Laura MacArthur Family Eagle Update
Family Newsletter - February 2, 2020
Greetings Laura MacArthur Families,
February has arrived and I look forward to some more snow to thaw!
Family/Teacher conferences are taking place this week and we appreciate the time to get together to discuss, celebrate, and find ways to support your child. As we prepare for these important conversations, it can be helpful to think about the following questions:
Three Strengths of my child?
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Two wishes for my child?
1. _____________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________
One question I have for you?
1. ______________________________________________________________________
We look forward to seeing you all this week.
Jim Erickson
Principal
Report Cards Available at Conferences!
Thank you!
Morning Drop off / Afternoon Pick up
- Pull ahead and drop students off on the right side curb. In doing so, we can allow vehicles to pass safely on the left to exit.
- Avoid blocking the yellow painted crosswalk, also identified by the orange cones. This should be a safe walkway for pedestrians entering/exiting the building.
- Pass on the Left and proceed with caution when driving through the crosswalk area, or if needed, backing up in the drive. Our students are often hidden below our sight lines.
AFTERNOON
- Please do not park in the front circle from 2:00-2:25. (special services buses only)
- Central Ave, Central Place, or surrounding roads, are options as well as parking spaces in our lot if available.
- Front door opens for 2:15 parent pickup
Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our students safe.
Mid Winter Screening!
During the month of January, we completed our mid winter screening that measures how your child is progressing in reading and math. This information will be available and shared with you during February conferences.
ORDER YOUR YEAR BOOK TODAY!
ORDER ONLINE: ybpay.Lifetouch.com CODE: 10121420
Friday, Mar 27, 2020, 03:30 PM
$13.00 - MAKE PAYMENTS TO Laura MacArthur PTA
Prairie Fire Theater - Peter Pan (For Grades 2-5)
Student/Family Conferences
Tuesday, Feb 4, 2020, 02:45 PM
720 North Central Avenue, Duluth, MN, USA
Student/Family Conferences
Thursday, Feb 6, 2020, 02:45 PM
720 North Central Avenue, Duluth, MN, USA
Attendance Matters:
We value student attendance, and you can have the biggest impact on their success by helping your child by being steadfast in your expectations for good attendance at school. Students who miss more than 9 days of school in any school year have a much higher chance of struggling academically and considered chronically absent. It doesn’t matter whether the absence is excused or not, the percentage of days missed can add up.
As part of the Every Student Succeeds Act(ESSA) and the Department of Education, school attendance is measured and takes every student’s absenteeism into account. Schools strive to maintain 90% of of positive student attendance each year or identified as Chronically Truant. Surprisingly we have many students who miss more than 18 days in a school year.
This year, grade levels avg 91% in attendance.
Average Attendance by Grade
(through January 28, 2020)
_________________
5th Grade - 92%
4th Grade - 92%
3rd Grade - 90%
2nd Grade - 90%
1st Grade - 90%
KG Grade - 91%
Our GOAL for the remainder of the school year is 95%.
We will recognize students for positive attendance!
- As a reminder, please call the attendance line to inform the school of any attendance details (student absence, tardiness, or pickup changes)!
- The front office is primarily responsible for student attendance.
- Emailing your classroom teacher is a kind gesture, but will not inform the school-wide attendance system.
Our instructional day begins at 7:45 AM. It is imperative that they are in the building and ready to check into their classroom at that time. When students are tardy and arrive after 8:00 without parent excuse, students are marked unexcused for the morning period. Students also miss important learning opportunities and community building activities in their classroom.
Please talk with a Laura MacArthur staff member if you need help with improving your child's attendance.
Calming Space
Materials used in the calming corner may include:
- bean bag chair, floor cushion, large pillow
- soft rug
- relaxation music
- headphones
- books, magazines
- low partition/divider
- visual calming strategies
- visual timer
Do you have a child who is Kindergarten eligible for September 2020?
Kindergarten Roundup at Laura MacArthur will be held on March 26th and 27th. This is a chance for you and your future Kindergartner to meet the principal, secretary and an opportunity to meet the kindergarten teachers and visit the classrooms. Please spread the word to other families you know that have a son or daughter ready to start Kindergarten in September.
Please sign up using the link below to get on our list to receive further information regarding times and how to sign up. Thank you
An Early Childhood Screening is required by the state of Minnesota for any child entering Kindergarten. If you haven’t done so already, please call 218-336-8816 or e-mail to ecscreening@isd709.org to schedule an Early Childhood Screening appointment. They generally stop taking appointments at the end of April so call soon.
Kindergarten Roundup:
Looking to make the most of your time at Kindergarten Roundup? Duluth Public Schools now offers ONLINE REGISTRATION! Spend your time getting to know your child's school and staff, not completing paperwork.
Registration and verification are a few simple clicks away. Save Time, Enroll Online Today!
Enroll Online Today for September 2020:
Enroll Online Today for September 2020:
Do you know people getting ready to send their child to high school, middle school or kindergarten in September 2020?
- Families can enroll new students online any time, learn more. This includes parents getting ready to send children to Kindergarten in September 2020.
- 2020-21 Course Catalogs for middle and high school are online now, just in time for registration.
Middle School Registration, January 22 - February 23
Kindergarten Roundup Events, March & April
Dressing for the weather!
We find that students are often missing boots and snowpants. These items are not readily on hand for students to borrow. Please make sure to send your child each day with all needed items (boots, hats, mittens, jackets, snowpants, and scarves).
If you are in need of cold weather gear for your student please contact the school Social Worker for a Kids Closet referral. If you have missed a previous appointment, please contact the school Social Worker to get a new appointment made.
READING AT HOME CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE....
STARBASE - (5th Grade Only)
DATES
February 24-28 - Pavlisich/Metzer Classes
March 9-13 - Meyers Class
CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH!
Duluth Superintendent Search - Leadership Profile Created with Community Input
During a public meeting held January 28 the Duluth School Board and community received a superintendent leadership profile which will be used to help identify a new superintendent for Duluth Public Schools.
To develop the Profile, representatives from the Board’s search firm, BWP & Associates, used thoughts and ideas collected in 1,487 online surveys and met with over 200 representatives from community groups and organizations, school and district staff, parents, students and Board members, to determine the challenges, strengths and goals of ISD709 and what characteristics or skills the community would like to see in Duluth’s next superintendent.
The Profile, along with survey and focus group results, timelines, links and other information related to Duluth’s Superintendent Search are available at: www.ISD709.org/SuperintendentSearch
• Duluth Superintendent Leadership Profile
• January 28 Meeting Presentation
• View the Meeting Online
• Survey Results
• Focus Groups Results
Current Search Timeline: (Subject to updates)
· January 2020: Development of leadership profile. Presentation of final profile to the School Board in public meeting.
· March 3 – 7, 2020: Consultants screen and interview and develop an initial slate of candidates.
· March 9 - 13, 2020: School Board public meeting to review and select candidates for initial interviews.
· March 16 - 20, 2020: School Board interviews 6-8 candidates in public meeting, narrows the field to two or three candidates.
· March 23 - 27, 2020: All day interview process for semi-finalists. Includes open forums available to staff, students, community members and a final School Board interview in a public meeting. School Board makes final selection.
· March 30 - April 3, 2020: Act on the new superintendent’s contract in public meeting. Announcement of new ISD 709 Superintendent.
· July 1, 2020: New superintendent takes office
Duluth School Board meeting schedules are available online and board meetings are streamed and archived online: www.isd709.org/district/School-Board
Free Dictionaries to all 3rd Graders. Thank you Rotary!
FOUND AND LOST ITEMS....PLEASE CHECK IT OUT LOCATED IN THE CAFETERIA
2019-2020 School Year
- 2/4: Family/Teacher Conference Night
- 2/6: Family/Teacher Conference Night
- 2/7: Peace Maker Assemblies
- 2/10-15: Prairie Fire Theater - Peter Pan
- 2/14: Winter Activity Day
- 2/17-21: NO SCHOOL-Winter Recess
- 2/24-28: 5th Grade to STARBASE (Metzer/Pavlisich)
- 2/27: SPRING PICTURE DAY (For those interested)
- 3/2-6: I love to Read Week
- 3/3: Cultural Family Night
- 3/9-13: 5th Grade to STARBASE (Meyer)
- 3/10: Peace Maker Assemblies
- 3/20: Spring Fling Dance
- 3/24: MCA Kick-off Assembly
- 3/26-27: Kindergarten Roundup
- 3/27: Year Book Order Deadline! - $13
- 4/1: Peace Maker Assemblies
- 4/6-10: NO SCHOOL-Spring Break
- 5/7: Grandparent/Special Friend Day
- 5/14: Fun and Fit run - UMD
- 5/22: Field Day
- 5/28: Peace Maker Assemblies
- 6/3: 5th Grade Honors Assembly
- 6/4: End of the Year Picnic
- 6/5: Last Day of School for Students
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