St. Louis Park Middle School's Weekly News |
|
October 12 & 13, a full 7-period distance learning schedule
October 15 & 16, No school
November 2, No school, grading day
November 3, No school, professional learning day
|
|
Important Changes for Students Starting October 12 |
|
We want to communicate an important change in both our distance and hybrid learning schedules, along with a new set of expectations for students.
Starting on Monday, October 12th, students will be attending every class, hours 1-7. This will allow teachers to engage students directly at the beginning of each class period, provide necessary instruction and feedback, and allow students more access to their instructors. The length of the synchronous class will be determined by the teacher with regard to the learning needs of the class and current topic of study. This schedule replaces the current odd and even class schedule that we've done so far this year.
Attendance will be taken all seven class periods on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Wednesday's schedule will remain the same, where the only required class for students to attend is Advisory class from 12:58-1:28 p.m.
Our intent right now is that this schedule would also remain in place if we do go to a hybrid learning model, and making this change now will ensure our students will be ready for this transition whenever that may happen.
On a separate but not new request, we also want to again remind you that our teachers are requesting that students have their cameras on all the time whenever possible. Teachers are able to better assess engagement and learning when they can see and hear from their students and really want to continue to build relationships and community, even while in a virtual learning environment. Please help us with this expectation!
St. Louis Park Middle School and our staff, along with many organizations, are changing and adapting as we all learn and review the work we are currently doing. We believe doing this will continue to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and your children.
Jason Boll
Assistant Principal
|
|
It's Time to Check Out Library Books |
|
The St. Louis Park Middle School library media center is pleased to announce that students can begin checking out books and picking them up "curbside" (in the front entrance foyer) next week! We will be accepting students requests and holds via our Destiny Catalog online. Instructions for how to request and hold books can be found here. We have many new books and thousands upon thousands of great middle school books both in English and Spanish. Students can check out books for pleasure reading and/or for school assignments using our new system. Please contact Greg Holmbeck, library media specialist, or Diane Vig with questions at [email protected] and [email protected], respectively. Happy Reading!!
|
|
New Staff: Malorie Cheline |
|
Hi, my name is Malorie Cheline. I'm a graduate of Winona State University with a degree is in Art Education. I am so excited to be here at our Middle School, for my first year of teaching and hopefully, many more years to come. I will be teaching my students, Middle School Art - Exploring Art and Digital Photography. I'm so excited to see them and teach them all in person!
I have a dog named Rainier who I love very much. Rainier and I sit down with my favorite snack hummus and peppers, or a delicious pizza and watch movies together. I especially will watch or read anything written by Stephen King. I start my weekend mornings with a great cup of coffee as I do my favorite hobbies, which are gardening, DIY, and cooking. I do this while listening to my favorite musical artists, Pinegrove, Phoebe Bridgers, and Kacey Musgraves.
Now that you know a little about me, I hope to open your student's eyes to the creativity and beauty of art.
|
|
|
|
Pictured here are the members of our Art/Design department. They are exceptional in the following attribute:
Knowledgeable: We develop and use conceptual understanding, exploring knowledge across a range of disciplines. We engage with issues and ideas that have local and global significance.
This is one of ten learner profile attributes that International Baccalaureate (IB) World schools strive to develop across their campus'. Our Art/Design staff offers courses like: Painting and Illustration, Design, Photography, Exploring Art, etc. As they continue to develop and refine exciting units for students, they have been gathering ideas from around the globe, interviewing staff from schools as close as Hopkins and as far as India. IB offers a global network and one asset of being a World School is that we work with global educators.
Ask your child about these courses and the engaging learning experiences they are having.
Mia Waldera
International Baccalaureate Coordinator
|
|
Virtual Indigenous Peoples' Day
Click here to see the flyer.
|
|
Families are reminded that all student absences must be reported to the attendance office to be excused. You may phone, 952-928-6394 or email, [email protected].
|
|
Dean of Students, Social Worker and School Counselor |
|
Mental Health Awareness Month 2020
Click here to see the flyer.
Dean of Students:
(6th Grade) Gina Magnuson
(7th Grade) Randy Zutz
(8th Grade) Delana Brinkman
School Social Worker & School Counselor:
Kristen Engen-Routzohn (Social Worker)
Theresa Weber-Sexton (School Counselor)
|
|
The NEW St. Louis Park Schools Family Tech Help site is located at https://slpfamilytechhelp.blogspot.com/. Please look here for solutions to common technical problems that you may have with a student device. If you are in need of additional, specific assistance, you can email a technician at [email protected] or leave a message at 952-928-6056.
In both cases please state the student name, school, grade, and provide device info, and contact phone or email. Both of these methods are checked on a regular basis during the school day from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Any calls or emails made after 4:00 p.m. will be received and returned the next school day after 7:30 a.m.
|
|
Other Helpful Information |
|
Click here for the Schedule starting October 12.
Click here for the Wednesday Schedule.
Click here for the Middle School Website. Go to parent resources for information on PowerSchool and Schoology. Go to student resources for information on PowerSchool and Schoology.
Download the 2020-21 St. Louis Park Public Schools Return to School Guide
Click here for the digital school calendar.
|
|
National Hispanic Heritage Month |
|
Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.
The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402.
The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September18, respectively.
|
|
Helpful information for families:
|
|
Other opportunities in the district/community
Youth Innovation Labs with REM5
Youth Enrichment League 2nd Fall Session
SLP Boys' Traveling Basketball Registration
Young Entrepreneurs Academy
Animal Humane Society Shelter Vet Camp
Game Design/Coding & Graphic Design/Art Class
Project Soar Fall 2020
Teen Tech STEM Club
Ninetendo Switch Tournament
QuaranTeen SciFi Fantasy Book Club
Click here to see the flyers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
