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March 6, 2014 | Vol. 2, Issue 27
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| In this Issue: | |
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| EPS News | |
Concord Elementary celebrates National Nutrition Month
with healthy recipe contest
Four winning dishes served at all EPS elementary schools, furthering discussions on the importance of nutrition
According to the CDC, most U.S. youth do not meet the recommendations for exercise or eating a healthy diet. But a recent study from the University of Massachusetts Boston found increases in not only overall physical activity, but also in how often kids are eating fruits and vegetables. The study's lead author, Ronald Iannotti, attributes much of this success to public health efforts, including health campaigns made by public schools. READ MORE
EHS senior named ACT College & Career Readiness Campaign award winner Jack White recognized for improvement in Minnesota's first campaign appearanceEdina Public Schools is proud to congratulate Edina High School (EHS) senior Jack White for being one of the four Minnesota finalists for the ACT National Student Readiness Award. White was selected based on his performance in relation to ACT's College Readiness Benchmarks in English, mathematics, reading and science, and overall academic growth and progress between grades 8-12. READ MORE Annual Connecting With Kids Leadership Breakfast honors Edina Public School supporters Leaders applauded for enriching youth opportunities for continued education, growth and change
Since 2009, Connecting With Kids (CWK) has been honoring members of the Edina community for their commitment to investing in and leading area youth. The vision of CWK is for Edina to be a community where all children have the support they need to grow up to be responsible, healthy and caring adults. READ MORE
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| Ric's Reflections | |
It's not March Madness, but a lot of balls are in the air this month
District is on the move rolling out key initiatives and planning for the future
In the college basketball world, the month of March is known as March Madness. In the world of Edina Public Schools, March is known as "moving month." For us, this month is not about madness, but rather intentional actions and movements at every level-from the classroom to the board room.
Student Learning
March is an important learning month for our students. We are rounding the corner of another quarter of the school year, and it is exciting to see students demonstrating their learning gains through various assessments and projects. March is also a time when teachers and students are engaged in additional educational supports, interventions and opportunities before leaving for spring break. Everything is in motion, and I am hopeful that our weather will cooperate so that we can take advantage of this month of quality student growth without interruption.
Strategic Planning
Our administration is also busy during the month of March as we sharpen our focus on the next school year. We are assessing strategic goals and pilot projects to help set our educational priorities for next year. Staff and community input sessions are scheduled for later this month to advance our Next Generation of Edina Public Schools strategic work, including our Birth to Grade 5 Program and the Secondary Academic Program. Course registrations are being finalized for 2014-15, and we are beginning to draft student schedules. District policies are being reviewed and revised for implementation next fall. And plans for summer staff trainings in a variety of instructional, leadership and technology areas are being arranged.
Budget and Staffing
We are also moving forward with our 2014-15 budget and staffing plans. Our capital budget plans have been finalized, and the administration will be presenting the general fund budget plan to the School Board later this month. The plan is expected to include budget adjustments of about $750,000 (three-quarters of a percent of our annual budget), projected expenditures continue to outpace revenues. The administrative task force working on the recommendations has been gathering input from colleagues across the district as it develops its plan. Their focus has been on minimizing the impact on student learning while still being fiscally responsible and providing for better alignment of resources to our strategic goals.
So while we are not experiencing madness, we are certainly on the move as we begin the month of March. I thank you all for teaming with us during this busy time. Together we will continue to generate great success stories not only during this busy month of March, but throughout the year.
Go Hornets!
Ric
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| Next Generation Community Dialogues | |
We need to hear from you!
BIRTH - GRADE 5 STUDY
Earlier this year, as part of the district's Birth to Grade 5 (BG5) Study, EPS staff, students and families were surveyed to collect ideas and feedback for the enhancement and evolution of our early learning and elementary programs. These ideas, along with data gathered through research, site visits and best practices from schools both locally and around the world, have been incorporated into a variety of options for our learners, looking through the lenses of school program, structure and culture.
Your feedback on the draft options is very important to the design process and in advancing the district's strategic work.
EPS Staff Sessions note:
- Early Learning and Elementary staff is strongly encouraged to attend, but all EPS staff are welcome to attend any of these meetings or attend the parent/family sessions.
- We have identified target audiences for each session, but staff is encouraged to attend the time/location that best fits their schedule.
Target Audience
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Location
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Room
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Date
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Time
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Normandale / Concord / ECFE / ECSE
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Concord
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Multipurpose Room
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3/20/2014
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7:30-8:15 a.m.
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Normandale / Concord / ECFE / ECSE
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Normandale
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Auditorium
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3/20/2014
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3:20-4:05 p.m.
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Countryside / Highlands
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Highlands
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Media Center
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3/20/2014
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4:00-4:45 p.m.
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Countryside / Highlands
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Countryside
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Band Room
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3/21/2014
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8:15-9:00 a.m.
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Cornelia / Creek Valley
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Cornelia
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Gym
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3/17/2014
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8:00-8:45 a.m.
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Cornelia / Creek Valley
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Creek Valley
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Media Center
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3/17/2014
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4:15-5:00 p.m.
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SECONDARY STUDY
Last year, the district initiated a Secondary Study that explored ways to enhance and evolve our grades 6-12 program. In June 2013, the School Board approved a framework of recommendations. This year, an implementation team comprised of secondary teachers and building and district administrators has been working to develop specific action plans and timelines. As part of the development of these action plans, the team has been meeting with colleagues at the high school and both middle schools, and have been continuing their research of and conducting site visits to innovative schools and programs.
Additional staff meetings are being schedule at buildings and a progress report on these plans is scheduled to be shared with the community later this month. (Check with your building representative for more information.) During community dialogues, members of the implementation team will share additional information on their findings and seek input on some draft recommendations. Your feedback on the team's work is critical to the design process and in advancing the district's strategic work.
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| Teacher Tuesday Staff Spotlight | |
Gabriel Moreno
AVID Teacher and Academic Support Supervisor at Valley View Middle School
Three years ago, Valley View Middle School implemented a college readiness system to increase school-wide learning and performance called Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID). The staff members who make up the AVID team are working hard to close the achievement gap. Here, 7th grade AVID Teacher and Academic Support Supervisor Gabriel Moreno explains his approach to working in the program and ensuring all students have the skills and tools they need to excel. READ MORE
Know a teacher or group of teachers who are deserving of recognition? Send your nominations to [email protected] to be considered for the weekly "Teacher Tuesday" spotlight, a new website section housed under the District News, Meet Our Teachers link.
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| News for EPS Staff | |
Staff Milestones
To submit an entry for Staff Milestones, please include staff name, job title/type, employment location and major life event/announcement information to [email protected].
NEW! Order your own business cards online
Staff can now order their own business cards online at any time of the year. Follow the instructions below to complete your order.
Ordering Instructions:
- Visit http://www.jessenpress.com and click on "customer login" in the upper right corner.
- Login using the Edina Public Schools account:
- Username: edinapublicschools
- Click on "Document Library" in the left side navigation
- Select the quantity of business cards you would like to order and click "continue."
- Enter your information as you would like it to appear; any fields left blank will not appear on your card; once you are finished, click "preview."
- The site will generate a preview of your order; click "order"
to place order or "modify" if you need to make changes. - Fill in the requested information and click "submit request" at the bottom of the screen.
2013 flex-claim deadline and annual insurance adjustment update
- The deadline to incur claims for a 2013 flexible spending plan was Feb. 28.
Claims can still be submitted until March 31. -
Also, if you are paid during the school-year only, on 19 or 21 pay periods, this is a reminder that on 2/28/14 we made a one-time adjustment for medical insurance as described in the online staff handbook. The adjustment for dental, HRA, and supplemental life insurance will take place on 3/14/14. For more information, please read the insurance headlines.
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| Classroom Snapshot of the Week
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Concord Elementary celebrates National Read Across America Day
110 years after the illustrious Dr. Seuss' birthday, Concord Media Specialist Laurie Holland posed as the Cat in the Hat while reading to students in conjunction with the 17th annual National Read Across America Day on March 3. Students of all grades visited the media center and crowded around Holland, eager to get lost in the classic Cat in the Hat tale. The goal of National Read Across America Day is to motivate kids to increase reading habits and be inspired through storytelling.
"I want our students to associate reading with fun, because once they do that, they're so much more likely to want to spend time reading," Holland says. "And once they begin to spend time reading, they are well on their way to developing that lifelong love of reading that will serve them so well in school and throughout their entire lives." This is the 11th year Holland has organized the event.
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| EPS In The News |
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School Crossing Guard Tony Harmon Keeps Edina Kids Safe
Anthony Harmon has become a local fixture on the corner of Valley View and Antrim Roads in Edina. There, he faithfully mans his post, directing traffic and guiding Valley View Middle School and Edina High School students safely across the street during the busiest times of the day.
"I enjoy doing my job. I give 110 percent to what I do," says Harmon, a former bodyguard and father of three. "I try to help out as much as I can."
READ MORE from Edina Magazine's Maggie Soucheray Sonnek.
Edina students compete at Harvard-MIT math tournament
Edina High School seniors Kevin Lu and Luke Peilen
and junior Cindy Jiang competed at the Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament on Feb. 22 as part of the
16-member Minnesota All-State Math Team, coached
by Mike Reiners.
READ MORE from the Sun Current's Lisa Kaczke.
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| Upcoming Events |
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Detailed calendars of events for each school can be found online. Important upcoming dates include:
PCN presents "Learning From Mistakes: Moving Outside Your Comfort Zone" March 10 at Creek Valley Gymnasium from 7-9 p.m. This free forum will prove engaging for parents, grandparents, teachers and children ages 9 and older accompanied by an adult. Paul Bernabei, Director of Top 20 Training, will provide training seminars and materials to empower youth and adults to develop their potential and the potential of others. PCN Annual Open House March 12 in the Edina Community Center, Room 351 at noon Learn what the Edina Parent Communication Network (PCN) is all about. This is your chance to connect with other dynamic members and leaders of our community. A complimentary, light lunch will be served for all attendees, so come hungry and ready for some engaging conversation.
4th Annual Taste of South View Middle School March 13 in the SVMS Cafeteria from 6:30-8 p.m. Come celebrate the richness of our diverse cultures and heritage
while enjoying delicious food from around the world. This is also a great opportunity to get to know EPS student, staff and families a
little better. To donate or participate, call 952.848.4476.
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| Did You Know? | |
| Photo by Kaylin Martin, City of Edina |
Annual State of the Community offers inside look at future planning for city and schools Superintendent Ric Dressen among community leaders discussing continuing excellence in EPS
Click here to watch the March 3 video presentation online, brought to you by Edina Channel 16.
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Be(e) a part of the Buzz
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Help us make the Weekly Buzz REMARKABLE. Contact the communications team at 952.848.3919 or email us at [email protected] with news, story ideas or photos!
Missed a past issue of the Weekly Buzz? Check out archived issues online in the Staff Resources section of the district website.
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