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NOVEMBER 22, 2016 | VOLUME 5 | ISSUE 9
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EHS SENIOR SELECTED TO PERFORM AT CARNEGIE HALL
Tommy Jiang, a senior at Edina High School, has been selected for the
2017 High School Honors Performance
Series
at Carnegie Hall. Participation in one of the five Honors Ensembles is limited to the highest-rated high school performers from across the world.
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SV STUDENT ENVIROMENTAL GROUP TACKLES RECYCLING
"I think the environment needs a lot of help." That opinion, shared by a member of the South View Environmental Group (SVEG), is what moves 18 students to meet twice each week during advisory to brainstorm ideas on ways to inform and change the habits of their peers in ways that are Earth-friendly. Read more
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EHS CLAIMS MULTIPLE STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Edina High School student-athletes recently took home three team (Girl's Cross Country, Girls' Swim and Dive, EHS Mountain Biking) and eight individual/event state championship victories. Congratulations!
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DISTRICT UPDATE
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District seeks input on school start/end time options
Following a Nov. 14 School Board discussion of draft options for new school start/end times, the district is seeking input from students, parents, staff and community members on four revised options. The four options were revised from draft options, developed in partnership with a 28-member
community task force
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In an effort to provide feedback on how each of the options will impact instruction, the school day and family schedules, the district is utilizing its three-part
ThoughtExchange
process to gather input. Read more
**EPS staff note: If you do not see a ThoughtExchange invitation in your Outlook inbox, check your Clutter box.
Additional information about the Start/End Time Task Force, including reviewed research and meeting materials will be archived on the district website at http://www.edinaschools.org/StartTimes.
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SCHOOL BOARD
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Superintendent Search
At a special meeting on November 21, the School Board met with executive search consultants, BWP & Associates to discuss a timeline for the search and how the community will be involved with process. The Board agreed to a variety of
community engagement strategies, including one-on-one interviews, focus groups, community forums and an online survey. This data will be collected and analyzed by BWP and used to develop a candidate profile.
The Board also discussed wording for the job posting, which will be used for advertisements and recruitment. The posting will be included on the district website by Dec. 1, 2016.
For information about process details, timelines and opportunities for community input, visit www.edinaschools.org/SuptSearch or www.edinaschools.org/SuperintendentSearch.
School Board Meeting - Nov. 14
Highlights of the Nov. 14 School Board meeting include:
- A report and discussion of the district's fall ThoughtExchange community engagement process. The engagement invited all members of the Edina Public Schools community to participate in a conversation about the district's advancement and implementation of its Next Generation Strategic Plan. The public is invited to review the results of the fall engagement, which involved over 1,500 participants and over 4,000 thoughts.
- Discussion of a proposed change to the high school daily schedule. The Board is expected to act on the administrative recommendation at its meeting on Dec. 12. Learn more about the modified 7-period day + block schedule here.
- Discussion of four draft options (plus alternates) for new School Start/End Times, built on the recommendations of the school start/end times task force. The School Board that revisions to four options would be advanced for additional community input. This community input will be gathered via ThoughtExchange, results of which will be assessed along with additional cost estimates and operational considerations into a formal recommendation to be presented by administration at the next School Board meeting on Dec. 12. Action on the recommendation is expected on Jan. 9, for implementation with the 2017-18 school year. (See story above for information on the ThoughtExchange community engagement around the four revised start/end time options that resulted from the Board Meeting.)
- Approval of a teacher on special assignment to help with implementation of several strategic initiatives at the high school ahead of the ninth grade transition in fall 2017. This is a one-time funded position.
- Approval of construction bids on the district transportation services building
The next regular meeting of the School Board will be Monday, Dec. 12, 7 p.m., ECC Room 349.
Complete agendas and meeting minutes are available online. Watch video of past School Board meetings on the district website.
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I AM EPS
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 Meet Aisha Malim, EHS senior and member of Congressional Student Advisory Council
Aisha Malim already knows what she wants her life's work to be about and this fall she got a head start. The Edina High School (EHS) senior was one of 10 metro area students to serve on U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison's Congressional Student Advisory Council. Her project was a presentation focused on the fear that immigrant families face when they must leave their home country to escape violence.
Read the I Am Edina Public Schools Blog and Aisha's poem,
Somalia it's been a long time,
here.
Know someone who is doing great things in Edina Public Schools? Let us know! Email [email protected] with ideas for people to feature this year.
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STAFF NEWS
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**NEXT ISSUE of The Buzz will be Dec. 8 - submit Staff News items by Dec. 6
Staff Milestones
To submit an entry for Staff Milestones, please include staff name, job title/type, employment location and major life event/announcement information to
[email protected]
Sign up now for paraprofessional training Dec. 7
Each training session will have a different focus, providing an overview of each topic area that is pertinent to paraprofessionals no matter where in the district you work. Attendance at the training is paid time. Sign up for the session through
Keep Certified, and mark your calendar now for additional trainings on March 23 and May 2!
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DID YOU KNOW?
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VEAP TOY DRIVE AT ECC THROUGH DEC. 6
Each year VEAP offers a holiday toy program designed to help parents of low-income families provide stable and positive holiday memories for their children. In 2015, VEAP served over 4,500 kids in our community.
To donate please drop off items at the Edina Resource Center box located outside the Welcome Center through Door 3 at the Edina Community Center through Dec. 6.
For more information and a wish list please visit the VEAP website
here
.
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EPS TRANSPORTATION COLLECTS TOYS FOR TOTS
Employees of the district's transportation services will again be collecting toys for the Toys for Tots campaign. Last year more than 800 toys were collected! From now through Dec. 16 you can drop off your donation in the office at the bus garage. Bus drivers have an informational flyer for students who can bring their donation to their bus driver.
Find out more about
Toys for Tots
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ED FUND NEWS
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REMINDER: Deadline for Ed Fund grant applications Monday!
Monday, Nov. 28 is the deadline for Initial Concept Forms for the 2016-17 Ed Fund Innovation Grants.
he Ed Fund is especially interested in supporting projects that align with three of the district's Educational Competencies: Globally Competent Individual, Motivated Lifelong Learner, and Well-Rounded Individual. In addition, funded projects will advance curriculum through best practice/staff development, curricular standards, and 21st century learning.
The grant process is open to all Edina Public Schools staff. For grant guidelines, applications, key dates and other related information visit the
Ed Fund website .
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SAVE THE DATE
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Booster Club Holiday Spirit Store open through Dec. 23!
The Edina Athletic Booster Club's Holiday Spirit Store is located at The Neighborhood Ice Cream Shoppe (61st and Kellogg). Gift items include coffee cups, tumblers, ornaments, hats, mittens and Hornet apparel in sizes from 6 months to adult men. The store will be open through Friday, Dec. 23.
Check here for days and times.
Nov. 23-25: NO SCHOOL
Nov. 29: Kindergarten Information Night
- Tuesday, Nov. 29, Kindergarten Information Night, 7 p.m.
- Concord, Cornelia, Countryside, Creek Valley and Highlands Elementary Schools
Dec. 6: Kindergarten Continuous Progress Program Information Night
- Countryside Elementary, 6:15 p.m., Media Center
- Highlands Elementary, 7 p.m., Cafeteria
Dec. 8: Kindergarten French Immersion Information Night
- Normandale Elementary, 7 p.m., Auditorium
 Dec. 9 & 10: EHS Winter Jubilee Concerts
- Friday, Dec. 9, 7 p.m. in Fick Auditorium
- * Saturday, Dec. 10, 3 p.m. in Fick Auditorium (*Please note that time listed in EPS Experience for Saturday's performance was incorrect)
- The concert includes performances by the Concert Band, Concert Choir, Symphony Orchestra and EHS Thespians
- Tickets are $10 for reserved seats; $6 for general admission -- visit edinabands.org to order your tickets
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Contact the communications team at 952.848.3919 or email us at
[email protected] with news, story ideas or photos!
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5701 Normandale Road
Edina, MN 55424
952.848.3900
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