Park Terrace Elementary
September 1, 2021 Newsletter
Greetings Park Terrace Families!
We are fast approaching the start of the school year and our Park Terrace staff have been hard at work this week preparing to welcome our students back into school! We have spent a lot of time this week as a learning community in developing our plans for the school year, learning how to understand and work with limitations and grow as professionals. As much as this might surprise our young students, we as adults are still students, too!
I want to thank all of you who made time to come to school today to meet and greet teachers and staff. It truly is wonderful to spend time with families and connect as we transition back into the school year. I hope everyone found it valuable to meet with teachers and staff. If any questions come up, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
As a reminder, all Park Terrace students will need to wear face masks when they return to school as Anoka County COVID-19 transmission remains high. We hope this isn’t the case for long and transmission rates decline soon.
This newsletter has many important reminders and updates as we begin the year. Please take a few minutes to review and make sure your family is ready for the school year to begin.
As we head into the Labor Day weekend and on to the 2021-2022 school year, I just want to say how truly excited I am to begin this school year. I know that when our staff, students, families and communities all work in partnership we can truly do amazing things.
Students, enjoy the last few days of summer break! We can’t wait to see you next Tuesday, September 7 and begin another great year together.
Mona Perkins
Principal
Media permission and directory information
Photos, video, stories and other information highlighting student learning and achievement captured in our schools is considered public record. We share positive achievements in yearbooks, on the website, in newsletters and articles and the district’s other official communication channels that often include images and names.
Families can request specific “directory information” (student name, picture, other information) remain private by submitting a written request to the school principal or administrative assistant. Requests should include the student’s name, school, relationship of the person requesting and the specific information that is to remain private.
You can read the Media Permission/Directory Notification in English and Spanish and review our district policy on this topic, Policy 515: Protection and Privacy of Pupil Records.
Barcode scanning to replace student meal pin numbers
For the 2021-2022 school year, each student in grades K-12 will be issued a printed badge with a barcode which they will use to scan during breakfast and lunch. This new process will replace the process of manually entering a number on a keypad to access student meal accounts. Students will scan the badge as they enter the line for meals which will alert staff to student allergies, provide students with real-time account balance information and provide an overall friendlier meal service.
- Badges for students in grades K-4: students in grades K-4 will receive their badge from their classroom teacher during the first day of school. Each homeroom teacher will keep the badges safe in their classrooms between use.
- Badges for students in grades 5-12: students in grades 5-12 will receive their badge during first hour when they return back to school. Grades 5-12 students are responsible for their own badge each day.
For students who prefer to use a personal device rather than a badge, they have the option to download the Infinite Campus app to access their meal account barcode. Instructions to do this can be found on the Nutrition Services website or at each school cafeteria.
Questions? Contact Jane Sweney, Nutrition Services Program Assistant, 763-600-5041 or jswene@district16.org.
Technology responsible use policy notification
Technology allows people access to hundreds of thousands of networks and the Internet. It is an extremely useful educational tool available to staff and students in our school district. Access to our schools' technology systems area networks, including the Internet, is governed by school district policy. We ask that students use computers/devices in a responsible and ethical manner. You can view the full policy on the district website or by requesting a copy from the office of your student’s school.
Parents/guardians have the option to request alternative educational activities not requiring Internet access and the material to exercise this option. If you DO NOT want your child to use the Internet while at school, please fill out this brief technology use form and return to your child’s homeroom teacher or the school’s main office. El documento está disponible en español.
First Day of School Signs
We love to see students on the first day of school, so we created first day of school photo signs for each grade that families can print or pull up on their iPad and use in their first day of school photos. Most signs are available in English and Spanish. Don't forget to tag us and use #SLPantherProud when you post your photos! Find the signs on the Back to School hub.
Along with first day of schools signs, the Back-to-School Hub contains other information and resources for families as we prepare for the 2021-2022 school year. You’ll find:
- School supply lists
- Free and Reduced-Price Meal and Education Benefits application
- Health Services – immunization forms, nut aware classroom guidelines and more
- Staff directory information
- Technology support and resources
- And more!
Guidelines for families on peanut/nut aware classrooms
Spring Lake Park Schools is continuing to emphasize practices that make our schools safe for all students. This work includes partnering with parents in adopting peanut and nut-aware practices. Many students in our schools have severe allergies to tree nuts, peanuts, peanut butter, and/or products that contain nuts. Strict avoidance is the best way to prevent a severe allergic reaction. Accidental ingestion or even touching a tiny trace of a nut may cause a potentially fatal reaction for some students.
In an effort to ensure all students are safe throughout the school day, we are asking parents to partner with us to ensure the safety of our students. We need help in supporting the following guidelines to make our classrooms peanut/nut aware:
- All classrooms will be peanut/nut aware throughout Spring Lake Park Schools.
- Please do not send any classroom snacks containing nuts, peanuts, peanut butter, or other nut products for daily snacks
- Students who have nut products in their lunch or snack will be removed from the classroom (for classes who are eating lunch within their classroom) to eat in an alternate location.
- Please be aware of products that may be produced in a plant that contains peanuts/nuts
- Check out the Snack Safely website to reference what snacks and lunch items are safe to send.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Park Terrace Health Office at 763-600-5604.
Download the MyStop Bus Tracking App
Is your student riding the bus this fall? MyStop is a web-based application which allows parents and students access to live GPS information for morning and afternoon school bus routes. MyStop displays the school bus’s approximate location on a map, as well as the estimated time of arrival (ETA) to a specific student’s bus stop.
To download the MyStop app, go to the iTunes store for iOS devices (iPhones and iPads) or Google Play for Android devices. Look for “Versatrans MyStop” and click to download.
COVID-19 Health and Safety Plan
Natalie Coniff - First Grade Teacher
Where did you go to school?
I went to Roseville Area Schools for K-12 and then the University of Minnesota Twin Cities for my Bachelors and Masters in early childhood education.
What are some of your hobbies?
When I am not spending my free time with my niece and nephews, I bake, read, do jigsaw puzzles and see live musicals.
How long have you worked with SLP?
I am starting my 7th year in SLP - all of them at Park Terrace!
What is your favorite book and movie?
My favorite book is "Breakfast of Champions" by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. and my favorite movie is "You've Got Mail."
What is one of the best parts of your position?
Friday morning dance parties with my students.
What is a fun or interesting fact about yourself?
I work in the same building as my big brother!
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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