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Outside Gear

Cold weather and snow is here! Students will go outside for recess daily. Inside days occur when the ambient temperature is below 0º Farenheit or below -10º Farenheit with wind chill. Please send students with jackets. snow pants, hat, and gloves. Please label all winter clothing so it does not get lost. If you need help acquiring winter clothing, please email jgielen@isla.school.

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Lost and Found

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*IMPORTANT* LOST & FOUND UPDATE*  

Please make sure to stop by the lost & found this week!!!

11/1: The lost & found was updated again today thanks to one of our wonderful ISLA parents (thank you Laci Haviland)!! All labeled items will be returned to students within the next week. Please check the lost & found for your students items today, Wednesday(11/1) through end of conferences on Friday (11/3).

**ALL LOST & FOUND ITEMS REMAINING AT THE END OF CONFERENCES ON FRIDAY (11/3) WILL BE DONATED TO THE UNIFORM EXCHANGE OR LOCAL CHARITY**

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Calendar of Events

• November 8 - PTO Meeting, 6:30 pm
• November 13 - Restaurant Night at Chevys, 5-9 pm
• November 14 - State of the School, 6:30 pm
• November 16 - Give to the Max MN
• November 21 - ISLA Board Meeting, 6:30 pm
• November 22-24 - Thanksgiving holiday, No School
• December 1 - End of trimester 1
• December 8 - Grading day, No School
• December 13 - PTO meeting, 6:30 pm
• December 14 - Parent Info Night for families interested in attending ISLA, 6:30 pm
• December 19 - ISLA Board Meeting, 6:30 pm‍
• December 25 - January 5 - Winter Break, No School

Fundraising Committee Corner

The Fundraising Committee would like to send out a HUGE thank you to all the parents, grandparents, teachers, staff, and students who supported Obstajog this year. The participation and support was incredible! Over 75% of ISLA students participated by raising funds for our school. 12 classes had 80% or more participation and won a uniform-free day (teachers will be notifying their classes). Profe Sanchez’s first grade class had 100% participation!! And the Fundraising Committee handed out 60 grab bags to students on Monday whose names were randomly drawn for participating in the fundraiser. We had 3 families who collected the most unique donor donations and those students also received grab bags.

Our goal this year was to raise $25,000 through this fundraiser and as of Tuesday, we had collected $36,776.27, with an additional $5,000 in pledged donations. That brings us to just over $40,000 that will go directly to support our school and this year’s budget - setting our teachers and students up for success! We are completely blown away by the support of our families and community. Thank you again for your support.

We also want to recognize again our donors for the grab bag prizes: Pinwheels and Playtoys, Kiddywampus, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Dairy Queen (7700 Normandale Blvd, Edina), Nana Sue’s Childcare, IKEA, Adaptive Financial Design, Edina Soccer Association, Milo’s Macarons, Jersey Mikes (Hopkins, Saint Louis Park, Rogers), McDonalds (Bloomington Ferry Rd/Southtown/other locations), and State Farm. Please consider visiting and supporting these vendors and thanking them for their support of ISLA School.

We encourage kids to use some of their time off from school this Thursday and Friday to write thank yous to neighbors and family who supported them.

As always the Fundraising Committee is happy to receive feedback. We have already started taking notes on how we can improve the event for next year and welcome your input. You can email us at fundraising@isla.school if you have anything you’d like to share.

• • •  Top Notes for this week  • • •  

Fiesta site is live!! Our first Great Gathering is a Halloween Party for 2nd Graders on Monday 10/30 after school– And there’s a few tickets left!! Head on over to the Fiesta 2024 Website and grab yours to provide some fun for your child while supporting the Language Ambassador Program!! (Scroll down to the Fiesta Corner below for more details)

Get your Great Gathering ideas submitted!!! I know this is a new idea, but the PTO feels it is a great way to get families connected earlier in the year instead of waiting until the Spring to get to know people more. Donation forms are linked below. Let’s get together…. This Fall!

Gift Basket Donations
‍Community/Parent Donations
Staff/LA Donations

***A HUGE THANK YOU to the Mediterranean Cruise Cafe for sponsoring the whole staff meal on Friday 11/3! They are an ISLA-family owned gyro & falafel buffet-style restaurant. They also offer a brunch buffet you won’t want to miss– Go check them out:
https://www.medcruisecafe.com/

Language Ambassador Updates  

Looking for Host Families

The LA team is looking for SPRING host families. The main requirement for hosting an LA in your home is 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.

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• • •  Dia De Los Muertos • • •  

‍THANK YOU SO MUCH  to all that could come out last weekend and celebrate DDLM with our school community. It was so fun to spend time together!! THANK YOU to Jessie More, the ISLA PTO, our LAs and all volunteers who came together to make this such a spectacular event!!

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• • •  Spirit Store • • •  

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Have your students hit a growth spurt? Decided that long sleeves are ok now that the weather is changing? The Spirit Store has them covered! The Spirit Store is now open through Sunday, November 12th! You can order by clicking on this link! Delivery will be to the student's classroom the week of December 18th, right before winter break.

NEW THIS FALL! The Spirit Store now offers winter hats and joggers to stay warm while running errands and attending activities!

The Spirit Store is provided by the ISLA Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) for families to purchase uniform approved shirts and sweatshirts and show their school spirit! The Spirit Store is a fundraiser for the PTO, and proceeds support PTO sponsored events such as the back to school picnic, provide funds for classroom supplies and field trips, and also supports the LA program.

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

Questions? Please contact spiritstore@isla.school

• • • Community PTO Meetings • • •  

Next meeting: 11/8 6:00-7:30pm (food at 6, meeting begins at 6:30!)
‍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

Meeting ID: 214 553 3786
Passcode: ISLAPTO

View prior meeting slides:  Link to PTO Community Meeting Slides & Recordings

– Please RSVP –

It will help us plan dinner portions as well as childcare (provided by our LAs)  

PTO Community Meeting Attendance

• • • Upcoming • • •  

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

Wednesday 1/18 4–9pm
‍Cafe Zupas
13000 Technology Dr., Eden Prairie, MN 55344

• • • More ways to get involved • • •

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Serve lunch to your kids!

While this isn’t technically a “PTO-sponsored” volunteer opportunity, it is a really fun thing to do at school. So I just wanted to give a quick shoutout to Jorge in the kitchen!! This year was the first time I’ve been able to volunteer for lunch, and it’s been a blast both times I’ve been in. Jorge is fun to work with and it’s so cool to see your kids get excited to see you during their day (you can also go sit with them for a bit between serving)!! Plus, you can get a peek at how DELICIOUS the food has been this year with our new vendor– YUM!! Sign-ups are posted about a month in advance to help plan your schedule. Come try it out!!

Click here to see available slots!

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! If you have access to donations of comparable items outside of Amazon, just reach out to me at ptosecretary@Isla.school and I’ll get their list updated!

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 Adams
‍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
Lunch: Jorge Gomez

Special Education
‍Ruth Garcia
‍Tatiana Gordillo
‍Thairys Rodriguez

Office
‍Emily Smith
Jessica Gielen
‍Nurse: Tanya Nelson

• • • 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.

• • • Ways to help with Fiesta  • • •

Volunteer your time!!!

We will respect the time you have available whether it be 1hr or 10hrs per week/month/etc. Click here to view the different areas of interest for small & big ways to help plan this party & fundraiser!

Donate a Great Gathering!!!

This year, we are encouraging Great Gatherings to be held 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! 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  • • •

Gift Basket Donations
‍Community/Parent Donations
Staff/LA Donations
*Info on Fiesta 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!

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