Weekly Update

As we finish our second week of school at Lakeview, the students and staff are getting into their routines and beginning to settle into what will be a great school year. This week there were several highlights for the students, including bus safety training, alternate lunch menus beginning, a lot of outdoor P.E. class, and our first meeting of “Lakeview Families.”

Families are an opportunity for students to meet with a small group of students from all grade levels and create a connection with an additional adult in our school. They meet approximately twice per month for 15-20 minutes, and the students enjoy getting to know additional kids and adults from different parts of the building. As we strive to make Lakeview a welcoming, comfortable environment for our students these families help support that goal.  

As September continues, teachers will continue to add new routines to their classrooms, and we’re looking forward to seeing all of the student growth that will take place this fall at Lakeview.

Special Education Advisory Council Invitation

Would You Like to Have More of a Voice in your Child’s Special Education Program?

The Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) is a group of parents and professionals working together toward making special education in District 241 the best that it can be.  We need input from parents of students of all ages and disabilities.  Local SEAC’s advise school districts on the development of programs and services to meet the special education needs of students and their families.

One of our SEAC goals has always been to help parents in our district become more informed and involved in their children’s education.  We have materials to help.

            BINDERS:  For those students and families initially determined as eligible for special education
                        services—these binders include IEP information, a glossary and other resources

            TRANSITION GUIDES:  “From Here to Next Year”, a guide to be given to families in the year
                        before a student transitions to kindergarten, grade 6 and grade 8.

The District 241 Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) will be meeting:

·         Monday September 24, 2012 

·         Monday, November 26, 2012

·         Monday, January 28, 2013

·         Monday, March 25, 2013

·         Monday, May 20, 2013

All meetings are held from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the Brookside Education Center.  Please come and join us at one or all of these meetings.  We welcome new members at every meeting and hope that you will join us.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact:

Becky Rognes- PARENT at 507-373-1729 or bll@wctatel.net   OR
Karen Erickson- SPECIAL SERVICES SUPERVISOR at 507-379-4825 or khmielewski@albertlea.k12.mn.us

A Great First Week of School!

Dear Lakeview Families,

To celebrate the end of our first week of school, I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for all of your support to start our school year. Our message will remain “It’s okay to be where you’re at, but not okay to stay there.” This statement promotes celebrating the successes that we have had, and acknowledging that we are always striving to improve. We work hard at Lakeview to create a climate and culture of learning that students feel comfortable in and all of us can be proud of, and that could not happen without your support. I would like to just communicate a few items for families to be aware of to end our first week. 

First, our parent group, LESO, would like to invite all parents to get involved with the great activities and events that are planned for the year. LESO’s goal is to support our students’ school experience by strengthening the collaboration between families, the community, and the school. Without parent support, activities such as the book fair, school picnic, fun night, and prairie fire theater could not take place. The group usually meets on the first Tuesday of each month from 6-7pm in the Lakeview media center. Even if you are unable to attend meetings, your help with any of our school activities this year would be greatly appreciated. Please email leso241@gmail.com or contact the school office for more details on how you can become involved.

Also, please note the school hours for each elementary school in Albert Lea. Each day we welcome our students to school between 7:50-8:10.  During this time, students may have breakfast and/or play outdoors.  Our supervisors are on duty at 7:50.  We ask that students do not arrive before this time, since there is no supervision.  The first bell rings at 8:10, at which time students enter the building. The second bell rings at 8:20 and teachers begin classes.

On Wednesdays, our schedule allows for more outdoor play time to begin the student school day.  The first bell rings at 8:20, with the second bell at 8:30.  Supervisors are on duty on all sides of our school beginning at 7:50 a.m. until the first bell rings.   Buses will run on the same schedule and parents do not need to alter their transportation plans in any way.  The change on Wednesdays is due to Professional Learning Community Team meetings which teachers attend from 7:30-8:15.

Finally, please be aware of some upcoming key dates:

·         All K-5 students will be given their Aimsweb benchmarking assessments on Sept 11. This quick assessment takes only a few minutes per student and allows teachers to immediately begin tailoring instruction.

·         Students in grades 2-5 will take their MAP math and reading tests in the window between Sept 12 and Sept 28. Again the data will be used to create lessons to meet the needs of all of our students.

·         Picture day is September 28! Please watch for more information regarding this exciting day.

As always, I sincerely thank you for your support of Lakeview and our students, and I look forward to talking with each of you throughout the school year. We are going to have a great year at Lakeview!