St. Louis Park Middle School's Weekly News
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Calendar
- Jan. 19, Musical Theatre Choir rehearsal, 9 a.m. - noon, High School Choir Room
- Jan. 21, No school, Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Jan. 22, Musical Theatre Performance 1, 7 p.m., High School Auditorium
- Jan. 23, Incoming 6th grade information night, 7 p.m., Middle School
- Jan. 25, No school, grading day
- Jan. 29, Musical Theatre Performance 2, 7 p.m., High School Auditorium
- Jan. 31, 6th-8th grade World Language skating party,
Tuesday is an A day
Wednesday and Thursday is a B day
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The PowerSchool public portal and mobile app will close for quarter two grading Thursday, January 24, at 3:00 p.m. It will reopen Friday, February 1 by 3:00 p.m.
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We had an exciting first tournament! I am so proud of the kindness and good sportsmanship demonstrated by our SLPMS students. They did an excellent job representing the Park. 2/3 teams advanced to afternoon single elimination playoffs. We had two 7th grade students place 8th and 11th with individual rankings in a field of 97 students from grades 6-8. I have attached some photos from the tournament. Huge shout out and thank you to our Assistant Coaches (parent volunteers) Anne Casey, and Carmen Garland that helped make this day a success! I can't be in three classrooms at the same time coaching the students so I greatly appreciate our parents stepping forward and donating their time for our students. Thank you!!
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In November, 2018, many 8th grade students participated in an international math contest called the AMC 8. The AMC 8 is a 25-question, 40-minute, multiple choice examination in middle school mathematics designed to promote the development of problem-solving skills. The AMC 8 provides an opportunity for middle school students to develop positive attitudes towards analytical thinking and mathematics that can assist in future careers. This past Wednesday, we had a celebration (with doughnuts!) to show appreciation for students who received 1st - 3rd place in their class, or who were ranked in the top 16 in the school. Tied for 3rd place in the school were
Chiara Collinet-Adler
and
Meshach Mandel
.
Ryan duSaire
came in second place and
Axel Abrahamson
came in first. Both
Ryan
and
Axel
ranked in the top 5% nationally. Way to go SLPMS!
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Math team rounded out the season this year with some great results. Spontaneous Dental Hydroplosion came in 3rd, Government-created Killer Nanobot Infection came in 8th, and Count Choculitis came in 18th out of 23 very competitive teams. Isaiah Klepfer came in 3rd in the league out of about 250 students!
Ryan duSaire
came in 9th,
Jason Jensen
came in 13th,
Axel Abrahamson
came in 15th, and
Thomas Shope
came in 19th . Both
Ryan
and
Isaiah
received a medal for finishing in the top 10. MathCounts up next on February 2 for our top 10.
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8th Grade Families - Community Project Update 1-18-19
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Community Project Update-8th grade families
International Baccalaureate (IB) World Schools offer a framework for schools to use to better accomplish the school's vision and goals. One of the standards for an IB school is that the school has systems in place to ensure that all students can demonstrate a consolidation of their learning through the completion of the MYP community project. This standard causes us to build opportunities for all of our students to accomplish the district mission of having "a nurturing environment that energizes and enhances the spirit."
In Discovery Class 1.17.19
: This week we we focused on the different types of action and how they relate to topics that are interesting to each student and would energize them to take action.
Click here for a few slides for examples of types of action.
Students have all created/identified a process journal to take notes of their learning and ideas on this project already. Now, they're refining their ideas. In class they saw samples of presentations from students in the past and the types of action they took.
Homework due 1.24.19:
Each student needs to bring three project ideas written on separate note cards.(cards were provided during class) Students can work in groups of up to 3 once they determine their topic and type of action they want to pursue.
Please let me know if you have any questions, or reach out to your child's Discovery teacher. A special thanks for teacher, Jen Schmerler, for her creation of the 8th grade Discovery lessons every week!
Mia Waldera, IB Coordinator
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Public Input Opportunities for School Start-End Times Study
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Public Input Opportunities for School Start-End Times Study
As Park Spanish Immersion School moves to the Cedar Manor School Site in the Fall of 2019 and research continues to show the connection between student academic achievement and sleep, St. Louis Park Public Schools is currently studying start times across the district.
WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR INPUT IN JANUARY: “What should the team consider as they develop the school start-end time recommendations?” Share your thoughts…
School Board Listening Session
Saturday, January 19
| 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. | District Office, 6311 Wayzata Blvd., SLP
Twitter Town Hall – An Online Discussion
Tuesday, January 29
| 7-8:30 p.m.
Provide input and ask questions about the School Start-End Times Study from the comfort of your living room. Send a tweet to @SLPublicschools using the hashtag #SLPstarttimes and a representative from the District will respond.
Participate in a Thoughtexchange – A NEW Community Engagement Opportunity
January 14-25
– The exchange is open for input on the School Start-End Times Study
Thoughtexchange allows stakeholders to share thoughts, feedback, and ideas in an open-ended, confidential, and easy-to-use digital environment. Links will be sent to parents and staff inviting participation and will also be available on the District website.
The District launched the 2019 School Start-End Times Study in November with a Project Team that includes students, parents, teachers, staff, principals, administrators and transportation consultants. The group is charged with determining the optimal schedule to meet the overall health, academic and social/developmental needs of all K-12 students. This work will include recommendations for bus routes and pick-up/drop-off times for all students and will consider the school day as well as before-school and after-school activities and childcare.
Extensive research, best practices, input from stakeholders, and the parameters of the school district budget will inform the work. Through individual study, small and large group explorations, and discussions, the team will seek consensus and make one or more recommendations to the administration and School Board by March 2019.
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8th Grade Students & Parents/Guardians
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8th Grade Students & Parents/Guardians:
Following are important dates regarding the timeline for High School registration:
Jan. 21 Letter ready to be mailed to 8
th
grade parents regarding registration night.
Feb. 10 Phone blast reminder to Middle School families reminding about parent information night at the High School Auditorium.
Feb. 11 Distribute cover letter and registration sheet to all 8
th
graders in science classes.
Feb. 11 5 p.m. Parent Informational sessions – High School auditorium/youtube will be posted following the information sessions.
Feb. 26 Counselors will meet with 8
th
graders in the computer lab to present High School information and complete on-line registration.
Feb. 28/March 1 Clean up day for 8
th
graders who may have been absent.
We look forward to working with you through the transition to high school. If you have any questions please contact Barb Nelson, 9th Grade Counselor at
[email protected]
or 952-928-6131.
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Global Classrooms Fundraiser for Model United Nations Field Trip
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Here at St. Louis Park Middle School, we have an elective course for 6th-8th graders titled
Global Classrooms
. In Global Classrooms, students look at the structures of a country, the forms and systems of government, and globalization. Students also learn about the United Nations and engage in simulations involving human rights, peace and security, economic, and sustainable development issues, as well as learn critical life skills such as negotiation, public speaking, research, writing, leadership, conflict resolutions and the responsibilities of global citizenship. Global Classrooms is designed to educate young people about the importance of global cooperation and the role of the United Nations in the world today.
The 7th and 8th graders have the opportunity to attend the YMCA's Youth in Government Model United Nations (MUN) conference this spring. At this conference, students can engage politically on a global stage, speak out and share ideas, while communicating and collaborating with peers from throughout the state. MUN also offers opportunities to meet others who are also interested in international politics. Through MUN, students become strong, independent leaders and will be able to make tomorrow's world a better place.
Funding would pay for the students' registration for the Model United Nations conference and meals for the two and a half days for nine (9) students. Click below to link to our Go Fund Me page.
Thank you.
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International Skate Party January 31
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Come Skate with your Middle School world language teachers
to fun tunes you know & new ones you’ll love in 10 different languages!
Who: 5th-8th graders from SLP
Where: Rollergarden, SLP (meet us there!)
When: Thursday, January 31, 2019 from 6-8 p.m.
Cost: $6 per person, pay at the door
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Author Visit Planned for Middle School
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On Tuesday, February 5th, author C.H. Armstrong will be here presenting to our students in various classrooms on the release day of her second young adult novel. We are the second stop on a National Book Tour and are very excited to have her spend the day with us!
Ms. Armstrong will discuss the writing process, how she comes up with ideas, the research, the publishing process, and also the theme of helping others within our own community. There will be a question and answer forum after her presentation.
Click
here
to read a recent review of the book, Roam by C.H. Armstrong.
Minnesota Author, Cathie Armstrong (writing under the pen name, C.H. Armstrong), will be at Barnes & Noble Galleria in Edina on the evening of February 5th for a Book Release and Signing Party for her young adult novel, ROAM, which releases the same day.
As a special offer for our SLPMS students, we have worked with Barnes and Noble to get advance copies of the book if your child would like a signed copy when the author comes to visit our school. The list price is $14.99, but we've been able to negotiate a tax-included price of $13 for our students.
Click
here
to download an order form if you are interested in purchasing the book. Book orders are due by Friday, January 18th, 2019.
Ms. Armstrong is also going to do a book giveaway that ties into the theme of empathy. Click
here
to print a nomination form to someone who has extended kindness to you. There will be a box in the Library Media Center near the check-out desk for you to place your nominations. If the winners have already purchased the book, they can choose to gift it to someone else or choose to get a copy of C.H. Armstrong's first novel, THE EDGE OF NOWHERE.
Gifted and Talented Education Specialist (gr. 6-8)
Advanced Language & Literature Teacher (gr. 6)
St. Louis Park Middle School
2025 Texas Avenue South
St. Louis Park, MN 55426
952-928-6385
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Minnesota History Center Field Trip
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Minnesota History Center Field Trip in March!
All of the sixth graders will be participating in an Individuals & Societies related field trip during third quarter.
On March 14, 2019, we will be visiting the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul. Permission slips with more specific information regarding the field trip, lunches and our behavior policy were sent home this week.
Interested in chaperoning and sharing this experience with your student? Chaperone sign-up can be found by clicking this link to our
Sign-Up Genius Page
.
If you have any questions, please contact your student's Individuals & Societies teacher.
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Communication of School Closing, Late Start and Early Dismissal
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Snow has arrived in Minnesota. Are you prepared for a school closing, late start or early dismissal due to bad weather?
Click here for details.
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Missing anything? Please have your student check Lost and Found. We have accumulated many sweatshirts, t-shirts, jackets etc. The Lost and Found is located by the back door.
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St. Louis Park Middle School has a small food shelf called Oriole Outpost available for families in need. If your family may benefit from this program please contact Kara Fahey, School Social Worker at
[email protected]
or 952-928-6389 for more information.
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Contribute To This Year's Yearbook
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St. Louis Park Middle School has new advisers for the 2018-19 yearbook. We, Maria Johnson and Lisa Becker, are excited about the opportunity to help gather memories for your students, but we would love to have your help!
The best yearbooks are filled with many photos of a variety of events and students; learning, performing, competing and having fun. We have an easy way for you to share photos of our Middle Schools students in their co-curricular activities, so that we have many to choose from.
Our yearbook company, Josten’s, has created RePlayIt, a free app to share photos with us. You can find it in the App Store or in Google Play Store to download to your mobile phone. We gave it a try and it works great! All we did was download the app, registered with St. Louis Park Middle School and took some photos to share. Thank you for helping capturing the moments of our students’ year!
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Binder Buddies
Parents and Guardians:
Many times, I am asked if there is anything that as parents and guardians, you can do to assist or help with here at the Middle School. An opportunity that comes along three times each year is Binder Buddies. This occurs the first Friday of quarter two, three, and four to help students get organized, discard any worksheets or items they don't need any more from quarter one, repair their binder and supplies if possible, and if not, provide students with new supplies or a new binder.
If you are able to volunteer to assist with students organizing their binders and supplies. The Third Quarter Binder Buddies event is Friday, February 1st.
Here is the link to sign up.
We also welcome donations for supplies and we have some of our Site Council fundraising go to Binder Buddies but can struggle to support a student body of over 1,000 students and want to help any student who needs assistance with this. Some items we always need are pencils, pens, binders (3-inch only), binder dividers, notebooks, loose leaf paper, and pencil pouches.
If you have any gifts to donate, either supplies or financial, please bring them to our front office and just say it is for Binder Buddies.
Thank you,
Jason Boll
Assistant Principal
Middle School Food Shelf
Did you know our Middle School has a food shelf? We do! Can you help stock it? Below are the Top 10 most needed items. Please drop off any donations in the office. Anytime you come to school for something, please consider dropping off a few items. Thank you!
Top 10 Middle School Food Shelf Needs
:
1. Cereal
2. fruit (pineapple, oranges, especially)
3. Ramen
4. deodorant
5. shampoo
6. canned corn
7. mini mac and cheese
8. spaghetti o (and similar canned meals)
9. pancake mix (complete)
10. syrup
The next Site Council Meeting is February 13, 2019 at 3:45 p.m. in the Media Center.
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Staff Appreciation Meals during Conferences
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Parents we need your help in supporting our teachers and staff by donating items for the meals on the nights of conferences. Below are the links to sign up for the items that are needed. Thanks in advance from site council for your donation and support.
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Looking for other opportunities? Check out these programs
Food Insecurity
Parktacular Button Design Contest
Growing Up, Mothers and Daughters Connecting
School Start-End Times, Public Input Opportunities
Nature based Summer Camps
Friday Fun Nights
Kung Fu
BSA Troop 738
Diary of Anne Frank
AHS Winter Camp
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D.C. Trip, 2019:
We've been given a great opportunity to listen to a guest speaker before our trip this year! A former docent at the Holocaust Museum will be speaking to our group on
Tuesday, March 19, at 7:00 P.M.
in the Middle School Media Center classrooms. This is not a required meeting, but all D.C. Trip families are invited to attend. The docent will be able to give the group so much more information and history than our typical WorldStrides tour guides or I can provide! Please consider attending this special event!
Also, if your student is interested but you haven't registered yet, there's still time! Families can register through mid-March and still travel with us this year. Please contact David Burr at
[email protected]
or
(952) 928-6375
for registration details.
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