St. Louis Park Middle School's Weekly News
April 16, 2021
Calendar
A Note from the Principal
April 16, 2021

Good Day Parents and Guardians,

As you know we combined Cohort A (last name A-K) and Cohort B (last name L-Z) together physically at school this week while continuing to meet the needs of our distance learners as well. Please see the pictures below of students greeting and working with each other and with staff. Both the students and teachers were happy to see the combined energy and enthusiasm presented by so many students.

I think we can all agree that it has been an engaging week and we look forward to many more to come yet this school year.

This week has been highly charged and emotional for not only our school but for the whole metropolitan area because of the killing of Daunte Wright and closing arguments in the Derek Chauvin trial scheduled to happen on Monday.

This communication is meant to assure families that we are committed to meet students where they are at. Staff and Individuals and Societies teachers in particular, have led discussions with students as time and interest have dictated. 

We expect the trial to go to the jury shortly. The day after the verdict is announced we have an advisory lesson planned for students and staff to participate in together. Additionally, extra supports have been put into place for students who may request it. We realize that families will be experiencing these impactful events in a variety of ways. Please know that Middle School staff are creating space for students to process as well as just being here for students with whatever they may need.

We believe, at the Middle School, the safest place for students to be is with their classmates in school. We have allocated some time and space to hopefully meet all of those needs.

Know that in the coming weeks all classroom teachers and staff will be present for students in the most kind, caring and compassionate ways to ensure their safety and well-being.

Sincerely,

Les Bork
Principal
A Message from Superintendent Osei
Over the past couple of days I have engaged in a couple of conversations and received a couple of emails about making a statement regarding the tragic killing of Daunte Wright on Sunday in Brooklyn Center. This is normal as there are always members of our community looking for me or the school district to make a statement on the heels of tragedies that occur locally, nationally, and internationally. While I understand the importance of clearly expressing one's beliefs and demonstrating conviction on matters impacting our community, I am exhausted by the performative nature of this persistent cycle (person of color killed by law enforcement, mourning and outrage, prayers for peace and demands for justice...) that has become too familiar.  

This is not a performance for me; it is traumatic and very real. Having to continually witness racial discrimination and the absence of humanity toward Black people, people of color and indigenous people in this country pushes me outside of my productive zone of disequalibirum. This type of racialized trauma that I experience and that is experienced by people of color and indigenous people on a daily basis must stop.

As a school district we are committed to implementing proactive measures to ensure that 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 years from now we are not still engaging in this vicious cycle. As a school district, we are committed to interrogating our practices to ensure that we are creating the conditions to produce racially conscious, globally-minded contributors to society.  

St. Louis Park Public Schools is committed to seeing, inspiring, and empowering each learner to live their brilliance in an environment that centers student voice and experience to create racially equitable learning that energizes and enhances the spirit of our community. 

We know students are experiencing the events that are occurring here locally and across the country differently. Some students are greatly impacted and are needing space to express their emotions. In response, our staff has created space for students to process what they are experiencing. We recognize that while we have and will continue to create spaces for students, some may not find these opportunities to be sufficient and desire other pathways to express their beliefs, feelings, and values.

We anticipate that over the next couple of months students across the country will organize in different ways to express their beliefs about things that are occurring. St. Louis Park Public Schools supports students’ rights to free speech and peaceful assembly, so long as doing so is not disruptive and is done in accordance with district policies. We believe students need safe space for reflection and discussion.
This spring, if there are student organized protests/walkouts that occur, we will do our best to work with students to ensure their safety. Student safety is critical and we would like to prevent situations that put students at risk. 

Below I am am providing some information that students, families, and staff should be aware of regarding potential walkouts/protests:

  • When we become aware of potential walkouts/protests we will engage students to see if there are ways we can work collaboratively to create safe ways for students to express their beliefs and process their emotions.
  • When students leave school property during the school day to engage in non- school district sponsored activities, schools are no longer responsible for their supervision and safety. Our goal is to keep students on district property and to keep students safe. 
  • The District’s Attendance Policy will apply to students leaving school during the school day without parent/guardian permission.

Thank you for your continued support of St. Louis Park Public Schools and please take care of yourselves and each other.  

Astein Osei
A Message from Officer Ford
St. Louis Park Families-
This week has been another difficult week in our community and state as we mourn the loss of Daunte Wright. This week has been extremely difficult for many of us and I want you to know that your feelings are valid! I want you all to know that I see you, I hear you and I am here for you as I am grieving and trying to process right alongside you.

I also want to express my thanks to all of you and your students for continuing to feel open to ask me questions and express their feelings. This time is a time that I am at a loss, for words and my heart is broken. My broken heart is being mended by your kids because they continue to allow me into their lives. 

As we as a community try to heal together, please know that my door is always open for conversations or a safe place to process.

Once again thank you to all of you for raising children to be open and not judge a person by what they may wear but instead to judge them by their character.

Officer Chaunte’ Ford 
Parent Resources
Processing the Chauvin Trial can bring up various emotions for people within the BIPOC community. Attached is a list of resources for students and families who may need support at this time. These resources are provided by the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI), a United States-based advocacy group. 
Students Bring Their Device to School on April 19
Students (cohort A-K and L-Z) should bring their fully charged school issued Chromebook or their fully charged personal device to school on Monday.
Thank You Families and Site Council
On behalf of the teaching staff at the Middle School, we would like to extend a huge shoutout to families and Site Council for organizing and providing Jimmy John’s boxed dinners during our Spring Conferences. It has been a busy, busy week at the Middle School, with combining cohorts A and B, as well as having our Parent-Teacher conferences on Wednesday and Thursday.
Thank You sincerely for providing dinner, giving us one less thing to worry about, and a chance to share a meal as a community of educators. 
Global Intern Hosts
The middle school is excited to be bringing back Global Interns for the 2021-22 school year.  Global Interns are a great addition to our classrooms and make connections with many of our students, not only Park Spanish Immersion (PSI) students. Global Interns bring an exciting energy to the classroom and are eager to be involved in the SLP community. We are looking forward to hosting two more interns at the middle school. One is Angela from Spain and we are currently interviewing candidates to fill the other intern position.  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 2022.  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. 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. We are currently in a global pandemic and the interns will often be coming from countries with more restrictions than the United States.  Information is fluid and the governments of the countries represented as well as the program that facilitates the Global Interns are dedicated to making the experience safe. My family has hosted an intern the last two years and had great experiences with lasting friendships.  Please reach out to me if you are interested or have questions. Karita Bentley at karitabentley@gmail.com
Free Groceries for Families Who Qualified for Free or Reduced-Price Meals during the 2020-21 School Year
Families in our district who qualify for free or reduced-price meals are now eligible for additional emergency nutritional benefits offered from the Federal government.

These benefits are provided by Federal “Pandemic-Electronic Benefit Transfer” funds (P-EBT); a temporary food benefit to families with children who would have received free and reduced-price meals if schools were open. These additional benefits may be retroactive to September 2020, depending on when eligibility for free or reduced-meals is determined.

Families who qualify will receive separate electronic grocery cards for each student in the family. The cards would include funds (approximately $6.82/day) for each day your student was in distance learning during the school year. Cards will be mailed from the State of Minnesota in late March 2021.

If you have already qualified for free or reduced-price meals earlier this school year, you don’t need to do anything because your family will automatically receive these new Federal nutritional benefits.

However, if your family income has been affected by the pandemic and you have not completed an Application for Education Benefits (free or reduced-price meal application) for this school year, please complete and submit your application as soon as possible. As mentioned above, these funds will retro back to September 2020.

Questions? Contact School Nutrition at 952-928-6146 or woelffer.jodie@slpschools.org.
Rally Night for Incoming 6th Graders April 22
Rally Night is Thursday, April 22 for incoming 6th graders. Click here to see the flyer.
Middle Years Newsletter
Click here for middle years newsletter.
Parkway Pizza
The third Tuesday of every month, Parkway Pizza, donates 5% of ALL sales back to SLP Middle School. Bring your family to Parkway Pizza or pick up carryout on TUESDAY, APRIL 20.
NEW THIS YEAR: Text this code, SLPMIDDLE, to phone number 22452 for a monthly reminder to support Parkway Pizza and SLP Middle School! Thank you for your support!
Parkway Pizza
6325 Minnetonka Blvd
St Louis Park 55416
952-929-0095 
Listening Sessions with Superintendent Osei
Upcoming listening sessions with Superintendent Osei.
School Board to Hold April 20 Listening Session
The St. Louis Park Public Schools School Board will host a Listening Session at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 20 in the Aquila Elementary School Media Center. Please note that capacity will be limited to what is safe in the space based on current social distancing guidance.

All stakeholders are invited to attend St. Louis Park School Board Listening Sessions to ask questions and have a conversation with school board members. Up to three school board members will attend to listen to stakeholders. It is not an official meeting and no official action will be taken. Please be aware that the school board members will end the listening session 30 minutes after the posted start time if there are no stakeholders in attendance.

Anyone who is not comfortable attending this Listening Session in person, but would still like to engage in conversation with school board members can either call the School Board hotline at 952-928-6040 or email all seven board members at schoolboard@slpschools.org.
Washington D.C.
IMPORTANT D.C. TRIP UPDATE!
2021 Trip Families (current 7th and 8th Graders), due to the ongoing Covid situation the 2021 Trip has been postponed to 2022. Please check your e-mail for a message from WorldStrides and David Burr, trip coordinator. If you did not receive the e-mail, please contact David Burr at burr.david@slpschools.org or 952-928-6375.

2022 Trip Families (current 6th Graders), our trip is still running as planned! Interested travelers should also contact David Burr at burr.david@slpschools.org or 952-928-6375 for trip information.
District/Community News
Other opportunities in the district/community:

EX.I.T.E.
Ridgedale YMCA Summer Programs
SLP Boys Basketball Summer Camp
Newscaster Spring/Summer 2021
Lenox Foundation Spring Fundraiser
Joint the Largest Study of Autism Ever
Game Coding & Graphic Art Classes
HOPE Speaks Spring Classes
Softball Registration
2021-22 Student Calendar

Click here to see the flyers.