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)

September 29, 2022

" 'Cause I've been in class, Mr. Muata!" the student said to me with as much energy as if he'd just scored a game winner. I had met this 8th grader previously during the first week of school in the hallways primarily because he was one of the few kids still leisurely heading to class well after classes had started. Now I was meeting in a Restorative Circle conversation with him and others to help settle a conflict. During the conflict, he'd made a responsible decision--he'd walked away instead of contributing any words or actions that would've escalated the conflict. 

In my role as Assistant Principal at SLP Middle School, I was mediating the discussion to settle the students' conflict along with our 7th Grade Level Coordinator, Justin Cherrier. When we brought the students together, I had mentioned to the 8th grader, "I haven't seen you in a long time. Where have you been?" And as mentioned above, he gave me a passionate, proud response. 

I share this because it shows a few things that matter to our school's 22-23 priorities--relationships, engagement, and learning. This 8th grader was interested enough in whatever was going on inside his classrooms to start getting there on time (engagement and learning). He was also demonstrating maturity in not only walking away from a conflict, but coming into a restorative conversation with the other parties involved so that the conflict would not continue to be a barrier to his and other classmates' school experience (relationships and engagement). 

This is just one example of our students living out our SLP Vision--"where students are seen and valued to become their best selves."

Cam Muata

Interim Assistant Principal

September 30, 2022 - *Tomorrow ** No School 

October 6, 2022 - Picture Retakes 9:05 am -12:00

Please fill out this google form and bring your picture package to have a retake done. Also, if you did not have your picture taken earlier this month please fill out the form as well.

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

MS Performing Arts Center



Spirit Week

Monday: Onesie/PJ Day (Wear your most comfortable clothes)

Tuesday: Jersey Day (Support your favorite sports team)

Wednesday: Monochromatic Day (dress from head to toe in your favorite color)

Thursday: Formal Day (suites, ties and fancy dresses!)

Friday: Park Pride Color Code ( 8th grade wears black, 7th grade wears white, and 6th grade wears orange)

Homecoming Football Game ** Please Read**

We invite all St Louis Park Public Schools families to join us on October 7, 2022 for Homecoming. 

• 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 

Homecoming Family and Community Celebration - Oct 7

All residents, families and alumni are invited to join together for this year's Homecoming events! There will be a student parade, food trucks from 5pm - 7pm, photo opportunities with the Oriole, and football game kickoff at 7pm. All events take place around the High School football stadium. Come join the fun!

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. 

Read on to learn more about the initiative. 

"Happy fall! 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 encouraging your child to attend our poster-making session on Thursday, October 13 at SLP Middle School from 4-5 p.m. Snacks, beverages, and poster-making materials will be provided. The city is hoping to hang these posters at SLP Middle School to show how much students support cleaner air! Click here to register in advance."

7th Grade Enrichment Opportunity: Sean Garrison

On Monday, October 3rd all 7th grade students will have the opportunity to meet and listen to writer, artist, and activist, mentor Sean Garrison.  Sean is here to enrich the 7th grade Language and Literature experience of writing a “Where I’m From” poem. 

Check back in next week’s OT News for information on the learning and joy we’re sure Sean will bring. 

Keystone Design 8 Mural

Do you remember seeing this archway above the library at Family Connect meetings?

All 8th graders contributed to a collective mural that is nearly finished! The Keystone class has been an elective for the past 4 years, and students consistently spoke about how meaningful it was for them. Based on student voice and alignment with our district's Mission and Values, all SLPMS 8th graders are now able to take this racial identity development and leadership skills class. Instead of adding a new required course, this became the new curriculum for Design 8, forming "Keystone Design 8." The goal is to practice critical thinking, mindful listening, and speaking skills to develop as racially conscious leaders and design solutions for global issues. 

Just as a "keystone" supports the entire archway, the skills students learn in this class will support their overall education and our school community. Every 8th grade student created a brick with their name, pronouns, race/ethnicity/nationality, strengths, and what they want to change in the world. Now the entire grade level is represented with their vision on this wall! For more information on this class, see the page on the MS website or contact the coordinator, Evelyn Lashley (lashley.evelyn@slpschools.org).

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

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!  

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.

Spirit Week Kick Off Assembly

Chess Club 

Any level of player is welcome to join our Chess Club! 

Mondays, Oct. 24-Dec. 12, 4-5 pm, Media Center Classroom 1 

$145

Newspaper Club 

Enjoy writing, illustrating, interviewing, photography, graphic design, or editing? Join our student-led newspaper The Report Card. 

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4-5:15 pm beginning Oct. 11

Sliding Scale pricing: $10/$20/$30/$40 (pay what best fits for you)

Girls on the Run-Heart and Sole 

Welcome GOTR to the Middle School-an incredible program which offers an inclusive place of belonging. The team will run a 5K at the end of the season

Mondays and Wednesdays, 4-5:30 pm, beginning on September 12th

$175 (financial aid-pay what you can option available) 

Questions or Club Ideas? Contact Kelleen O'Brion at obrion.kelleen@slpschools.org or 952-928-6399

Mr. Jason Boll, Interim Principal

Mr. Cam Muata, Interim Assistant Principal

2025 Texas Avenue South

St. Louis Park, MN 55426

Phone: 952-928-6300

Attendance: 952-928-6394

Fax: 952-928-6383

boll.jason@slpschools.org

muata.cam@slpschools.org

ms.slpschools.org