Park Terrace Elementary
Dear Families,
As we've asked parents and guardians over the last year what their hopes and dreams are for their children at school, one that rises to the top is that their child(ren) have friends at school and a community. As a staff, we don’t leave this to chance.
We start each day with a morning meeting with the purpose of setting a positive tone for the day, building community, and supporting social, emotional and academic growth. Relationships and community are built through greeting each student, sharing, and practicing our CARES (cooperation, assertion, responsibility, empathy, and self control) through an activity. We end the day with a similar structure, with a closing meeting. We reflect on the goals of the day and set ourselves up for the next day.
As I’ve spoken to families, one of the strongest hopes and dreams is that each student has friends and is happy at school – these practices at the start and end of each day are ways we work towards meeting these hopes and dreams each day.
We hope you are planning to attend our Passport for Learning event this evening, 5-6:30 p.m. Please join us for interactive stations, informative presentations, technology support, and snacks.
Thanks for your continued support of our Wacky Run Fundraiser! This is our only fundraiser and your help is much appreciated. We’re hoping that each student can raise $5 from 5 friends or family members for participating in the Wacky Run. Students can dress in wacky clothes for the run. The Wacky Run will be Friday, September 26 at the following times:
- 10-10:30 a.m. - Kindergarten
- 10:40-11:10 a.m. - Second grade
- 11:20-11:50 a.m. - Fourth grade
- 1:15-1:25 p.m. - First grade
- 2-2:30 p.m. - Third grade
Have a great week,
Lindsay
Imagination Creations!
Looking around Park Terrace you will see all kinds of talent. Our students use their imaginations to solve problems, create friendships and build zoos, towers and even helicopters!
Creating Connections
On the first morning of a new school year, laughter and energy filled Nicole Kulics’ 2nd grade classroom as students played a round of “Red Light, Green Light.” The familiar game, woven into their morning meeting, gave students a chance to move, interact and shake off first-day jitters in a fun, low-pressure way. More than just a game, it set the stage for comfort, belonging and a positive tone for the day and year ahead.
These early moments matter. In the first days of a new school year, creating connections - with classmates, teachers and the school community - is more important than ever.
Throughout Spring Lake Park Schools, those connections are not left to chance. Across all grade levels, staff are intentional about building classroom communities.
Parents and guardians consistently share one of their greatest hopes for their children: that they have friends at school and feel part of a caring community.
Read more about how staff are Creating Connections from day one.
Levy for Learning – School Funding and How We Stack Up
At Spring Lake Park Schools, enrollment growth and careful management have helped us maintain a balanced budget for the last 14 years. This is highly unusual. We are among a very small group of districts that have continued to enhance student programs and opportunities without making budget cuts.
A majority of our school funding comes from the state through general education aid. State and federal grants cover some expenses for specific needs like special education. Additional needs are supported by local property taxes. Each year, school districts like ours work to balance our funding sources with current student needs and stay within our budget.
After years of careful management, inflation, unfunded requirements from the state, birth rate declines and other factors are now pushing us beyond what we can sustain without additional support from our community.
Out of 37 Twin Cities metro school districts, our current voter-approved operating funding is the lowest at $194 per student. We’re proud of what we’ve built for students with much less than others, and we want to maintain it.
Fiscal responsibility is a core capability of Spring Lake Park Schools and current and ongoing commitment. This fall’s operating levy referendum question has been crafted to minimize taxpayer impact and provide funding for our schools when it is needed. Find more information at SpringLakeParkSchools.org/Levy2025.
Panther Pride Sweepstakes is starting soon – enter for a chance to win
Win $500 for your school, $50 Panther Store gift card for you and have a chance at winning two party tickets for the February 28 Panthers for a Purpose party featuring the band Good for Gary!
Starting Sunday, September 21, visit the sweepstakes page to enter the daily Panther Pride Sweepstakes. Show your Panther Pride by answering a trivia question daily, September 21-24. Families can enter one time each day and can include all students in the family. A student winner and a staff winner for each school will be drawn on Thursday, September 25 and winners will be acknowledged at the Spring Lake Park High School Homecoming game on Friday, September 26. Good luck, Panthers!
Panther Store Homecoming Sale and Special Edition Shirt
Homecoming is almost here - let’s show our Panther pride! Grab fresh gear for the big week and save 15% online September 18–27 with code 25Homecoming
Additionally, the store will be selling special edition shirts for $5. These are adult sizes only and limited quantity while supplies last. Shirts are available online starting today!
