St. Louis Park Middle School's Weekly News
March 17, 2022
Please note: For the most up to date information please click on the Middle School website. (Language Translations available)
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Middle School Students and Families -
I hope that each of you is able to get out and enjoy this beautiful warm weather. As we are working to make our Pick up/Drop off process as smooth and as safe as possible, I ask that the following guidelines be followed.
- Please drop your student curbside.
- Pull your vehicle as far up the line as possible to drop your student.
- Do not drop your student in the staff parking lot or exit through that area.
- Use the left lane to exit school property.
- The school bus area is for buses only. Families must use student drop area.
Families have been doing an outstanding job of dropping their students before school. We all have busy days to get to, so thank you for your patience and observance of the rules.
Sent with highest regards,
Les
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- March 22, 2022 - Virtual Coffee with the Principals for Incoming 6th Grade Families ( details below)
- April 12 - Family Connect/Conferences (evening)
- April 13 - Family Connect/Conferences (all day)
- April 13 - Asynchronous Learning Day (details below)
MCA Testing Dates in April and May
- 4/19 1st through 3rd Hour -MATH
- 4/26 5th through 7th Hour - READING
- 5/3 1st through 3rd Hour - SCIENCE
Make-up Dates: 4/28 and 4/29
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Coffee with the Principals |
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Attention Incoming 6th Grade Families: Please join us for Virtual Coffee with the Principals on Tuesday March 22 from 6:30 - 7:30 pm.
Join Zoom Meeting
- Meeting ID: 895 8461 9103
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Spring Family Connect/Conferences |
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We are excited to once again invite our families to participate in our Family Connect/Conferences.
Tuesday April 12 - 4 pm to 8 pm and Wednesday April 13 - 8 am - 8 pm
You will have an opportunity to sign up with your student's Advisory teacher through a SignUp Genius link. A special edition of OT News on Monday, April 4 will have SignUp links as well as links will be posted on the Middle School website. Please know that you will have the option of either an in person or virtual conference.
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April 13 - Asynchronous Day of Learning |
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Wednesday, April 13 is a scheduled asynchronous learning day for students in grades 6-12. All assignments on that day will be available in Schoology. Teachers will post the learning for that day in Schoology by 8 a.m. and students will be asked to engage in that learning during the day on April 13.
There will also be a question or poll that will be part of each course that day and this is for attendance purposes. We'll be talking to students about this as well but please make sure they do this part so they get credit for doing their work and being "present".
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Last Thursday, our MS Band 7 performed at the SLP District Band Showcase with the HS Wind Ensemble. The Band 7 students did an amazing job in their performance, we are so proud of all the hard work they put in! You can watch and listen to the concert on YouTube, thanks to Park TV: SLP District Band Showcase Link- ParkTV. Bravo to Band 7!
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Exciting News Regarding our Middle School Quiz Bowl Players
The National Academic Quiz Tournament opened up more spots (due to the declining numbers of Covid cases) for qualified players to attend the National Conference in Chicago. We had one team barely miss qualifying previously and we had individual players qualify with their scores from tournaments held in MN this year.
There are six teams from Minnesota attending and SLP is sending three teams to Nationals (International really since players from Seoul, South Korea also attend). A total of 128 teams compete at Nationals.
The following students qualified to attend Nationals in Chicago over the upcoming Mother's Day Weekend:
Elise Hogg - 6th
Oliver Lewis - 8th
Tess Machalek - 8th
Aidan Schaack - 8th
Silas Gidden - 7th
Ty Augustine - 7th
Hal Gage - 6th
Henry Halverson - 6th
Sam Webb - 6th
Tess Culp - 6th
Finley Keogh - 6th
Owen Mechelke - 6th
Avi Nieves - 6th
Arlo Richardson Blackwell - 6th
Best of Luck representing Park - you make us all proud!
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Virtual Young Author's Conference |
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The virtual Young Author's Conference continues....
Jacqueline West – Get a Clue: Starting Your Own Mystery
Ms. West, using brainstorming and writing activities that lead us from one element to the next (just like clues in a mystery!), got students started in creating the pieces of a mystery story–setting, sleuth, suspects, and clues–that will hook readers and keep them turning pages.
We've (MS participants) have been enjoying sharing our writing and ideas with one another and will continue to be inspired through Friday, March 18th when we will conclude with our final during-school session. Students who enrolled in this opportunity can go back to the sessions over and over again as they're recorded as they continue on their journey as writers.
Thanks to Andrew Letellier, language and literature teacher, for bringing this to our campus!
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Register for Spring Sports |
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Online Registration is open for Middle School Spring Sports.
Girls & Boys Track and Field
Boys Tennis
7-8th Grade Girls Lacrosse
Spring sports will begin April 4.
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 spring sports:
- Registration and payment (see above for instructions)
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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. Click here to download the 2021-2022 Sports Qualifying Physical Examination Medical Eligibility Form.
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6th Grader Agustina Jerney, our 2021-2022 SLPMS Spelling Bee Champion, participated in the Twin Cities Metro Area Bee this past Tuesday. Agustina placed in the top 3rd of almost 50 spellers from schools around the metro in a very difficult competition.
Congratulations, Agustina, and thanks for representing St. Louis Park Middle School so well!
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St. Louis Park Public Schools 2022 Minnesota Student Survey
Our school district is inviting students in the 6th through 11th grades to participate in the 2022 Minnesota Student Survey (MSS). This survey is voluntary and has been conducted in schools across our state every three years since 1989. The survey is anonymous and confidential. The privacy of students is protected, as students do not provide their names, student identification numbers, or other personal information. No individual or their families can be identified. The results are reported on our students as a whole.
Questions on the survey are about many topics relating to young people’s lives. The survey asks about how well school is going, future plans, out-of-school activities, physical and mental health, relationships, substance use, and more. High school students are also asked about sexual behavior. This information is used by communities and schools to develop effective programs and provide better services for students.
The survey is administered online. Students will have the ability to read the questions or have the questions read to them through the technology they use to access the survey. The survey takes approximately 45 minutes, or one class period, to complete.
Our school district has informed parents of such surveys in the past and now federal law also requires us to notify parents of this school activity. The Minnesota Student Survey (MSS) will be administered in our middle school and high school from April 4th through April 8th, 2022. You are welcome to review a copy of the survey at: https://mnstudentsurvey.org/instruments For additional support on how to review the survey, or if you have any questions about the survey, please contact Dr. Becca Starr, Assessment and Research Specialist at: 952-928-6022 or [email protected].
Students may also decline to take any part of the survey, or the whole survey, and are informed of that option by staff on the day of survey administration. If you do not want your student to participate in the Minnesota Student Survey, please know that we will be sharing links to a passive consent form/notice to parents next week with a reminder that this survey will be administered in April. These forms will allow you to opt your student out of the survey.
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Last month the Middle School Site Council debuted the "Kindness Awards" during the lunch periods. Students are encouraged to nominate fellow students who have been spotted in an act of kindness towards the school or another student. Nominations are gathered on Mondays with certificates and a treat presented on Fridays.
MARCH 7th winners:
Greyson Gilles
Amelia Harmston
Avery Dwight-Deal
Maggie Krone
Nikolai Rhodes
Idil Abdullahi
Connor Tombers
Julia Zenzen
Amai Ahmed
Owen Mechelke
Lucille Burgeson
Eleanor Frank
Zoey Jones
Congratulations to the winners! Thank you for making SLPMS a kinder place. Thank you also to the students who nominated them.
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Please see this year’s Dollars for Scholars (DFS) Newsletter. DFS is a volunteer board that raises money for graduating seniors. Each spring, seniors have the ability to apply for local scholarships from our generous community donors. Be a part of the group that makes this happen. We are always looking for new board members, please consider joining us - we meet monthly.
If you are interested or have questions, contact Barb Nelson, SLPHS Counselor & Scholarship Coordinator ([email protected]).
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The students and staff have enjoyed getting to know our Global Intern, Estefanny this school year! Estefanny has been assisting teachers and sharing the culture of Colombia in several classes. Scott and Sally Hagen and family have generously opened their home to Estefanny as a host family.
The middle school is excited to be bringing back TWO Global Interns for the 2022-23 school year! Global Interns are a great addition to our classrooms and make connections with many of our students, not only ESP students. Global Interns bring an exciting energy to the classroom and are eager to be involved in the SLP community.
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 2023). 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 the Global Intern to Minnesota and our community in St Louis Park. You do not need to be an ESP family. All middle school families are welcome to host. There is no requirement for families to know Spanish as the interns are also fluent in English.
My family has had a great experience hosting in the recent years and created lasting friendships. Please reach out to me if you are interested or have questions. Karita Bentley at [email protected]
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District to Send COVID Test Kits Home with All Students and Staff Ahead of Spring Break |
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To keep our schools and buildings safe after Spring Break, we strongly encourage all students and staff to get tested for COVID-19 before returning to school on April 4, regardless of vaccination status. We are excited to announce that St. Louis Park Public Schools is in a position to assist families and staff with this request. Before Spring Break, students and staff members will be sent home with two COVID-19 tests.
Click here to download a one-page flyer with full information in English.
Click here to download a one-page flyer with full information in Spanish and Somali.
Click here for BinaxNow test instructions in Somali.
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HELP US BUILD A COMMUNITY OF CARING THIS WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY MORNING!!
Hey Middle School Families! Our kids have almost made it to Spring Break. Let's gather (What??? Can we do that? Yes we can!) in the main foyer and greet, cheer on, welcome ALL kids to the last couple days before Spring Break!
Wear your Park Pride (orange/white/black), make a sign that supports all students or just show up with a smiling face and words of encouragement! Masks optional if you are fully vaccinated.
Doors open for students at 8:50 and school starts at 9:10. Please park in the South lot or on the street in front of school - do NOT park in the bus parking lot.
Please sign up below if you can be there to show ALL students that even more adults are present and care!
Sponsored by Middle School Site Council Mental Health Committee
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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.
Spring Break Programming w/ Youth Enrichment Programs
Basketball Skills Academy w/ Twin Cities Elite Training & Development
Join us for individual and group skills training and scrimmaging with experienced coaches
March 29, 30, and 31
11 am-1 pm
St Louis Park Middle School Gyms
$70 (Scholarships available!)
Spring Break Camp
Need something to do over Spring Break? Come to Spring Break Camp and play video games, have open gym time, learn boxing skills, and play on the computer.
March 29, 30, and 31
10 am-2 pm (lunch will be served)
St. Louis Park Middle School
$115 (Scholarships available)
Questions about Enrichment Programs? Contact Kelleen at [email protected] or 952-928-6399
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