St. Louis Park Middle School's Weekly News
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Locker Clean Out, May 11, 12 or 13
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This is a copy of the email that was sent to parents/guardians on Tuesday, May 5 and Thursday, May 7.
Dear Middle School parent/guardian,
Thank you to those of you who took the time to inform us whether you need to have access to the middle school to retrieve your student’s belongings or to return school property. Your responses helped us develop a process that will allow you access while keeping safe social distance in order to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. This email is to explain the process. Please review this document carefully.
We have scheduled three days for parents/guardians to access the Middle School building. We ask that you come during the time designated. This will help limit the number of people and allow for safe distancing. We know that some of you have multiple students who attend the MS and will certainly allow you to gather all their belongings during one trip. We will also be flexible if you are not able to accommodate this schedule.
Note: Please be aware that only 60 people will be allowed in the building at a time. You may need to wait in line to access the building as well as wait in line to enter certain areas of the building, for example the locker room.
Reminder: Only one adult per family will be allowed into the building. Students will not be able to enter the building.
Monday, May 11
6th graders with Advisory First: 9:00am - 12:00 noon
6th graders with Advisory Last: 1:00pm - 4:00 pm
Tuesday, May 12
7th graders with Advisory First: 9:00am - 12:00 noon
7th graders with Advisory Last: 1:00pm - 4:00 pm
Wednesday, May 13
8th graders with Advisory First: 9:00am - 12:00 noon
8th graders with Advisory Last: 1:00pm - 4:00 pm
If you intend to go into your child’s locker, please ask them for the locker number and combination. If they do not know the locker number, you can download this information here.
Click
here
for 6th grade locker numbers.
Click
here
for 7th grade locker numbers.
Click
here
for 8th grade locker numbers.
If they have forgotten their combination, staff will have a key to assist you. Staff will also be available to assist with opening gym lockers.
In addition to lockers, you will have access to the health office to retrieve medications. If your student is an 8th grader, you will be able to pick up their artwork. Student art work for returning students will be available in the fall. If you need to return a band or orchestra instrument, you will be contacted by your teacher with instructions.
No other classrooms or building spaces will be accessible.
If you have school property to return such as library books or textbooks but do not need to enter the building to get any personal belongings, there will be a drop off location outside (weather permitting) in the back parking lot. School issued computers and other supplies that your student is still using will be returned at a later date.
Due to construction, please park and enter the building through the back parking lot (West 22nd Street). Refer to this
map
. We require that you wear a mask or face covering and bring a large bag to carry your student’s belongings.
Thank you in advance for adhering to these guidelines and helping to keep us all safe and healthy.
Les Bork
Principal
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How to Sign-Up for Schoology
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Click
here
to see a video about setting up a parent schoology account in English.
Click
here
to see a video about setting up a parent schoology account in Somali.
Click
here
to see a video about setting up a parent schoology account in Spanish.
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Please remember that during distance learning your student must register their attendance by logging into their advisory class in Schoology. This must be completed by 1 p.m. each school day. If you would like to excuse an absence, please call the middle school attendance line at 952-928-6394 or send an email to
[email protected]
. If your student is experiencing any difficulties engaging in distance learning, please contact your student's teachers or grade-level dean.
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Dear Parents/Guardians,
May 7th was Children's Mental Health Day. Covid-19 is affecting us all in many different ways, including our mental health. Please know that we are here to support your student and your family. If you have concerns about your students mental health please don't hesitate to reach out for support. The links below provide some information to help families and children cope with the changes resulting from Covid-19.
"Thank You Thursdays"
The main idea behind "Thank You Thursdays" is that varied gratitude practices help students feel more socially competent and connected, be more satisfied with school, have better mental health and emotional well-being, and be more motivated about school and their future.
"Thank You Thursday" is allowing us to introduce students to the Learning Skill /ATL Skill "
Resilience
". Under this skill students are practicing how to deal with C
hange
. During these rapidly changing times children can feel out of control or become fixated on what is not going well. The goal of "Thank You Thursdays" to help students launch a mind shift where they are learning to reframe their thought processes and focus on what is working/going well. NOT on what isn't working/going well.
Weekly Lessons
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Support for Students and Parents
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From Student Services
The Grade Level Deans are here to help and are available to consult with students and/or parents. They can be reached as follows:
Individual Support
: Theresa Weber-Sexton (School Counselor) and Kara Fahey (School Social Worker) are also offering individual meetings for support of students and/or families on Wednesdays. To sign up click here:
Counselor / Social Worker Meeting Signup
The COVID-19 global pandemic is an unprecedented challenge, which can cause increased worry, stress, anxiety, and confusion for students and adults. During this time of Distance Learning, school counselors, psychologists, social workers and multicultural liaisons are available as resources to families. Please feel free to reach out to any of these staff members via email if your student needs support.
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7th/8th Grade Exploring Art Class
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This was the last unit students did in 7th/8th grade Exploring Art before our last day at school.
These are acrylic paintings done on canvas boards. Students began by doing a blind contour self portrait drawing which means they never look down at their actual drawing. We studied the abstract art of Pablo Picasso and other artists. Students also had to choose one of seven color schemes they had learned about in class.
The finished product is a wonderful combination of color, shapes, and expressive lines. We have awesome student artists in our Middle School and I hope you enjoy seeing their work.
Check future OT News for more artwork.
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Congratulations to 7th grader Maggie Evers and 6th graders Juliana Haley and Kit Petersen who successfully designed and submitted their own mobile apps to Technovation Girls, a global app-creation competition. The girls began by brainstorming problems in their communities then designed and coded mobile apps to solve the problems. They also created pitch videos to market their apps to the judges. Maggie's app, Sports, focuses on women's hockey, sharing the inequities that female players face as well as making schedules easily accessible for multiple local women's teams. Kit and Juliana's app, Instabrain, is an app timer that offers activities for kids to do after the screen time expires based on an interest survey they take. Good work, ladies!
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Interested in joining cross-country this fall? If your student will be in 7th or 8th grade, they can join the high school cross-country team. It is a grade 7-12 sport and considered a high school athletic program. Obviously we have a lot of uncertainty at this point, but we are starting to plan, for hopes that we have a normal season. We do have summer practice options which will be communicated as we gather more information about social distancing regulations. Please reach out to me at
[email protected]
if you have any questions.
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Databases
The list of SLPMS databases, including BrainPop, CultureGrams, EBSCO, Discovery Ed Streaming, Encyclopedia Britannica, Gale and ProQuest, and their corresponding login information is on page 6 of your student's agendas. They can log into any of the databases with this information when they are not in school.
Here is a link to a View Only document with this information.
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Hello families!
This is a great opportunity to encourage your students to read. Many of the books would be great for you to read together. Consider listening while you are folding laundry, going for a walk, or working on a puzzle together to mix up screen time.
Please share with students - SYNC audiobooks - 2 free each week!
Two free audiobooks for YA readers are available every week this summer, starting tomorrow, April 30. The 2 audiobooks are available for download for one week only, then the next two titles are offered, for 13 weeks of Summer. See all titles by week in the blog post
HERE
.
April 30 - May 6
Week 1 Titles
First, download the "Sora app from Overdrive" then register for SYNC 2020 at the link below.
Then:
- Tap "I have a setup code"
- Enter code: audiobooksync
- Use same (school) email that you used to sign up for SYNC 2020
- Tip - sign up for email or text alerts of new titles each week as a reminder
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Host Families Needed for Global Interns 2020-2021
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The middle school has had another successful year with our two Global Interns, Carlos and Irene! They have been a great addition to our classrooms and have made many connections with our students. They continue to assist teachers during this time of distance learning choosing to stay here and help contribute to the school as well as the community. We are looking forward to the next school year with two more interns. One is Angela from Spain and we are now excited to announce Bryan from Colombia will joining SLP Middle School as well! We are looking for two host families for the fall semester-late August through the end of January and two more host families for next spring- late January through the end of the school year in 2021. The main requirement is the intern must have their own legal bedroom. It is a great opportunity for your family to learn about another culture while introducing them to Minnesota and our community in St Louis Park. You do not need to be a PSI family. All middle school families are welcome to host. The interns are also fluent in English. My family has hosted an intern the last two years and had great experiences with lasting friendships. Please reach out to me if you are interested or have questions.
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Click
here
for the April issue
of tips, activities, and helpful information for families
.
Click
here
for the May issue.
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Community Resources (Food Resources, Mental Health, Crisis, Technology, Unemployment, Social Isolation/Anxiety etc.)
Food Resources
Information Regarding Free Childcare for Children of Healthcare & Emergency Workers
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Out of an abundance of care, Children First is canceling this year’s Ice Cream Social, originally scheduled for Sunday, May 17. We’ve been cooking up some alternative events, including a Virtual Ice Cream Social on the 17th. Stay tuned for more details!
Please help us get the word out by letting your network of friends and family know. Thank you for your support!
Looking for other opportunities? Check out these programs
2020-20 Student Calendar at a Glance
Online Youth Enrichment
Camp Invention - Extended Discount
Community Education Classes Online
Online Classes with Community Education
2020 Census The Importance of Counting Children
YEL Summer Flyer
St Louis Park Mountain Bike Team
Click
here
to see the website.
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Support the Class of 2020
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The St. Louis Park Public Schools Foundation is launching a community-wide effort to celebrate our seniors. Show your Park Pride for the class of 2020 by planting a lawn sign in your front yard for all to see!
The Class of 2020 will finish its senior year at home, instead of cruising the halls with friends, attending prom, starring in one final performance or playing in one last game.
Your donation will help fund future innovative classroom grants for St. Louis Park students for years to come.
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