2025-05-15 Noticias de ISLA y ISLA PTO
Emily Smith
PYP Exhibition 2025
Our 5th graders are in the final stages of their Exhibition, a culminating rite of passage in which they study one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to write their own transdisciplinary unit of inquiry. Students will showcase their work for younger students during the school day on May 20. All are welcome to join us at 6:00pm on Wednesday 21st as our students present their PYP Exhibition to the community.
Exhibition Group - Zero Hunger
In an inspiring show of compassion and teamwork, a group of 5th grade students from ISLA have taken action to support the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of Zero Hunger. With energy and determination, the students organized a food drive to help families in need in their community.
Zero Hunger is one of 17 global goals adopted by the United Nations to create a better and more sustainable future for all. This goal focuses on ending hunger, achieving food security, and improving nutrition for people around the world.
Fifth grade students Caroline, Kate, Kelaiah, and Quinlan will be collecting non-perishable food items until May 22nd. There are boxes at the entrances to the school to collect these items. The donated food will be delivered to a local food bank, where it will be distributed to families in need.
Fundraising Committee Corner
Thank you all for supporting your student’s Square1 Art project! While the fundraiser ended on Monday, you can still order a memento with your student’s artwork anytime at Square1Art. Our goal was to hit 45% school participation, and while we didn’t quite get there, we still have much to celebrate! Our community raised $1,400 through this fundraiser to add to our Giving Tree total for the year! That will bring us to over $147,000 - smashing our goal of raising $145,000 to support ISLA school.
Please join us in celebrating at the End of the Year Celebration on Sunday, June 1st from 2-5pm. The committees of the School Board and the PTO are once again hosting a gathering to celebrate all that we have accomplished this past year. We will have food trucks, a bounce house, and a cake walk!
Field Day!
Field Day is around the corner! It will be on Friday, May 23rd and it will take place at ISLA. The alternate day in case of bad weather will be Friday, May 30th. Field Day is a non uniform day for students and I encourage them to bring sport clothes and comfortable tennis shoes. We will have two sessions for Field Day:
- Morning session games from 10:00 - 12:00 for PreK - Second grade.
- Afternoon session games from 1:15 - 3:15 for Third - Fifth.
Please make sure your kid brings a water bottle and sunscreen. Everyone is invited to come and watch!
Come lend a hand and spend the day with your kids as they enjoy Field Day! Sr. Diaz needs help with the food/drink station. Please sign up through the following link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C45A9AF2EA4FF2-56772430-field
Field Day Parking Restrictions
Teatro de Torti
We have exciting news Teatro de Torti is back! This parent led extracurricular will come back with 3 camps this summer:
Morning - 1-week camps:
- July 28 - August 1 - 9:00 - 12:00
- entering kinder to entering 6th grade
- Cuentistas will read well-known favorites in Spanish and English and work together using their voice and body to bring those stories to life! While in camp they’ll develop their storytelling toolbox and learn how to be great audience members when watching others perform.
- August 4 - August 8 - 9:00 - 12:00
- entering 2nd to entering 6th
- Ease on Down the Road with the Teatro de Torti team as we follow our hearts Somewhere Over the Rainbow and learn what it means to be Dancing through Life. In this jam packed, OZ themed week we look at the different storytelling of OZ, the musicals that have been inspired by it, and remember the lessons it taught us is the true MAGIC of oz.
Afternoon - 2-week camps:
Martina y Perez: A Bilingual Tale
- July 28 - August 8 - 12:30 - 16:30
- entering kinder to entering 6th grade
- In this short, bilingual children’s musical from Bad Wolf Press campers will learn how to sing, act, dance, while also learning about costumes, props, and set design. In our final day performers will get to show off their results and conclude with a FREE public performance at Centennial Lakes Amphitheater 8/8 @ 16:00!
Sign up today on this Google form!
https://forms.gle/wqfQ6GYN1rCap5Wc6
It's your time to get involved!!
As we wrap a fantastic year supporting our teachers, students, and Language Ambassadors, we celebrate what we've accomplished. We've all earned a well-deserved break.
But before summer hits, we invite you to raise your hand early to get involved next year.
We're building a brand new dream team of parents within the PTO executive committee, grade squad leaders, LA host families, and Abuelo/as.
There will be various opportunities for involvement at different levels of commitment, and we want to be able to hit the ground running before the next school year begins.
Our new PTO Chair Bob Sparkins will be sharing a "Vision 26" video next week. In the meantime, raise your hand early to get involved at https://pto.isla.school/getinvolved
Staff Appreciation Week!
It’s been a fun start to the week celebrating our wonderful teachers & staff… Thank you to the volunteers helping stock the kitchen and helping with set-up & tear down– We are all so grateful for your support! And we’ve heard how appreciative the staff is of their breakfasts & lunches this week!! Here’s a peek of the fun from Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday where the staff were treated to donuts, bagels, cinnamon rolls, sugar cookie decorating kits + Trader Joe’s gift cards along with a delicious Salad Bar!
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.
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
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!
SAVE THE DATES
**DATE CORRECTION FOR LA DONA****
Thursday 5.22.25: ISLA at LA Doña
Previously noted as Thursday 5.15– Apologies the correct date for both the
community giveback night and Sr Izquierdo’s going away party will be Thursday 5.22! 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!!
Surprise your child(ren) with a Lunchroom appearance!!
Volunteers can even visit with their children during their lunch period…
That is, if they won’t die of embarrassment of course.
Sign up here 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: May 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
https://linktr.ee/islaptofiesta25.givesmart.com
