Lester Park School Newsletter

Feb 2...KEYZone Summer Registration Opens
Feb 2-3...Main Teacher Conference Dates & Meals
Feb 2-6...PTA Book Fair
Feb 12...School Community Meeting (More Info Below)
Feb 16-20...NO SCHOOL (Winter Break)
Mar 2...NO SCHOOL (Staff PD Day)

More events on our Lester Park Calendar HERE

2025-26 District Calendar with 4 Day Specialist rotation HERE

(PD=professional development/NO SCHOOL for students)

Other Helpful Links:

Lester Park Family School Handbook

School District Student Handbook

Lester Park Staff List by Grade/Dept

Previous Lester Park Newsletters

We have had quite a few students who haven't been bringing hats and mittens to school. Students do go outside 1-2 times a day when temperatures or windchills are not below -15, like today.

Please make sure your child brings a hat, gloves, boots, warm jacket, and snowpants each day. Students without snowpants or boots will not be allowed to play on the field.

We are low on new hats and gloves for students who do not have them. If you would like to donate new hats or gloves/mittens, we would love to have some! Thank you!

The PTA is looing for food & beverage donations for teacher meals on the 2 main conference nights. They are this coming Monday and Tuesday, Feb 2 & 3. Conference Days are long days for teachers, and what a treat that they don't have to think about supper!

Below is a sign-up link. You can donate a food, beverages, or money toward sandwiches.

Feb 2-3 Teacher Conference Meal Sign-Up

Thank you to everyone who donates, and to our wonderful PTA for organizing this!

We are looking for one or two adults who would be interested in being a lunch monitor. If you would rather be outside on the playground, we can make that work as well!

We know we will be short on Wednesdays and some other days as well. We are flexible when you need days off! If you only want to work a couple of days a week, no problem! If you want to work more, great!

Applying is easy, just email us at lesterpark@isd709.org and we will give you instructions.

Start time is by 10:30 and end time is 1:10. Pay is $15/hour.

The PTA Book Fair is Next Week! Students will have the opportunity to shop with their classmates, as well as on the main 2 conference nights.

Volunteers are still needed to help run this fun event. Please click on the link below to find out the classroom shopping times and to sign up. Thank you!

PTA BOOK FAIR SIGN UP (JAN 30-FEB 5)

eWallet

Go cash-free with eWallet, the digital payment option that lets families add money so kids can shop the Book Fair independently. Volunteers will be there to help them out.

https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/lesterparkelementaryschool

"Order Your Yearbook" with an open book illustration.

If you would like to order a Personalized yearbook for your child, you will need to order it by January 30. After this date, only generic yearbooks will be available for purchase.

Families are able to order yearbooks through Jostens until the supply runs out. Yearbooks cannot be purchased in the office. Please do not send money to school. Purchased yearbooks will be given to students after Memorial Day.

Jostens emailed parents last month with information on how to order Yearbooks. You can also find this information here: JOSTENS YEARBOOK WEBSITE

Payment Options:

Jostens has a variety of flexible payment options available at checkout! Order your student's yearbook and choose the payment method that works best for you: Apple Pay, Afterpay, Venmo, PayPal or credit card. Terms Apply.

The PTA will host a School Community Meeting February 12th from 5:30pm-7:00pm in the Library/Media Center.

The "Safe Routes to School" Team will join us to discuss how to safely walk/bike/roll to school. More info to come next week!

"Illustration of three smiling children jumping above the text 'Kindergarten Registration' in colorful letters."

We have lots of great kindergarten information, and we want to make sure families receive it. One is about our Kindergarten Meet & Greet from 4pm-6pm on Thursday, March 19.

Do you know a family who has a child entering Kindergarten this fall? Please let them know about our Meet & Greet and ask them to contact us - lesterpark@isd709.org.

Here is our way of making sure we can contact families: 2026-27 Kindergarten Contact Form. We will also provide enrollment tips such as the 2026-27 Registration opens on February 1.

Students already enrolled in Lester's K-5 programs this school year do NOT need to register again. They are automatically enrolled in the next grade level.

YMCA day camp flyer with registration information and colorful images of children with sports gear.

Flyer for "Girls on the Run" program with program details, event times, and registration information.

What do I do if my child is going to be absent from school?

Email lesterattendance@isd709.org (the office & nurse will both see these emails)
or call attendance line 336-8875 then “3” to leave a recorded message
Please list any specific symptoms - especially Flu and GI symptoms.
Teachers may have a preferred way for you to report an absence to them.

If the office does not know why a student is absent, an automated phone call and an email message will be sent out at sometime between 8:30-9:00. This is for safety reasons.
If your child is absent, or going to be absent, be sure to leave a reason. If no reason is given, it will be marked as an Unexcused Absence.
If you have health questions, you can call our school health office at 336-8875 x2654

Many students and parents are frequently concerned about when students should stay home or attend school. The following information is intended to help with this decision.

General practice:

If a student has had a fever of 100 degrees or more, the student must stay home for 24 hours after the temperature returns to normal without fever reducing medication.
If a student has vomited two or more times in the past 24 hours and/or had diarrhea, the student must stay home until 24 hours after the last episode.
If a student has had any rash that may be disease-related or the cause is unknown, check with your family physician before sending the student to school.
If a student is ill, please call the school daily to report the illness.

When a student is sick, parents often wonder whether or not to keep a child at home from school. If a child stays home and has the care they need when first sick, they will often get better faster. Staying home and resting will help the body fight the sickness.