Lifetouch Picture Retake Day
December 23-31: Winter Break
Awesome Inquiry Projects!
In case you missed important information from last week's newsletter, check out the topics below and click to learn more.
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