St. Louis Park Middle School's Weekly News
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Calendar
- Feb. 18, No school, Presidents' Day
- Feb. 21, Conferences, 4-7:30 p.m.
- Feb. 25, District Band Showcase, 7 p.m., High School Gym
- Feb. 26, Conferences, 4-7:30 p.m.
Tuesday is an A day
Wednesday and Thursday is a B day
Friday is an A day
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School Start-End Times Study
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In alignment with its Strategic Plan, St. Louis Park Public Schools is in process to complete a School Start-End Times Study during the fall and winter of 2018-19. The purpose of the study is to determine the optimal schedule to meet the overall health, academic, and social/developmental needs of all K-12 students.
A Project Team, made up of students, parents, teachers, staff, administrators, and transportation consultants have met three times since November and have developed four options for stakeholders to consider.
During the month of February, District leaders will be gathering feedback from stakeholders regarding the four options. The Project team will then meet again in March and put forth a recommendation for the School Board to consider at their two regularly scheduled March meetings.
Listed below are the four proposed options.
Please note that specific start and end times are not listed,
but instead are organized by tiers. Tier 1 is the earliest start time, followed by Tier 2 and finally Tier 3, which would include the school(s) with the latest start time(s). Specific start times and budget implications will be revealed when a final recommendation is made to the School Board.
Current Schedule
Tier 1 | Middle School
Tier 2 | PSI and High School
Tier 3 | Aquila, Peter Hobart and Susan Lindgren
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DON'T BE LEFT OUT! Friday, February 15, 2019, is the last day to pre-order a yearbook for your student. Orders may be made online at
jostens.com
. The cost for the yearbook is $35. There is a limited supply of yearbooks in the spring so this is your last chance to guarantee a copy for yourself. Be sure to order now.
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Amira Abdirahman, Spelling Bee
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SLPMS Spelling Bee:
On Feb. 5
th
Amira Abdirahman took the online test to advance in the Twin Cities Metro Area Spelling Bee. Her score earned her a place at the next round of the competition, which will be held at the Neighborhood House at the Wellstone Center on Tuesday, March 19
th
. Please congratulate her and wish her the best of luck as she represents SLP!
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Amira Abdirahman with Mr. Burr.
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We have great young writers!
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We have great young writers!
The Minnesota Humanities Center is hosting the Somali Youth Anthology. Several of our students have qualified to submit their work for round two of the submission/selection process. Humanities Center Program Officer Kirk MacKinnon Morrow and Marian Hassan, Somali Youth Anthology Editor, stopped by recently to work with our students on their revisions. We thank them for this opportunity for our kids!
IB Coordinator,
Pictured below: Kirk MacKinnon Morrow and Marian Hassan
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Spring Musical: Frozen Jr.
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SLP MS Presents the Spring Musical: Frozen Jr!
The musical will be performed Thursday-Sunday, May 16-19.
All students are invited to audition for the spring musical. Auditions will be held after school in the choir room on Tuesday, February 19 and Friday, February 22 until 4:30 p.m. (you only need to come to one day of auditions). Anyone who wants to audition needs to sign up on the sheet outside the choir room. If you want to audition for a lead role, you will need to sing a solo. Please come with a song prepared. It doesn’t have to be a song from the show, “Happy Birthday” is always a great choice. Those who want to audition for a chorus role will sing with a group, but will not need to sing a solo. Wear clothes you can move around in. Please contact Ms. Zumberge, Ms. Schmerler, or Ms. Edelheit with any questions.
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Parents/Guardians of the Class of 2023:
If you missed the registration meeting Monday, Feb 11, click
here
to see the meeting.
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.
Questions? 9th Grade Counselor - Barb Nelson
952-928-6131
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8th Grade Families - Community Project Update, 2-15-19
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Attention Grade Families - Community Project Update
Students now have their topics selected and their groups. This week 8th grade supervisors had the opportunity to select student groups ranging from 3-9 groups. Students moved to those supervisors this week and here's what student groups were asked to do:
Fill out the front cover of your Action Book
Define your Goal
Complete page 3 in your Action Book with your group
Reflect on your Goal
Complete Page 4 in your Action Book with your group
Have your supervisor sign off on your goal
Homework - Due February 21st
Complete page 3 and 4.
Supervisor sign-off on your goal (page 4)
Group Essential Agreements - Page 5
May Do
Review your prior knowledge and see if it needs to be updated
Set up a place to record and resources you use (Noodle Tools, Process Journal)
Reflect in your process journal on your journey so far with the project
Please talk to your child about their topics and their groups. Find out what they're interested in doing.
Mia Waldera, IB Coordinator
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Featured Student Artist: Maria Gutierrez, 8th grade
The following is an excerpt from an interview Ms. Zielke (Art Teacher) had with Maria after she completed six paintings of inspirational quotes on canvas earlier this year. Maria’s paintings are currently on display in the LMC hallway.
Ms. Z: What inspired you to do these paintings?
Maria: “I was inspired to initiate this project because I found a lack of self representation in my surroundings”.
Ms. Z: What do you mean by self representation?
Maria: “People don’t give themselves enough credit for what they do . They don’t incorporate self-love into their work. This contributes to a lack of perspective in modern media.”
Ms. Z: How did you select the specific quotes?
Maria: “I looked at my own likings and found people that inspired me every day to keep going and not give up. These, in a way, are the quotes I live by. That teach me how to become a better person. You’ll find that some of these people aren’t mentioned in a day to day basis and I wanted to give them the recognition they deserve. And to give someone else the opportunity to see these things the way I see them.”
Ms. Z:
You did all of this work after school your own time. What inspired you to do that?
Maria “I just wanted to, even if it was just one person, to see their life in a new perspective.”
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Author Visits Middle School on 2-19-19
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Return of author, C.H. Armstrong on 2/19/19
Cathie Armstrong, author of Roam, will be returning to SLPMS next Tuesday, February 19th to speak with 7th grade classes. If you are still interested in purchasing a copy of ROAM, she will bring some books along to autograph that cost $15 each. They are also available at Barnes & Noble.
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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Conferences, 2-21 and/or 2-26
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Conferences are being held on Thursday, February 21 and/orTuesday, February 26 from 4-7:30 p.m. at the middle school. Click
here
to see the postcard that was mailed to families.
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Don't Forget your Food Shelf Donations!
Coming to Teacher Conferences on February 21 or 26?
Help us "fill the shopping cart" for the Middle School food shelf by dropping off food donations.
Top 10 Middle School Food Shelf Needs
:
1. Cereal
2. Fruit (pineapple, oranges)
3. Ramen
4. Deodorant
5. Shampoo
6. Canned corn
7. Mini mac and cheese
8. Spaghetti O's (and similar canned meals)
9. Pancake mix (complete)
10. Syrup
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Atención familias hispanohablantes
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Spanish for Heritage Speakers class offered at the High School
La clase llamada
Spanish for Heritage Speakers
está diseñada para hispanohablantes o estudiantes cuya lengua materna es el español, quienes hablan el español, pero no han aprendido a leer o escribir formalmente. El requisito es que los estudiantes puedan hablar el idioma español o al menos entenderlo, y sus familias hablen español como primer idioma en casa. El propósito de este curso es ayudar a los estudiantes a profundizar su competencia en las cuatro habilidades lingüísticas: leer, escribir, hablar y escuchar. Este curso permitirá a los estudiantes explorar las culturas del mundo Latinoamericano, incluyendo la suya para ayudarlos a profundizar la comprensión de su propia identidad como individuos bilingües y biculturales.
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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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Parent Education Workshops
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The high school is hosting parent education workshops on the first night of high school conferences, Thursday, March 21st. They have opened up this opportunity to Middle School parents as well.
See the flier for details.
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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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Don't Forget your Food Shelf Donations!
Coming to Teacher Conferences on February 21 or 26?
Help us "fill the shopping cart" for the Middle School food shelf by dropping off food donations.
Top 10 Middle School Food Shelf Needs
:
1. Cereal
2. Fruit (pineapple, oranges)
3. Ramen
4. Deodorant
5. Shampoo
6. Canned corn
7. Mini mac and cheese
8. Spaghetti O's (and similar canned meals)
9. Pancake mix (complete)
10. Syrup
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The Binder Buddies program serves over 100 students a quarter by replenishing school supplies and helping them organize their binders. We are completely out of binders! We are looking for school supply donations to keep this great program going. Please consider bringing donations to upcoming conferences. Donations can be dropped off in the field house. Amazon Prime members, to make things easier, we have created a Binder Buddies Wish List on Amazon. This is a convenient way to select items that are vitally needed for the program and have them sent directly to the school.
To donate to the Binder Buddies program through the Amazon Wish List:
- Click here.
- Select the item(s) you would like to donate
- When checking out, please select the middle school address for shipping
- Place your order
Thank you in advance for your donations!
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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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School Nutrition is Hiring
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St Louis Park School Nutrition is Hiring.
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Check out the Children's First Newsletter
here.
Champions Breakfast
Thursday, March 7, 7:00 - 8:15 a.m.
Doubletree Park Place
Don't delay,
make a reservation
for the Champions Breakfast, a community gathering supporting our youth and raising funds for Children First. It's free to attend, but as a fundraiser you will be asked to help make our
Mission Possible
by giving a donation.
For Our Kids,
Karen Atkinson
Looking for other opportunities? Check out these programs
STEP Empty Bowls Event
SLP Girls Fastpitch Registration
School Nutrition is Hiring
Dentistry from the Heart
Teen Tech Workshop
Parktacular Button Design Contest
CE (community education) Classes
Qi Gong
Artisan Bread
Intro to Digital Cameras & Photography
Knitting Fix-It Clinic
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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
burr.david@slpschools.org
or
(952) 928-6375
for registration details.
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