An academic bilingual community fostering global citizenship
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UPCOMING
- March 17 - June 4: Schools Remain Closed Under Executive Order from Governor Tim Walz
- Friday, May 29th: Last Day of formal class lessons and groups; activities will be provided for continued learning through June 4
- Friday, May 29: Virtual Musical, The Show Must Go Online performed by PSI Alumni, 7:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, June 2nd from 8:00-1:00 Materials Pick Up and Drop off for last names A - H
- Wednesday, June 3rd from 8:00-1:00 Materials Pick Up and Drop off for last names I - P
- Wednesday, June 3rd at 1:00 p.m.: 5th Grade Celebration of Learning; link will be sent to families
- Thursday, June 4th from 8:00-1:00 Materials Pick Up and Drop off for last names Q - Z
- Thursday, June 4th from 3:00-5:00 p.m. End of the Year Farewell Drive Through Parade at PSI
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May 28, 2020
Dear Park Spanish Immersion Elementary School Community:
I hope that this find you and your family well. We have many things coming up in the next few weeks! As a reminder, we will have our pick up and drop off of materials next week. Please see
here
for the procedures to keep you and our staff members healthy. Please see below about information from Lifetouch. All students will receive a yearbook in their boxes this year.
At PSI, we have a long tradition of welcoming students into the school year through music and celebration, and we do the same thing as they leave on the last day. We will keep this celebration alive this year, in a little different format as a car parade for families on the last day of school, Thursday, June 4th from 3:00-5:00 p.m. To follow the Governor's Executive Order, we cannot have more than ten staff members at a time gathered for this event. We will have up to ten staff members who work with each grade socially distanced around our bus loop in the back of the building at the following times. We will also record staff members at the parade, and send a link to all families.
- Kindergarten: 3:00-3:20 pm
- First Grade: 3:20-3:40 pm
- Second Grade: 3:40-4:00 pm
- Third Grade: 4:00-4:20 pm
- Fourth Grade: 4:20-4:40 pm
- Fifth Grade: 4:40-5:00 pm
Some of you have been asking about library hours for this summer. Due to the move, we had to take a hiatus
last
summer, but I am also pleased to announce that we will have scheduled times for book check out this summer starting the week of June 23rd. Please watch for updates and procedures to follow. In the interim, please return any library books next week during the pick-up and drop off times from 8:00 am - 1:00 pm on June 2nd (A-H), June 3rd (I-P) & June 4th (Q-Z).
I look forward to celebrating with each of you as we end this most unusual school year. Also, please join me in wishing Cathy Baldwin, grade 2, 4, and 5 English teacher well as she "graduates" this year, and begins a new chapter in retirement. She has spent 35 years teaching, and 21 years in St. Louis Park at PSI. She has made a huge positive impact on the development of our school, and she has influenced many students over the years. Congratulations, Cathy, you will be missed!
¡Hasta pronto!
Sincerely,
Corey Maslowski
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Summer Reading Challenge 2020:
BINGO!
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Getting books might be more challenging this summer. Maybe you can you swap books with friends, or visit Little Libraries in your neighborhood? We encourage you to explore the thrill of reading! You can complete this challenge in Spanish and/or English. Students who turn in completed Bingo sheets will be entered in a drawing for some special surprises and receive a free book. Let the reading adventure begin! BINGO!
Click
HERE
to link to the Summer Reading Challenge BINGO sheet in English and Spanish. A hard copy of the flyer will also go home in student boxes next week.
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Farewell from Retiring English Language Arts Teacher, Cathy Baldwin
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Dear PSI Families,
As this surreal year draws to a close, so, too, does my 35 year teaching career. When I decided last fall that this would be my final year, there was no way I could have foreseen how it would end! Now, I don’t get to give all the hugs and high fives that I long for, and I have to be content with smiling eyes above masks to bid farewell.
I have been a member of the PSI community for 23 years-- the first two as an active volunteer parent of my daughter, the next 21 as an English teacher in grades 2, 3, 4,and 5. It has been a blessing and truly I cannot imagine what my life will be like, not knowing the incoming students. Up until now, every single child who has been in our school from 2nd grade on, has walked through the doors of my classroom. It was an amazing gift this year to have FOUR second generation PSI students in my classes!
PSI is an amazing community and I have been privileged to grow with it. And though I leave the classroom, I will continue to hold this community in my heart and I look forward to seeing you all around town!
Thank you all again for your support and generosity over the years!
Cathy Baldwin
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PSI Alumni Players Debut Virtual Performance!
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Tomorrow is Opening Night! The virtual performance of
"The Show Must Go Online"
will premiere on Friday, May 29, at 7:00 p.m. This is the debut performance of the PSI Alumni Players, a group of former PSI students organized by Sra. Wieber.
The show is 40 minutes long, and will be performed in English!
Log on to see what happens when Sra. Wieber learns that the spring musical must be cancelled because of the COVID-19 school closures. Do not fear; the Drama Club students will come up with a plan to save the musical!
Click
HERE
to link to the show TOMORROW, Friday, May 29 at 7:00 pm!
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Lifetouch Vouchers Distributed in Student Boxes
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Due to COVID-19, Lifetouch was unable to provide composite photos for students this year. In lieu of composite photos, all students will receive a complimentary yearbook and a $10 voucher to be used on portrait packages next year.
A voucher from Lifetouch (to use towards purchases next year) will be in your student's box when you drop-off/pick-up items on June 2nd, 3rd, or 4th.
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From RFE (Resources for Educators):
Math & Science Connection - How's the Weather?
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Miniature meteorologist: Appoint your youngster as family weather announcer. First, suggest that they make a weather wheel to use as they give weather reports. They should divide a paper plate into four sections, draw pictures in each one, and label them “Sunny,” “Partly sunny,” “Cloudy,” and “Rain or Snow.” Each morning, help them read the forecast in the newspaper or look it up on
www.weather.com
. Click
HERE
for this week's Math & Science Connection.
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Read-Aloud Books (Chapter AND Picture Books in English & Spanish)
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Thanks to many publishers, we are able to post read-aloud books during the school closure. We have compiled many of the books that our staff members have read to PSI students during the past 6 weeks. So far there are three chapter books (2 English, 1 Spanish) and multiple picture books. Click
HERE
to see the many read-aloud books.
Looking for new, highly reviewed English titles? Click
here
to see the lists!
Guest Readers:
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Over 100 PSI artists submitted their creations for the Virtual Art Fair. Students created cakes, naturescapes, sculpture, paintings, and more!!
View the gallery here.
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Chromebook/iPads
Students to Keep Devices this Summer
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Please contact PSI's Media Specialist, Sra. VanDeWalker (
vandewalker.sara@slpschools.org
) with questions or help with your child's home devices until the last day of school, June 4.
St. Louis Park Public Schools has decided that families who received a district Chrome book, iPad and/or mobile hotspot for distance learning this spring will be able to keep these devices over the summer.
This decision was reached after consideration of the needs of students participating in academic summer school and the uncertainty of school startup this fall.
Students and families who currently have a school district device will not need to do anything further in order to keep the device over the summer.
Students and families should be aware that content filtering will continue to be applied on the devices throughout the summer. Students keeping the distance learning device over the summer are encouraged to use them to further their learning on their own.
If students experience technical difficulties with their assigned devices
after
the end of the 2019-2020 school year, support will be provided through the following:
- Family Distance Learning Technology Support - Students and families can call 952-928-6056 to leave a message or send an email to familytechhelp@slpschools.org The messages will be monitored between the hours of 8 am and 4 pm Monday through Friday. If a message is left after 4 pm, it will be received by technical support staff the next business day.
If a student or family does not wish to keep their assigned device over the summer, please bring the device when you're dropping off library books and instruments on June 2nd, 3rd and 4th between 8:00 am and 1:00 pm.
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Amity Host Families NEEDED for 2020-2021
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As we enter the final few days of instruction for our PSI community, we want to
extend a heartfelt thank you
to this year's Amity Interns and their host families. You have approached this time of uncertainty with tremendous grace, patience and understanding. We continue to work with the Amity Institute to ensure that our wonderful Amity Interns can all return home as soon and as safely as possible.
But just as we're planning for their return home, we also need to begin planning for the arrival of next year's amity interns. These eight interns come from Spanish-speaking countries around the globe to assist our teachers in the K-5 classrooms and
offer vitally important immersion opportunities for our children. To support this valuable program, the PTO relies on having new families willing to host each year. This unique and wonderful experience benefits your entire family, while giving back to the PSI community. Please consider hosting an Amity Intern for the upcoming fall or spring semester.
Unable to host, but still interested in supporting the Amity program? The aunt/uncle family is an extension of the host family and supports both the intern and their host family throughout the intern’s stay. Go to PSIparents.com, click
Get Involved
and select
Amity Intern
to find more information about the
Aunt/Uncle
role along with the
Aunt/Uncle application
.
Thanks for considering these amazing opportunities!
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School Toolbox: Purchase School Supplies ONLINE
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PTO parent, Michelle Dankwerth, has again coordinated an online purchasing option for PSI grade-level school supplies with School Toolbox for 2020-2021, so parents can check school supply shopping off their to-do list!
Students will receive quality, name brand supplies that match their school supply list. It’s the easiest way to equip your student and teacher for a successful school year!
Click
HERE
to link to the School Toolbox site. In the search box, type in Park Spanish Immersion, and you'll see customized school supply lists by grade-level for next year. The quantities listed are what the grade-level is requesting for next year, however, we want families to re-use supplies as much as they can every school year, so, only purchase what you need.
Many thanks, Michelle, for coordinating this online purchase of school supplies. A hard copy School Toolbox info flyer will also go home in your students' box next week.
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Wavin' Flag
- Baile Folklórico Compilation Video
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Baile Folklórico dance participants were invited to send videos of themselves dancing to the song
Wavin' Flag
. Many thanks to PTO parents, Scott and Tracey Eichten, for the compilation video. Click
HERE
to link to the video, and enjoy!
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Free Meals Program Changes
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Spring has arrived in Minnesota and temperatures are rising! This is wonderful news for the birds, the grass, and the flowers, but it is not good news for our fresh food delivery in
FREE Student Meals
. In order to meet food safety guidelines we must keep food refrigerated until it is given to students and families. In order to do so we are modifying our Grab-and-Go Meal Distribution locations and times. Meals will now be served from school kitchens or refrigerated trucks parked at St. Louis Park Public Schools locations.
We will no longer serve from apartment locations.
A few notes about the NEW service:
- Meals will be served to your vehicle via drive-up at all locations.
- Meals distribution times are 11:00 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
- Meals are served from school kitchens or refrigerated trucks as referenced at each location below.
Grab-and-Go Meal Distribution Locations beginning Monday, May 18, 2020:
Aquila Elementary School - Kitchen
8500 W. 31st St., St. Louis Park, MN 55426
Park Spanish Immersion Elementary School - Kitchen
9400 Cedar Lake Rd., St. Louis Park, MN 55426
Peter Hobart Elementary School - Truck
6500 W. 26th St., St. Louis Park, MN 55426
Susan Lindgren Elementary School - Truck
4801 w. 41st St., St. Louis Park, MN 55416
St. Louis Park Middle School - Truck
2025 Texas Ave., St. Louis Park, MN 55426
St. Louis Park High School - Kitchen
6425 W. 33rd St., St. Louis Park, MN 55426
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Kids Place Childcare OPEN for Summer
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The Governor’s most recent Executive Order 20-57 for the summer school period informs that school districts may provide childcare to all children but must continue to prioritize onsite care for eligible children of critical workers.
Under this order, Kids Place Childcare is able to reopen to families for the summer period, June 15 – August 21, 2020. The program will be required to follow social distancing and hygiene guidelines laid out by the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota Department of Health. These guidelines will require more programming space and staffing thereby potentially limiting the number of children we can serve.
If you are interested in enrolling your child, please register by May 22
HERE
. We will notify you as soon as possible if we can approve your contract as space allows. Kids Place says THANK YOU for your patience as they work through the details of these unprecedented times.
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Sheridan Story: Grow & Give From Your Home Garden
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We are excited to announce The Sheridan Story's new summer initiative, Grow & Give.
The Grow & Give initiative brings together our produce garden partnerships with Dangerous Man and Surly breweries, our brand new produce garden located at our facility in Roseville, and YOU! This new seasonal produce initiative will significantly expand the amount of produce we are able to provide to children and families that need it.
You can join our initiative right from home. From broccoli to zucchini and anything in between, consider growing produce at your home, business, or faith community! We will add your produce as part of our distributions to children and families.
If you need help getting started, we've partnered with a local organization, Giving Gardens. They can help you with supplies and installation, and we then ask that you please donate to them to cover the costs of their services. To connect with Giving Garden, please complete the form here:
www.givinggardensmn.org/contact-us.
When the harvest is ready, you can drop off your produce donations at our office located at 2723 Patton Road, Roseville, MN 55113 on
Mondays and Tuesdays from June 15 – September 30, 2020.
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Dr. Corey Maslowski, Principal
Follow me on Twitter @PSIPrincipal
Park Spanish Immersion Elementary School
9400 Cedar Lake Road
St. Louis Park, MN 55426
School Hours: 8:25 a.m. - 2:55 p.m.
School Office Hours: 7:45 am - 4:00 pm
PSI Main Office: 952-928-6555
24Hr-Attendance: 952-928-6570
Health Office: 952-928-6554
PSI Fax: 952-928-6556
School Nutrition: 952-928-6567
St. Louis Park Public Schools Transportation Department (Bus) 612-437-4719
St. Louis
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