ISLA PTO News

March 6, 2025

Kati Kragtorp

PTO newsletter - Week of April 12th





BOOK YOUR BABYSITTER NOW!!


2019 Language Ambassador Experiences!!!

Have a look at our LA experiences that will take place BEFORE the Fiesta de la Primavera!

It’s easy, use the SignupGenius link, click on the experience, & sign-up with payment all on SignupGenius.

Be sure to read all descriptions thoroughly!!

Reach out to Tasha for any questions!

Fiesta@isla-academy.org

Language Ambassador Experiences Signup!






UNIFORM EXCHANGE

The PTO collects and organizes new or gently used uniforms that are donated by ISLA families who no longer need them.  They will be set out at a variety of events throughout the year.  However, if you find your child has gone through a growth spurt and you need access to them sooner Emily is able to give parents access to where the uniforms are stored.  To donate items, please bag them and drop off at the school office.  Please feel free to take any items your kids could use.  You do NOT have to donate anything in order to take.



THANK YOU to our FALL LA HOST FAMILIES!  Our 8 LAs had a great time with their 1st MN families - their fall families.  From their welcoming pick-ups at the airport to the State Fair to the first days of school and into winter, our Language Ambassador program could not happen without our devoted families who provide fun, food and FAMILY while housing our exchange teachers.  Thanks so much to:

The Fisher Family for hosting Rocio from Colombia

The Gregory Family for hosting Valeria from Colombia

The Halls Family for hosting JuanRo from Chile

The Klein Family for hosting Ruben from Spain

The Lauzon Family for hosting Yancy from El Salvador

The McCabe Family for hosting Lina from Colombia

The Morales Family for hosting Karla from El Salvador

The Salemi Family for hosting Cristian from Colombia


Will YOUR family be a host family next fall?  Please contact Kim (kimgelp@gmail.com) or Meggin (megginoleson@yahoo.com) to talk about this opportunity.


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SPRING CLEANING!

Putting away your winter clothes and pulling out your suitcases for spring break?!   When you discover you are done with those items, please consider donating them to the ISLA LA program!

Each spring, most of our LAs want to return home with one additional suitcase - can you imagine how much stuff they accumulate in one school year?!?!  Note: they do NOT need to be working suitcases!  There could be a rip or a broken zipper… as long as it can hold “stuff” and be duct taped up, it will work just fine!!!

And, although our snow is FINALLY melting away, we at LA HeadQuarters never stop looking for warm items to keep our future LAs warm!!!  The PTO provides the LAs with their winter gear mainly from ISLA family donations.  We need men’s and women’s sizes.  Smaller sizes like our older school kids would wear (girls size 14-16) are always needed.  


Please leave any donations with Emily Smith in the front office. Please contact Meggin (megginoleson@yahoo.com) with any questions regarding donations.  



VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

IMMEDIATE/BIGGEST NEEDS INCLUDE:

Day time volunteers are needed for classroom exploration and library support. Spanish is not  required. Have you considered volunteering? Sign up for a shift on the sign ups below and give it a try! Still not sure? E-mail us your questions - Sarah and Julia at volunteer@isla-academy.org

  • Exploration - We need your help! April spots remain open for every grade level! April dates listed by grade level below. Volunteer time is 12:50-2:50pm.

Kinder - 4/12, 4/26

First - 4/29

2nd - 4/16, 4/30

3rd - 4/18

4th - 4/8

5th - 4/9, 4/23

6th - 4/25

Description: You will be assisting the students participate in the projects and other hands on activities that Sra Maldonado has set up. Volunteer in your child’s class. The sign up identifies the grade and rotating exploration day, with 2 volunteers needed per day for grades K-2, and 1 volunteer needed per day for grades 3-6: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0D4FA4A62AA1FF2-exploration


ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDE:


Questions about Volunteering? Contact us at volunteer@isla-academy.org



MORE WAYS TO SUPPORT THE PTO

Looking for more easy ways to help support the great work that the PTO does for our kids and their school?  Here are two great options!

    Mabel’s Labels:  You can find your child’s things easily in the lost and found by marking them with bright, durable, Mabel’s Labels. Go to https://campaigns.mabelslabels.com/ and click on ‘Select your School/Organization and choose International Spanish Language Academy.  A portion of your purchase will support the PTO.

    Amazon Smile: Shop at Amazon?  You can have a portion of your purchase donated to the PTO!  Go to https://smile.amazon.com/ and search for International Spanish Language Academy.  Then just make sure to bookmark AmazonSmile and use it for all your Amazon shopping needs.