2025-05-01 Noticias de ISLA y ISLA PTO
Emily Smith
Fundraising Committee Corner
Don’t forget to support our final fundraiser of the year by participating in our Square1Art campaign! If we reach 45% school participation, we will celebrate with a school-wide popcorn party! Deadline to order is next Wednesday, May 12th.
Have you found your student’s art yet? All student artwork is displayed near the elevator and staff lounge at ISLA! Next time you are at school, see if you can find your student’s square in the display!
Search for your child’s artwork on the Square1Art website (School: ISLA International Academy).
**A generous donor has offered to purchase an item for any family interested in participating who may not have the funds. To inquire, please email Lisa Wittig.**
ISLA NEEDS YOUR HELP WITH BENCHMARK TESTING!
Schoolwide benchmarking starts next week and we have lots of need for volunteers! Everyday from 9-11 and 1-3 for the next 4 weeks we are running schoolwide spring benchmarking. This is a heavy lift and we need all the help we can get from our supportive ISLA community!
Link to volunteer for benchmarking 5/5-5/16
Link to volunteer for benchmarking 5/19-5/30
Thank you so so much! Your efforts help make our process smoother for the staff and the kids!
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School Board Election - May 9-12
ISLA's annual board of directors election will be held via an online voting platform, Election Buddy, from May 9-12, with results announced at the May 13, 2025 Board meeting. All ISLA staff members and parents/guardians of ISLA students are eligible to vote for school board members.
Eligible voters should receive a unique ballot link by email on Friday, May 9, 2025 and will be permitted to cast their vote using that link anytime thereafter until 5:00pm on Monday, May 12, 2025. Please check your spam folder if you don’t see the email.
If you do NOT currently have an email address on file with the school, 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 9, 2025 and Monday May 12, 2025.
Biographies of the board candidates and a sample ballot can be found on the ISLA website: https://www.isla.school/board/board-candidates
Yearbook Orders
Last chance to order ISLA yearbooks! Order TODAY!
https://www.treering.com/purchase?PassCode=1016123740893948 School Code: 1016123740893948
MAY(cember) HAS ARRIVED!
We all know that early Spring is a busy time of year, and that’s no different here at ISLA! Kids’ sports, music lessons, park play dates, family gatherings, school concerts… Plus don’t forget to prepare healthy dinners, meal prep, gentle parent, exercise and practice self-care while taking care of your own mental health while managing your child(ren)’s mental health, too!!
IT’S FINE! EVERYTHING IS FINE!
But in all honesty, we REALLY do get it. We hear you and we feel the same… We over communicate! While we don’t want to be a part of the problem… Part of the overwhelming chaos that is being the parent of a young child in school & activities, the PTO Board is trying to piece together the most effective way to engage with our amazing ISLA Community… AKA you! And hey, as it happens… There are some great opportunities on the Board looking to next year, and your ideas, time and talents are just what ISLA needs! So while I know there can be a lot to sift through, we do try to ensure it’s all valid & important stuff worth highlighting.
So… Here. We. Go.
Benchmark Testing
Volunteers Needed
Schoolwide benchmarking starts next week and our staff has some amazing volunteer opportunities!! Everyday from 9-11 and 1-3 for the next 4 weeks we are running schoolwide spring benchmarking. This is a heavy lift and we need all the help we can get from our supportive ISLA community (that’s YOU)! So whether it’s your first time volunteering at your child(ren)’s school or you’re a seasoned pro… Please grab a slot that works for your schedule…. Or you can accommodate even if it’s not the most convenient timing in the world, public charter schools like our school can only thrive with the help & support of our community.
Volleyball with Profe Carly AKA COACH!!
THIS FRIDAY!!
Last chance to get in on this generous AND FUN opportunity to get a small group experience with a skilled volleyball coach to share her love & knowledge of a fun team sport!! Don't miss your shot...
Additional Community Connections Available
SPEND TIME WITH THOSE IN THE ISLA COMMUNITY
There are still a few opportunities to get in on an ISLA family or staff-hosted event!! Many are held into the late Spring and even into Summer, so even if you didn't attend Fiesta, you can still snag a ticket for some fun for you and/or your child(ren) while supporting the Language Ambassador Program!!
Check out available events here!
PTO Spring Community Meeting
RECAP + SUMMARY
The current and future leaders of PTO held an outstanding Community Meeting earlier this month, recapping a successful year and looking forward to changes for next year. You can revisit the slide deck and a summary of what was covered via the links below, but a few key details include:
- Fundraising efforts throughout the year totaled over $180K, with a record breaking $100K at this year's Fiesta
- We celebrated the successful 2-year tenure of PTO Chair, Jenner Moretto, and announced that next year's PTO Chair will be Bob Sparkins
- Grade groups will be a new way for organizing volunteers (including room parents) and sharing the workload for next year
- You're invited to raise your hand for nomination as a member of the PTO Board for next year — see the slide deck for specific roles and responsibilities
DID YOU CATCH THAT?!
We have officially hit a six-figure total for Fiesta 2025!! That marks 2025 as ISLA’s most successful year ever!! THANK YOU!!!! To our families, staff and teachers that have hosted, attended Community Connections, to Profe Lina for coordinating the amazing staff dance and to our LAs for their fun performance, too!! What an absolutely AMAZING achievement!!!!
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AVAILABLE
The links below should lead you directly to the listed event, but if the website is giving you any issues, you can follow the instructions shown on the image below. The main website is fiesta25.givesmart.com
Please reach out to Caitlin Edstrom or fiesta@isla.school with any questions.
INTRO TO VOLLEYBALL
Friday, May 2nd @4pm
Where: ISLA Gym
Who: ISLA Students grade 3-5
Full details & tickets via this link!
AI WORKSHOP: NEW DATE
Thursday, May 8th 2-3:30pm
Where: ISLA Flex Room
Who: ISLA Parents
Full details & tickets via this link!
BOW-MAKING CLASS
Friday, May 9th 4:30pm
Where: ISLA
Who: ISLA Kinder - 2nd graders
Full details & tickets via this link!
MINNEHAHA FALLS ADVENTURE
Saturday May 17th, 2-4:30
Where: Minnehaha Falls
Who: ISLA Students in grades 3-5
Full details & tickets via this link!
LAKE HARRIET PICNIC & RIDE
Saturday, May 17th
Where: Lake Harriet Bandshell
Who: ISLA 3rd, 4th & 5th Graders
Full details & tickets via this link!
2ND GRADE POOL PARTY
Saturday, June 7th 10am-12pm
Where: Oak Ridge Pool
Who: 2nd Grade Students
Full details & tickets via this link!
4TH GRADE OUTDOOR MOVIE NIGHT
Friday, June 13th 8:30-10:30 (due to sunset time)
Where: Van Eps Family Home in Minnetonka
Who: ISLA Students in 4th grade
Full details & tickets via this link!
5TH GRADE POOL PARTY!
Saturday June 21st 1-4pm
Where: Murray Family Home in Hopkins
Who: ISLA Students in 5th grade!
Full details & tickets via this link!
MOM’S POOLSIDE ESCAPE
Saturday, July 19th
Where: Kregel Home in Bloomington
Who: ISLA Moms
Full details & tickets via this link!
2ND ANNUAL SUMMER SOCIAL
Saturday, July 26th 11-2
Where: Valley Park in Hopkins
Who: ISLA Families!
Full details & tickets via this link!
PRIVATE YOGA & POOL TIME
Date is TBD with guests
Where: The Fred in Edina
Who: ISLA Parents
Full details & tickets via this link!
MINNEHAHA FALLS SCAVENGER HUNT
Date is TBD by the winners
Where: Minnehaha Falls
Who: ISLA Parents
Full details & tickets via this link!
ISLA WINE PARTY
Date is TBD by the winners
Where: Total Wine & More (Chanhassen)
Who: ISLA Parents
Full details & tickets via this link!
LET’S ALL GIVE OUR amazingly talented SpEd Teacher, Jessica DeLapp a HUGE THANK YOU… A high-five, a hug, a gift card, a handwritten note…
What an absolutely stunning gift she has given our school for years & years to come with this mural painted on the wall inside the front entrance to ISLA. Last night before the PTO Meeting, a group of 5th graders were assisting her in adding more detail & color. WOW!!! We are so lucky to have such talent within our school! This will definitely provide a warm & wonderful welcome to our new families next week!
THANK YOU JESSICA!!!
OFFER UP YOUR UNIQUE IDEAS
HUGE shout-out to ISLA parent Bri Fleetham Broman for making and decorating these adorable cookies for our staff in celebration of St. Patrick's Day (gluten free options included)!
We definitely are lucky to have the teachers we do balancing an IB education + language skills is no small undertaking. But we are also lucky to have parents like Bri and her husband Joe that ensure public charter schools like ours THRIVE!!
Thank you for starting the staff's week off on such a positive note. I saw so many smiles and joyful reactions as teachers saw their treats!
Have an idea like this you'd like to do for our staff or kids?
It is always welcomed and encouraged to do so! If you have questions on how to go about coordinating something, reach out to Caitlin Edstrom at ptosecretary@isla.school
SAVE THE DATES
Thursday 5.15.25: ISLA at LA Doña
We are so excited to return to La Doña for a fun night of connecting with new & old friends while enjoying some delicious food & drink. Mark your calendar & get ready for fun as this will also be Sr Izquierdo’s going away party!! https://dameladona.com/
Thursday 10.02.25: 2nd annual ISLA Takeover at Great Wolf Lodge
Use Code: 2510ISLA
- $90 Room Rates !
- Resort Fee Reduced – From $34.99 down to just $9.99
- Parking Discount – Reduced from $15 to only $5
- Complimentary Group Cabana
- Reserved for us both Thursday and Friday
- 6 wristbands per room, no questions asked!
- LAs Included! – Two rooms provided for our LAs to join in the excitement with the ISLA community!
Cabana-Banquet on Thursday Evening!
Cost: $20 per person ($60 max per family) – This helps us meet our food & beverage minimum while covering tax and gratuities!
LA UPDATE
We currently have 7 Language Ambassadors hired for ‘25-’26 and 1 in the interview process. Before year-end, we aim to have a minimum of 10, with the potential for more as we work to rebuild what the LA Coordinator role looks like on the PTO Board– Exploring the possibility of that becoming a paid position.
Working from a tentative total of 10 LAs, we are now accepting applications for LA Host Families for next year!! Please know, that expressing interest in hosting does NOT rope you into being a firm YES. The image here shows the timeline & process the PTO Board goes through to ensure a good fit for both the LA and for your family!!
LA Q&A CALL W/PAST HOSTS
Want to learn a bit more and ask some questions before filling out the form?
No problem!! 5/1 @7pm will be the next call (and this will be recorded)! Register via the link!
Kudos to the Community
There are so many wonderful humans in the ISLA Community & we would really LOVE to give special shout-outs to those that deserve it!! Please check out the page on the PTO Website to see these shoutouts!!
If you’d like to share a positive experience you’ve had with a teacher, staff member, LA, parent, grandparent or even a student– Please complete this form (available in English & Spanish)!
Lost & Found: April 2025 Update
Courtesy of amazing ISLA parent Laci Haviland + additional support!! Thank you Laci for coordinating this!! If you would like to support Laci’s efforts with the Lost & Found, please contact Laci at HavilandSchool@gmail.com
We have some important updates regarding Lost & Found procedures. Please review the details carefully, as there are newer changes you’ll want to be aware of.
Due to the frequent overflow of items, we will be implementing a continuous rolling Random Soft Clear-Out for the remainder of the 2024-2025 school year.
Full update available in both English & Spanish
PTO Quick Links
