Nokomis North Principal Update

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October 11th, 2026

Dear Nokomis North Families,

As we move through the fall, I wanted to share a couple of things that have been on my mind...

Peer Conflict: Learning how to get along with others is a big part of growing up! Students are still learning how to handle disagreements, understand different perspectives, and work through difficult situations. In our Montessori environment, we encourage students to build independence, take responsibility for their actions, and learn how to solve problems with others. These skills take time and practice, and not every situation will have an easy solution. Talking with your child at home about friendships and disagreements, listening to their perspective, and encouraging them to think about how they might work through a problem can go a long way. We want students to know that it’s okay to have disagreements and that there are positive ways to move forward.

School Climate Survey: Students in grades 3–5 will be invited to take our school climate survey. This is one way adults at Nokomis North can hear directly from students about how they feel at school and what their experiences are like. Their feedback helps us better understand what is going well and where we might need to make changes. We want school to be a place where students feel comfortable, connected, and ready to learn, and hearing their perspectives helps us continue working toward that goal. This survey is anonymous, but if you prefer your child not participate, please reach out to me directly: lauren.bolopue@spps.org.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. I appreciate the ways our families and school staff work together to support our students, both academically and socially!

Warmly,

Principal Lauren

Looking for an easy way to spark conversation with your child? Try our This or That questions! These fun, simple choices are a great way to learn more about your child’s interests, share a few laughs, and connect through everyday conversations.

Many cultures wrap delicious fillings in dough.

Ask:

What food does your family love to make together, and what is it called in your home language?

Extend:

What is a new food that you might try to make together in the future?

This fall, your child completed some reading assessments. Per MN State Policy, families will receive a letter with some additional information about the assessments and ways to support reading at home if their child did not meet the fall assessment goal. As a reminder, we administer these literacy assessments three times a year. Our teachers use this assessment data, along with other student work and observations, to get a comprehensive view of your student's learning and growth.

During our fall conferences in November, teachers will share more about this assessment. Parent/Family-Teacher conferences are a great time to ask any questions you might have about the assessment or your child's progress. Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting your child(ren) in meeting their reading goals.

Please take a few minutes to complete the family form linked below. We need all families to complete this form to help our school continue receiving Title I funding. This funding can help us provide extra support for students, classroom resources, and opportunities that we may not otherwise be able to offer.

Every family completing the form helps our school continue to access these resources. Thank you for taking a few minutes to fill it out and support our students!

Fall parent/family-teacher conferences are an important opportunity to strengthen the partnership between home and school. These conversations allow families and teachers to connect, celebrate student growth, discuss progress, and work together to support each student’s learning and success. We strongly encourage all families to participate, as open communication and collaboration help build a strong school community. We will use PTC Fast for conference sign-ups, the same system we used last year. Families will receive an invitation to sign up on Monday, October 26.

Please mark your calendars for the following conference dates:

• Thursday, November 12: 5:00–8:00 p.m.
• Friday, November 13: Approximately 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. (Times may vary by teacher.)
• Tuesday, November 17: 5:00–8:00 p.m.

We look forward to connecting with families and working together to ensure every student feels supported and has the opportunity to thrive!

Monday, 10/12 - E2 Bdote Field Trip

Thursday, 10/15 & Friday, 10/16 - No School, MEA

Monday, 10/19 - EDL Begins

Wednesday, 10/21 - EDL

Monday, 10/26 - EDL

Wednesday, 10/28 - EDL

Thursday, 10/29 - PTO Fall Festival, 5:30-7:30pm

Friday, 10/30 - No School, Conference Prep Day for Staff

Saint Paul Public Schools is responding to family and staff feedback about screen time, social-emotional effects of technology, and the continued need for hands-on learning. There are many new and continuing technology safeguards in place for students in the 2026-27 school year. More information is available at spps.org/digital-support.

Here is a list of ways we are keeping our elementary students safe and engaged.

• YouTube is blocked on student iPads in grades PreK-5. Students will still be able to view videos that teachers have embedded into Seesaw.

• Google Gemini and other Artificial Intelligence websites are not available for all elementary students.

• Gmail is disabled in grades PreK-3.

• Elementary students’ iPads remain in the classroom and are only sent home in specific circumstances, such as e-learning days.

• Digital Citizenship is a requirement for Saint Paul Public Schools. All students PreK-12 complete Digital Citizenship, Online Safety / Privacy, Online Behavior and Cyberbullying lessons in class each fall. Teachers review lessons with students periodically throughout the year.

Additional student iPad security and restrictions are being enabled to keep students safe and focused. Among these changes:

• No mass e-mailing. There is a 35 recipient maximum for emails on student Gmail accounts.

• Students are unable to sign into their personal Google Account on their iPads.

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) Google search results have been limited and reduced from student access.

What you can do at home:

Families can use the free Securly app to manage your student's school iPad when it is at home. You can pause internet access, block specific websites or schedule offline time. In the Securly app, enter your Campus Parent email then tap “get instant access” to set up your account.

Families can also use iPad “Screentime Reports” (inside the Settings App) for similar controls and usage information. Elementary families can speak to their student’s teacher for more information.

Thank you for your partnership is support safe digital environments for our students!

When to Keep Your Child Home:

• They have had a temperature of 100 degrees or higher in the past 24 hours. The student may return to school when they are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication
• They have an undiagnosed rash with symptoms of illness
• They have vomited 2 or more times within the past 24 hours
• They have uncontrolled diarrhea and need to use the bathroom frequently
• They have an uncontrolled cough or shortness of breath, not responding to medication
• They feel too ill to remain in class and benefit from attending school
• They have been advised by a healthcare provider to stay home from school

• School begins at 9:30 am and ends at 4:00 pm. Students may enter the school at 9:15 am. Please, never leave your child unattended. We do not have staff available before 9:15 a.m., and the Main Entrance doors will not be open before 9:15 a.m.

• If you arrive after 9:30 am, bring your child to the Main Office to sign them in.

• If you need to change your child’s dismissal procedure for the day, please call the office before 3:15 pm. Notes to your child’s teacher can be easily lost, and emails to the teacher may be missed as they are working hard to support student learning. It is also possible that your child’s teacher may have a substitute on occasion who will not have access to emails. The only reliable communication is a phone call to the Main Office before 3:15 pm, (651) 744-7440. We have one office clerk, and once the pack-up and dismissal process begins, it is less likely that we will receive your message in time.

• Most all of our team members are involved in after-school activities, hold other jobs, and have families of their own, and we do not have staff available to supervise students after 4:15 pm. Please do your best to pick up your student(s) by 4:00 pm. If you have an emergency and will be late, please call the Main Office (651) 744-7440.

Attendance:

Please make sure always to report your child's absences. You can do this in two ways:

· Dial the attendance line directly at 651-744-7440

· Email us at shannon.platzer@spps.org and include your child's classroom teacher

Please include your child's name (spell their name if you are calling), grade, reason for absence,

your relationship to the child, and a return phone number where you can be reached if we have

questions about the reason for absence.

Please click on this link for district attendance information: https://www.spps.org/attendance

Visiting Our School:

We always welcome parents and visitors to our school. If you choose to visit during school

hours, please make sure you have an appointment or a planned visit with the respective staff member. We ask for your understanding that our teaching team is very busy during the school day

and will likely not be available to meet with you unless you have a scheduled appointment. Please

always stop by the office to check in, sign in, and get a visitor's badge.

In alignment with the SPPS Cellphone Policy, Nokomis North is a cellphone and personal electronic device-free school. Students may not have their cellphones and personal electronic devices on their person during the school day. Students are expected to leave their cellphones and personal electronic devices at home. We understand some children may need to have them before and after school. If your student has extenuating circumstances, they must leave their cellphone and/or personal electronic devices in their backpack for the entire school day. Nokomis Montessori North is not responsible for lost/stolen/damaged devices. If a parent/guardian needs to contact their child, they can call the office directly, 651-744-7440. A child who needs to contact their parent/guardian can request to use either the phone in their teacher’s room or the main office. Thank you for supporting the positive academic and social learning environment at Nokomis North.

We love and appreciate family involvement at our school! There are many opportunities to volunteer in classrooms, at school events, and during activities throughout the year. Whether you have a little time or a lot, your support makes a big difference. Please always coordinate volunteering and visits with the classroom teacher. We will verify by email or by calling the classroom before you can leave the Main Office. All visitors must sign in.

To ensure a safe environment for all students, all volunteers are required to complete a background check before participating. If you're interested in volunteering, please contact our school clerk to initiate the process. Once approved, you'll be able to volunteer at any time during the school year.

Thank you for being part of our school community!

Contact Shannon Platzer: shannon.platzer@spps.org

School Website: https://nokomisnorth.spps.org/
Location:985 Ruth Street, Saint Paul, MN 55119
Phone: (651) 744-7440

School Hours: 9:30 am - 4:00 pm

Office Hours: 9:15 am - 4:15 pm