St. Louis Park Middle School's Weekly News
January 13, 2022
Please note: For the most up to date information please click on the Middle School website. (Language Translations available)
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Dear Families:
I just want to say thank you and recognize all the work that everyone in our entire community is doing right now in the midst of this challenging surge.
Parents and guardians—-thank you for the love and support you are providing for your children and your family during this time. Thank you also for the continued support that you’ve shown our teachers and staff this year.
Students—-thank you for rolling with everything that has been thrown your way. These past couple of weeks especially, you have had many substitute teachers and staff members, many of you have had to do quarantine learning from home, and through all of it you’ve made the best of each situation. You continue to remain a constant reminder of what is still important in this current state of chaos. :)
Staff—-thank you for continuing to support, care, and teach our students through all this, as well as helping your colleagues and their students by covering and picking up extra classes and doing additional supervision. This has been done with purpose and commitment to our entire community and I’m extremely grateful for your unselfishness during this time.
Although we are currently in a challenging stretch right now, nothing is forever. Next week we have the opportunity to introduce the middle school to our current 5th grade families with our 6th grade Virtual Information night on January 20th. I’m reminded this means that sadly, our 8th graders only have half a year of middle school left. The phrase “the days are long but the years are short” rings very true for me as I think of our 8th graders being close to transitioning to high school.
Continue to let us know if we can do anything further to assist your student in reaching their full potential and brilliance.
Sincerely,
Jason Boll
Interim Principal
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Upcoming Dates To Remember |
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- Monday, January 17 2022 NO SCHOOL Martin Luther King Day
- Thursday January 20 2022 Virtual 6th Grade Information Night 6:30 pm
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January 20 is Incoming 6th Grade Information Night |
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St. Louis Park Middle School will host a Virtual Incoming 6th Grade Information Night at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 20. Fifth grade families will receive a communication this week with more information including how to access this virtual event.
During this virtual event, students and families will be welcomed by school leaders, receive details about course registration, and participate in breakout rooms to learn more about St. Louis Park Middle School.
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COVID Tests Available for Students and Staff |
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Additional rapid-result COVID antigen tests have been ordered and are now available at sites. Tests can be requested at the front office of a student’s school or staff’s primary work location. The newest test that has become available is the BD Veritor nasal swab test. One test kit (containing two tests) may be requested at a time. BD Veritor tests are app enabled and require a smartphone and internet connection. An alternative test option will be supplied to families that do not have access to a smartphone and internet connection.
Students that are not enrolled in St. Louis Park Public schools such as siblings, relatives, children of staff, will need to request a test from their school/school district or leverage other testing resources. Relatives of staff will also need to leverage local testing resources. More information on community testing options are listed below. Please contact Flower Krutina, [email protected], with questions.
What is the BD Veritor antigen rapid test?
The BD Veritor nasal swab at-home test is a rapid antigen test that can be used by anyone over the age of two. Each kit includes two tests per box. In order to take the test, you are required to download the Scanwell Health App on an iPhone, Samsung Galaxy or Google Pixel smartphone. The app will guide you through the testing process and will take about 20 minutes to complete.
Additional Local Testing Options
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In partnership with Hennepin County, St. Louis Park Public Schools will be hosting Pfizer vaccination events for people ages 5 and up. If you are receiving a second dose or booster dose, please bring proof of vaccination. Event details:
- Dates: Saturday, January 15, 2022 and Saturday, February 5, 2021
- Time: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- Location: Aquila Elementary School
- The vaccine is free and no insurance is required
- Individuals receiving a vaccine will receive a $50 Visa gift card (while supplies last)
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Attention 8th Grade Students |
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The 8th grade students are in the process of defining their goals for their community projects this week.
Click here to view the digital notebook that students are using as they compile their ideas and planning for the project. This week the students met during 6th hour on Jan. 10th, during advisory on Jan. 12th and during 3rd hour on Jan. 13th.
Here's part of the lesson from 1.10.22 shared with students in order to stay on track with their Community project action. The goal is to have the action portion completed by Feb. 1st so that early February can be set aside for preparing their presentations. All students and student groups will be presenting the learning that they experienced during this project to the 6th and 7th grade classrooms on Feb. 11th.
Please reach out if you have questions to either your students' Community Project supervisor (see Powerschool - there is a line for Community Project) or myself,
Mia Waldera
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Middle School Theatre Program to Present "Back to the 80s" January 27-30 |
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The St. Louis Park Middle School Theatre Program will present "Back to the 80s: A Risky,Goonie, Breakfast Tale of Totally Tubular Time Travel" in four showings on January 27-30 at the Middle School Performing Arts Center.
Performances are January 27-29 at 7 p.m. and January 30 at 1 p.m. Audience members are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance due to limited seating. Click here to purchase tickets. Tickets are $5 for students and $8 for adults.
Hold on to your hoverboards, we're taking a trip Back to the 80s! When modern teen Mary Fitzfry gets sent back in time by an eccentric professor, she finds herself in the middle of a totally tubular cavalcade of 80s pop culture.
Students with main cast roles will alternate performances. Blue cast will perform Thursday and Saturday, while Green cast will perform Friday and Sunday.
Main Blue Cast Members: Maddie Grecco-Rosen, Katie Healy, Allie Foster, Owen Hollinger and Jojo Williams Hyatt
Main Green Cast Members: Kateri Trebnick, Nina Casey-Fix, Naomi Butler, Shep Cox and Gwyneth DeVillers
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Three of our 8th grade students will be providing FREE academic tutoring for any class.
Tutoring will happen after school Thursday, 1/20 and 1/27 in room 2312
Students must have their own ride home.
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A big THANK-YOU to Catherine Kotowski (7th grade), Asha Ferran-Sapatnekar (7th grade), and Nessa Manohar (8th grade) for painting canvases to decorate the new teacher lunchroom! They look fantastic!
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We have an opening at the Middle School for a receptionist and are currently taking applications. This is a great opportunity to work with our students and families. If interested please click here.
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As we move into 2022, we're hoping you'll help provide treats for staff every couple weeks to show our support and appreciation. Some suggestions are fruit, muffins, bagels, granola bars, string cheese, yogurt, etc.
Please sign up at the link below if you are able to contribute.
Thank you!
Middle School Site Council
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Boy's Basketball Registration |
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Online Registration is open for Middle School Boys Basketball.
When prompted to log in, you will log in with the same username and password you use to pay your students lunch account. If you need help creating your user account click here: Creating New Account
The following must be received by the Athletic Director before being able to participate in winter sports:
- Registration and payment (see above for instructions)
- Proof of sports physical exam (exam date can be found on Powerschool) given within the previous three years (which clears the athlete for full participation) on file in the Health Office. If the physical expires during the season, a new physical must be provided before the athlete may begin participation. A well child check-up or immunization records do not count as a sports physical.
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Click here to download the 2021-2022 Sports Qualifying Physical Examination Medical Eligibility Form.
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Boy's Basketball Spectator Reminder |
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Due to limited space/capacity and health/safety concerns we will need to limit the amount of spectators attending the middle school boys basketball games this year. Spectators will be limited to 2 parents/guardians of players playing in the current game for both home and away teams. Teachers, other family members, friends and students will not be allowed to watch games. We apologize for this inconvenience at this time but must be proactive in keeping our players, spectators, coaches and officials as healthy/safe as possible. |
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From the School Social Worker:
Every Meal - Winter Meal Program
Every Meal has launched the Winter Meal Program, providing children and families with easier ways to get the food they need. Over 100 locations throughout the Twin Cities now have our meal bags available for free with no qualification requirements.
They hope these locations provide additional opportunities for your families to access Every Meal weekend food bags. Check out the winter meal program map to find additional locations.
Click HERE to view the Winter Meal Program Flyer.
Please contact school social worker Kristen Engen-Routzohn at [email protected] if you have questions or call 952-928-6389
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Youth Enrichment Opportunities |
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Enrichment Opportunities for Middle School Students
Community Education Youth Enrichment Programs (YEP) will have a line-up of both before and after-school programs available at St. Louis Park Middle School.
Middle School Gaming Club
From old school gaming systems (NES, N64) to time and space to play D&D with your friends, join the Middle School Gaming Club to send after-school socializing and gaming at the same time. Students should only register for 1 day of the week (Monday or Wednesday) to give as many students a chance to be a part of the club as possible.
Sessions:
Monday, Jan. 10-Feb. 7
Wednesdays, Jan. 12-Feb. 2
Mondays, Feb. 14-March 14
Wednesdays, Feb. 9-March 2
All run from 4:00-5:15 pm in the Cafeteria
Sliding scale pricing: $10/$20/$30/$40
Click here to sign up now!
Want to learn how to fly a drone? Interested in keeping that drone flying by fixing it up? Join the Middle School Drone Club to learn the basics of Drone flying, fixing, and racing. This will be a casual club to learn and fly. Students interested in competitive Drone flying will be invited to try out for the High School team.
Thursdays, Jan. 13- March 24, 4-5:15 pm
SLP Middle School
Students in grades 6-8
$20/$30/$40/$50
Questions about Enrichment Programs? Contact Kelleen at [email protected] or 952-928-6399
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