2023-09-15 Noticias de ISLA y ISLA PTO
Emily Smith
Executive Director Search
Dear ISLA Community,
We hope you are all well! The Executive Director Search Committee would like your input about desired qualities and qualifications that matter most to you in a prospective Executive Director candidate, whose role it is to provide leadership, direction and strategic management over the entire school community, school operations, and ISLA staff.
As a reminder, results from this survey will be used to inform both the Executive Director job posting and candidate interview process.
Please fill out the five-minute survey linked below by September 22.
Fundraising Committee Corner
Hopefully you all received our flyer last week about ISLA School's 2023-2024 School Year Fundraising Campaign! I know some red folders didn't make it home last week, so keep an eye out for them this weekend. We've already seen some donations roll in, so thank you to all those who have given.
We are also excited to share that the PTO Fundraising Chair, Leala Christensen, and the ISLA School Board Fundraising Committee Chair, Lisa Wittig, have co-authored a letter that is coming home to you this weekend explaining the two entities (ISLA School and ISLA PTO) and what both are fundraising for this year.
Fundraising is an incredibly important piece of what makes ISLA such a special school. Both ISLA PTO and the ISLA School Board Fundraising Committee are working hard to find new ways to fundraise and look for opportunities outside of our family community. We welcome your ideas and encourage you to join us! See the letter for information about reaching out.
CALLING ALL ISLA PARENTS
School photos are coming up and we have a need for 2 parent volunteers per day on picture days and 1 volunteer on retake day to help. If you have a day free on any of the picture days, October 3-6 or the retake day, October 12 please consider signing up. It’s easy and fun. You can help in shepherding kids to and from class as well as prepping them for their photos. Get a free photo package for each shift you take. Click here to sign up for a shift. If you an your bestie would like to split a shift feel free to sign up.
Breakfast and Lunch Meal Pattern Information
Dear Families,
We'd like to share with you the MDE Meal Patterns:
The meal pattern forms the foundation of the reimbursable School Nutrition Programs. Below, you will find meal patterns for breakfast, and lunch, which include daily and weekly meal component requirements for various grade groups.
Aventuras
Dear families,
We hope you are doing well this week!
This email is to communicate the following items regarding Aventuras in the mornings and evenings:
Aventuras in the morning -
Please make sure you are reaching out to Gianna Perdomo at gperdomo@isla.school 1 week prior to dropping off if you are not enrolled in Aventuras to confirm that we have spots available. Currently, we don't have availability, however, you can reach out and confirm if something has opened up for drop ins.
Aventuras in the evening -
Currently you will be finding us on the playground. When you arrive, please sign out your child(ren) with the member with the clipboard in hand. Just a friendly reminder, please check your student out with the staff member with the clipboard. As mentioned above, make sure you are reaching out to Gianna Perdomo at gperdomo@isla.school 1 week prior to dropping off if you are not enrolled in Aventuras to confirm if we have spots available. Currently, we don't have availability, however, you can reach out and confirm if something has opened up for drop ins.
Pick up students (not enrolled in aventuras) -
School dismissal is at 3:50 pm. Teachers remain outside with students until 4 pm. If a student is not picked up by that time, they will be sent to Aventuras. This is another friendly reminder to pick up your child(ren) on time at the end of day since there is currently no spot available in Aventuras for afternoon drop ins. We've been noticing pick up students in Aventuras or drop ins that haven't been confirmed with Gianna Perdomo. If this continues to be an issue, we will have to start charging your family for care.
Non-school day care will become available once we have the staffing to support this, but it is not available at this time. If you have Spanish speaking friends that would like to work in Aventuras, please refer them to Gianna Perdomo at gperdomo@isla.school.
We really appreciate your understanding and support.
We are off to a great start this school year, and it was great to see so many at the Community PTO Meeting this past Wednesday. Thank you for taking the time to attend in-person or virtually! We are so excited for all the things we’ve got coming up this year and Jenner Moretto (PTO Chair) and myself (Caitlin Edstrom: PTO Secretary) are continuing to workout the kinks to make these meetings more seamless for us all. Thank you for all of your time, efforts & patience as we learn how to best support this amazing community!!
• • • LAST CHANCE for the Spirit Store • • •
The Spirit Store closes on Monday, September 18! Orders will be ready approximately 2-3 weeks after store closing and delivered to the students classroom. Click here to place your order (Don’t forget to include your student & teacher’s name!!!
Each grade level has an assigned color and all grades are allowed to wear black. While the shirts are not required, teachers like to have kids in their "Se Habla Español" shirts for field trips and students like to represent ISLA!
- Black - All School
- ISLA Sweatshirts (hooded and full zip) - All School
- Kinder - yellow
- 1st grade - blue
- 2nd grade - green
- 3rd grade - red
- 4th grade - orange
- 5th grade - purple
- 6th grade - white (for in classroom tie dye project)
Your Spirit Store purchases support the ISLA PTO and go towards the Language Ambassador program, classroom/school support and community events like Yahoo/Boohoo, Ice Cream Social & more! Questions? Please contact spiritstore@isla.school
• • • Language Ambassador Updates • • •
Looking for Host Families
The LA team is looking for two new FALL host families, in addition to 5 more SPRING host families come January. The main requirement for hosting an LA in your home is they need to have their own bedroom! This is such a great opportunity for your kids (and you) to be further immersed in the Spanish language and learn about another culture from these wonderful humans!! You can gain a lifetime friend for you & your kids by hosting an LA and making loads of memories. Stipends & grocery gift cards are available to host families along with support from our amazing LA Coordinator, MK! If you are interested in learning more, please reach out to islalaprogram@gmail.com or fill out this google form! Have questions? You can also go over the new LA Family FAQ sheet.
• • • Upcoming Events • • •
Thank you ALL for coming out to the Ice Cream Social to celebrate the start of the school year! It was wonderful to see so many families enjoying their time together, despite the rain! We’re looking forward to our next event Dia De Los Muertos on 10/28 from 11am–2pm. More details coming soon, but please mark you calendar!!
• • • Community PTO Meetings • • •
Next meeting: 10/11 6:00-7:30pm
Where? ISLA conference room & playground or gym (Enter through main doors, we will have someone waiting to let you in)!
What? Dinner, time to meet & chat with other ISLA parents while we share-out all the things the PTO has coming.
Zoom Meeting Link: Can’t attend in person? No problem, we’d love to have you via Zoom (and I am working on improving things to properly record each meeting to have them available to share out afterward)! https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81922697214?pwd=ATVakzyJfIziTJbCU408vGzL7LyDwU.1
• • • Agenda for 10.11.23 Meeting • • •
6-6:30: Eat & mingle in the Conference (Food available for kids & parents)
6:30-7: Community Meeting begins with PTO updates
7-7:45: The amazing Michelle Ndely (ISLA parent) will continue her share out of info about how we can best support our children within the IB Learning Model at ISLA. This will be PART TWO of Michelle speaking at our PTO Meetings, and I will link her presentation & the recording from 9/13 below. Please note, I was having some tech issues and only started recording Michelle's portion of the presentation about 5 minutes in). You can learn more about Michelle here: http://www.ndelyconsulting.com
• • • Volunteers • • •
If you have upper grade level kids, partner, grandparent, etc that can help with childcare during meetings, that would be a huge help!! Kids will play at the ISLA Playground or in the Gym during the meeting.
Please follow the links or scan the QR codes for further details:
PTO Community Meeting Attendance
PTO Community Meeting Childcare Volunteers
Link to PTO Community Meeting Slides & Recordings
• • • Upcoming • • •
Monday 9/18 4–8pm
Davanni’s
5124 Gus Young Ln, Edina, MN 55436
There will also be a ‘Meet and Greet’ w/the LAs at Davanni’s:
Grab some dinner and meet some of our amazing Language Ambassadors & Host Families from 5:30 - 7:00. We will have fast facts about all 7 of our LAs and icebreaker cards for the kids. Per their contract, we request all kids speak with LAs in Spanish.
Saturday 10/7 8–10am
Applebee’s Pancake Breakfast!!
8421 Joiner Way, Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Tickets now available – Click here to purchase!!
*We will need volunteers to serve for this event (14yrs +) – Sign-up to volunteer to come soon, but please mark your calendars!!
Monday 11/13 5–9pm
Chevy’s
2251 Killebrew Dr, Bloomington, MN 55425
Wednesday 12/6 4–8pm
Noodles & Co.
8120 MN-7, St Louis Park, MN 55426
• • • More ways to get involved • • •
Sign-up for Box Tops for Education!
Download the app on your phone and search for International Spanish Language Academy to begin benefiting your kids’ school! After setting up your account, you can send digital receipts via email or scan a hard copy in the app. No more ripping boxes up!!
Use any of the below referral links to give ISLA an extra bonus when you sign-up:
https://btfe.smart.link/c2jjdifkw?referral_code=CWLL52QA
https://btfe.smart.link/c2jjdifkw?referral_code=L0Y82RM7
https://btfe.smart.link/c2jjdifkw?referral_code=FCGQ9A6Y
Teacher Wishlists!
Our wonderful teachers work so hard to make their classrooms welcoming and comfortable for our kids. This year, the PTO has asked that our teacher’s share a list of items they need to complete this huge task. Here are their lists, broken down by grade. Any item is a huge help for our teachers & is SO very appreciated by them AND your kids in their rooms. We are still awaiting a few lists, and will send out updated links when they are ready!
El Nido
Group wishlist for all of El Nido
Kinder
Doris Bonifacio Salas
Silvia Herrero-Fernandez
Maryann Najera
Luis Vivas
1st Grade
Bonyin King
Erika Leal Gil
Edily Sanchez
2nd Grade
Irene Martinez
Miriam Oropeza
Lina Pinto Perez
3rd Grade
Corene Adaxms
Rosa Fernandez
Patricia Floe
4th Grade
Riana Dilley
Roberto Izquierdo
Pilar Robles
5th Grade
Stewin Bernal
Jordi Costa
6th Grade
Rachel Karlov
Specialists
Exploración & Art: Adriana Maldonado
Exploración & Art: Ana Luisa Galleres (link to come)
Physical Education: Igor Diaz
Tech: Edgar Avendano (link to come)
Music: Danyelo Rivera
Special Education
Ruth Garcia (link to come)
Tatiana Gordillo
Thairys Rodriguez
Office
Emily Smith
Jessica Gielen
Nurse: Tanya Nelson (link to come)
• • • Save the Date • • •
When: Saturday, March 9th, 2024 6-11pm
Where: Bloomington Event Center
New to ISLA or need a refresher on what Fiesta de la Primavera is? No problem!! Each year, the ISLA PTO hosts the biggest fundraiser AND party of the year for parents, teachers, LAs, staff and more from our ISLA community. This is an adult-only event where we will have food, games, prizes, music, dancing and our live & silent auctions! It is a time where we can come together as a community, connect or reconnect and celebrate!! All proceeds raised at Fiesta de la Primavera go back to the ISLA PTO to support the Language Ambassador Program where we bring student teachers to our school from native-Spanish speaking countries. They provide support for our classrooms and enrich the experience our kids have everyday at school by sharing their unique cultures & stories both in-school and with after-school activities, social gatherings and more! It's such an amazing program & I'm grateful to take part in that coming together.
• • • Get Involved!! • • •
Our kick-off meeting as we begin planning this shindig will be Thursday September 21st, at 6pm at the Edina Davanni's (and there will be PIZZA)!!! We'd love to see the community get involved in planning Fiesta.
PLEASE know that you are NOT REQUIRED to participate in planning by attending the kick-off meeting.
This will be an informational meeting to share what Fiesta is about and continue to build up our Fiesta Committee– We have quite a few options/areas of interest to choose from. Click here to RSVP or view the Committees and discover small & big ways to help plan this party & fundraiser!
• • • More ways to help with Fiesta • • •
Donate a Great Gathering!!!
This year, we are encouraging Great Gatherings to be held anytime throughout the year, beginning in October! This will allow for more Fall & Winter fun before our actual Fiesta event in the Spring, but all the funds raised will still go back to the ISLA PTO to support the Language Ambassador Program and enrichment for our kids in the classrooms! So our donation forms are now OPEN!! We will get our Givesmart website launched in the coming weeks to allow purchasing tickets to upcoming Gatherings that are submitted!
• • • Great Gathering Ideas • • •
Moms & Margaritas: Host 7 other ISLA Moms at your house/yard with chips, salsa, guac/snacks & margaritas while you chat & hang out!
Family Bonfire: Have 5 families in your backyard around the campfire while you roast marshmallows, make s’mores, have adult or N/A beverages, tell spooky stories or just chat.
Paint Party: Host 7 other ISLA parents at your home (or even in the party room at a restaurant…?) and provide snacks, drinks, a 10x10 canvas with paints and have a great evening getting to know one another!
Golf Day for Dads: Host 5 other ISLA Dads at your favorite golf course with beverages & lunch or snacks.
Fall Fun Day: Host with another parent(or more) and bring 8 kids to an apple orchard or pumpkin patch– Grade specific, maybe?
ANY of these ideas could be hosted on your own or with another ISLA friend or family!! These gatherings don’t need to be EXTRAVAGANT or overly spendy, they are meant to bring kids, parents, LAs & staff together outside of the classroom and enjoy the wonderful community we have here!!
• • • Donation Form Links • • •
Community/Parent Donations
Staff/LA Donations
*Info on business sponsorships will be coming soon!!
Recommend potential donors/sponsors
Do you have a favorite restaurant, salon, birthday party spot or other locale? Send us the business name and we will reach out to see if they’d like to participate by donating to Fiesta!
Any friends own a local business?
Or maybe you want to get your own small business involved with this fundraiser? We’re sorting out details for sponsorships to help advertise your business(es) while contributing to the growth of the LA Program!! Stay tuned for more info in the coming weeks, but you can always reach out to us (Jenner Moretto or Caitlin Edstrom) at Fiesta@isla.school with any questions!
