St. Louis Park Middle School's Weekly News |
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November 9 & 10, 6th, 7th & 8th grade hybrid learning Cohort A (last name A-K)
November 11 & 12, Conferences
November 12 & 13, 6th, 7th & 8th grade hybrid learning Cohort B (last name L-Z)
November 16, School Board Listening Session, 6:30 pm click here
November 16, Listening Session with Superintendent Osei, 5-6 p.m. click here
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8th Grade Hybrid Learning |
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On Monday and Tuesday, November 9 and 10, 8th grade Cohort A (last name A-K students) will be in person learning at the middle school joining the 6th and 7th graders in Cohort A.(All 6th, 7th and 8th grade Cohort B & C students will continue learning using a distance learning format).
On Thursday and Friday, November 12 and 13, 8th grade Cohort B (last name L-Z students) will be in person learning at the middle school joining the 6th and 7th graders in Cohort B. (All 6th, 7th and 8th grade Cohort A & C students will continue learning using a distance learning format).
Please note: Students will be using the "Middle School Daily Schedule". Any student participating through distance learning will check in at the start of each period and the
teacher will give instructions.
Please review the following reminders for students who will be coming to SLPMS for in-person learning:
**St. Louis Park Middle School Building opens to the students at 8:50 a.m. each day. If students arrive before that time they will need to wait outside for the school to open. A student's school day/class schedule starts at 9:10 a.m.
Upon entering the school, students should know the room number and proceed to their first hour class unless heading to breakfast. You can check the schedule on PowerSchool.
**All students must adhere to hygiene protocols, and the wearing of your mask appropriately at all times--pages 29 & 32-35.
**If riding the bus you need to review the time and location for pick-up that was sent to your family via email. Bus information is also available in the public PowerSchool portal. The bus procedures are outlined in the Hybrid Learning document--page 21.
**If walking or coming to school by car, look at the school map on how to enter school property and school building--page 9.
**Review general information on the hallway, social distancing requirements, visitor expectations, etc.--page 13.
**Individual lockers will be assigned to 8th grade students on Monday and Thursday.
Students can find their locker assignments and combinations in PowerSchool. Please check so students can access their locker when they arrive.
Reminder for all students, locker use is optional and is only to store one's outerwear and lunch. Students should not be going to their lockers between classes.
**Devices: Students are expected to bring a school issued chromebook fully charged (with charger) when attending school. Students may bring their personal device if they choose, with parent/guardian permission, at your own risk. Wi-Fi will be available for personal devices.
**Backpack: Students will be allowed to carry a backpack from class to class to carry school supplies and computer --page 12.
**Cohort Switching Information: If a family wants to change from Distance Learning to an in-person Hybrid Learning Model, the school requires 2-4 weeks to complete the request. This provides time for middle school staff to ensure that every class a student has, which will be increasing in class size because of this move, can safely be accommodated with regard to physical classroom capacity. A family request for a student to move from hybrid learning to distance learning can be processed almost immediately. Families wanting to change either learning model need to email Megan Rowley at [email protected] to begin the change process.
Have a wonderful fall weekend with your family.
Les Bork
Principal
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Girls' Basketball was scheduled to start on November 9, but will be postponed until further notice.
We hope to be able to offer an in-house season sometime after winter break and will keep you updated.
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Traffic Note from CenterPoint Energy Starting November 4 |
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Starting on Wednesday morning, 11/4/20, the following traffic changes will start.
West-bound Cedar Lake Road will be closed between Texas Ave & Virginia Ave.
East-bound Cedar Lake Road will remain open to through traffic. Traffic signal will be put on flashing all way stop at intersection.
Texas Ave will become one-way NORTHBOUND ONLY from Cedar Lake Road to Westwood Hills Road. Traffic will be able to come from both directions on Cedar Lake Road and go north on Texas.
To exit the school, buses and parent drop off traffic, would need to go north to Wayzata Blvd or Franklin Ave.
Traffic would likely remain in this configuration until the week of November 23 (hopefully a little sooner if weather cooperates).
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Student-Led Conferences next week!!!
We are all very excited for your student to lead and present the work that they have been doing the last three weeks for their student-led conference. Your student's Advisory teacher sent out an e-mail with a Sign-Up Genius last week Friday, please sign-up for a time slot on Wednesday, November 11 or Thursday, November 12, if you haven't already.
I also want to remind you that parents/guardians have the option of this conference being virtual or in-person and this should have been a selected choice on the Sign-Up Genius. Please contact your student's Advisory teacher if you have any questions about this.
There will be an e-mail coming on Tuesday, November 10 with more conference specific information.
Please note that all students and their parents/guardians are required to wear a mask/face covering and to social distance at all times with non-family members while in SLP Middle School.
Jason Boll
Assistant Principal
St. Louis Park Middle School
952-928-6304
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Meeting with Student Services during Conferences |
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The grade-level deans, counselor and social worker welcome the opportunity to meet with families during fall conferences November 11 and 12. The Student Services staff will be available to meet for drop-in or scheduled conferences. If you wish to make an appointment, please contact the staff member directly.
Dean of Students:
(6th Grade) Gina Magnuson
(7th Grade) Randy Zutz
(8th Grade) Delana Brinkman
School Social Worker & School Counselor:
Kristen Engen-Routzohn (Social Worker)
Theresa Weber-Sexton (School Counselor)
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For the safety of our students, families, staff and community, St. Louis Park Public Schools wants to ensure we are maintaining a safe and healthy work and learning environment. Effective Monday, September 28, 2020, and until further notice, all students reporting to school and employees reporting to work at a St. Louis Park Public Schools school site are asked to screen themselves at home for symptoms before they come that day. Students learning remotely in full distance learning do not have to screen for symptoms unless they actually report to a St. Louis Park Public Schools school site. Click here t o read more, page 23.
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St Paul Testing Site will offer Free Saliva COVID Tests |
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The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is offering Minnesotans more and different options for COVID-19 testing by offering saliva testing in a growing number of locations across the state. The test is more comfortable than a nasal swab, and available at no cost to anyone who believes they need a COVID-19 test. Click here for more information.
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New Before School Community Ed Clubs, starts 11-9 |
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I wanted to get the word out about our new Youth Enrichment Program Classes starting next week. We are doing a special deal if you sign up for any of the middle school classes before next Thursday, classes will be $20 off, with the promo code YEP2020 and scholarship opportunities will be available as well. Students can come to room 2314 for more information. If you have any questions, email Darrell Young at [email protected] 952-928-6290 or Kelleen O'Brion at o'[email protected] 952-928-6399.
Visual Storytelling w/ Mr. Justin Cherrier
Join our very own Mr. Justin to learn all about how to make an impactful short film. Once you have the basics down, students will make their very own film which they will write, shoot, and edit before presenting it to an audience.
Two sessions available:
For A-K students: Mondays, Nov. 9th-Jan. 25th, 7:45-8:45 a.m., Middle School Room 2314
For L-Z students: Thursdays, Nov. 12th-Feb. 4th, 7:45-8:45 a.m., Middle School Room 2314
Pricing is on a sliding scale: $59/$69/$79/$89.
Click here to register now!
Hip-Hop Club with Mr. Deandre Adams
Mr. Deandre's hip-hop club program gives teens an opportunity to tell their stories, build community, and express their artistic visions through the music of hip-hop culture and the culture of the cipher.
Two sessions available:
For A-K students: Tuesdays, Nov. 10th-Jan. 19th, 7:45-8:45 a.m., Middle School Room 2314
For L-Z students: Fridays, Nov. 13th-Feb. 12th, 7:45-8:45 a.m., Middle School Room 2314
Pricing is on a sliding scale: $59/$69/$79/$89.
Click here to register now!
Open Gym with Mr. Dennis Joyner
Start your morning out right by joining Mr. Dennis for open gym time to play basketball and hang out with your friends.
Two sessions available:
For A-K students: Nov. 10th-Jan. 19th, 7:45-8:45 a.m., Middle School Fieldhouse 2
For L-Z students: Thursdays, Nov. 12th-Feb. 4th, 7:45-8:45 a.m., Middle School Fieldhouse 2
Pricing is on a sliding scale: $39/$49/$59/$69.
Click here to register now
All programs are open for students in Grades 6-8 and are limited to 14 students. After the club is over students will have a chance to eat breakfast before school begins at 9:10 a.m.
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Listening Sessions with Superintendent Osei, 11-17 |
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Listening Sessions with Superintendent Osei, November 17.
Click here for more information.
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Access to grades will be disabled during quarter one grading from Friday, October 30 at 3:00 p.m., through November 10 at 3:00 p.m. |
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Starting on November 16, teachers will have the option to use a new PowerSchool code, to indicate a student was logged in and “present”, but was unresponsive and did not participate during class. At the end of each day, a phone blast will be sent home to families notifying them that their student was unresponsive and did not participate in one of more of their classes that day . This is to be used as a tool for daily feedback and communication to parents/guardians to help let them know if their child is not at all participating in the class discussions, chat, online activities, responding to the teacher if directly asked a question, etc. Please communicate this with your student and talk about why their active participation is not only important for their learning, but also their connection to their teacher and classmates in a distance and hybrid classroom. This code in PowerSchool will be designated with an 'N", indicating "no participation/unresponsive" for that class period. |
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Professional Learning, 11-3 |
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Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings is Professor Emerita and former Kellner Family Distinguished Professor in Urban Education in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction and was Faculty Affiliate in the Departments of Educational Policy Studies, Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis and Afro American Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is the current President of the National Academy of Education. She was the 2005--2006 president of the American Educational Research Association. She is a Fellow in the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. Ladson-Billings’ research examines the pedagogical practices of teachers who are successful with African American students.
Our time with her has left us thinking and acting upon her wisdom. We appreciate working in a district and community that values this learning and offers staff the chance to learn and grow together to benefit students and their achievement.
Mia Waldera
MYP IB Coordinator
Cell 952-457-4195
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On Tuesday, November 3, Middle School staff joined the district for professional learning together. The Middle School staff continue to demonstrate the attribute of being open-minded. This attribute is one of many that IB World schools seek to develop across their campus'.
Open-minded: We critically appreciate our own cultures and personal histories, as well as the values and traditions of others. We seek and evaluate a range of points of view, and we are willing to grow from the experience.
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The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Opportunity |
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The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is dedicated to advancing the education of exceptionally promising students who have financial need. Please click here for more information and how to apply.
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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 Wednesday Schedule.
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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Helpful information for families:
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Other opportunities in the district/community
MS Virtual French Club
MS Soccer Club
MS Open Gym
Visual Storytelling
Game Design/Coding & Graphic Design/Art Class
Youth Enrichment League 2nd Fall Session
Click here to see the flyers.
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