Turtle Lake-Mercer

We are proud to celebrate five (Mrs. Leah Anderson, Mrs. Freeman, Mrs. Christensen, Mrs. Volochenko, and Mrs. Jessica Anderson) of our teachers who have completed both LETRS Levels 1 and 2 training! 📚👏 LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) is professional learning designed to deepen teachers’ understanding of how students learn to read and how to provide effective, evidence-based literacy instruction. Completing both levels represents a significant investment of time, learning, and dedication to helping our students become strong, confident readers. LETRS is a key professional learning opportunity connected to North Dakota’s Science of Reading initiative, which supports schools in using research-based practices to strengthen reading instruction across the state. The Science of Reading draws on research from areas such as language development, cognitive science, and literacy instruction to help educators understand how children learn to read and how best to support them. We are grateful for the commitment these teachers have made to continuing their professional learning and strengthening literacy instruction for our students. Congratulations on this accomplishment! We are proud of you! 💙📖

Central McLean PINK Night is October 8th in Underwood! Use the code to order your Pink Out shirt. Proceeds will go to Betty Flemmer and Bob Holtan families. Orders close Sunday, September 27th at midnight.

It was a great morning at TL-M as we inducted three new members into our chapter of the North Dakota Association of Honor Society! Congratulations to Kensley Ruffo, Cooper Kittler, and Zella Anderson—we’re so excited to have you! Also, shoutout to our current members - Emma Fisher, Vivian Schlafmann, and Charlie Sparrow - for their help with the ceremony. Your leadership and service is much appreciated!

ND A+ Summative Results are available for parents of students who completed the test in the spring of 2026. Students that were in grades 3rd through 8th and 10th completed the ND A+ in 2026.
A new feature this year is the Family Portal. This allows parents/guardians to access their student's test results online and look at the reports available.
The Family Portal is located at: https://familyportal.pearson.com/ND
In order to view a student's results, a parent/guardian will need the students State Student ID (SSID), Last Name, and Date of Birth. Information cards with the SSID will be sent home this week. Paper copies of the Individual Student Reports will still be sent home with all students who completed the test. Contact Mr. Ziebarth with any questions

Thank you Dakota West Credit Union for your back to school goodie bags for teachers and paras! We greatly appreciate the generosity!

TL-M Parents: Be on the look out!

Flu shot and picture forms will be sent out this week with your student. Flu shot forms are small and bright pink.

Fall Picture Day & Class/Group Photos: Wednesday, October 14th
**School individual photos and class photos are two different companies. Please pay separately.**

Flu Shot Day: Monday, October 19th

Turtle Lake-Mercer Music Department is doing a fundraiser! They are selling Otis Spunkmeyer Cookie Dough (Subway Cookies) and other frozen treats such as muffins, cake rolls, pies, and pizzas. They are also selling from the BELIEVE ‘Tis the Season catalog. This catalog provides a variety of stuff for the holiday season including wrapping paper, candles, sugary treats, soup mixes, and a bunch of stocking stuffers. Anything sold from the BELIEVE catalog can be shipped directly to your house no matter where you are located. Anything sold from the frozen food Otis Spunkmeyer catalog will be delivered to the school and students will deliver the orders to local community members before the holiday season begins. All proceeds will go towards the music trip the students take every four years or for other music festivals, contests, and trips. Use this link to order or ask a local student for their link to support a specific student on their trip. Thank you for your support!
https://www.shopfund.com/shop?t=gs&sid=3621563

Fourth and Fifth grade trip to Falkirk Mine What powers the dragline?   Where does the coal from Falkirk go?  What is it used for?  

Week of September 21st Activities for TL-M.

Share your photos with us for the 2026-27 yearbook!

Send photos in jpg format to morgan.lang@k12.nd.us - Thank you!

Central McLean Starter Jackets can still be purchased at https://centralmcleanms.itemorder.com/shop/home/
These jackets are for anyone to purchase. Students, parents, fans, grandparents, and anyone else who wants to show their Cougar Pride can purchase. The quilted option is a winter jacket and the sublimated option is a fall/spring jacket. Stop by Mr. Ziebarth's office if you would like to see samples of what the jackets could be.

Another episode of The Wave is now up at https://youtu.be/DOOl9ubI-6s
Today's episode features Mila, Colter, Emma, and Jonas talking about Homecoming and Coronation.

Fourth grade has been learning about the coal industry in ND. One activity was cookie mining. Students bought equipment and mined for chocolate chips. Another activity was drying lignite in the oven to see how much moisture it contained. Did your mine make a profit?  What did you learn about coal?  

The elementary had lots of fun signing shirts this morning! Check out these smiles! 💛🖤🙂

When the teachers take John Hancock Day too far! Happy Homecoming Week!

Congratulations to our Homecoming King and Queen, Jonas Christensen and Emma Fischer! Congratulations to all our homecoming candidates: Zella Anderson, Charlie Sparrow, Conner Fiedler, Colbi Holtan, Vivian Schlafmann, Jonas Christensen, Emma Fischer. Have a fun homecoming week!

The JH/JV football for today has been moved to Underwood from Linton. JH game at 5:00, JV to follow.

Reminder that homecoming coronation is at 2:45 today. The entire senior class is part of the homecoming court. This is a public event open to all.

This week at Turtle Lake - Mercer: