Lighthouse School Newsletter
Lighthouse families,
We are off to a wonderful start and settling into the routines and rhythms of a new school year.
Yesterday, after the rain, a student walked into the building and immediately wanted to share something he had been thinking about. He told me that rain can form in a cloud anywhere from 1 to 7 minutes before it falls to the ground. He was so excited to share with me what he knew about rain and storms.
His excitement was a great reminder of how naturally our students notice things, wonder about them, ask questions, and want to dig deeper to understand how the world works. Inquiry doesn't always begin with a project or a lesson. Sometimes it starts with a rainy day, a question, and a student who can't wait to share what they have discovered.
As students become more comfortable with their new routines, we are beginning to see the little moments that help our community grow. Last week, I had the opportunity to join a morning meeting. Students greeted one another in another language, shared something they were looking forward to, and participated in an activity together. It was fun to be part of the experience and see students connecting with one another, building friendships, and creating a sense of belonging.
Experiences like morning meetings are happening in each classroom and throughout our school. They will continue to be an important part of our community throughout the year.
We are excited to invite you to a Curriculum Experience on Tuesday, September 22, 2026 at 3:15 p.m. During this event, you will have the opportunity to learn more about what is happening in each advisory, within the interdisciplinary units for trimester 1, and other experiences at Lighthouse. If you are unable to attend, your child’s advisor and facilitators will share all of the information.
Below are a few reminders and updates.
- Nut Aware School: Reminder that we are a nut aware school. We have students that are allergic to nuts. Please keep this in mind when packing lunches and snacks for your student. If your child packs a lunch containing tree nuts, peanuts, peanut butter, or other nut products, please make sure they know it must stay in a sealed container until eaten. Food containing nuts can only be eaten in the cafeteria.
- After School: After school activities at Westwood have started. It is so great to see so many students involved! Please let the office know if your child has a different plan for transportation at the end of the day.
It continues to feel great to be back in school! Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions. Your voice is valued, and your input is necessary to help us have the best year ever!
Have a great week!
Lisa Cisewski
Coordinator of Lighthouse School
Spring Lake Park Schools
Keeping Our Schools Safe, Together
Every family wants their child’s school to be a safe, welcoming place to learn. Keeping students and staff safe is a shared responsibility across Spring Lake Park Schools — one that includes prevention, preparation, strong partnerships and knowing how to respond if something unexpected happens.
At the beginning of a new school year, we want to share how we work every day to keep our schools safe. Our students, staff and families are a part of that effort.
Our approach to safety and security has many layers. We work to prevent problems, protect our schools, practice how we will respond and learn from what happens so we can continue to improve. Read about our approach to safety and security.
Discovery Days (ages 3-5 child care) Registration is Open!
There are still spots open for Discovery Days, our award-winning child care and kindergarten preparation program for children ages 3-5. Give your child a joyful start with caring teachers, engaging learning experiences and flexible scheduling. If someone you know – friends, family, neighbor – may be interested, please help spread the word. Register for Discovery Days Child Care.
Free “Start Your Engines” event this Saturday, September 12
The 5th Annual "Start Your Engines" Big Trucks, Food Trucks & Automobiles event is Saturday, September 12 from 11 a.m.- 1:30 p.m. at Spring Lake Park High School. The event is free to attend and no registration is required - just show up!
This family/community event will feature a variety of exhibits with engines – think big trucks, automobiles, and recreational vehicles. Lunch from the food trucks will be available for purchase.
Event features:
- Food Trucks
- Little Kid Bumper Cars
- Epic Chalk Lady
- Panther Store Pop-Up Sale
- We are accepting bike donations for Bikes4Kids
- There will be a booth that showcases all of our Community Education fall offerings for youth, families, and adults. Make sure to stop by and sign up!
