Back to School Information

Dear Turtle Lake Families,

Welcome to the 2021-2022 school year! I am both grateful and thrilled to be joining the Turtle Lake Community as your principal (introduction video). Hopefully, you had a wonderful and restorative summer! I look forward to partnering with you and the tremendous Turtle Lake staff to serve your children.

Please refer to the below back to school information. There are some changes this year due to the current health concerns with large gatherings. Reminder, as of Monday, Aug. 23, all staff, students, and visitors are required to wear masks at all Mounds View Schools, regardless of your vaccination status.

2021-2022 School Calendar, Hours and Phone Numbers Please visit Turtle Lake Elementary School for calendars, staff directory information, and additional school resources.

Turtle Lake School Hours 9:20 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Turtle Lake Main Office 651-621-7700

Turtle Lake Office Hours 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Turtle Lake Attendance Line 651-621-7701

Teacher Assignments Homeroom teacher assignments will be available in ParentVUE after 4:00 p.m. on Friday, August 20. Class lists will also be posted in the entryway at Turtle Lake.

Meet Your Teacher Night and Early Goal Setting Meetings will be combined this year into ONE scheduled 20-minute session with your teacher. This appointment is an opportunity for children to meet their teachers, find their classrooms, and drop-off school supplies (this is encouraged). Parents will also have the opportunity to share information with the teacher in order to help build the foundation for a successful school year.

• Following updated COVID guidance from Ramsey County Public Health, schools in our district are taking a look at events used to welcome in the upcoming school year. In an effort to utilize mitigation strategies at our disposal, Turtle Lake Elementary will be modifying our traditional “Back to School Night” event to include a more personal and smaller audience structure. We look forward to seeing families and students in attendance.

• You may choose a 20 minute slot:

• In Person (please bring school supplies to this meeting)

• Virtual Meeting (school supplies can be sent with your child on their first day of school)

• Phone Call (school supplies can be sent with your child on their first day of school)

• You may choose either date:

• Sept. 1 from 3:30-6:30 or

• Sept. 2 from 8:30-3:30

Meeting Sign-Up will go live on Monday, August 23, at noon you will be able to schedule this meeting with your child’s teacher. Parent participation at these meetings is strongly encouraged.

Transportation Information Please complete a Student Transportation Plan and give it to your child’s teacher at Meet Your Teacher Night.

• If you are in need of transportation and have not registered, please do so immediately.

• If you live in a fee area (under 2 miles), this fee is waived if you qualify for educational benefits.

• Student Drop-off and Pick-up Reminders For safety reasons, students who are driven to school may only be dropped-off in front of the school. Students may not enter the building until 9:05 a.m. Students must remain in the care of their parents until 9:05 a.m. Student entrance before 9:05 a.m. is not permitted. Students must be picked-up at the end of the school day by 4:15 p.m. Students arriving for breakfast may enter at 8:55 a.m.

• Walker Information Crossing guards will be on Lexington Avenue at both Royal Oaks Drive, and the stoplight at County Road I from 8:55 - 9:10 a.m. and 4:00 - 4:15 p.m. We ask that students who will be crossing at the stoplight on Lexington Avenue and County Road I use the sidewalk on the west side of Lexington Avenue. Students coming from the Royal Oaks area should use the crossing at Royal Oaks Drive and Lexington Avenue, or they may cross with the light at Lexington Avenue and County Road I.

Breakfast/Lunch Information Breakfast & Lunch will be free this year for all students; Adult Breakfast: $2.25, Adult Lunch: $4.00

Additional Parent Communication Information

• Turtle Lake Family Handbook Our handbook and resources are located under the Parent Resources tab. Parents are encouraged to review our documents annually.

• ParentVUE Please continue to use ParentVUE to verify and update your child’s information, along with accessing your child’s academic information. Please make sure you have verified your child’s information prior to the first day of school. If you have trouble accessing your ParentVUE account, please contact the Turtle Lake office.

• 2021-2022 School Supply List

I am looking forward to meeting you soon!

Kind Regards,

Staci Souhan, Principal

staci.shouhan@moundsviewschools.org

651-621-7703