St. Louis Park Middle School's Weekly News |
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November 1, Fall back, daylight saving time ends
November 2, No school, grading day
November 3, No school, professional learning day
November 5, 6th & 7th grade hybrid learning Cohort A (last name A-K)
November 6, 6th & 7th grade hybrid learning Cohort B (last name L-Z)
November 9 & 10, 6th, 7th & 8th grade hybrid learning Cohort A (last name A-K)
November 11 & 12, Conferences
November 12 & 13, 6th, 7th & 8th grade hybrid learning Cohort B (last name L-Z)
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7th Grade Hybrid Learning |
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On Thursday, November 5, 7th grade Cohort A (last name A-K students)will be in person learning at the middle school joining the 6th graders.(All 6th and 7th grade Cohort B & C students will continue learning using a distance learning format).
On Friday, November 6, 7th grade Cohort B (last name L-Z students) will be in person learning at the middle school joining the 6th graders. (All 6th and 7th grade Cohort A & C students will continue learning using a distance learning format).
Please note: Students will be using the "Middle School Daily Schedule". Any student participating through distance learning will check in at the start of each period and the
teacher will give instructions.
Please review the following reminders for students who will be coming to SLPMS for in-person learning:
**St. Louis Park Middle School Building opens to the students at 8:50 a.m. each day. If students arrive before that time they will need to wait outside for the school to open. A student's school day/class schedule starts at 9:10 a.m.
**All students must adhere to hygiene protocols, and the wearing of your mask appropriately at all times--pages 29 & 32-35.
**If riding the bus you need to review the time and location for pick-up that was sent to your family via email. Bus information is also available in the public PowerSchool portal. The bus procedures are outlined in the Hybrid Learning document--page 21.
**If walking or coming to school by car, look at the school map on how to enter school property and school building--page 9.
**Review general information on the hallway, social distancing requirements, visitor expectations, etc.--page 13.
**Individual lockers will be assigned to 7th grade students on Thursday and Friday.
**Devices: Students are expected to bring a school issued chromebook fully charged (with charger) when attending school. Students may bring their personal device if they choose, with parent/guardian permission, at your own risk. Wi-Fi will be available for personal devices.
**Backpack: Students will be allowed to carry a backpack from class to class to carry school supplies and computer --page 12.
**Cohort Switching Information: If a family wants to change from Distance Learning to an in-person Hybrid Learning Model, the school requires 2-4 weeks to complete the request. This provides time for middle school staff to ensure that every class a student has, which will be increasing in class size because of this move, can safely be accommodated with regard to physical classroom capacity. A family request for a student to move from hybrid learning to distance learning can be processed almost immediately. Families wanting to change either learning model need to email Brenda Klinepier at [email protected] to begin the change process.
May you have a wonderful fall weekend with your family.
Les Bork
Principal
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Traffic Note from CenterPoint Energy Starting November 3 |
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Two-way traffic will continue on Texas Ave as well as on Cedar Lake Road through election day, Tuesday 11/3/2020.
Starting on Wednesday morning, 11/4/20, the following traffic changes will start.
West-bound Cedar Lake Road will be closed between Texas Ave & Virginia Ave.
East-bound Cedar Lake Road will remain open to through traffic. Traffic signal will be put on flashing all way stop at intersection.
Texas Ave will become one-way NORTHBOUND ONLY from Cedar Lake Road to Westwood Hills Road. Traffic will be able to come from both directions on Cedar Lake Road and go north on Texas.
To exit the school, buses and parent drop off traffic, would need to go north to Wayzata Blvd or Franklin Ave.
Traffic would likely remain in this configuration until the week of November 23 (hopefully a little sooner if weather cooperates).
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For the safety of our students, families, staff and community, St. Louis Park Public Schools wants to ensure we are maintaining a safe and healthy work and learning environment. Effective Monday, September 28, 2020, and until further notice, all students reporting to school and employees reporting to work at a St. Louis Park Public Schools school site are asked to screen themselves at home for symptoms before they come that day. Students learning remotely in full distance learning do not have to screen for symptoms unless they actually report to a St. Louis Park Public Schools school site. Click here t o read more, page 23.
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St Paul Testing Site will offer Free Saliva COVID Tests |
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The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is offering Minnesotans more and different options for COVID-19 testing by offering saliva testing in a growing number of locations across the state. The test is more comfortable than a nasal swab, and available at no cost to anyone who believes they need a COVID-19 test. Click here for more information.
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4th Hour Time Change started October 26 for all students |
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4th Hour / Lunch / Advisory Period Update:
Hybrid Learning started for 6th graders on Monday, October 26, and our entire school started our original 4th period, four lunchtimes, and Advisory First and Advisory Last schedule that happens during the 11:30 a.m.-1:28 p.m. timeframe. We have spent time discussing the 4th hour class and Advisory to make sure all students know exactly what this means for their lunch, Advisory, and 4th hour class. We are communicating this to parents/guardians so you know the date that this will go into effect and that it has been initially discussed with your student. Click here for 4th hour, lunch, and advisory schedule with times.
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SLPMS Spelling Bee: Round 2
Scripps National Spelling Bee has created an online test for the 2020-2021 academic year so that schools can host their Spelling Bee events in all types of learning environments. David Burr, Spelling Bee Coordinator at St. Louis Park Middle School, has determined that using this virtual option is the best way to host round 2 of the SLPMS Spelling Bee, taking into consideration the size of the contestant group and the ongoing Covid-19 situation. The test is structured very similarly to the round 1 test that is used in the Twin Cities Metro Area Bee.
Families of round 2 participants should have received an e-mail from Mr. Burr earlier this week. The e-mail contained registration information for round 2. If you did not receive it, please contact him at [email protected] or 952-928-6375. The testing window will open November 16 and close November 30, with results posted in early December.
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Access to grades will be disabled during quarter one grading from Friday, October 30 at 3:00 p.m., through November 10 at 3:00 p.m. |
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Parents/Guardians------Today you'll be receiving an email with a Sign-up Genius link from your child's Advisory teacher for their November 11th or 12th student-led conference. Please sign up for a day and time, and if you have any questions on this, please contact your child's Advisory teacher directly.
Jason Boll
Assistant Principal
St. Louis Park Middle School
952-928-6304
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Meeting with Student Services during Conferences |
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The grade-level deans, counselor and social worker welcome the opportunity to meet with families during fall conferences November 11 and 12. The Student Services staff will be available to meet for drop-in or scheduled conferences. If you wish to make an appointment, please contact the staff member directly.
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)
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It has been a great week navigating through our new way of doing school. With our new way of doing things we have found ourselves doing even more on our electronic devices. With that being said, I wanted to talk a bit about Cyberbullying.
Cyberbullying is defined as “The use of electronic communication to bully a person, typically by sending messages of an intimidating or threatening nature” (Oxford Language Dictionary). There are so many ways our kids can communicate with each other these days. A few examples are: Tik Tok, Snapchat, Instagram, Kik, WhatsApp and Whisper. Remember there is always a new app that they may use so try to stay up to date with what they are using.
Cyberbullying Tips:
- Know what your kid(s) are doing online. Are they being bullied? Are they being a bully? Who are they talking to? Are their accounts private? Who can add or chat with them?
- Remember if you bought the electronic device and/or pay the bill then you own it. Know the password(s) so you can unlock the device(s) whenever you would like.
- Know your kid(s). If they have a change in their behavior, talk to them. Maybe the amount of time they spend on their devices has increased/decreased. This is a great time to talk with them about what may be going on.
- Block accounts and/or make a brand-new account. It is okay to block other accounts when someone is being a bully.
- Report. If you have blocked accounts and the person(s) still won’t stop, what is said, may be considered a crime. Please report that to the school.
Please feel free to message me if you have any other questions.
Thank you,
Chaunte’ Ford
SRO
952-928-6392
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It's Time to Check Out Library Books |
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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!!
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New Before School Community Ed Clubs |
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Visual Storytelling w/ Mr. Justin Cherrier
Join our very own Mr. Justin to learn all about how to make an impactful short film. Once you have the basics down, students will make their very own film which they will write, shoot, and edit before presenting it to an audience.
Two sessions available:
For A-K students: Mondays, Nov. 9th-Jan. 25th, 7:45-8:45 a.m., Middle School Room 2314
For L-Z students: Thursdays, Nov. 12th-Feb. 4th, 7:45-8:45 a.m., Middle School Room 2314
Pricing is on a sliding scale: $59/$69/$79/$89.
Click here to register now!
Hip-Hop Club with Mr. Deandre Adams
Mr. Deandre's hip-hop club program gives teens an opportunity to tell their stories, build community, and express their artistic visions through the music of hip-hop culture and the culture of the cipher.
Two sessions available:
For A-K students: Tuesdays, Nov. 10th-Jan. 19th, 7:45-8:45 a.m., Middle School Room 2314
For L-Z students: Fridays, Nov. 13th-Feb. 12th, 7:45-8:45 a.m., Middle School Room 2314
Pricing is on a sliding scale: $59/$69/$79/$89.
Click here to register now!
Open Gym with Mr. Dennis Joyner
Start your morning out right by joining Mr. Dennis for open gym time to play basketball and hang out with your friends.
Two sessions available:
For A-K students: Nov. 10th-Jan. 19th, 7:45-8:45 a.m., Middle School Fieldhouse 2
For L-Z students: Thursdays, Nov. 12th-Feb. 4th, 7:45-8:45 a.m., Middle School Fieldhouse 2
Pricing is on a sliding scale: $39/$49/$59/$69.
Click here to register now
All programs are open for students in Grades 6-8 and are limited to 14 students. After the club is over students will have a chance to eat breakfast before school begins at 9:10 a.m.
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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].
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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.
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Other Helpful Information |
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Click here for the Preparing for 6-8 Hybrid Learning Guide
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.
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Helpful information for families:
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Upcoming Listening Sessions with Superintendent Osei |
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Upcoming Listening Sessions with Superintendent Osei
Click here for dates and times
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Other opportunities in the district/community
MS Open Gym
Visual Storytelling
Game Design/Coding & Graphic Design/Art Class
Adult Options in Education
Fencing Fall 2020
Halloween Art Party
Youth Innovation Labs with REM5
Youth Enrichment League 2nd Fall Session
Young Entrepreneurs Academy
Click here to see the flyers.
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