October 9, 2019

MONTHLY CHECKLIST Click on the link below for a list of important tasks for school leaders that affect students and families, budgeting, communications, professional development, building operations and more. All checklists can be found in the 2019-20 Administrator Handbook. October To-Do List

ACTION ITEMS

DEADLINE THIS FRIDAY, Oct. 11: Edit Your School Information for the 2020-21 School Selection Guide

All edits are due this Friday. Click on this link for the full instructions and access to the guide to make edits. You may be prompted to sign in to your SPPS Apps google account (firstname.lastname@stpaul.k12.mn.us) Read the instructions and review the Table of Contents to find your school/name. Click on the link to be taken to your school section. Your edits will show up as suggestions. Once complete, return to the Table of Contents and initial that your edits are complete. The deadline is Friday, Oct. 11. The deadline will not be extended. Please note: You may have more than one section that requires your review, especially if you serve several grade levels (elementary and middle, or middle and high school). Questions? Contact pepe.barton@spps.org.

GOOD TO KNOW

17 Year-old Students Who Wish to Withdraw from School

Minnesota law requires that every child between the age of 7 and 17 receive school instruction unless that child has graduated. However, if a 17-year-old student wants to withdraw from school, the law requires that the student and the student’s parent/guardian must first:   Attend a meeting with school personnel to discuss the educational opportunities available to the student, including alternative educational opportunities; and Sign a written election to withdraw from school.    This written election to withdraw from school template   is to be used in the event there is a 17-year-old student in your building who wishes to withdraw from school.

Office of School Support

In an effort to provide consistent regional support to schools across the district, the Office of School Support has assigned a primary contact person from our office to each school. Please review this memo for additional details and school assignments. For questions, please contact kathy.lombardi@spps.org.

Subscribe to Podcast, "Above the Line"

The Office of Personalized Learning (PL) is creating a monthly podcast to communicate personalized learning news, tips and tricks, professional learning opportunities and staff highlights. Check out the subscription options here to be notified when the next episode drops at the end of October. Our hope is to provide an easy way for you to access these updates anywhere you normally listen to your podcasts! For questions, please contact maijue.lochungvu@spps.org.

Science Field Trips for Students in Grades K-5 and 8

Information regarding science field trip opportunities for school year 2019-20 can be found here .

New Science Standards for Grade 6-12

Please see this document regarding new science standards.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Leadership Academy (Principals and Academics Leaders)

Wed., Oct. 9 8 - 11 a.m. 360 Colborne, Room A/B Wed., Oct. 23 8 - 11 a.m. 360 Colborne, Room A/B Wed., Oct. 30 8 - 11 a.m. Location: TBD

Leadership Academy (Assistant Principals)

Cohort B Wed., Oct. 9 1 - 4 p.m. 360 Colborne, Room D, E, F

New Leaders (First-year Principals and First-year Assistant Principals)

Mon., Oct. 14 4 - 5:30 p.m. 360 Colborne, Room J/K

IMPORTANT DATES

Important holidays, no school days, special religious days and family engagement events are available online at spps.org/calendar.

Oct. 8-9 - Yom Kippur Jewish Day of Atonement. Begins at sunset, Oct. 8 and ends at sunset, Oct. 9. Devoted to prayer, fasting and repentance. Oct. 13-20 - Sukkot Feast of Tabernacles, Jewish festival of thanksgiving, harvest and the remembrance of the Jews who wandered in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt. Begins at sunset, Oct. 13 and ends at sunset, Oct. 20. Oct. 14 - Indigenous Peoples Day A City of Saint Paul resolution that honors Native American culture. Oct. 17-18 - No School (PreK-12) Teacher professional development - statewide teacher meeting. Oct. 20-21 - Shemini Atzeret Begins at sunset, Oct. 20 and ends at sunset Oct. 21. Closing day of the Jewish festival Sukkot. A day of prayer. Oct. 21-22 - Simchat Torah Begins at sunset, Oct. 21 and ends at the sunset, Oct. 22. Jewish holiday. Reading of the law (Torah) is concluded and begun anew in the synagogue. Oct. 25 - No School (PreK-5 / PreK-8 schools) Conference preparation.

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The Principal's Playbook is a collaboration between the Office of Leadership and the Office of Communications. The Playbook is the main source for communicating with principals. This weekly newsletter includes department action items, professional development opportunities and other updates that directly affect principals and other school leaders. Each Playbook also includes communications and marketing content to help schools communicate with their families.

Jada Wollenzien Program Manager, Leadership Development Office: 651-744-5074 jada.wollenzien@spps.org

Pepe Barton Communications Consultant Office: 651-744-5660 pepe.barton@spps.org