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Letter from the Director

“You can do what I cannot do. I can do what you cannot do. Together we can do great things.” – Mother Teresa

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Queridas Famílias:

I hope this finds you doing well and enjoying the tail end of this mild winter.  It has been wonderful to see the level of parent participation at many of our recent gatherings, such as the Fiesta, along with the academic skills displayed by our ISLA students at the 4th grade Mercado, the 6th grade Wax Museum, and the 5th grade science fair.   Today, I would like to call your attention to some changes we are making in regard to our spring concerts. 

We have adjusted the structure of our concerts for 1st-4th grade to allow our community to see a wide range of music and to streamline the experience for students. We will now host concerts for 1st-4th Grades based on A-B-C groups. This means, if you are in 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A, your students will perform on the same night, and the same system will be used for B and C groups.

We made this shift for various reasons, but in particular to allow each class to shine and demonstrate their musical skills using all the instruments they've practiced. There will always be a total of 4 classes performing each evening for 1st-4th graders. In addition, it will simplify our method of rehearsing. 

Concert Dates: (All concerts will take place in the gym!--Thank you PTO and the Facilities committee for the Acoustic Panels!

A groups 1st-4th grades: Tuesday, April 30, 6:00 pm

B groups 1st-4th grades: Wednesday, May 1 6:00 pm

C groups 1st-4th grades: Thursday, May 2 6:00 pm

5th-6th grade: Wednesday, May 29 6:00 pm

Graduation Dates:

Kinder Doris: May 13, 1:00pm
Kinder Silvia: May 14, 1:00pm
Kinder Luis: May 15, 1:00pm
Kinder Maryann: May 16, 1:00pm

6th Grade Graduation (Gym): Friday, May 31 at 2:00 pm

5th Grade Graduation (Gym): Monday, June 3, 2:00 pm

I look forward to seeing you all at these and other academic events this spring. I wish you all a relaxing and safe spring break!

Atentamente, 

Jeremy

Lunch Ordering Window

The lunch ordering window will be open Tuesday, March 19 and close Monday, March 25th at noon. It is unfortunate that the lunch ordering window is happening during Spring Break. Please plan on placing your child's lunch order during this time as the window cannot be re-opened. Thank you for your understanting.

MCA Testing

This spring, students in our district and across the state will take the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs). These assessments are administered as part of federal and state law and are important tools to measure learning progress based on the Minnesota Academic Standards.

As a district, we are required by state statute to administer the MCA to our students.

Student participation in MCA testing provides us with data that informs reflection on our practices toward our mission to empower the whole child by nurturing the development of personal growth, strong character, academic excellence, and global vision.  Please reach out to our assessment coordinator, Sarah Devers, at sdevers@isla.school if you do not want your child to participate.  

MCA assessments are scheduled as follows:

MCA Reading Grades 3-6

April 1-12

MCA Math Grades 3-6

April 15-26

MCA Science Grades 5 only

April 29-May 3

Although parents and guardians have always had the right to refuse standardized testing, administering the MCA is not optional for the district. A parent refusal form must be on file with the school the week prior to testing. Students will join a test session unless a refusal form is on file.

For more information about MCA testing (including translated materials), please visit https://education.mn.gov/MDE/fam/tests/

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Community Listening Session

Message from the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Committee

ISLA's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee invites you, our parents/guardians and staff members, to help strengthen our school and community by joining a focused listening session. Conversations will center around current practices, concerns, celebrations, and ideas regarding diversity, equity and inclusion at ISLA.

Potential topics to be addressed: bullying/discipline, curriculum/representation, having courageous conversations (discrimination, offensive language, etc.).

If you are interested in attending the session on Thursday, March 28 (6-8pm), please sign up using this link, so we have an idea of how many people to expect and can plan accordingly.

Feel free to submit a question or topic for the listening session, so we can attempt to include it in our planning and brief presentation.

We hope you can join us!

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El Comité de Diversidad, Equidad e Inclusión (DEI) de ISLA los invita a ustedes, nuestros padres/guardianes y miembros del personal, a ayudar a fortalecer nuestra escuela y comunidad uniéndose a una sesión de escucha enfocada. Las conversaciones se centrarán en las prácticas actuales, preocupaciones, celebraciones e ideas con respecto a la diversidad, la equidad y la inclusión en ISLA.

Posibles temas: intimidación/disciplina, currículo/representación, tener conversaciones valientes (discriminación, lenguaje ofensivo, etc.).

Si usted está interesado en asistir a la sesión del jueves, 28 de marzo (6-8pm), por favor regístrese a continuación, para que tengamos una idea de cuántas personas esperar y podamos planificar en consecuencia.

Siéntase libre de enviar una pregunta o tema para la sesión, para que podamos tratar de incluirlo en nuestra planificación y una breve presentación.

Gracias!

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Results from “El mercado de 4to 2024”

Thanks everyone for attending our market this year! We made a new all-time record earning $3,730!! From that amount, the students decided to save 73% ($1,978) for their trip to Wolfridge in 5th grade. They decided to donate another 9% ($244) to a foundation called Make a Wish. Make-A-Wish is a foundation that grants wishes for children with critical illnesses. Their mission is to create life-changing wishes for children, and to grant the wish of every eligible child. For the rest of the money, they chose to keep 15% for a 4th-grade party ($488).

Other than the performance at the market, our gracious Queen Emily and our IB Coordinator Sarah Ashby gave some prizes. Congratulations to:

• Centro de Origami - The most creative business
• El toque sanador - The healthier business
• Fiesta de deportes - The most organized business
• El buffet del los amigos - Business with the best posters
• Mezcla fría - The nicest business
• Sorpresas misteriosas - Business with the best communicators
• Bolos misteriosos - The cleanest business

Below are some graphs that show their performance in the market. Some teams had a lot of donations. Therefore, it would not be fair to compare their performance only based on the profits. All students worked really hard!

Expenditures by team.

This is how much money they borrowed from the bank to start their businesses some including fines for running or sharing false information about other businesses.

Total sales by team

Highlights

As we continue to work on improving the PTO Website to be the go-to source for info, we will be trying to condense some of the info included in Noticias. Here’s to progress– And make sure you keep tabs on the website!!

‍MN Twins + ISLA

Join the ISLA community for a Twins game May 5! Already 250 people are part of our group for the game, and it's not too late to join us. Request more details by filling out the form at https://pto.isla.school/twins

• • • Get involved • • •  ‍

You can find more information on all of these topics on the PTO Website!

‍Serve lunch

Click here to see available time slots!

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Box Tops for Education
Get started!!

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Mabel’s Labels

Visit their website and search for International Spanish Language Academy

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Teacher Wishlists

Click here to view the full list of teachers broken down by grade!

Join the ISLA Community at some favorite local restaurants each month!!

A portion of purchases will come back to the ISLA PTO!!! So far this year, we have raised $3,104!!! Our next event is listed below, but please visit the PTO Website for the full schedule!

Tuesday 4/9 4–6pm

‍FamFare Kitchen (meal pickup at the school)
This night is a little different from other restaurant nights– Famfare Kitchen is here to give us a night off from cooking while supporting our school! 15% of all orders placed by Tuesday, April 9th, will be donated back to the ISLA PTO.

Who are they?
Famfare Kitchen is owned and operated by two Minnesota moms– They provide hot, homemade, family-style meals that serve 4-6 people. Meals include an entrée, salad, sides and/or bread, prepared fresh, hot and ready to eat! They also offer frozen meals you can pick up at the same time and throw it in the oven for an easy meal any night of the week!

How does it work?
You can place your orders by using our dedicated sign up link by Sunday, April 7th (Payment will be made via the signup genius link after you choose your meal(s)). On Tuesday, 4/9, you can pick up your meals at ISLA between 4-6pm, go home and enjoy a hot meal without the mess or stress! This is a business my family uses often, and it is such a lifesaver– Plus delicious!! On (non-fundraiser days), there is an address in Edina, not far from the school where we can pick up a hot meal on the way home and have dinner ready when the kids walk in the door!!

What's on the menu?
HOT: Pork Carnitas Taco Bowls (one of our very favorite dishes from FamFare!)
FROZEN: Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole (this one just gets tossed in the oven for about 45 minutes and BAM, dinner is ready!!

I'm so excited to share this family favorite with our ISLA Community. Just don’t forget to order some freshly baked cookies for dessert!

OH WHAT A NIGHT!

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We had an AMAZING time celebrating the school with our ISLA Community this past Saturday at the 17th Annual Fiesta de la Primavera!! We are absolutely overwhelmed with the love & support shown for our ISLA PTO Language Ambassador Program!

‍What's next?

Fiesta items that were not picked up Saturday are now ready for pickup in the office across from the wonderful Emily!!

All certificates are sorted by item# in that white bin (check the comments for an image on where to find your item#s on Givesmart!)

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Art projects are leaning against the file cabinet just inside the door.

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Please pickup your items ASAP as this space is also used by the staff!

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Great Gatherings: All March hosts & winners have been connected via email from fiesta@isla.school and we will continue to work on connecting all events hosts & winners in the coming weeks!

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There are still tickets available for Great Gatherings that we will leav open until the event is held or they sell out! There are some REALLY FUN events on the site- Please go check them out at: https://e.givesmart.com/events/sgz/i/_Great%20Gatherings/

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Please use this folder to share any photos you may have taken during the event.

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Raffle drawings for the school sponsored events will be done in the next week or so!

Questions? Reach out to me here on Facebook or via email at fiesta@isla.school

THANK YOU ISLA!! What a week it's been. We are so grateful for this community!

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Upcoming (March) Great Gatherings:

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3/16 Fiddler on the Roof: Check out a fun behind-the-scenes look at a production of Fiddler on the Roof. Enjoy the show, a meet & greet with the cast, a backstage tour and learning more about the theater experience!!

3/29 Kinder Colores: Srta Doris, Sra Najera & Sra Silvia for a fun afternoon of face paint, origami, optional hair painting and open play time with snacks provided!!

3/30 March Madness: Grab your ticket for this fun event... 4th–6th Grade 3-on-3 basketball tournament hosted by ISLA Albumi Families (kids & adults). Snacks & drinks provided!!

• • • Final Numbers • • •  

The Fiesta Committee has been working hard since Saturday to get a total amount raised for our Language Ambassador Program across our silent & live auctions, Fund-A-Needs & more. You can watch the full video update our amazing Fiesta MC, Bob Sparkins made, but we do have an estimate on our total (which our wonderful PTO Treasurer Michael Schulte will comb through to verify)... With that, you all helped the ISLA PTO raise a total of:

$88,381!!

Thank you so much to our amazing community. This has been a group effort that you all are included in, and we are so excited to see this outcome!! Please stay tuned for further updates, but I am so glad to report this as we move into Spring Break– We hope you all have a nice Spring Break traveling or relaxing at home.

–ISLA PTO

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Extracurricular Activities

This week was the last week of extracurricular activities for the winter session. The Young Rembrandts drawing class and chess club are ready to accept registration for the Spring session. The extracurricular activities that will be offered by the LA's will come out after spring break.

Chess Club

Here is the link to sign up for the spring session of chess: https://www.twincitieschessclub.com/school/ISLA%20Spring%202024

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Minnetonka Community Ed - Spring Events

Tonka Youth Triathlon

Saturday, May 18 | For grades K-8
Held at Minnetonka Middle School East
Race Announcements begin at 8:15 am. Race begins at 8:30 am.

Join us for the 20^th annual Tonka Youth Triathlon! All triathlon participants receive a wicking t-shirt, refreshments, swim cap and finisher medal. Trophies will be awarded to the top three male and top three female finishers in each division for participants grades K-8.

Learn More

Tonka Trail Trot

Thursday, May 2 | For grades K-5
Held at the Minnetonka Community Education Center and Deephaven Elementary
The first heat will start at 6 pm.

Run the trails and hills in this exciting, cross-country mile.

Learn More

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