Feb. 9, 2017
Snapshot: On Friday, Cornelia kicked off its annual Read-a-thon, with staff dressing up as their favorite book characters. Ellen Bowden, secretary at Cornelia, couldn't decide which character was her favorite, so she wore them all. 
Headlines
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Board approves change to 2016-17 school calendar
At its meeting on Jan. 30, the Edina School Board approved a change to the 2016-17 school calendar making Thursday, June 1, 2017 the last day of school for all students in early childhood classrooms through grade 12. Read more
EHS Debate Team brings home state championship
The Edina High School (EHS) Debate Team had an impressive showing at the Minnesota State High School League Debate Tournament capturing a state championship, a runner-up placement and four quarter-finalist awards. Read more
EHS One Act play wins sections, competes at state
Edina High School was named Section 6AA Champions for its one-act play, Dear Finder, which recounts the Holocaust in the words of its victims and its perpetrators.

The production will head to the State competition Thursday, Feb. 9 at O’Shaughnessy Auditorium at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minn. 

Edina Model UN receives numerous individual awards at national conference
Edina High School's Model United Nations delegation joined more than 2,700 national and international students at the Model United Nations Conference at the University of Chicago earlier this month. Ten students were recognized for their individual achievements during the conference. Read more
EHS Music Listening Team takes third at state
The Edina High School music listening team, consisting of members Anne Amen, Rachel Lauson, Susan Stewart, finished in 3rd place at the State championships at Augsburg College on Feb. 3. Congratulations!
Countryside students participate in Day of Service
Students, staff and families at Countryside Elementary School participated in a day of service Friday. The event, called Countryside Against Hunger, partnered with Impact Lives to pack nearly 60,000 meals.  Watch the video story
District Updates
Budget Task Force reconvenes to provide input on 2017-18 adjustments and long-term financial plans
The district reconvened the Budget Advisory Task Force (BATF) to assist administration in identifying $750,000 in budget adjustments for 2017-18, as well as helping the district address long-term financial needs. All but six of last year’s 25-member BATF, comprised of parents, students, staff, community members, and administration, met Feb. 6 for the first of two meetings this month. Read more
Construction Highlight
The first walls are up at the site of the new Transportation Services facility. Construction will continue through the summer and is expected to be complete by fall 2017.
I Am Edina Public Schools
We talked to Dylan Hackbarth about his role as an EHS School Counselor
It’s National School Counselor Week, so we talked to Edina High School’s newest school counselor, Dylan Hackbarth, about the job.

"Sometimes, we see students dealing with significant struggles – it is an honor to work with those students to face their issue, support them as they devise a strategy to move forward. It is also an honor to support students as they develop goals for their futures, whether it is college, military or some other plan – we get to help them reach and attain goals."

Read more about Dylan, including his previous experience in the Washington, D.C. area, as well as a driver of the Wienermobile. 
School Board
Superintendent Search Update
A special meeting of the School Board is scheduled for Feb. 16 at 5 p.m. BWP & Associates will present a slate of candidates based on its candidate profile, which it created with the help of Edina Public Schools community input. BWP & Associates will also provide training for the superintendent interview process. 
Feb. 6, 2017 School Board Work Session Highlights 
Highlights from the Feb. 6 work session of the School Board include:

Jan. 30, 2017 School Board Meeting Highlights
Highlights from the Jan. 30 regular School Board meeting include: 
  • Recognition of Shannon Seaver, EHS math teacher, recipient of a TIES Exceptional Teacher award; Janet Jans, South View music teacher, named Minnesota Middle School Association Teacher of the Year Award; and the Minnesota State Champion EHS Girls Swim Team and coaches.
  • Comments were addressed to the board from 18 community members regarding school start/end times, middle school Spanish, construction, transportation options and other topics.
  • Report and discussion on the implementation plan for the approved 2017-18 School Start/End Times plan.
  • Approval of an amendment to the 2016-17 school calendar reducing the number of student days by one, making Thursday, June 1, 2017 the last student day of the year.
  • Approval of high school course offerings and graduation requirements
  • Approval of the 2017-18 Budget Parameters which provide enrollment, revenue and expenditure assumptions and fund balance guidelines to be used in the annual budget process.
  • Approval of bids for the South View Middle School renovation project.

The next regular meeting of the School Board will be Monday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m.

A complete agenda and meeting materials will be available online by 5 p.m. Friday. Watch video of past School Board meetings on the district website.

Did you know?
Middle School Track and Field available
Middle school students can give track and field a try this spring through Community Education Services’ youth programs. Middle school track and field is open to boys and girls in grades 7 and 8. It runs from April 3 through May 26, with practices Monday through Friday, 3-4:15 p.m. at Kuhlman Field. The fee is $149. Find more information about this program here. Check the CES Youth Programs catalog online for information about spring classes and camps.
Save the Date
Feb. 11, 9:30-11:30 a.m. | Looking Through a New Lens: They Played for the Love of the Game
Frank White, author of  They Played for the Love of the Game: Untold Stories of Black Baseball in Minnesota , will talk about his book and the experiences of Black Baseball League players in Minnesota at the next Looking Through A New Lens community conversation on Saturday, Feb. 11, at 9 a.m. in the Normandale Elementary Auditorium.  Read more
Feb. 13 & 14, 7 p.m. | EHS Choir Masterworks Concerts
Edina Performing Arts Center (EPAC)
Feb. 20 | NO SCHOOL, Presidents Day
Feb. 21 | NO SCHOOL, Teacher Inservice
Feb. 23, 6:30-9 p.m. | Screening & conversation of "The Dakota 38"
Edina Community Center, Room 350
Edina Community Education is holding a screening and facilitated conversation of the film “The Dakota 38,” on Thursday, February 23, 6:30-9 p.m. in Room 350 of the Edina Community Center.

The film, “The Dakota 38,” chronicles the journey of Jim Miller, a native spiritual leader and Vietnam veteran, and a group of horseback riders from Lower Brule, South Dakota to Mankato, Minnesota and the site of the hanging of 38 Dakota men, as ordered by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862.  A trailer for the film can be viewed at www.smoothfeather.com/dakota38/.

There is a $15 fee to attend the screening and discussion.  Register online through Edina Community Education at www.edinacommunityed.org or call 952-848-3952. 
Feb. 24-25 & March 2-4, 7 p.m. | EHS Pops Concert
Fick Auditorium
Travel through time with the Edina High School Concert Band at their 64th Annual POPS Concert series.   Under the direction of Paul Kile, the EHS Concert Band will transport you through different musical eras and places with a vibrant mix of music, dance, comedy, juggling and video performances! Click here for ticket and performance information. 
March 6, 7:30-8:30 a.m. | Edina Public Schools Legislative Forum
Edina Community Center, Room 350
A legislative forum for understanding the upcoming 2017 session
This is your opportunity to learn about the District’s current priorities, and voice your questions and concerns to area legislators and District administrators. Click here for more information and to RSVP.
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