Wildcat Pride                                          October 14,  2016
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October is moving right along and section soccer is up - boys are playing on Saturday (10/15) at noon at the stadium with girls following at 2:00. The weather has been cooperating for many of our kids heading out into the community to see what there is to see - catch the article about some of our fall field trips. The Great Lakes Great Apple Crunch was yesterday, and there are pictures - TF was the first to post a video on their Facebook page. 

Fall Field Trips: Tom's Pumpkin Farm, Pleasant Valley Orchard, and a Taylors Falls Boat Cruise

Students in our district are lucky when it comes to fall field trips - so many wonderful places to get outside and learn right in our own backyard.  Here's a sampling of who's been where lately...

Tom's Pumpkin Farm has been welcoming kindergarteners for thirty years.

Kindergarteners from Primary learned all about pumpkins. And, of course, there are more pictures from the pumpkin farm. In the meantime, first graders from Taylors Falls Elementary visited Pleasant Valley Orchard to learn all about apples - along with a walk in the woods and a hayride.  You can see pictures of that, too. Lakeside 4th graders traveled to Taylors Falls for a boat cruise - and yes, there are pictures.

Educational Support Staff Recognized at Banquet in St. Cloud

Superintendent Joe Thimm, Marnee Jakowski from the high school, Barb Kennedy from Lakeside, Jacque Ebert from the middle school, Chris Allen from Primary, and Mark Schmitz from Resource Training & Solutions.  (not pictured: Denise Lange from Taylors Falls and Danitta Hjort from Early Childhood)

An event honoring those who work as bus drivers, custodians, cooks, para-professionals, nurses and the myriad of other jobs that it takes to keep schools running smoothly was held September 28 at the River's Edge Convention Center, St. Cloud.  In its sixth year, there were 112 people were honored from 31 school districts.   "If there ever was a Grand Central Station in a school, it has to be the front office.  The Support Staff in every school is the glue that holds the whole place together," said Mark Schmitz, Executive Director of Resource Training & Solutions.

The presiding superintendent for the evening was Kathy Belsheim from Ogilvie School District.   Belsheim shared a story of a special bus driver who assisted her when she became ill on the bus ride home from school.  "I was a Kindergarten mess.  And I will never forget how he scooped me up and carried me home.  His act of kindness is forever in my memory.  I share this story because there are so many students' lives you touch by knowing their name or simply being the nice lunch lady," she said.

Awardees are nominated from their school districts.  They receive a plaque and a certificate signed by the Governor of Minnesota.  Presiding superintendent Belsheim concluded with this quote by author Mandy Hale, "There is nothing more beautiful than someone who goes out of their way to make life beautiful for others.' Thank you for being beautiful people."
Who Are Our School Resource Officers?
Whether they're called School Resource Officers, as they are by police agencies, or Police Liaison Officers, as they often are by schools, the role they play is complex and varied.  You might see their police cars parked outside one of the district buildings; they cover all sites within the district - including the Chisago Lakes Education Center and TRIO Wolf Creek. 

 The main goal: to provide safety and security to all members of the Chisago Lakes School District Community while breaking down barriers between youth and police, fostering positive relationships, and creating partnerships with students, staff, and families. Look for extended profiles of SROs Jordan Kolbow and Cory Spencer in an upcoming issue of the school review.
Officers Jordan Kolbow and Cory Spencer enjoying some recess time with the kids. You can see some additional pictures of the time they spend with our students.
To keep the community updated on last year's facility audit and to give citizens an opportunity for feedback, we will be holding three community meetings. Please join us on the date and the location most convenient for you:

Date                       School                                          Time                          Location
 
10/24           Chisago Lakes High School         6:30 to 7:30 p.m.         Lecture Hall
11/14            Lakeside Elementary School       6:30 to 7:30 p.m.         Media Center



On the Calendar:

October 19: NO SCHOOL ELEMENTARY ONLY/Parent Teacher Conferences
October 20-21: MEA Break - NO SCHOOL K-12

October 24-28: College Application Week at the high school
October 28: Middle School Dance from 2:15 to 5:15
October 28: Halloween Boogey Dance at the Primary @ 6:30 p.m.
November 1: High School Band Concert in the PAC @ 7:30 p.m.

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