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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, 2024).  Any student applications for a sibling received after the deadline will follow regular enrollment processes.

Note from the Nurse

Free COVID test kits for MN Households

If your family would like free at-home COVID test kits mailed to your house, please visit (https://sayyeshometest.org/). Each household in MN is eligible to order up to 4 free test kits every month. You can order more test kits the first day of each month. These test kits are made available by a cooperative effort with the MN Dept of Health, CareEvolution and community partners.

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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, 2024. No previous board experience is required.  There is a great interest in individuals with expertise in grant writing, fundraising/development, marketing, and human resources, to name a few areas, but we welcome anyone who is dedicated and ready to support ISLA and its community.

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. Currently 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, 2024. Questions about Board service and the election process can be directed to Isabelle Krisch, Chair of the Election and Nominating Committee, at ikrisch@isla.school.

Extra-curricular Activities

Intermediate Guitar with M&M (Manuel and Mili)

Wednesdays, Jan 17-March 13

Location: Flex Room
Tuesdays: 3:50-4:50 p.m.
Grades: 3 to 6
Max number of students: 10
Cost: $108 payable via cash, check made payble to ISLA-PTO, or Venmo @ISLA-PTO.  Please email Emily Smith at esmith@isla.school for scholarship information.

Students will learn the basic chords: C, D, E, F, G, A, B.  They will also learn rhythms on the guitar and the following songs: Los piratas de caribe; Super Mario bros beat song; Don’t worry, be happy; Titanic song

We expect that each student brings their own guitar (Not electric guitar).

Please send a snack and water bottle with your child.  Click here to register.

Upcycle Art Class with Francisco, Marina and Andrea

Tuesdays, Jan 16-March 12
Location: Art/Exploration room
Tuesdays: 3:50 - 4:50 p.m.
Grades: k-6
Max number of students: 20
Cost: $108 payable via cash, check made payble to ISLA-PTO, or Venmo @ISLA-PTO.  Please email Emily Smith at esmith@isla.school for scholarship information.

Students will make crafts using recycled materials.  Occasionally, students will have to bring some material from home.  Being such a large group of all ages (k-6), the older students will work with the youngest ones serving as role models.

Please send a snack and water bottle with your child. Click here to register.

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Creative Movement with Jawi

Jan 16 - March 12
Location: Buenos Aires room
Tuesdays: 3:50 - 4:50 p.m.
Grades: 3 to 5
Max number of students: 6
Cost: $108 payable via cash, check made payble to ISLA-PTO, or Venmo @ISLA-PTO.  Please email Emily Smith at esmith@isla.school for scholarship information.

The objective of this class is to help develop movement skills, memory, creativity, teamwork, problem solving, concentration and fun.  Each class will focus on different activities.

Please send a snack and water bottle with your student. Click here to register.

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Summer Camp

Summer camp registration will open the beginning of February. Any questions regarding summer camp can be sent to summercamp@isla.school.

‍https://www.isla.school/explore/summer-campshttps://www.isla.school/explore/summer-camps

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• • •  PTO Website • • •

Please visit the ISLA PTO website for a one-stop-shop of ALL things ISLA… Fiesta, Volunteer opportunities, donation needs and more!!

• • •  Acoustic Panels • • •

After successfully raising the funds for the new acoustic tiles in the gym, the PTO is looking for about 10-20 handy men or women to help with the installation. No prior experience necessary. Please contact Jenner Moretto at: ptochair@isla.school

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• • •  ISO: Rides for an LA • • •

We are seeking out volunteer(s) to assist in providing rides for one of our Language Ambassadors. If we don’t have a few consistent families that can accommodate, we will make a sign-up to see if we can accomplish this with a larger collaborative effort!!

Rides Needed: Tuesday & Thursday evenings
Pickup @ ISLA between 5-5:30pm
Drop off at Eisenhower (Hopkins: 169/7) for English class

Pickup from Eisenhower at 9pm
Drop off at his host family in Chanhassen

We are so excited to be hosting these monthly restaurant nights!! Our running total is a WHOPPING $2,528!!! Thank you for not cooking once a month and helping support the ISLA PTO!!!

• • • Upcoming • • •

Monday 2/12 4–9pm
‍MyBurger
10997 Red Cir Dr, Minnetonka, MN 55343

Wednesday 3/6 4–9pm
‍Patty Wagon
6042 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55419

Tuesday 4/9 4–6pm
‍FamFare Kitchen
(meal pickup service from the school– Details coming soon)

• • • More ways to get involved • • •

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Serve lunch!

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:

Referral Link 1
‍Referral Link 2
‍Referral Link 3

Mabel’s Labels

Keep your kid’s stuff out of the lost & found!! Check out the Tag Mates (or even the stamps) from Mabel’s Labels! This is yet another quick & easy fundraiser– 20% of proceeds will go back to the ISLA PTO– AND it will help you (and the staff) keep track of your child’s belongings!

Just Search for International Spanish Language Academy at www.campaigns.mabelslabels.com

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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. Their wishlist links are available on the PTO Website and are 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 add links as 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!

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Girls on the run

GIRLS ON THE RUN is coming to ISLA this spring!! It is an activity for 3rd – 5th grade girls with teams of 8-20 participants– We will be meeting twice a week for 8 weeks. This program helps girls prepare for a 5K while playing games and activities that incorporate life skills, such as managing emotions, being a good friend, standing up for yourself and others! Practices will be Tuesdays & Thursdays 4–5:30 and financial aid is available, no qualifying necessary. Registration will open on 2/1! GOTR Details!

Please email me PTOChair@isla.school with any questions!!

We are less than TWO months away!! Get your tickets!

What is Fiesta de la Primavera?!

It is ISLA PTO’s BIGGEST fundraiser and gathering each Spring where we come together as a community to mingle. We celebrate, dance, eat & drink. While doing that, we fundraise to provide 100% of the costs of the Language Ambassador Program!  Each year, ISLA PTO brings native Spanish-speakers to our school as teaching assistants to our kids. The LAs are an invaluable part of our school and Fiesta de la Primavera is the time that we are able to provide support for this amazing program!! To do that, the PTO gathers donations from both local businesses and within our community through Great Gatherings, gift baskets, gift certificates and countless other types of items!

What is a Language Ambassador’s role?!

– Working alongside our teachers in day-to-day tasks and interact with students
– Share their native culture w/students
– Offer a more diverse cultural experience
– Aiding in classroom projects & activities
– Providing support for lunch and recess times
– Teaching extra-curricular classes to the kids in Spanish!!

What to expect at Fiesta?!

– Adult only event - Book your babysitter!
– Open to staff, LAs, parents/caregivers AND your friends, family & neighbors!!
– A FUN night out!!
– Support for the LA program + our school as a whole!!
– Mingle with the ISLA community
– Enjoy delicious food, drinks & music

What is a Great Gathering?!

They are ISLA community-hosted events where you plan a fun get together for kids only, parents only or families. You submit your ideas to the Fiesta Committee and we sell tickets to your event– 100% of the proceeds go back to the ISLA PTO to support the Language Ambassador Program!!

Great Gatherings can 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 our kids, parents, LAs & staff together outside of the classroom and enjoy the wonderful community we have here!! We have included some examples below, but any and all ideas are welcome! We’d love to see what ideas might be unique to you & your family!

What’s Next?!
Get your tickets here!!

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Donate!!

Great Gatherings, gift baskets, gift cards or goods & services are all amazing donations!! You can click here to learn more about donation types & find the forms!

Attend a Great Gathering!!

Here are some of the Great Gatherings available NOW!! You can view more details & purchase tickets to these events on the Fiesta website!!

• Westwood Hills Nature Center Party
• Spanish Wine Tasting
• Wine & Tapas Party
• 3rd Grade Sledding Party (THIS WEEKEND!!)
• 2nd Annual Olympic Yard Games
• Summer Softball Social

Volunteer!!

We will respect the time you have available whether it be 1hr or 10hrs. Please reach out to fiesta@isla.school small & big ways to help plan this party & fundraiser!

Please feel free to reach out to us (Jenner Moretto or Caitlin Edstrom) at Fiesta@isla.school with any questions!

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