New School Year, New Beginnings

A fun way to wrap up August: the first day of school for most Spring Lake Park Schools students on August 31! Across the district, students greeted the 2026-2027 school year with smiles, reunions and the excitement of new beginnings. Long before students walked through the doors, staff were already hard at work preparing for the year ahead.

Getting ready for day one means much more than setting up classrooms and organizing supplies. New employees have spent time onboarding, understanding school operations and core values. All staff gathered for kick-off events, professional learning and meeting families at the schools. Through it all, one focus remains at the heart of their preparation: creating schools where every student feels safe, supported, included and ready to grow. From building healthy relationships and friendships to fostering kindness, confidence and a sense of belonging, staff are preparing to help students be themselves and continue to thrive.

View photos in the first day photo album and hear directly from staff about some of the ways they’ve prepared for the new school year.

 

Early Connections at Elementary

In the first grade pod at Centerview Elementary, Krystal Levang is sitting on the floor, labeling notebooks for each student. Above her hangs the classroom turtle, a sea creature that represents her classroom within the 1st grade "reef" pods.

The personalized labeling of desks and materials throughout the classroom represents space for the students – that they are thought of and this classroom is their special space as they see their name around.

“To prepare for these kiddos coming into our classrooms, we look at the previous year's learner profile data - their strengths, weakness, interests. We make sure we talk with their previous teacher and are aligned with what success is going to look like for each student,” says Krystal.

Mitch Huerd is a Science Specialist at Centerview, so he gets to know all students in grades K-4.

“My role is unique that I get to know every student in the building. So, I can really greet them personally and ask follow-up questions about their lives. I want them to know that there is someone here at school that is looking out for them. I might not be their homeroom teacher, but I am a trusted adult in this building.”

“During the first few days, we always do a STEM activity - whether it's building the highest tower or the strongest bridge. Those challenges build friendships and relationships, plus they love the hands-on activities. Since we are diving into the challenge before learning the skills on those first days, it introduces that failure is okay. The importance is the journey, being a team player and having fun.”

Candace Bunyan is entering her ninth year at Park Terrace Elementary, and is looking forward to a year filled with learning, connection and lots of growth for her kindergarten class.

“I always enjoy meet and greet because it brings such a warm and special feeling as a teacher. It was so much fun meeting the new kindergarten families and just as exciting to see familiar, returning families and reconnect with them. There’s something meaningful about seeing families from students you’ve taught in the past while also having the opportunity to begin building new relationships.”

Something that has inspired Candace this year is the simple reminder to show up each day and give it her best.

“From day one, I hope to foster a strong sense of belonging by creating our classroom promise together so that students feel they have a voice in the kind of community we build. I’m also looking forward to seeing students begin to open up during the first week. I hope they feel comfortable using their voice, making connections, sharing their interests, and building new friendships.”

Down the hall, Jodi Dahler is a 2nd grade teacher at Park Terrace celebrating 20 years at SLP.

“Nothing brings me more joy than seeing a past student run up to me with a big smile and a hug because of that connection we have built. Each new year inspires me to keep building those connections while creating an environment that is engaging and welcoming to each student."

Blanca Vazquez Francisco has a unique role as a Student and Family Advocate at Park Terrace Elementary and Woodcrest Spanish Immersion.

“At meet and greet, it was beautiful to see younger siblings now joining our school, and to run into older students who are now in advanced grades,” says Blanca. “Seeing how much they’ve grown and thrived within our school district is truly inspiring. My main goal is to continue supporting our families, ensuring they feel genuinely welcomed and part of our school community right away.”

Matthew Proulx is kindergarten teacher at Woodcrest, and knows the first greeting each morning is so important to each student.

“Students are excited, but also nervous too, and they need our love and care. That's what we're essentially here to provide – a nurturing environment. From day one, we're getting those essential routines going. It's amazing how quickly they catch on.”

One of his favorite ways to engage students? Incorporating songs, rhythms and melodies into the learning.

“That might be learning our friends' name for the first time or learning the alphabet in Spanish. I like that music adds an extra component of engagement. And, it's just exciting, right? It's fun to move your body and sing and dance and chat and stomp as kindergarteners!”

Alicia Hazel, Phy. Ed. teacher, is getting ready to welcome back students into the Woodcrest Spanish Immersion gym. In the first days she goes over procedures and routines and does community building activities. An annual favorite is the mat race - where teams have two mats and need to figure out how to get them across the gym without their bodies touching the ground. The activity is designed to build cooperation and teamwork from day one.

At Northpoint Elementary, Theresa Phillippo had every single family show up for the meet and greet event last week.

“I had some of the current fourth graders back when they were in first grade (when we had 1-2 multiage) so it was cool to see we get to be together one more time.”

Before the year starts, Theresa sends a handwritten letter addressed to each incoming student telling them to get excited for a memorable year ahead!

On the first day of school, the class also hosts a "New Year's Party" since it's a new school year! Toasts, setting goals, and of course the fun occasion of wearing special hats and setting off confetti poppers.

Warm Welcome at Westwood

Lissa Golanowski's sixth grade team at Westwood is planning to start with a little learning style quiz. The results will help teachers and students figure out the best seating options. With so many different flexible furniture choices, finding the right seating arrangement to support learning can be fun. This team also does fun bracket battles throughout the first week. One day is salty snacks (pringles vs doritos), another is apps (google vs. safari). Kids pick their favorites in each pairing, travel the room to connect with those who chose similar and learn a lot about each other along the way.

In the afternoons, these sixth graders work on team building challenges aligned to the career and life competencies. The first day is collaboration, the second, communication. After a week of challenges, students pick one they are going to work on and set a goal. Each student gets a punch card with 10 slots. Any time a teacher catches them practicing their goal, they get a punch. Everyone has a say in the prizes – things like lunch with a teach and eating snacks anytime they want, among others.

The art room may be bare on week one, but not for long. Tamara Pickens has projects planned to get kids making art and getting to know each other quickly. The fifth graders will practice some basic book binding and then use books they make to explore the elements of art - like line and shape. This sets them up for an art project connected to their geography social studies unit when they will watercolor a compass rose. The sixth graders are going to jump right into clay - a favorite. They'll make flat envelopes decorated with their favorite things.

On the middle school side of the building, English Language Arts teacher David Muehe is preparing for a week of community building circles. These are a practice that allows students to connect and share their perspectives in a safe space – opportunities to have honest, deep conversations and build a community together. 

Down the hallway, Jynni Discenza-Misner will ask students to create a name plate with a simile about themselves. An example might be - I am like an open book. It is a way for her to learn names quickly and make connections.

Hello from the High School

In the science wing, Rachel Andrisen plans for community building through an activity where she has students work in small groups observing a burning tea light. Their task is to document their observations over 20 minutes as the candle burns. They practice observation skills and discover they can already be good at science as they work together.

Kyle Lawton asks his Spanish students to create a short presentation about themselves and share it - in Spanish - with a small group. He often learns interesting details that he can incorporate into the learning - such as if he has several students from Columbia and can work details of country and culture into his learning experiences.

Off the great hall, it will be a little while before Kathy Stalnacker tackles Shakespeare. She's excited to put what she learned over the summer into action. She spent three weeks in Washington DC where she was one of 25 teachers from across the country selected to the Teaching Shakespeare Institute at Folger Shakespeare Library. While Shakespeare will come soon, on day one, after introductions, she'll get everyone reading a short poem and discussing it together in small groups. The focus is on getting students talking to each other, sharing ideas and making connections.

As students enter the band room at Spring Lake Park High School on the first day, they are likely to spend time with their sections. With a concert in 20 days, there's no time to waste.

Band Directors Ross Wolf and Kyle Pagel are going to try to stay out of the way of that section bonding time. They do help structure natural connections like section breakfasts, but they leave plenty of opportunity for student leadership to emerge.

Incoming 9th graders are likely to work together in their section drawing their instrument. The catch is that each person in the section draws one line and then passes the paper along to the next person. By the end, each section usually ends up with something that somewhat resembles their instrument and they've gotten to know each other, work together - and laugh a little at the final result.