IIS/STEAM Family Newsletter

Hello IIS/STEAM Families,

It’s hard to believe October is nearly over, and we’re about a week away from our PTO Halloween Party and fifth-grade Haunted Hallway! Our 5th graders began planning on Monday, with a record 72 students volunteering to create this year’s spooky hallway experience. We’re excited to see their ideas come to life and watch them carry on this beloved tradition.

This is our most popular family event, and your support helps make it possible! If you’re able to volunteer some time or donate candy, please use the sign-up link to lend a hand. We appreciate every contribution and look forward to welcoming families for an evening of fun.

Thank you, also, to everyone who attended conferences and visited the Book Fair. We value the opportunity to connect, celebrate your children’s growth, and talk together about how to support them. We’re grateful for your partnership and the many ways you help make IIS and C-I STEAM a welcoming school community.

Warmly,
Mrs. Edwards

If your student will be late, leaving for an appointment, or absent for the entire day, please notify us by calling or emailing the Attendance Line.

Please do not email, call, or text Ms. Diamond directly, as she may also be absent and the substitute may not have access to those messages.

When leaving a voicemail, please:

• Spell your student’s first and last name.

• State the reason for the absence

Attendance Line: 763-552-8810
Available 24/7

Thank you for helping us keep accurate attendance records and ensure the safety of all our students!

On Wednesday November 4th, the Lion’s Club will be coming to conduct vision screenings using a spot screener. All students in Kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, and 5th grade will be screened.

These screenings produce images of a child's eye to determine the presence of eye disorders including far-and near-sightedness, astigmatism, anisometropia (unequal reactive power), misaligned eyes, cataracts, and amblyopia (lazy eye). No physical contact is made with a child and no drops are used during the vision screening. This screening is approximately 85-90 % effective in detecting problems that cause reduced vision.

We are very thankful to the Lion’s Club for this opportunity!

Please contact Nurse Amanda 763-552-8809 with any questions or concerns.

On October 20, more than 150 fourth graders from Isanti Intermediate and C-I STEAM participated in a Kindness Retreat at the Cambridge Armory! Presented by Youth Frontiers and supported by a PeaceMakers MN grant and fundraising dollars, the day included games, music, dancing, and meaningful conversations about kindness.

The theme, “Kindness is a Boomerang,” reminded students that when we extend kindness to others, it often comes back to us. Cambridge-Isanti High School students led small-group discussions about showing kindness at school and helping when someone is being bullied. Each fourth grader also created a Kindness Pledge, identifying ways to be kinder, someone to thank, or someone to apologize to.

Keep the conversation going at home by asking your child about their pledge: “How have you put it into action?” or “What could you do if you saw someone being treated unkindly?” These conversations help students turn the day’s lessons into everyday actions that make our school more welcoming for everyone.

Your feedback matters!

We want to hear how the school year is going for your child, what is working well, and where we can improve. We also want your feedback on our fall pilot of daytime conferences.

Every response helps us better understand family experiences, identify needs, and make meaningful improvements throughout the school year.

Get ready for a spooktacular night of fun! Our annual PTO Halloween Event is happening on Friday, October 30, from 6:30–7:30 p.m. Families are invited to join us for a night full of games, giggles, and a few friendly frights!

The star of the evening is our 5th Grade Haunted Hallway — created and run by our amazing 5th grade students. This year marks the 19th year of this frightfully fun tradition! Take a walk through the Haunted Hallway (if you dare!), play carnival-style games in the gym, or relax in the cafeteria with coloring and conversation.

Costumes are encouraged but not required — come dressed for fun and ready to enjoy a boo-tiful evening with our school community!

Two years ago, a group of our third graders who participated in Minnesota Reading Corps with Ms. Kim entered a contest to name an Isanti park—and their suggestion, Woodland Park, was selected! Now fifth graders, these students can take pride in their lasting contribution to our community.

Woodland Park’s official ribbon cutting will take place on October 27 at 5:00 p.m.

Woodland Park - 905 Triumph Trail NE, Isanti

What a wonderful reminder that our students’ ideas can make a difference!

Dear Families

Volunteer opportunities are popping up across our schools!

If you haven’t yet completed your New Volunteer Information Form for this school year, now is the perfect time to do it!

Completing your form gets you ready to jump in when opportunities come your way—including:

• Helping at school events and activities

• Supporting classrooms and teachers

• Chaperoning field trips

• Staying connected with school events

Don’t miss out! There is so much happening across Cambridge-Isanti Schools, and we want you to be ready to be part of it.

Please take a few minutes to submit your New Volunteer Information Form so you can be ready when the next opportunity comes your way.

Thank you for being part of the Bluejacket volunteer family!

Angela Lindell

Volunteer Coordinator

IPS - IIS - CISTEAM - Community Education

alindell@c-ischools.org

Dear Families,

School pictures are now available! To see if your child's pictures are available to view, please log in to your account at mylifetouch.com. If you don’t have an account yet, you can create one using your email address.

Isanti Intermediate & C-I STEAM School

Picture Day Date: October 07, 2026

Picture Day ID: EVTBBTS92

To locate your child's photos, you'll need their Student ID or Portrait ID and Access Code. If you don't have this information, you can:

• Check your inbox for an email from Lifetouch that may contain your access credentials and a direct link to your child's images.
• Wait for your proof sheet to arrive, which will include your Portrait ID and Access Code.
• Contact the Lifetouch Help Center for assistance

Please note that pictures may not become available for all students at the same time, so check back later if you don't see your child's images yet.

-Lifetouch

• Haunted Hallway PTO Halloween Party - October 30, 6:30-7:30pm

• Picture Retakes - November 5
• No School - November 26 & 27
• End of Trimester 1 - December 3
• No School - December 4
• No School (Winter Break) - December 24-January 3
• Kindergarten Information Meeting - January 4, 6:00-6:30pm
• PTO Meeting - January 5, 6:30-7:30pm
• Family Kahoot Trivia Night - January 22, 6:30-7:30pm

You're Invited!

Tuesday, November 10, 6:30-7:30pm

All are welcome to attend IIS/STEAM PTO meetings. Meetings are 6:30-7:30pm, and they are held in the IIS/STEAM Main Office Conference Room. We hope you'll join us.

• November 10
• December 1
• January 5
• February - no meeting
• March 2
• April 6
• May 4