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Unit 5 Summaries

Our Unit 5 Summaries were shared today on Toddle!  As a reminder, these Unit Summaries differ from the Progress Reports that you may have seen in the past. While Progress Reports, sent home in February and June, include a more detailed view of students' progress in specific subject areas, Unit Summaries provide an overview of the most recent unit of inquiry. Rather than viewing subject areas such as social studies, science, language arts, etc. as separate areas, our IB units are taught through a transdisciplinary approach. We hope that these overviews spark interesting, authentic conversations at home about students’ dynamic learning experiences and conceptual understandings. For more details about assessment at ISLA, please refer to the information that was sent home this fall: Assessment at ISLA.

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The Exhibition

The sixth grade classrooms are a buzz as they are entering the home stretch of a year- long collaborative inquiry process called the Exhibition. The Exhibition is a culminating project that takes place in the final year of the Primary Years Program. It is now time for the students, after being a part of an IB world school since kindergarten, to create their own unit of inquiry.

The students use all that they have learned throughout their years at ISLA to engage in in-depth research of real-world global challenges . This requires that each student, working collaboratively with others, demonstrates engagement with the essential elements of the IB program: knowledge, concepts, skills, attitudes and action.  During this process the students identify, investigate and offer solutions to real-life issues or problems.

The students use the United Nations 17 Goals for Sustainable Development as a platform to choose what issues are most important to them. By framing the unit of inquiry around the transdisciplinary theme “Sharing the Planet” students develop an understanding that they are members of a global community that need to take responsibility for taking care of our shared resources, to work together to find ways to resolve conflict and to live in peace. It is a dynamic  process that inspires everyone to be change makers in their communities.  

This year’s Exhibition will be presented to the ISLA community on Thursday, May 26th at 6:30. The Exhibition represents a significant event in the life of a PYP school and student. We look forward to sharing this experience with our ISLA community!

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Final PTO Community Meeting!

Join us for the final PTO meeting of the school year!  

Hear about the work that was done this past year, future events, and help to welcome new board members.

Tuesday, May 10, 6:30 PM, online

Use this link for the agenda and to join via Zoom:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1v-yZIb812mLihB0Ix-mHUEhvdxmh1puccrxdRYwb15E/edit?usp=sharing

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ISLA Affiliated Building Company Opportunities

Are you interested in getting more involved with the school?  Do you want to help budget and prioritize improvement projects?  Do you have some basic financial aptitude? The ISLA Affiliated Building Company is looking for a Treasurer.  Now that major construction is over the time commitment is a few hours per month (a monthly 30 minute vendor meeting, quarterly full board meetings, etc.).

Interested?  Please contact Brian Linne at blinne@isla.school.

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School Board Election - Coming Soon!

ISLA's annual board of directors election is coming up in May, and there will be a few changes this year. We will be using an online voting platform, Election Buddy, which should streamline the process, improve ease of voting, and increase election integrity.  

All eligible voters should receive a unique ballot link by email on Friday, May 13 and will be permitted to cast their vote using that link anytime thereafter until 1:00pm on Tuesday, May 17.  If you do NOT currently have an email address on file with the school (e.g., you do not receive this newsletter by email) please contact Emily Smith at esmith@isla.school to provide a current email address to receive your online ballot.  If you do not have access to email or a device for online voting, you will be able to vote in person at the school office during school hours on Friday May 13, Monday May 16, and Tuesday, May 17 until 1:00pm.

If you have any questions about the school board election process, please contact Liz Crouse, Chair of the ISLA Governance Committee, at lcrouse@isla.school.

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Looking ahead to warmer days!  

Mark your calendar for the PTO Year End Carnival on Sunday, June 5th from 2-4 PM.  There will be food, fun and games, including a dunk tank where you might be able to dunk a teacher!  More details to come!

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COVID-19 Community Level: MEDIUM

Current COVID-19 Community Level for Hennepin County is MEDIUM. Masks will be optional for staff and students the week of May 9 to 13, 2022. Consider wearing a mask in public spaces if you are at high risk for severe illness or live with someone who is at high risk; stay home if you feel sick; and get tested right away if you have any symptoms.

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