SNAPSHOT: Katie Widen, a Highlands music teacher, adapted the song "Some Things Never Change" from the movie Frozen 2, to send a special message to her students. Her words and beautiful voice express what everyone in the district is feeling -- a commitment to making distance learning the best it can be for every student. Thank you, Katie, and Highlands staff for the positivity! (Click the photo to view the video!)
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Easy translation available on Google docs
Did you know you can easily translate Google documents with an option located under the Tools menu at the top of the page?
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Drop down the Tools menu and look for Translated Document about halfway down.
- Click it open, give your document a new name (or add the language at the end of name).
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Choose a language and click Translate.
This option offers a long list of languages to help you communicate with all of your families. If you are still not sure, view this screencast by Blanca Diaz DeLeon as she walks you through translation of the COVID screening list.
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Equity Today
EPS is offering a new equity-focused professional development opportunity available to all staff. The Equity Today cohort will meet virtually eight (8) times between December 16 – May 5.
Equity Today will provide participants an opportunity to analyze critical research, policies, and practices that show how the Covid-19 pandemic is disproportionately affecting specific groups, especially low-income and students of color. Participants will be encouraged and challenged to engage in self-designed action in the form of critical self-reflection, discussion, and advocacy initiatives.
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The annual benefits enrollment period is your opportunity to review and make changes to your insurance benefits. All employees are HIGHLY ENCOURAGED to log in to the PlanSource online enrollment system and review their coverage, so that you are familiar with all your benefits and ensure all information is correct. Even though your current selections automatically roll over to the new benefit year, if you choose to make changes to insurance elections or elect to participate in a flexible spending account, you must enroll online during the open enrollment period. NOTE: Prior year flex spending account elections do not automatically roll over to the new plan year. Look for the email you should have received on Nov. 18 with more details, and visit benefits.plansource.com
- Questions about the PlanSource Benefit Platform? Contact tamara.knapp@plansource.com or by calling 1-833-534-4122.
- Specific questions about your benefit eligibility? Contact Allison.Magnus@edinaschools.org or 952-848-4905 in Human Resources.
- Questions about the PEIP plan design or clinic offerings? Contact Innovo at 952-746-3101.
The benefits open enrollment period ends midnight, Wednesday, Nov. 25!
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Next week, the registration process for the Class of 2034 begins with virtual Kindergarten Information Nights! Learn more about your neighborhood kindergarten program, as well as the choice programs -- French Immersion and Continuous Progress -- at these sessions led by the school principals.
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Students who have been in the hybrid learning model this fall will begin using an updated Distance Learning schedule after Thanksgiving Break, on Monday, Nov. 30. Be sure to check your emails for detailed messages from your schools.
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Edina Public Schools is recognizing 25 students selected as National Merit Semifinalists and 22 students selected as Commended Students. In light of restrictions due to COVID-19, the Edina School Board-sponsored National Merit Reception has been modified to a virtual recognition.
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The Governor’s recent Executive Order, limits the number of people who can meet indoors for social gatherings.
Gathering indoors is more risky than gathering outdoors. If you must meet with friends and family indoors, good ventilation and airflow can help reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.
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Bring in as much fresh air as possible. Open windows and doors when weather and safety allow. The more people, the greater the need for outdoor air.
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Meet in rooms with high ceilings and lots of air volume. A good rule of thumb is to have at least 50 square feet of floor space per person. Open the doors to nearby rooms and hallways.
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Turn your home's or building’s furnace fan to “always on” two hours before the start your gathering, and leave it on until two hours after everyone has left.
Good ventilation is an important COVID-19 safety measure, along with wearing masks, staying six feet apart, washing your hands often and keeping interactions short. Click the link for more Indoor Air Considerations from the Minnesota Department of Health.
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Continue to report positive COVID tests
Even though the district has transitioned to distance learning, we still need families and staff to report positive COVID tests! Monitoring the number of cases within the district is an important factor in determining when it will be safe to return to in-person learning. This is also important for the safety of the children and staff in the essential childcare sites in the district.
Any student or staff member who receives a positive test for COVID-19, should email your school principal with the name of the person testing positive, your name, and a phone number for follow-up. You do not need to report a quarantine due to exposure -- only report if an EPS student or staff member tests positive. Remember, anyone who tests positive or has symptoms of COVID-19 must stay home until you have been contacted by an EPS staff member and cleared to return to a school or childcare site.
More COVID resources
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Free at-home COVID saliva tests available through MDH
The Minnesota Department of Health now offers free, at-home COVID-19 saliva testing for people who believe they need to be tested, with or without symptoms.
You can order a test online that will be shipped to your home, along with a prepaid package to return it. Test results are send by email as soon as 24-48 hours. Testing is free for every Minnesotan, whether or not you have insurance. Visit COVID Test At-Home for more information and a link to the order form.
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Next Regular School Board meeting: Tuesday, Dec. 14, 5 p.m. |
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Highlights from the Nov. 16 Regular School Board meeting include:
- Discussion of 2021 Technology Levy
- Approval of the Amplify Science Curriculum for grades 6-8
Dates and full agendas for Regular Meetings and Board Work Sessions are posted in the Agenda and Minutes section of the School Board Meetings page three days prior to the meeting. Meeting agendas, dates and times are subject to change. (Click the Bookmark icon on the far upper right of the PDF to navigate through the document.)
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Board returns to all-virtual meetings
Due to rising COVID numbers, the School Board has returned to an all-virtual format for its meetings. In October, the Board had shifted to a partial in-person format with some members present and others virtual, and with limited public seating. Beginning Nov. 23, all Board members will attend meetings virtually. Members of the public may submit comments to be read at meetings, and view meetings via live stream. Visit the School Board Meetings page of the website for more information and links.
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News from Nutrition Services |
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Don’t miss out on extra benefits on
Complete the application now for free and reduced lunch benefits…
- If you qualified last year. Last year’s benefits expired Oct. 20. Complete a new form to continue to receive benefits!
- If you applied last year but did not qualify. Guidelines change every year and you may qualify this year.
- If your family has experienced a job loss, health crisis or other life event that has impacted your financial situation.
- If you want access these additional benefits for your students: free ACT testing; participation in College Possible program; college scholarships; other government benefits; discounts for things such as Comcast internet service, and tickets to local museums.
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Food pick-up will be Tuesdays of holiday weeks
During the weeks of the upcoming winter holidays, the food pick-up day will be Tuesdays:
- Tuesday, Nov. 24
- Tuesday, Dec. 22
- Tuesday, Dec. 29
Food pick-up is at EHS Door 15 (behind the school) from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The regular pick-up day is Wednesdays, unless noted above. Visit the Food and Nutrition Services webpage for more information.
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Star Tribune: A team of Valley View sixth graders have launched an free online newspaper for their peers.
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Nov. 25-27: No School
Nov. 30: Begin Updated Distance Learning Schedule
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Dec. 1 at 5:30 p.m. - Concord, Cornelia, Creek Valley Elementary Schools
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Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. - Normandale French Immersion School
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Dec. 8 at 5:30 p.m. - Countryside and Highlands Elementary Schools
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Dec. 8 at 6:30 p.m. - Continuous Progress Choice Program (Joint information night with Countryside and Highlands)
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