2023-01-27 Noticias de ISLA y ISLA PTO

January 27, 2023

Emily Smith

Administrative Assistant

You are invited to…

Ice skating with ISLA
Sponsored by PTO

Join us for ice skating and creating valentines for patients at a local hospital.

February 12th 4:30 - 6:30 PM

St. Louis Park Recreation Outdoor Center

3700 Monterey Drive St. Louis Park

RSVP HERE for skate time to ensure adequate space and skate rentals

*skate rentals available

Kindergarten Welcome Committee

ISLA is creating a Kindergarten Welcome Committee whose primary purpose will be to connect with and offer support to incoming kindergarten families for the 2023-24 school year. Volunteers would connect with incoming families through phone calls and emails in an effort to answer any questions they might have and ensure a smooth transition to kindergarten. The Marketing and Communications Committee is guiding the work of the Welcome Committee. If you’d like to be part of the Welcome Committee, email Tad Johnson at marketing@isla.school.

First Day of the 2023-24 School Year

Although the 2023-24 school calendar has not been approved as yet, we wanted to alert families that the first day of school for students in grades 1-6 will be September 5th. Kindergarten students will begin on September 6th. The complete calendar will be approved at the February board meeting.

Morning Drop off Reminders

Please help us keep morning drop off running smoothly.  As a reminder:

  • Entry/exit off of East Bush Lake Road is not to be used for the drop off line.  Use East Bush Lake entry for parking only.
  • Do not park in disability parking spaces at any time without displaying a disability parking certificate.
  • We must keep the entryway off of 78th street clear for buses to enter from the West.  Traffic attendants will direct vehicles to line up from the East along 78th street as needed.  If you must arrive for drop off from the west on 78th street, be prepared to safely turn your vehicle around and join the drop off line when necessary.
  • In the drop off line, be sure students are ready to quickly exit the vehicle as soon as you come to a stop in the drop off zone.  
  •       Do not keep your children waiting in the vehicle to shorten their walking distance.
  •        Parents/caregivers, please do not exit your vehicle in the drop off line.  Students in the drop off line must be able to exit the vehicle on their own.  If you would        like to get out of your vehicle for any reason, please park instead of going through the drop off line. 
  • Parent/caregivers are welcome to park and escort their K-6 students to the school entrance. Please encourage/allow your child to make their way to the classroom on their own. 
  • Parents/caregivers arriving at 9:00 or later must check K-6 students in at the main office.
  • When exiting the parking lot, yield to buses.  

Our traffic attendants are members of our staff who want your morning to go smoothly and your family to stay safe.  Thank you for following their instructions.

Spirit Week

Spirit week is coming up February 21-24. Here are the themes for the week:

  • Tuesday, Feb 21: Día cómodo - Comfy Day: Come to school in your coziest gear! Pajamas, sweats, and hoodies!
  • Wednesday, Feb 22: Cambio de identidad - Identity Swap: Students come dressed as one of the ISLA staff or LA's and staff/LA's dress as the students! Wacky Wednesday!
  • Thursday, Feb 23: Gorro/Pelo loco - Crazy Hat/Hair Day: Come in your favorite hat or craziest hairstyle!
  • Friday, Feb 24: Día bigote y barba - Fake Facial Hair Day: Draw or wear a silly mustache, beard, eyebrows or sideburns! Let's celebrate being silly risk-takers. This is also our Obsta-Jog celebration.

Join the ISLA School Board!

Looking for a way to support the mission and shape the future of ISLA? Join the ISLA Board of Directors!  The Election and Nominating Committee is seeking interested community members, teachers, parents, grandparents, and guardians to fill upcoming vacancies on the ISLA Board for three-year terms beginning July 1, 2023.  No previous board experience is required, but there is a specific need for individuals with expertise in fundraising/development, marketing, and human resources.

The ISLA Board is responsible for overseeing the general operations of the school, implementing policies and procedures, and long-term strategic and financial planning.  In addition, there are a number of different committees on which Board members serve. Click here for descriptions of the various committees. The Board meets in the evening on the third Tuesday of each month.

If you are interested in seeking a Board seat, please submit a Statement of Interest (available here) to the Election and Nominating Committee by Friday, February 3.  Questions about Board service and the election process can be directed to Liz Crouse, Chair of the Election and Nominating Committee, at lcrouse@isla.school.

Sibling Enrollment    

To be eligible for enrollment into Kindergarten, a student must be five years old on or before September 1 of the enrollment year. ISLA gives preference for enrollment to students who:

  • Meet the application deadline
  • Is a sibling of a currently enrolled pupil or foster child of the pupil's parents
  • Are a child of an ISLA staff member

Make sure that your child receives the sibling enrollment priority they are entitled to at ISLA.  Submit an online student application for the sibling of a currently enrolled student by the sibling enrollment deadline (4:00 pm on February 15, 2022).  Any student applications for a sibling received after the deadline will follow regular enrollment processes.

Spring Student Led Conferences

Welcome to the sign up for our Spring Student-Led Conferences!  Each 30 minute spring conference includes a 15 minute student-led session followed by 15 minutes with your child’s classroom teacher.  Please use the links provided to schedule a conference for your child. 

Pre-Kinder/El Nido:                  Kinder:

(20 minute conferences)       Srta. Doris Bonifacio

Srta. Barbara                           Seño Silvia Herrero

Srta. Marisol                            Sra. Maryann Najera

1st Grade                                      4th Grade

Profesora Bonyin King           Profe Irene Martinez

Sra. Edily Sanchez                 Sr. Roberto Izquierdo

Srta. Erika Leal

2nd Grade                                   5th Grade

Profe Riana Dilley                   Sra. Cori Adams

Profe Luis Vivas                     Sr. Jordi Costa

Profe Lina Pinto

3rd Grade                                   6th Grade

Sra. Patty Floe                      Maestra Rachel Karlov

Sra. Rosa Fernandez            Sra. Sarah Ashby

Sra. Diana Ortiz

Specialists Conferences are fifteen minutes long.  We welcome you to schedule a check-in with your child’s specialist teachers.

Physical Education                  Exploracion/Art

Sr. Igor Diaz                           Sra. Adriana Maldonado

ONE WEEK LEFT to submit donations and Great Gathering ideas for Fiesta de la Primavera!! We would really love to see each grade represented at the auction, but the more participation the better!! Each donation helps provide support for the amazing Language Ambassador program and an opportunity to get to know others in the ISLA community!

Deadline: February 3rd!

Remember, your gathering can be just for kids, just parents or both!! You could even consider co-hosting with another family! Events can be held through Fall 2023.

  • Pizza & pool party
  • Grill & splash pad day
  • Themed park picnic or dinner party
  • Yoga or spa day for ISLA Moms
  • Grill out for Dads
  • Hosted playdate for kids at MiniSota Play Cafe/SkyZone/etc

You could also consider advertising your business with an item in our auction! Themed gift baskets, tickets to a local sporting event or complimentary cupcakes are all great donation ideas! These are just ideas for a starting point. We’d love to see what unique idea you come up with! If you need help working out the details of your donation, please email us at fiesta@isla.school

Donation Forms

Auction Items rolling in!

Thanks to the ISLA Staff & community, we have had some amazing donations that will be up for grabs at Fiesta de la Primavera’s auction! Here’s a peek at some of them…

  • Tapas & Wine Night
  • Traditional Guatemalan ceviche meal with a Central American Asado (Backyard BBQ)
  • MN Twins vs Detroit Tigers Tickets
  • Saints Tickets
  • Arepa Night with a Mojito Bar
  • Framed & autographed Pele photograph
  • FREE summer dance camp
  • Adult yard game Olympics
  • Catered Date Night IN with a personal chef
  • Fideuá for 12 (a lesser known version of paella that everyone loves in Spain)!!
  • Personal shopping party at The Fitting Room with sips, sweets and a personal stylist!
  • LOTS of gift cards, movie passes and more!!

There are some really unique items up this year, and we are so excited to showcase more as our event nears. Grab your tickets now before prices go up in just TWO short weeks and help celebrate at Fiesta de la Primavera!  

Get your tickets by clicking here!!

Donations are still coming in, but the deadline for submissions is approaching. Please get your items or Great Gatherings submitted by NEXT FRIDAY 2/3!!!

Community/Parent Donations - Click here!
ALL donation forms are available here!

Thank you for YOUR help in making this year’s Fiesta de la Primavera a great event!!