St. Louis Park Middle School's Weekly News |
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December 9, MAP testing make-ups
December 17, Virtual Coffee with the Principal
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We Are Still Open for Material Pickup |
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Parents/Guardians,
It was great seeing so many parents and guardians the past two days and we all appreciate the support and gratitude everyone expressed---thank you! We have moved all student materials that have not been picked up close to the front office. Please stop by this week to pickup your student's supplies. If you are unable to come and get them, please contact us at 952-928-6300 to let us know and we will try and work out another solution to get these supplies to you. Thank you!!
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SLPMS Spelling Bee Update
Please congratulate the following students for earning the top 10 scores in Round 2 of the Spelling Bee! These students are invited to Round 3 and should check their St. Louis Park school e-mail account for a message from David Burr, Spelling Bee Coordinator.
Boluwatife Adeuga
Adeline Berg
Alexandra Coronado
Jacob Erlandson
Arun Ferran-Sapatnekar
Asha Ferran-Sapatnekar
Tushar Ganesh
Lola Grimm
Miliana Hoffman
Tenzin Pedon
Imad Salam
Bria Schneeberg
Charlotte Wiltse
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Community Project Information for 8th Graders |
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Dear 8th Grade Families,
We are so excited to launch the community project next week! In our school, there is a capstone project where students are able to show/share their passions and make a difference in a community of their choice. During these pandemics we're facing, often we hear of and participate in ways that positively impact our communities. 8th grade students will be starting their thinking during advisory next week about an area of passion/interest they have and matching it to a community of theirs. Then, they will be brainstorming ways to connect the two in order to make this world an even better place.
Projects I've had the privilege of supervising/sharing in the past have inspired me and others...for example:
1. A student who was interested in piano wanted his local neighborhood to feel more connected, so he held a piano concert in his yard, invited his neighbors and served lemonade.
2. A student interested in literacy decided to build a "little library" and place it at the end of his drive to share books with his community.
3. Students had an interest in learning more about their culture and history so they interviewed elders to gather stories to share with future generations.
These are just a few. Please click here to see some of the slides that will be used in advisory next week to start the thinking on this project.
Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or suggestions you have for this project.
Mia Waldera
International Baccalaureate Coordinator
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Our 6th graders spent the past month researching the impacts of plastic on Earth's systems! Students were asked to save plastic waste that would normally be thrown out for one week in order to gain awareness of their own plastic consumption. Students then turned that plastic waste into ART!
Here is a virtual museum of their work. These kids are so innovative and insightful! Take a minute to check it out. Click here to see the artwork.
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Listening Sessions with Superintendent Osei |
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Click here for the details and the link.
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Hi everyone my name is Roy Pienaar and I am so incredibly excited to be here in the St. Louis Park School District! This is my 7th year teaching and I will be teaching band to our middle school students. I received my BA from the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities in Instrumental Music Education, and I am currently finishing up my Master of Arts in Music Education at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. I hope to be teaching here for many years to come!
I was born in Cape Town, South Africa but moved to the Chicago area when I was four. I grew up in Grayslake, IL until I moved to Minneapolis when I began my undergrad. I moved to St. Louis Park last May and I love being a part of this community. Hobbies that I enjoy include mountain biking, hiking, downhill skiing, playing trombone in my brass band, being a diehard Chicago and Minnesota Gophers sports fan, and traveling with my fiance, Ellen and my favorite color is blue.
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MAP Testing Make-Ups for Math and Reading on December 9 |
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Reading and math MAP testing makeup will be December 9th only. A link will be provided for students in their Schoology to complete the test from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Please have students log on early to ensure enough time to finish the test(s).
Imtixaanka MAP wuxuu noqon doonaa Nofeembar 18 (xisaabta), Disembar 2 (akhris), iyo ku celinta imtixaanka oo ah Disembar 9. Fadhiga subaxda wuxuu ka bilaaban doonaa 9am, duhurkii waa ardayda xiisadda 1-4, fadhiga labaadna wuxuu noqon doonaa 1 -4 galabnimo. Ardayda xilliyada 5-7. Imtixaanka waxaa laqaadayaa Arbacada sidaa darteed fasallada ma kala go'i doonaan. Ardayda 'xisaabta iyo luqadda & suugaanta macallimiintooda ayaa u soo diri doonta iyaga xiriiriyaha “link” waxaya eegi doonaan jadwalka imtixaanka iyo habraacyada. Haddii ay jiraan su'aalo fadlan emayl u soo dir Omar Adams [email protected]
Los exámenes de MAP( por sus siglas en inglés), están planeados para el miércoles 18 de Noviembre (matemática), miércoles 2 de Diciembre (lectura) y exámenes de recuperación el 9 de Diciembre. La sesión matutina inicia de las 9 a.m.- a medio día, para estudiantes en los períodos 1-4 y la segunda sesión será de 1-4 p.m. para los estudiantes en los períodos 5-7. La razón por la que los exámenes serán llevados a cabo los días miércolesa, es por no tener clases esos días y los estudiantes pueden trabajar sin interupción. Los maestros de las clases de matemática y literatura & lenguaje estan a cargo de enviar los enlaces para repaso del horario del examen y procedimientos.
Si el estudiante tiene preguntas escriba a: Omar Adams [email protected]. Si los padres tienen preguntas escriba a:
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Screenagers: Next Chapter - Uncovering Skills for Stress Resilience
This documentary is available for viewing through a partnership between the SLP High School and CARE Counseling.
Summary:
This film examines the science behind teen’s emotional challenges, the interplay of social media, and most importantly, what can be done in our schools and homes to help them build crucial skills to navigate stress, anxiety, and depression in our digital age.
If you are interested in viewing, all you need to do is register at the link below and you have until December 16 to access the video. We will also be having an optional panel discussion for those that are interested on Tuesday, December 15 at 7 p.m.
To register, click here:
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Check out books from the LMC |
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Check out books from the St. Louis Park Middle School library media center! Students can check out books and pick them up "curbside" (in the front entrance foyer). Book requests and holds can be made 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 note that the LMC staff can put requested available books for check-out into the student boxes for pick up next week. Contact us if you have any questions. Also, any overdue books need to be returned before new books can be picked up (or these books can be renewed for another two weeks by requesting this by email). Thank you!
Happy Reading!!
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School Social Worker and School Counselor |
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Message from the School Social Worker & School Counselor
Did you know?
St. Louis Park Middle School partners with Relate Counseling Center and Park Nicollet NOW Program to provide children's mental health therapy services during the school day to middle school students. As we navigate into the school year with distance learning, services are provided via telehealth. Please reach out to your student's grade level dean, the school social worker or the school counselor to discuss this possibility for your child. You may be concerned if you have noticed a change in your child's appetite or sleeping, an increase in anger outbursts, avoiding activities they typically enjoy, becoming overly agitated, increased worry, self harming behavior and other concerning behavior changes. Please reach out if you have concerns.
School Social Worker & School Counselor:
Kristen Engen-Routzohn (Social Worker)
Theresa Weber-Sexton (School Counselor)
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Virtual Enrichment Opportunity |
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French Club Instructor, Jolene Saupique |
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Wednesdays, 3:30-4:30 pm, Sliding Scale Pricing: $39/$49/$59/$69/$79
Viens jouer (come play) and learn French with this laid back and fun French Club! We will explore the French language and culture through playing games!
To keep it interesting, we will sprinkle in a good dose of cultural fun like cooking demos, story books, music videos, virtual tours and more. Taught in a hybrid of English and French, this is No Pressure approach to absorbing vocabulary and all things Francophone. Perfect for Beginners and Advanced students. Students will leave class with a love for learning the French language and ideas for games and activities to continue playing at learning at home.
Classes open to Any middle school students in Any school district so call a friend and enroll! There are still several spots left. Classes start Wednesday December 2nd and will be from 3:30-4:30 p.m. on Wednesdays till February. Come play games and learn French with SLP MS Para, Ms Jolene! Click here to see the flyer.
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Dear Parents and Guardians,
Please consider supporting SLPMS through Box Tops and Amazon Smiles!
Click here for more information.
Scan Away! Thank you for supporting our school programs!
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Keep your physical distance and shop Amazon! Please consider shopping through Amazon Smile and donating to St. Louis Park Middle School!
Click here for information on signing up for Amazon Smile.
Just be sure to visit smile.amazon.com every time you normally visit Amazon to make sure your eligible purchases are having a portion of the price is donated to St. Louis Park Middle School.
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Keep Your School Nurse Informed |
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Our Health Services Team is here to support staff and students - even during distance learning. Public health agencies at the state and county levels are overwhelmed with the current number of positive COVID cases and may not be able to answer questions in a timely manner.
The Licensed School Nurse and Health Aide at the middle school can answer COVID/illness related questions, work through guidance given by the MN Department of Health, provide information on COVID testing sites, and assist with contact tracing and investigating.
Do not hesitate to reach out with your own questions or to notify us of students who may need support at this time. Please call 952-928-6311 or email Julie Walsh at [email protected] or Jeanelle Rasmussen at [email protected] to report any illness during distance learning.
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New Free COVID App from the State of Minnesota |
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The State of Minnesota has launched COVIDaware MN, an app that will notify you if you’ve been near someone who tested positive for COVID-19. If you test positive, you can use the app to anonymously notify anyone you’ve been near.
Minnesota’s free exposure notification app, COVIDaware MN, will help us all do our part. Whether you are in the office, working from home, or out in the field, your work is critical for Minnesotans to get the services they need. We want to make sure you are staying as safe as possible and can take action to keep your family and community safe. When we understand our exposure risk, we can all make more informed decisions about our health.
Download COVIDaware MN today from the Google Play Store or App Store, and encourage your colleagues to do the same. The app is free and does not collect any personal information or track your location. Click here for more information.
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No Cost Covid Testng for All Minnesotans |
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MDH has now expanded their at-home saliva test program to all of Minnesota.
MDH and Vault Health are offering this test to anyone at ZERO cost. Will ask for insurance information, but it is not required. Requests for tests can be made whether an individual is symptomatic or asymptomatic.
Please go to this website for all the information (available in English, Spanish, Somalian, Hmong, and Vietnamese.)
Test comes shipped to your home with complete instructions for the process. If a parent is ordering tests for their children, they will need to link the child to an email that is different from the parent's email.
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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 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.
Click here for the SLP Communicator
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2021 D.C. Trip (current 7th and 8th Graders):
There is still time to sign up for this amazing travel opportunity! Our travel dates are June 12-15, 2021. Our Trip ID number is 188262. Registration is open through mid-March, and there are two easy ways to register:
1) Call WorldStrides Customer Service at 1-800-468-5899
If you were signed up for last year's trip and canceled, but you're now wondering if you could still join us, good news! You can re-register by either of the two methods mentioned above as well.
2022 Trip (current 6th Graders):
We are already starting to plan our trip for 2022! There will be an online parent information meeting via Zoom on December 8 at 7:00 P.M. Please contact David Burr if you are interested but unable to attend: [email protected] or 952-928-6375.
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Community Education Gift Certificates |
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3rd Annual YEP Sock Fundraiser Underway |
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Click here for the details.
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Other opportunities in the district/community:
Winter Sock Sale
Draw On! Drawing Classes
Keep Us Informed About Illnesses
Community Education Gift Certificate
MS Virtual French Club
MS Soccer Club
Click here to see the flyers.
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