JANUARY 12, 2017 | VOLUME 5 | ISSUE 12



SNAPSHOT:  Fifth graders in Stephanie Moliter and David Sponheim's classes at Highlands spent the day before Winter Break working on a special project. Watch the video to see how collaboration and creativity came together to benefit the larger community.
Headlines
EPS HEADLINES



    


FIRST SEMESTER REPORT CARDS PRESENT FORMAT CHANGES
Families will notice a change in the format of their students' report cards when first semester grades are released later this month.The report cards, now generated by the new Infinite Campus student information system, will look slightly different, but offer the same user-friendly features that families have experienced since the Infinite Campus rollout last fall.
GET INVOLVED! JOIN DISTRICT GO GREEN COMMITTEE
The district's Go Green Committee is looking for more members - parents, students and teachers - to join them in making a difference in the schools and the environment. In the next year, the committee is looking to broaden its focus while sustaining the work already accomplished in recycling efforts around the district.
JANUARY IS THEATER SEASON AT EDINA HIGH SCHOOL!
The Edina High School Thespians are excited to introduce the winter theater season.

January will offer two incredible opportunities to be entertained: Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, January 19 - 21; Dear Finder One-Act Play, January 27 & 28.
FIRST IN SERIES OF COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS FEATURES TWO LOCAL AUTHORS
TELLING PERSONAL STORIES OF RACE IN MINNESOTA  JANUARY 23
The first event in a series of community conversations will feature two of the Minnesota authors who are featured in the recently published book, A Good Time for the Truth: Race in Minnesota. The book is a compilation of essays by ethnically diverse Minnesota authors who tell stories of their own experiences of race, culture and equity. Edina Public Schools (EPS) has planned the series as a way to foster conversation, raise cultural understanding and empower the community to be leaders of change and respect. Looking Through a New Lens community conversations are scheduled monthly through April.   Read more

TEDxEDINA SHARES NEW IDEAS JAN. 21 - LIMITED TICKETS AVAILABLE
For the second year, Edina Community Education is joining the non-
profit TED organization in spreading new ideas in the form of short, powerful talks of 18 minutes or less in a community forum.  TEDxEdina will feature 10 local speakers and three national TED talks videos on January 21 from 9 a.m to 3 p.m. at the Edina Community Center's Normandale Auditorium. Topics include: lessons learned from the seat of a bicycle, memories of a childhood in England during WWII, how to bring more humor into our lives, and a musical collaboration between musicians and dancers.  Read more
districtupdate
DISTRICT UPDATE
bus
School Board approves 2017-18 school start/end times
After months of research, task force meetings, public discussions and community input, the Edina School Board approved a plan for school start and end times at its Jan. 9 meeting. Following numerous public comments from parents, students and staff, the Board discussed the options presented and ultimately rejected district administration's recommendation on a 4-3 vote. The Board created and approved what it called a "modified white option," based on a plan offered as an alternative to the administration's recommended plan. Read more

schoolboard
SCHOOL BOARD
Board accepts superintendent candidate profile 
to guide search
The Edina School Board accepted the Superintendent Candidate Profile Report from the district's contracted search firm, BWP and Associates, to be used as guiding information in the firm's screening of applicants for the Board to interview.
 
The firm presented the report at the Jan. 9 meeting. It is based on interviews, focus groups and forums that included approximately 163 individuals. In addition, 1,046 survey responses provided input.

To learn more about the search process, visit the district website at www.edinaschools.org/SuperintendentSearch

School Board Meeting - Jan. 9
In addition to the discussion and action on 2017-18 school start/end times, the meeting also included:
  • WORK SESSION - discussion of long range budget plans, including the operating levy renewal slated for November 2017 and an update on the superintendent search.
  • REGULAR MEETING
    • The annual organizational part of the meeting included routine items such as the election of board chair and officers for 2017, which remains unchanged from 2016, the Board's affirmation of its policies, and annual agreements with district contractors.
    • Approval of an agreement to enter into a sister-school partnership with Tianjin Foreign Languages School, Tianjin, China, to facilitate and promote an international educational partnership between the Districts that will benefit their students, staff, and/or communities.
    • Discussion of proposed secondary course offering changes and graduation requirements modifications
    • Discussion of Board committee, liaisons and representative appointments for 2017
    • Approval of a contract with DeMoulin Bros. & Co. for band uniforms replacement, of which the majority of funding came through EHS band fundraising efforts .
    • Approval of the Candidate Profile Report for the superintendent search (see story above).
The next regular meeting of the School Board will be Jan. 30.

Complete agendas and meeting minutes are available online. Watch video of past School Board meetings on the district website.
StaffNews
STAFF NEWS
**NEXT ISSUE of The Buzz will be Jan. 26 - submit Staff News items by Jan. 24

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  communications@edinaschools.org
  • Condolences to Mara Marinovich, educational associate and CES rec leader at Cornelia, on the recent passing of her mother.
  • Congratulations to Katy Hammel, grade 2 teacher at Countryside, on the recent birth of her son, Forrest James.
New mileage rates for 2017
The new rate for mileage reimbursement for 2017 is 53.5 cents, per the IRS. Please use this amount when calculating mileage for expense reports.

didyoukknow
DID YOU KNOW?
It is not too late to get your flu shot
Based on last year's trends, mid-January is when upward trends in flu occurances are seen -- there is still time to be vaccinated! Check with your health care provider or contact Bloomington Public Health to schedule an appointment: 952-563-8900, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; or call Karen Stanley, RN, directly, 952-563-8990. The address for the Bloomington Public Health Clinic is: 1900 W. Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington.

savethedate
SAVE THE DATE  


Jan. 16: NO SCHOOL/Martin Luther King Jr. Day
  • All EPS district buildings closed


Jan. 17: Successful Transitions
  • Tuesday, Jan. 17, 5:30-7 p.m. at South View Middle School
  • An evening of information for families of students receiving special education services AND who will transition from ECSE to kindergarten, 5th to 6th grade, 8th to 9th grade and 9th to 10th grade in fall 2017
  • Contact Special Education Team Lead at your school for more info


Jan. 19-21: EHS Thespians Present: Shakespeare's Twelfth Night
  • Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Jan. 19-21, 7 p.m., EPAC
  • Reserved Seating, $15; General Admission, $10 for adults, $6 for students and senior citizens
  • Order tickets at www.edinatheater.org or call 952-848-3118
 
Jan. 20: NO SCHOOL/Teacher Data Day


Jan. 22: Chinese New Year Celebration - Year of the Rooster
  • Sunday, Jan. 22, Noon to 4:30 p.m., Valley View Middle School
  • Authentic Chinese foods, folk songs and dances, door prizes, Spring Festival Carnival, greetings from VIP guests
  • Hosted by the Minnesota International Chinese School
  • FREE and open to the public


Jan. 23: Looking Through a New Lens: Community Conversations About Race & Equity
  • Monday, Jan. 23, 7-9 p.m. at Normandale Auditorium (park in Gold Lot, enter through Door 10)
  • Hear local authors featured in recently published "A Good Time for the Truth," share their experiences and stories of race in Minnesota
  • Participants will also have opportunities to engage with one another about their own learning and reflections
  • Event is free but to help with planning registration is requested. Visit www.edina.ce.feepay.com
Jan. 24: EHS Orchestra Pajama Jamboree
  • Tuesday, Jan. 24 - 6 p.m. Activities: 6:30 Concert in Fick Auditorium
  • Instrument Petting Zoo, face painting, coloring, children's sing-along
  • Wear your pajamas and bring a blanket -- all ages welcome!
  • Tickets are $3 for ages 13 and up; children 12 and under FREE!
Jan. 26: Kindergarten Registration
  • Bring completed enrollment materials - click here to see online Kindergarten Enrollment Packet
  • Concord Elementary: 3:30 - 5 p.m.
  • Normandale Elementary: 3:30 - 5 p.m.
  • Highlands Elementary: 4:15 - 5:45 p.m.
  • Creek Valley Elementary: 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
  • Cornelia Elementary: 4 - 5:30 p.m.
  • Countryside Elementary: 4:15 - 5:45 p.m.
Jan. 27 & 28: EHS Thespians Present: Dear Finder
  • This one act play recounts the Holocaust in the words of its victims and its perpetrators. Written by UMD Professor Tom Isbell, many of the survivor stories are those of Minnesota residents.
  • Friday and Saturday, Jan. 27 & 28, 7 p.m., EPAC
  • This production is the EHS entry for the MSHSL One Act Play Competition
  • All seating is general admission: $10 for adults, $6 for students and senior citizens
  • Order tickets at www.edinatheater.org or call 952-848-3118

MORE DISTRICT NEWS

 

Contact the communications team at 952.848.3919 or email us at   communications@edinaschools.org with news, story ideas or photos! 
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5701 Normandale Road 
Edina, MN 55424
952.848.3900