St. Louis Park Middle School's Weekly News
January 27, 2022
Please note: For the most up to date information please click on the Middle School website. (Language Translations available)
|
|
Middle School Students and Families -
I am so excited to return to St. Louis Park Middle School this week. Connecting with students, families and staff fuels my spirit and I am hopeful that my return can lighten the load for our administrative team. Working together we will actively seek opportunities for all of us to Create… Engage… and Ignite learning and connection for all St. Louis Park Middle School learners and families, even in these challenging times.
I want to thank Interim Principal Jason Boll and the entire administrative team for their leadership during my medical leave. I see the intense work, proactive teaching, and community outreach that all of you have done to meet the needs of students and families.
I would like to share that during the time away I had surgery to remove cancer. After the surgery it took several months for me to fully recover. I am pleased to report that I am now cancer free. I am truly blessed and eternally grateful to my medical team and all who work in the medical profession.
This week I was able to return to my previous practice of personal success calls to families. This is one of the many highlights of my position. I visit a classroom, ask a teacher to select a student who has a personal success story to share, and together we call their families. It is my privilege to celebrate our students with their families. If you haven’t heard from me, you can be sure that you will in the future as all of our students are working toward success.
I am excited to return to working side by side with students, parents, guardians, families, staff and the entire St. Louis Park community. I missed the smiles, incredible work ethic, and displays of talent that make St. Louis Park Middle School a special place. I also want to recognize the tremendous work of our Special Ed paras and Instructional Assistants this year. I am grateful for their tireless effort in helping our students reach their full brilliance.
Sent with highest regards,
Les
|
|
Upcoming Dates To Remember |
|
- TOMORROW January 28, 2022 - No School Teacher Grading Day
- February 4, 2022 - No School Professional Development
|
|
8th Grade Students and Families |
|
High School Registration Information:
Following are important dates regarding the timeline for high school registration:
Jan. 27 Letter ready to be mailed to 8th grade families regarding virtual registration night. Information with links will be sent via email blast as well.
Feb 9 Distribute registration information sheets to all 8th graders in Advisory.
Feb 9 5pm Virtual Parent Informational Zoom sessions – recording will be posted on the website following the session.
Feb. 14-17 Short informational videos sharing HS information, graduation requirements & how to make course requests in Advisory class.
Feb 24 Counselors will meet with 8th graders in Science class to present complete on-line registration.
Feb 28 (week of) Follow up with any 8th graders who may have been absent previously that still need to register.
|
|
Virtual High School Registration Information Nights
|
|
St. Louis Park High School will host Virtual Registration Information Nights for parents and guardians on Wednesday, February 9.
The session for parents/guardians of incoming ninth graders will begin at 5 p.m. Sessions for parents/guardians of incoming 10th, 11th and 12th grade students will run concurrently beginning at 6:15 p.m.
More information including the Zoom links associated with these events will be communicated in the coming days.
|
|
Current 6th and 7th Graders - Registration |
|
Sixth and seventh graders, it's time to register for classes for next school year. During the week of January 31-February 3, the grade-level dean will visit classrooms to explain the process.
New this year, students will register for classes independently through PowerSchool. Your dean will give you step by step instructions when they visit your classroom. Questions can be directed to the grade-level dean or MSregistration@slpschools.org.
The deadline for entering your registration in PowerSchool is February 11.
|
|
8th Grade Community Project Update |
|
The 8th grade students are in the process of taking action for their community projects this week. Click here to view the digital notebook that students are using as they compile their ideas and planning for the project. This week the students had time set aside for the Community Project during 2nd hour on Jan. 24th and during advisory on Jan. 26th and 27th.
Here's part of the lesson from 1.26.22 shared with students in order to stay on track with their Community project action. The goal is to have the action portion completed by Feb. 1st so that early February can be set aside for preparing their presentations. All students and student groups will be presenting the learning that they experienced during this project to the 6th and 7th grade classrooms on Feb. 11th.
Please reach out if you have questions to either your students' Community Project supervisor (see Powerschool - there is a line for Community Project) or myself,
Mia Waldera
MYP IB Coordinator
|
|
COVID Tests Available for Students and Staff |
|
Rapid-result COVID antigen tests are now available at sites for both staff and students. Tests can be requested at the front office of a student’s school or staff’s primary work location.
Students that are not enrolled in St. Louis Park Public schools such as siblings, relatives, children of staff, will need to request a test from their school/school district or leverage other testing resources. Relatives of staff will also need to leverage local testing resources. More information on community testing options are listed below. Please contact Flower Krutina, krutina.flower@slpschools.org, with questions.
Order Free At Home Tests Online
Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order four free at-home COVID-19 tests. The tests are completely free. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days. Order your tests now so you have them when you need them. Go online to www.covidtests.gov and fill out a short form to order your tests today.
Additional Local Testing Options
|
|
In partnership with Hennepin County, St. Louis Park Public Schools will be hosting a Pfizer vaccination event for people ages 5 and up. Boosters will be available to individuals ages 12+ whose second vaccine dose was administered five months prior. If you are receiving a second dose or booster dose, please bring proof of vaccination. Event details:
- Saturday, February 5, 2022
- Time: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- Location: Aquila Elementary School
- The vaccine is free and no insurance is required
- Individuals receiving a vaccine will receive a $50 Visa gift card (while supplies last)
|
|
Middle School Theatre Program to Present "Back to the 80s" January 27-30 |
|
The St. Louis Park Middle School Theatre Program will present "Back to the 80s: A Risky,Goonie, Breakfast Tale of Totally Tubular Time Travel" in four showings on January 27-30 at the Middle School Performing Arts Center.
Performances are January 27-29 at 7 p.m. and January 30 at 1 p.m. Audience members are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance due to limited seating. Click here to purchase tickets. Tickets are $5 for students and $8 for adults.
Hold on to your hoverboards, we're taking a trip Back to the 80s! When modern teen Mary Fitzfry gets sent back in time by an eccentric professor, she finds herself in the middle of a totally tubular cavalcade of 80s pop culture.
Students with main cast roles will alternate performances. Blue cast will perform Thursday and Saturday, while Green cast will perform Friday and Sunday.
Main Blue Cast Members: Maddie Grecco-Rosen, Katie Healy, Allie Foster, Owen Hollinger and Jojo Williams Hyatt
Main Green Cast Members: Kateri Trebnick, Nina Casey-Fix, Naomi Butler, Shep Cox and Gwyneth DeVillers
|
|
As we move into 2022, we're hoping you'll help provide treats for staff every couple weeks to show our support and appreciation. Some suggestions are fruit, muffins, bagels, granola bars, string cheese, yogurt, etc.
Please sign up at the link below if you are able to contribute.
Thank you!
Middle School Site Council
|
|
Boy's Basketball Spectator Reminder |
|
Due to limited space/capacity and health/safety concerns we will need to limit the amount of spectators attending the middle school boys basketball games this year. Spectators will be limited to 2 parents/guardians of players playing in the current game for both home and away teams. Teachers, other family members, friends and students will not be allowed to watch games. We apologize for this inconvenience at this time but must be proactive in keeping our players, spectators, coaches and officials as healthy/safe as possible. |
|
From the School Social Worker:
Every Meal - Winter Meal Program
Every Meal has launched the Winter Meal Program, providing children and families with easier ways to get the food they need. Over 100 locations throughout the Twin Cities now have our meal bags available for free with no qualification requirements.
They hope these locations provide additional opportunities for your families to access Every Meal weekend food bags. Check out the winter meal program map to find additional locations.
Click HERE to view the Winter Meal Program Flyer.
|
|
Youth Enrichment Opportunities |
|
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.
Middle School Gaming Club
From old school gaming systems (NES, N64) to time and space to play D&D with your friends, join the Middle School Gaming Club to send after-school socializing and gaming at the same time. Students should only register for 1 day of the week (Monday or Wednesday) to give as many students a chance to be a part of the club as possible.
Sessions:
Monday, Jan. 10-Feb. 7
Wednesdays, Jan. 12-Feb. 2
Mondays, Feb. 14-March 14
Wednesdays, Feb. 9-March 2
All run from 4:00-5:15 pm in the Cafeteria
Sliding scale pricing: $10/$20/$30/$40
Click here to sign up now!
Want to learn how to fly a drone? Interested in keeping that drone flying by fixing it up? Join the Middle School Drone Club to learn the basics of Drone flying, fixing, and racing. This will be a casual club to learn and fly. Students interested in competitive Drone flying will be invited to try out for the High School team.
Thursdays, Jan. 13- March 24, 4-5:15 pm
SLP Middle School
Students in grades 6-8
$20/$30/$40/$50
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
