St. Louis Park Middle School's Weekly News

Please note: For the most up to date information please click on the Middle School website. (Language Translations available)

October 6, 2022

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Site Council

Direct Donation Drive

This week has exceeded expectations on several fronts. We are still tallying the totals but the generosity and giving has been tremendous. We'll share more details and final totals at next week's Site Council meeting and via OT NEWS next week. So many students and staff have really gotten into spirit week, as shown by some of our photos below, and by the end of the week, over 100 students will have received prizes from our community drawings at lunch. Thank you to everyone for making all this happen!

Keith Richardson, Site Council Chair

Jason Boll, Interim Principal

Middle School Highlights

Week 5

Upcoming Dates

October 14, 2022 - Coffee with the Principals 9:15 am

MS Performing Arts Center

October 17, 2022 - MAP Testing Periods 5-7

October 18, 2022 - MAP Testing Periods 1-3

October 20, and 21 - No School MEA Break

Athletics Calendar

MAP Testing Information

Dear Families of our SLPMS students,

On Monday, October 17, during Periods 5-7 (1:30-3:52pm) and on Tuesday, October 18, during Periods 1-3 (9:05-11:30am), the entire student body will be taking the yearly MAP (Measure of Academic Progress) math and reading tests.

We are encouraging every student to take this test for the following reasons:

MAP tests shows individual student growth from year to year.
Every question is tailored to the individual student and where the student is academically.
Students get to show what they know as a reader, mathematician, and thinker.
MAP results show students, teachers, and staff what learning has already happened and what learning needs to be done.

We are discouraging any students from opting out of the tests. If you choose to opt your student out, please pick them up at 1:30pm on Monday, October 17th and drop them off at 11:25am on Tuesday, October 18th. We are asking this because we would like the whole building participating in and focused on showing our learning with minimal distractions.

Please support us in this endeavor. If you are interested in volunteering during MAP testing, please sign up here.

Monday, October 17th: Shifts 1:00-2:45pm and 2:15-4pm
14 for each shift with the opportunity to take double shifts
Tuesday, October 18th: Shifts 8:45-10:15am and 10:00-11:30am.
14 for each shift with the opportunity to take double shifts

Fall Theater Audition

SLPMS Theater Auditions for the Fall Show - Seedfolks!

Attend 1 Audition time-

After School: Monday, October 10th or Wednesday, October 12th from 4:00-5:25 in the Performing Arts Center.

You MUST have your own transportation home and can leave as soon as you are done auditioning. People playing Sports are encouraged to audition and then attend sports practice- just let your coach know and we will have you audition near the beginning.

During School: 7th Period (A Day) Thursday, October 13th in the Performing Arts Center.

You should ONLY Sign-up for this audition time if you are unable to attend the after school auditions because you do not have transportation home.

Performance Dates: Jan. 26-28, 2023

Rehearsals: Will depend on the role you are cast in but in general, Mon-Thurs 4-5:20.

Tech Week: Sat. Jan. 21st, Mon. Jan. 23-Wed. Jan. 25. It is important that you are able to attend all of these dates. If you have a conflict please note it on your audition form.

Prep for Auditions: Fill out the Audition Form linked below, ensure you have transportation, be prepared to read and act from a script (you will have time to practice).

Activity Fee: If cast, you are expected to regularly attend rehearsals, work as a team and have fun! There is an Activity Fee of $120, scholarships are available as we never want finances to be the reason a student can’t participate.

Play Description: When a young Vietnamese girl plants beans in a vacant lot to connect with the memory of her father, the diverse group of locals who take notice find a connection of their own in a spirited effort to re-imagine their run-down neighborhood. The first year in the life of a community garden unfolds in this "spoken musical," adapted from the award-winning children's novel of the same name, as the voices of characters from farflung backgrounds converge in a rhythmic hymn to community.

Audition Form- must be logged into schoology

Spelling Bee

School Wide Spelling Bee- an Enrichment Opportunity for all Students.

The SLP MS Spelling Bee is back! We will hold our official in-person Spelling Bee on the evening of November 10 in the Performing Arts Center. Every student will have access to the Spelling Bee qualifying test on their Language and Literature Schoology page.

The top 8-10 scorers per grade level will be offered a spot in the Spelling Bee on Nov. 10th. The qualifying test is open from October 10-October 20. Students may take the qualifying test in class or at home. Those who will move on to our in-person Spelling Bee will be notified on October 24 and 25.

If you or your student has questions please reach out to edelheit.jessica@slpschools.org

Good luck to everyone who takes the qualifying test.

7th Grade Enrichment Experience

7th Grade Enrichment Opportunity: Sean Garrison

On Monday all 7th grade students had the opportunity to listen to writer and artist, mentor Sean Garrison. Sean shared some of his poetry in hopes of inspiring students to think critically about how they want to write their “Where I’m From” poems.

Sean advised students to “Speak to who you are” and when you do “that’s the real treasure.” He also said “Be You! Not the social media you, but the real you.” He encouraged students to view their poems as a piece of art and to “begin to paint with words.” He modeled not only what it means to be a writer but what it means to be a positive member of the community. Sean closed one session by saying "When people share art with you they share pieces of themselves with you." He emphasized the importance of listening when people expose pieces of themselves. In the next few weeks, your student will write their “Where I’m From” poem. We hope Sean Garrison’s words will help them with this assignment.

Mock Trial

All School Lessons

As part of being an IB World School, we focus on the whole student, not just academics. This year we’re focusing across the campus on executive functioning skills. All students are receiving direct instruction during their 4th hour class on the skills of planning and organization. So far, students have been introduced to the concepts and applying it to real life situations where they would use planning and organization.

Some learning experiences that the students have done are: organized their Google drive and they’ve learned to send an email to a staff member. In coming weeks students will be choosing an organization and planning system to use for the remainder of the year. This will help them track their homework assignments as well as extra-curricular and other out-of-school activities.

Our goals by grade level:

6th grade

Students are able to gain awareness of how they spend their time and reflect on it. They will be able to communicate with their families to gather needed information (dates and commitments). They will also be able to set long and short term goals.

7th grade

Students are able to take ownership of their commitments and plan to prioritize homework time. They will also be able to reflect and change based on how well they utilize their time.

8th grade

Students are able to manage choosing and following through on independent due dates and advocating for themselves.

Watch for student self reflection scores on how they believe they are doing with these skills closer to the end of the quarter.

Purchase a Yearbook

Yearbooks are on sale! The cost is $42. Click here for purchasing link.

Middle School Math Team

The SLP Math Team practices every Monday after school from this Monday until mid-January. We compete against other schools and last year we went to the State Competition. The team is open to 6th, 7th, and 8th graders and students CAN be in a sport and math team. Practice is finished every Monday by 4:30. Email stark.michelle@slpschools.org for more information!

Every Meal Program

Weekend Food Bag Options: Families may choose from five options structured around the USDA MyPlate standards. All bag types contain 4-5 pounds of non-perishable food, including a variety of fruits, vegetables, proteins, and grains. Bag types are identified by different colors of Every Meal logo.

Please contact Kristen Engen-Routzohn if you would like your student(s) to receive a weekly food bag and identify your student(s) first and last name and your food bag(s) selection. engen.kristen@slpschools.org / 952-928-6389

Please click here for a list of non-perishable items that are needed to keep our food shelf full.

District News

Homecoming

Join us for the SLP Homecoming Festivities on October 7, 2022

All residents, families, staff, and alumni are invited to join together for this year's SLP Homecoming events and tailgate party! There will be a student parade from 4:30-5:00pm from the High School to the Football Stadium, food trucks from 5pm - 7pm in the Central parking lot behind the stadium, photo opportunities with the Oriole, and the football game where the SLP Orioles will take on Holy Angels - kickoff at 7pm. Come join the fun!

Homecoming Expectations:

Any child in 8th grade or below must be accompanied by a paying adult who is responsible for them, their behavior and their whereabouts at the game. The student must be in the bleachers unless with the accompanying adult.
No bags, backpacks or outside food/drink will be allowed in. No reentry. Please remember there are no cash ticket sales and no refunds.
Admission will stop at the end of the third quarter.

Please purchase your tickets here: https://gopark.hometownticketing.com/embed/all

Middle School Students inspire "Idle-Free SLP" City Initiative

Seventh Graders Suwaydah Aden, Ibtisam Ahmed, and Erin Enright coined the term "Idle-Free SLP" during their Climate Action presentation last spring during science class. Their slogan and presentation have since served as inspiration for a new initiative in Saint Louis Park to reduce carbon emissions in our school parking lots.

As you pick up and drop off your kids this year, you may notice some new “Idle-Free SLP” signs. That’s because the City of St. Louis Park, in collaboration with Park Nicollet, is launching a student-driven idling reduction campaign for cleaner air and healthier lungs. Idling, or running the engine while parked, can produce more tailpipe emissions per minute than driving and has been linked to asthma symptoms, heart and lung disease, cognitive issues, and premature death. Children are even more vulnerable to air pollution than adults because they breathe more air per pound of body weight and their respiratory systems are not yet fully developed. This makes idling near schools – one of the most common idling scenarios as parents wait to pick up their children – especially dangerous.

Learn more and get involved by checking out the city website or by attending our poster-making session on Thursday, October 13 at St. Louis Park Middle School from 4-5 p.m. Snacks, beverages, and poster-making materials will be provided. Click here to register in advance.

Join the District Instructional Programs Advisory Council (DIPAC)

Help Review What is Taught in Classrooms: Join the District Instructional Programs Advisory Council (DIPAC)

Want to help review what is taught in St. Louis Park Public Schools classrooms? We invite families to apply to join the District Instructional Programs Advisory Council (DIPAC). You do not need any educational background to join. The Committee will review the process of our curricular and instructional program offerings.

Apply by October 14, 2022
No background required (just your interest to participate!)
Seeking diverse perspectives
Attend approximately 4 meetings (1.5 hours each).

Learn more about DIPAC and what we hope to do.

We’re now publishing an e-newsletter with highlights from School Board meetings. View the September 27 Board Briefs or subscribe to future newsletters.