Isanti Middle School

I hope everyone is doing well. Although spring has officially been here for a couple of weeks already, the cool temperatures early this week really gave everything an Autumn feel. A couple of yearly traditions helped us realize spring is really here.

First, this week we kicked off our spring sports season. Softball, baseball, track-n-field, golf, and boys tennis all braved the colder than normal temperatures and had a strong start to their seasons.

Second, every spring brings with it our state's school testing season. That is happening again this year as MCA testing starts next week, first for CIO students on the 30th, and our In Person students start May 4th. We hope this year's tests will give us a good indication of where students are in Reading, Math, and Science (8th grade), in comparison to where they were two years ago when they last took these assessments. I'd like to ask for your help in reinforcing for students the importance of doing their best on the test. This time also gives us a good opportunity to stress for students those things that will help them be more successful throughout their learning, getting the right amount of rest, eating a healthy breakfast, and coming to school prepared (charge chromebooks, etc.).

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s parking lot is intended to be for church parking only. They’ve been gracious enough to tolerate parents parking in their secondary (southwest) lot for drop off and pick up. However, they have seen an increase in the number of vehicles cutting across their parking lot, either to get to Oakwood Street NW or to the southwest lot.

The “cutting through” St. E’s parking lot needs to stop. If it doesn’t, access to the St. E’s lot will be lost. I ask for your help in improving this situation.

Thank you for your help in making our morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up run a bit more smoothly. We still have a bit of work to do and would like to ask for your continued assistance and cooperation on the following.

Traffic Lanes (Please refer to pictures below.)

• Outside (Blue) Lane: Used for drop off, or pick up
• Inside (White) Lane: Used for through traffic, or parking

Drop-Off:

• To assist in the flow of traffic along the front sidewalk of IMS students should exit the vehicle anywhere along the sidewalk (blue in the picture).
• Students do not have to be dropped off at the front entrance of IMS.
  
• PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE drop the kids off as soon as you arrive and then depart. The traffic congestion will become much less if we drop and go.

Pick-Up:

Students who walk/bike, or get picked up are the last group released, at about 3:15 pm. I would encourage you to have them wait for you, rather than you waiting for them.

Yield to Buses:

I would ask you to please yield to buses whenever coming on campus.

We have had a number of parent calls notifying us their student was choosing to stay home for the day and instead do distance learning. Please remember, we are currently in the In Person Learning model, with In Person learning Monday thru Thursday with Friday being a Distance Learning day. Unless a student has a medical reason, is in quarantine, or has a unique family reason preventing them from attending in person, they need to be in school. Please know that choosing to distance learn from Monday thru Thursday will result in an Unexcused Absence.

Does your student get enough sleep? Sleep is essential to health, both mental and physical, but most teens don't get the recommended 9-10 hours per night. Please consider a chat with your student about the importance of sleep and encourage them to use Change to Chill's "Head to Toe Relaxation" meditation - it's a great tool to help unwind at the end of the day.

• Life Balance link

TRIO/Upward Bound is a college readiness program designed to assist students who have the ability and desire to go to college. All activities and services are free to students enrolled in the program and may include: academic tutoring, college visits, scholarship opportunities and much more.

To qualify you must:

• Be a first generation college student, and/or
• Have limited family financial resources
• Complete the application process, and
• Be chosen by the TRIO/Upward Bound staff

Please contact Ms. Emmons at 691-8659 or temmons@c-ischools.org for more information or if you have any questions.

Email: rpauly@c-ischools.org
Website: https://www.c-ischools.org/domain/33
Location: 201 Centennial Drive Northwest, Isanti, MN, USA
Phone: (763) 691-8600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Isanti-Middle-School-Minnesota-Center-1616822051697940/
Twitter: @IMSANDMNC