Lily Lake E-News
August 23, 2026
E-newsletter
Happy First Day of School!
Staff and students enjoyed renewing old friendships and welcoming new faces on our first couple days of school. For more photos and news of our great start to the year, please visit our Lily Lake Elementary Facebook Page as well as the PTO's Facebook page!
From the Principal
Dear Lily Lake Families,
What a wonderful start to the school year! It has been such a joy to see our students back in the building, learning, laughing, building friendships, and bringing so much energy to Lily Lake.
I am truly honored to serve as the principal of Lily Lake Elementary. From the very beginning, I have been impressed by the care, dedication, and sense of community that make Lily Lake such a special place. Thank you for welcoming me and for partnering with us as we begin this school year together.
There is so much to look forward to this year, and I am excited about all that we will accomplish together.
Thank you for trusting us with your children and for being such an important part of our school community.
Here's to an amazing year filled with learning, joy, growth, and community!
Go Lily Lake!
In partnership,
Jeff Stensrud
Proud Principal of Lily Lake Elementary
Core Values at Lily Lake
At Lily Lake, we focus on a core value each quarter. Our core value for quarter 1 is community!
At Lily Lake, community means "coming together for a common goal, including others, and taking care of one another. We support each other, make sure that everyone feels safe and included, build friendships and have fun together. "
Arrival and Dismissal Reminders
From walking and biking, bus lines or carpool, students get to school in a variety of ways. The start of the new school year is a great opportunity to revisit Lily Lake's procedures for the safe arrival and dismissal of all of our students!
For the first few weeks of the year, we will have additional staff outside to support the transition of students from buses, walk lines, and carpool into school.
Carpool
For parents using the carpool drop off lane, please read the expectations listed below.
Arrival - There is no supervision for students until the doors open at 7:35am. Please wait with your child in your vehicle until the bell rings and doors open at 7:35 am.
Arrival - Staff and our 5th grade patrol students are out supervising carpool from 7:35 - 7:45 each day. Please plan to drop off your child within that 10 minute window.
Dismissal - Students will exit the building at 2:15 with the final bell. Please ensure you are in line and waiting no later than 2:15. Staff and patrol students are extremely efficient at loading cars - the entire process takes less than 10 minutes.
Please pull as far forward in the carpool lane as possible to maximize the number of students loading and unloading at once.
It is vital that the driver remains in the vehicle when coming through the carpool line, this helps ensure a smooth, efficient and SAFE drop off and pick up.
If you'd like to walk your child to the school doors, you must park in the parking lot and use the crossing guard lane up at the front where the crossing guard is directing traffic.
We ask that you not walk through the back side of the parking lot to cross the carpool lanes of traffic where there is no crossing guard. This is dangerous and it keeps our carpool traffic from moving forward efficiently.
Thank you for your help in following our Lily Lake carpool expectations.
Pre-school Drop off/ Pick up:
Preschool families should park in the lot and walk their student (via the crosswalk) to meet preschool staff. Therefore, we have reserved several spaces in our lot for preschool families only during drop off (7:35-7:45 a.m.) and pick up (2:00-2:30 p.m.). These reserved spots are marked with signs (see photo) and are located nearest the crosswalk with crossing guard.
Please note these spaces are available for all families to park in during the hours of 7:45-2:00 p.m.
Walkers
Walkers have staff support to cross the street at the following two intersections:
Pine and Hwy 5
Croixwood and Hwy 5.
- Staff will meet students at each of those locations in the morning.
- Students should be ready and waiting for the adult by 7:20 a.m.
- All walkers are expected to enter the school via the front doors.
- All walkers should arrive at school no earlier than 7:35 a.m.
- After school, staff will gather students and walk them back across the intersections.
Parents, please ensure a safe and efficient walk line by reminding your students of behavior expectations. This includes: staying off of the street, keeping safe bodies and hands to self, and not throwing objects at each other or into the road.
Bus Transportation
Get On The Bus!
Bus route information for the 2026-27 school year is available through the MyRide K12 app. Families can download the app from the app store to find bus stop information, and can also receive push notifications with any route changes or busing delays. You will be able to track your child’s bus in live time through the app. Visit our transportation website for instruction on how to access the app.
Have A Busing Concern or Question?
For the fastest service, please complete a Transportation Help Desk Ticket. We have a high volume of transportation requests this time of year. By completing a ticket instead of calling or emailing our team, we’re better able to track your request and respond more efficiently. Thank you for your cooperation!
Once school begins, if you have an urgent question specific to your child's bus please call the bus company directly at 651-571-1830.
Lifetouch Picture Day
Picture Day is coming on Wednesday, September 2!
Your child can also bring their completed flyer with cash or check on Picture Day. Orders after Picture Day must be placed online on mylifetouch.com (no cash or checks are accepted after 9/2/26).
District News
Annual Required Forms
Each year, families are asked to review and acknowledge important district forms in PowerSchool, our parent portal for reporting absences, viewing student information and more.
Please take a few minutes to log in and complete the following forms:
District Handbook Review Form
Field Trip Form
Please note: students will not be allowed to participate in any field trips this year without the completed online Field Trip Form.
When you log in, select the Forms button and complete each form.
Need help logging in? Learn more about how to access PowerSchool.
Need additional assistance? Our Family Help Desk is available to help with technology-related questions. familyhelp@stillwaterschools.org or 651-351-8404.
Frequently Asked Questions
New Year, Need a Refresher?
Here is a list of Lily Lake's most frequently asked questions, with links to detailed answers:
- Attendance / Early Pick Up: When to call, when to use PowerSchool
- Background Checks: For all volunteers and chaperones
- Bus Transportation: Get the app, bus company phone number, etc.
- Car Pool: No student drop off before 7:35am, other directions, rules, and expectations
- Log into PowerSchool - tutorial
- Pay for a field trip - tutorial
- Preschool Arrival and Dismissal: Where to park, how to walk students in
- Walkers - Arrival and Dismissal: Intersections with staff support, behavior expectations
- Lunchroom Schedule: What time is lunch? Visitor check in procedure and lunch cost
PTO News
Calling All Kindergarten Families
Please join us for a fun evening at the playground. This is an opportunity for kinder students and their families to connect and make new friends. Hope to see you there!
Who: All Lily Lake kindergartners and their families
When: Friday Sept 11 from 6-7:00 p.m.
Where: Lily Lake Playground
PTO meetings
Please join us for our next PTO meeting:
September 24, 6-7:00 p.m. in the Lily Lake Media Center.
All are welcome and encouraged to attend!
Lily Lake Apparel
PTO is once again offering Lily Lake apparel for purchase.
Order forms are due to school no later than September 10, 2026.
You may also order directly using this QR code and selecting "Lily Lake" as the category.
Upcoming Events
Aug. 24: First day of Pre-K
Sept 2: Lifetouch Photo Day, Lily Lake Code: EVTKNX9MQ
Sept. 3: Fire Drill
Sept. 4: No School
Sept. 7: No school
Sept. 10: Lily Lake Apparel order forms are due
Sept. 11: Kindergarten Popsicle Playdate 6-7:00 p.m. on Lily Lake playground
Sept. 15: Stable Pizzeria Give Back Night 4-8:00 p.m.
Sept. 21: Oasis Cafe Give Back Night
Sept. 24: PTO Meeting 6-7:00 p.m. in Lily Lake Media Center
Sept. 25: Pony Homecoming Carnival at SAHS
Sept. 28: No School - Professional Development day
Sept. 29: Lifetouch photo retake day
Connect with us
Email: comments@stillwaterschools.org
Website: lilylake.stillwaterschools.org
Location: 2003 W Willard St, Stillwater, MN 55082
Phone: 651-351-6800
Facebook: facebook.com/Stillwater834
Instagram: instagram.com/stillwater834