Laura MacArthur Eagle Update
FAMILY NEWSLETTER - November 2, 2020
Laura MacArthur Families,
November has arrived and it often brings cooler weather. Please remember to send your child to school with warmer clothing such as winter jackets, hats, mittens, and when the snow arrives, boots and snow pants. If your child is in need of clothing items, please contact your child's teacher. We will do what we can to help.
As we enter our 3rd month of school we recognized continued challenges with student engagement and attendance during remote and distance learning. We look to break down barriers that keep students from attending school, provide family support and engage community partners in that work.
We had two successful picture days. If your child did not get a chance to have their picture taken, we will have picture retakes on December 1st & 3rd. We will communicate these dates as we get closer to the date.
Family/Teacher conferences will be starting on Thursday. Please reach out to your child's teacher if you have not signed up for a conference time. A good way to prepare for these conversations is to use the 321 conference questionnaire.
Three Strengths of my child?
1. _________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________
3. _________________________________________________
Two wishes for my child?
1. ___________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________
One question I have for you?
________________________________________________________
We look forward to the upcoming conversations and finding solutions and how we can best support your child.
In Partnership,
Jim Erickson, Principal
Family/Teacher Conferences:
- November 5th and 10th
- In-person or remote conferences available
- Use Sign-up Genius again for families to select the times that work best for them.
- LINK NOW AVAILABLE FOR SIGNUP GENIUS or see letter below and use the QR code.
Second Step Curriculum!
Last month we shared a letter with you about our launch of the Second Step curriculum. We are sharing these lessons during our morning meeting times.
Our schoolwide theme is skills for learning: listening, focusing attention, using self-talk to stay on-task, and being assertive when asking for help with a learning task. In our morning announcements and school assembly, we’ll be reminding students of these skills, which help students be successful learners.
Second Step lessons teach skills for learning. You’ll be receiving Home Links describing why these skills are important and including fun activities to do with your child to practice them. We hope to send these soon!
Please tell your child’s teacher if you’d like more suggestions about supporting skills for learning at home or of our school expectations of SOAR. Safe, On Task, Act with Kindness, and Respectful.
Laura MacArthur Specialists
We continue our search for an Art Specialist for Laura MacArthur. Mrs. Soderlund is on leave this for the 20-21 school year, and we have not been able to fill the position. We add to our search a Music Specialist. We posted this opening for Mrs. Kimmes as she will be out for the next 8 weeks, but we have not been able to fill this opening yet either.
We will continue to send Art and Music lessons prepared by district specialists via Seesaw and will continue to do everything we can to fill these positions as soon as possible.
For Hybrid learners, students have been attending Physical Education or Media each day so that they always have a specialist during the day.
Thank you for your understanding as we work through this process.
CALENDAR ADJUSTMENT - FAMILIES PLEASE READ!
FAMILIES, STUDENTS - PLEASE LOG ATTENDANCE
Please Log Attendance Each Day During Digital Learning
Families, thank you for your support as we continue to build and improve digital learning in our school district. This is a challenging time and we appreciate your efforts.
Tracking attendance for digital learning each day is vitally important. In addition to helping schools know students are engaged, districts must regularly report accurate attendance numbers to the state education department.
During digital learning, we’re asking that students/families log attendance in Infinite Campus each day. This step will provide more accurate, up-to-date attendance records and help teachers have more time to provide educational support and interact with students.
- Elementary students and families will log their attendance each day through Infinite Campus Parent Portal or Student Portal.
- Middle & High School students will log their own attendance each day using Infinite Campus Student Portal.
If you don’t have an Infinite Campus account, please contact Laura MacArthur Elementary.
For instructions about how to log your child’s attendance, please check online at www.ISD709.org/DigitalLearning. You’ll find step by step instructions and video tutorials.
Beginning November 9, if a student’s attendance is not logged each day you will receive an absence notification phone call from the school as a reminder.
We appreciate your patience and flexibility while we navigate virtual learning and attendance taking. As always, feel free to contact your school with any questions.
ATTENDANCE - PARENT PORTAL USE
Video - Click Link
Mrs Drengler Tech Support!
STATE WIDE ASSESSMENT UPDATES
Details will be finalized by the Minnesota Department of Education and shared when they are available.
- 2020-2021 School Year - This events calendar will be updated as we confirm safety practices
- 11/23 & 24: B Group Attends In-person
- 11/26 & 27: NO SCHOOL
- 11/30: Pre-K Picture Picture Day
- 12/1: Re-Take Day-Group A
- 12/2: Pre-K Picture Day
- 12/3: Re-Take Day-Group B
- 12/?: NO HOLIDAY PROGRAM THIS YEAR!
- 12/24 - 1/1: Winter recess-NO SCHOOL
- 1/4: School Resumes
- 1/18: MLK - NO SCHOOL
- 1/22: End of Semester-NO SCHOOL
- 2/15-19: Winter Recess-NO SCHOOL
- 4/19-23: Spring Recess-NO SCHOOL
- 5/31: Memorial Day-NO SCHOOL
- 6/11: Last Day of School
Holiday Program Cancelled!
As sad as this is, our responsibility to keep our community safe is the priority.
Thanks for your understanding.
BREAKFAST/LUNCH - NOVEMBER
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.
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