Lester Park School Newsletter - #4
September 9, 2021
Hello Lester Park Families!
We love having all of our students back in school! Seeing their excitement to be back really makes our day!
The start of the school year has gone pretty smoothly for the most part. There are always a few changes or other important information we want parents to know, and we try to highlight these in the weekly newsletter. Sometimes we send out an email earlier in the week like we did this past Tuesday. If you missed seeing this, please click here: https://www.smore.com/et2hx5
All of our past newsletters and other helpful school information can be found on our school website: https://www.isd709.org/lester-park-elementary
~Lester Park Office
Upcoming Dates:
Sept 22...5th Grade Forest Day (9:30-1:30)
Oct 7...Picture Day
Oct 21-22...NO SCHOOL (MEA Weekend)
Oct 25...NO SCHOOL for Students (Staff Development Day)
Nov 25-26...NO SCHOOL (Thanksgiving)
School calendar can be found on our website or by clicking HERE
Please Remember Masks
We have spares for occasional forgetting, but we will not be able to provide them daily. Plus kids are often more comfortable with the ones they bring from home.
Fun Run Dates Changed!
Snacks - Birthday treats/invitations
Some classrooms are “nut-free”, which means snacks/treats with nuts are not allowed in these rooms.
The school district does not allow pop for snacks or lunch
You may provide birthday treats, but they must be store-bought. Homemade items are not allowed.
It is a school district policy not to hand out birthday invitations in classrooms unless the whole class is invited.
Lunch questions
How do I find the lunch menu?
It is on our homepage and the district's webpage under "Quick Links"
https://www.myschoolmenus.com/instance/782/district/778
Are lunches still free for students?
Yes...for now.
Yes! The School district has information on paying for milk and lunch here:
https://www.isd709.org/departments/child-nutrition/how-can-i-pay-for-lunch
Illness and Absence Information
What do I do if my child is going to be absent from school?
Call attendance line 336-8875 then “3” to leave a recorded message
Or email lesterattendance@isd709.org (the office & nurse will both see these emails)
Please list any specific symptoms, especially with COVID still making its rounds and during times of increased influenza.
Teachers may have a preferred way for you to report an absence to them.
If we do not hear why a student is absent, an automated phone call and an email message will be sent out at sometime around 8:30. This is for safety reasons.
How do I know if I should keep my child home from school?
- https://www.isd709.org/safe-learning-plan
- Minnesota Department of Health COVID-19 Decision Tree for People in Schools, Youth & Child Care Programs
- Is My Child Well Enough To Go To School
- You can also call our school health office. Emails and Phone #s are HERE
Student IDs, Emails, Passwords & Parent Permission Form
Last year, we sent out a letter and email with your child's ID and password so they could login to online school programs from home while they were in Hybrid or Distant Learning.
This year we did not because we are currently all In-Person Learning, so most students will only use their emails and passwords at school (unless you have heard otherwise from their teacher). The teachers are providing students with their login information at school. Teachers are also working with students on memorizing their Student ID (Lunch Number).
In case you are curious as to what your child's ID/Lunch Number, email, or password is, please see the instructions below:
How do I find my child's student ID ("lunch #)
* Log into the Parent Portal of Infinite Campus
* Click "Today" and look under "Student Number"
* You will see a 5 or 6 digit #
(This # will stay with them until they graduate or leave the school district)
* If you have more than one child in the district schools, be sure to choose the appropriate one on the top right corner.
How do I find my child's email?
* Log into the Parent Portal of Infinite Campus
* Click "MORE" on the left
* Click "Family Information"
* All of your emails will show up on the right.
* If you have more than one child in the district schools, be sure to choose the appropriate one on the top right corner.
How do I find my child's password?
* Log into the Parent Portal of Infinite Campus
* Click "MORE" on the left
* Click "NETWORK"
* Their password shows up on the right
* If you have more than one child in the district schools, be sure to choose the appropriate one on the top right corner.
If you do not see your child's email or password, this is because you have not filled out this year's required parent permission form.
ALL K-12 families are required to fill this form out.
Please fill it out ASAP.
Click here: 2021-2022 Blended Learning 1 to 1 Agreement.
So what is this Agreement for?
In previous years, we had an Internet Access/COPPA form that parents of students under 13 years old were required to fill out. This form gave parent permission for students to use desktops/Chromebooks and access specific educational programs. This new online form covers the COPPA form, as well as the Chromebook Loan Agreement. 3rd-5th graders will be issued a Chromebook at school. K-2nd graders will have access to a Chromebook tablet at school.
I'm having trouble filling out this agreement online at home
You may pick up a hardcopy at the Lester Park School Office in the Front Entrance.
More information can be found here:
Parent Portal of Infinite Campus
The Parent Portal is how you access your child's school information on Infinite Campus. Some items you will find are: Bus Assignment, Lunch Balance, report cards, and Teacher Assignment.
* Parents can update phone and email contact information via the Parent Portal.
* If you forgot your password or username, click HERE and see the light blue options to have it emailed to you.
* If your account no longer works or you did not receive an activation key, email tracy.thompson@isd709.org and I will email our district Technology department to send you a new one.
* After one year of nonuse, the parent portal access is discontinued, so be sure to log in a couple of times during the year. You will use it even more as your child/children move on into middle and high school.
School Day Hours
7:30am - Students should not arrive before this time
7:35am - Students are allowed in their pods
7:45am - Start of the school day. Students must be in their classrooms.
2:15pm - End of the school day.
Monitors and Sub Monitors Needed
Security and How to Pick Up Your Child Early or Drop Off Late
- On School Days, the interior vestibule doors are locked from 7:45am-2:15pm.
- All other exterior doors are locked during the school day, and most are locked 24/7.
- Similar to last year, Parents and other visitors will be limited inside the building except for special situations or to view the lost and found.
- The Office door is only unlocked from 7:15am-8am.
- There is a blue lit doorbell to the right of the office door that you may push to speak to the office staff.
How do I pick my child up early?
- It's always a good idea to give the teacher or office a heads up
- Please do not park in the Fire Lane.
- Come in the front entrance and press the blue office door button
- Let the Office staff know why you are here
- Sign your child out in the yellow binder
- If you are ill or quarantining, the office staff will bring your child out to you.
What if my child is going to be late?
- Again it's always a good idea to give the teacher or office a heads up
- Please walk your child in and sign them in.
Information on Tardy and Unexcused:
Students need to be in the classrooms by 7:45.
Students who arrive between 7:45-8:15 will be marked tardy or excused tardy, depending on the reason they are late.
Students who arrive after 8:15am will be marked Excused or Unexcused depending on the reason they are late.
After so many tardies, unexcused or excessive absences, attendance letters will be mailed out.
If you have the cell phone app and your child is late, please note you will receive two attendance emails. We need to first mark him/her absent and then check them in at their arrival time.
ABOUT US
ISD709 School District Update Center
Email: tracy.thompson@isd709.org
Website: https://www.isd709.org/lester-park-elementary
Location: 5300 Glenwood Street, Duluth, MN 55804, USA
Phone: (218) 336-8875
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lester-Park-Elementary-1900216436910729