AUG. 21, 2014 
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2

CLASSROOM SNAPSHOT |  EPS HEADLINES  |  STAFF KICKOFF

 

STUDENTS & FAMILIES MAKE NEW FRIENDS AT
GET CONNECTED DAYS / OPEN HOUSES

In preparation for the first day of school, many families and students made a special open house visit to learn more about the building and school opportunities, and meet teachers and new friends. Edina Public Schools' youngest learners also received a lesson in finding and opening a locker for the first time. Pictured above: Cornelia Elementary principal Lisa Masica and students enjoy spending time with each other at the school's meet and greet.

EPS HEADLINESHeadlines
The latest stories about what's happening in our schools
ENGLISH LEARNER SUMMER SCHOOL

Beginning in 2008, Edina Public Schools' 

Student Support Services department expanded English Learner (EL) programming to provide elementary students with summer school enrichment opportunities that facilitate learning outside of the normal school year. EL Summer School provides students with experiential learning in the four domains of language learning: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Read more about this year's camp.

 

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EDINA EXCELLENCE
According to the ACT's 2014 State of College 
and Career Readiness report, the average Edina High School graduate is more prepared for higher education than their peers. Read more.

DISTRICT LAUNCHES FATF
District administration
and the School Board confirmed members of the Facilities Advisory Task Force 
earlier this week
and will launch the FATF
on Tuesday, Aug. 26.
Read more.

STAFF 2014-15 KICKOFF 
EPS staff gathered this week in preparation for the 2014-15 school year with the theme "Bringing Hope & Happiness to our Future."  See Photo Gallery of the Staff Kickoff event held on Aug. 18.
Hope & HappinessKickoff
2014 Staff Kickoff review

Staff Kickoff - Aug. 19, 2014 


 

Thank you for a great kickoff! What a great start to the 2014-15 school year. We apologize for the technical glitches and troublesome audio, especially for those of you sitting in the front of the auditorium. You'll be happy to know that the very outdated sound system in Fick Auditorium is scheduled to be replaced this fall. And, we were able to capture most of the event on video. 

 

So ... for those of you who wished you could have heard all that was happening on stage, for those unable to attend Tuesday's event, or for those who just want to relive the fun, check out the links

below. 

 

PHOTO GALLERY - tag yourself or your colleagues in our Flickr Album from Tuesday's All-Staff Kickoff

 

VIDEO LINKS


TEACHER TUESDAY SPOTLIGHTTeacherTuesday 

John Ford

Equity and inclusion specialist at EPS

 
Growing up in Tuskegee, Ala., John Ford always knew he wanted to make a positive impact on the world around him. With a strong family history of service in education and politics, and a community heritage of leaders in education, Ford followed the path to becoming a teacher. "I have seen firsthand the detriment the lack of education has on society," Ford says. "As educators, we have a voice and the power to change this by ensuring ways that all children can learn and 
be successful." 

From Alabama and California, to Liberia and Kenya, Ford has experienced teaching on a culturally diverse, global level. Two years ago, he switched gears to take a leadership position as the equity and inclusion specialist for EPS. 

Read more about Ford's work toward narrowing the achievement gap and eliminating learning barriers for all students.


Do you know a teacher or group of teachers who deserve recognition? Send your nominations to [email protected] to be considered for the weekly blog spotlight.
 
STAFF NEWSStaffNews
Important EPS employee news

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].

  • Our condolences to Dan Geere, 6th grade teacher at South View, and his wife Rhonda, EPS Peer Coach, on the recent passing of his father, Thomas Eugene.
  • Our condolences to Melissa Norwood, French teacher at Valley View, on the recent passing of her father. 
  • Our condolences to Florence Debard, language arts teacher at Valley View, on the recent passing of her father.


 

e.Leadership - an opportunity to grow your leadership skills 

Edina Public Schools will again be offering e.leadership, a four-session leadership skills course for all EPS staff. The course is open to staff members involved in leadership positions within their sites or programs, and provides training and applied learning in a collegial, cohort model. Over 70 teachers, custodians, coordinators, administrators, and support staff have completed the training.  The commitment involves four 1�-hour sessions over the fall and early winter months, which are facilitated by Research and Evaluation Director Chad Schmidt and Superintendent Ric Dressen. 
  • MEETING TIME - 4:30-6 p.m.
  • MEETING DATES
    • Thursday, Sept. 25
    • Tuesday, Oct. 21 
    • Tuesday, Nov. 11 
    • Tuesday, Dec. 9
  • MEETING LOCATION - Edina Community Center, room TBD 
  • REGISTRATION - Sign up via KeepCertified
  • PROGRAM DETAILS - 
    • Click here for a screencast that provides more information (note you must be logged into Edina Apps before clicking on the link). 
    • For additional information, please contact  Chad Schmidt
Back to School Resources
Several annual publications are available online for viewing and download.
  • 2014-15 Family Handbook - includes annual notifications, district updates, and forms (
  • 2014-15 Student Rights & Responsibilities Handbook - includes key policies applicable for students, including technology acceptable use and discipline guidelines.
  • 2014-15 Activities Calendar - key 2014-15 activity dates 
Staff Climate and Family Satisfaction Surveys
Chad Schmidt, Director of Research and Evaluation, presented the results of the 2014 staff climate and family satisfaction surveys at the School Board work session on Aug. 18. 

Read more in Board Recaps below. 


West Metro Schools Credit Union financial service offerings
West Metro Schools Credit Union (WMSCU) has been serving employees and families of Edina Public Schools (EPS) since 1954. Two years ago, WMSCU opened membership to students, which allowed EPS learners the opportunity to gain additional financial management experience. The credit union provides financial services in the forms of savings, checkings and loans. Direct deposit and payroll deductions are the two most common forms of payments and deposits. In May, 2014, WMSCU awarded a $1,000 scholarship to two Edina High School seniors to contribute to their post secondary education. To learn more about membership, call 942.848.4282.


Order Your Business Cards Online
EPS Staff can order their own business cards online at any time of the year. 
Follow the instructions below to complete your order. (also available in the Staff Resources tab of the district website.) NOTE: You must have your own budget code for business cards, the Communications Dept. does not cover the cost of printing. 
  1. Visit http://www.jessenpress.com and click on "customer login"
    in the upper right corner.
  2. Login using the Edina Public Schools account:
    • Username: edinapublicschools 
    • Password: edinaschools1!
  3. Click on "Document Library" in the left side navigation.
  4. Select the quantity of business cards you would like to order
    and click "continue."
  5. 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."
  6. The site will generate a preview of your order; click "order"
    to place order or "modify" if you need to make changes.
  7. Fill in the requested information and click "submit request"
    at the bottom of the screen.
SCHOOL BOARD UPDATESchoolBoard

School Board Meeting Recaps 


August 11 - The School Board had a special meeting and workshop on Aug. 11 at which the Board participated in workshop about Excellence in Board Governance, Management and Consultation. 

SurveyAugust 18 - The School Board met in a work session on at 5 p.m. to discuss results of the 2014 Staff Climate & Family Satisfaction SurveysAll EPS staff were invited to participate in the survey, which was conducted in May 2014.  The purpose of the survey was to gather input from staff members on their experiences and perspectives related to their work in EPS, specifically, climate, perceptions of workload, and for licensed staff, professional learning communities. Schmidt noted that responses were representative of district staff locations and positions. The district plans to use this data as a baseline to track progress in meeting strategic goals and benchmarks. Key findings include: 
  • Climate & Job Satisfaction - While the majority of respondents indicated a high level of job satisfaction and were proud to work in EPS, some staff noted concerns about communication and staying informed about key decisions.
  • Workload - While staff indicated feeling more empowered than a year ago about their ability to address workload issues, many still have concerns, with the biggest concern being with school/family communications.
  • Professional Learning Communities - Over 90 percent of licensed staff felt positively about professional learning communities as the primary vehicle to achieve strategic goals. 
Additional Board discussion and actions at their regular meeting later that evening included:
  • All for All Plan Report - The Board received an update from district administration about the 2013-14 actions of the district's All for All Plan. 
  • Superintendent's Employment Agreement - The Board approved a new work agreement with Superintendent Ric Dressen for 2015-2018.  Chair Randy Meyer noted that the Board was pleased to be able to retain Dressen's leadership for an additional three years after the expiration of his current agreement. The new agreement freezes Dressen's salary at his current rate, although it does allow for an increased performance incentive. 
  • Next Generation Facilities Advisory Task Force - The Board approved the charge and membership of the FATF. It was noted that all meetings are open to the public and the task force's work will be documented on the district website at edinaschools.org/FATF.
  • Policy 514 Update - The Board updated Policy 514, Bullying Prevention, in light of recent statute changes around the prevention of bullying. Dressen noted that the district's previously policy was closely aligned with new legislation, with only minor revisions needed. The district has taken this work seriously for many years, Dressen said, but noted more can always be done. The district will actively be training staff not only in how to address bullying behavior, but also raise the awareness of students and staff to encourage the suspected bullying and investigating allegations raised. 
  • Revised Policy Guidelines - The Board received revised guidelines and appendices for Policies 506 (Discipline), 509 (Resident Enrollment), and 514 (Bullying Prevention)
Previous School Board Meetings 
EPS IN THE NEWSInTheNews

GROW with KARE (KARE 11) 

Countryside Elementary's recently cultivated garden was featured on a segment of Grow With KARE on KARE 11 News last weekend.  Click here (or
on the photo) to view the story and hear from principal Karen Bergman and EPS KIDS Club students talk about how they have been tending to the garden this summer.


 


 

Making a Difference (Sun Current)
Edina graduate Madeleine Hage wrote a children's book last year during a summer internship to supply Haitian orphans with educational materials about earthquakes. 

 

 

UPCOMING EVENTSEvents
Edina Hornet Marching Band 
State Fair Parade Performance
Aug. 23, 2 p.m., Minnesota State Fair
     
Head to the Minnesota State Fair this Saturday for a special live performance by the Edina Hornet Marching Band at the annual parade. 
Our students have been rehearsing hard for this day, so come out and show your support and Hornet pride! Go Edina!

Facilities Advisory Task Force
Aug. 26 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Edina Community Center, Room 250
     
The Facilities Advisory Task Force (FATF) will meet six times in August-September 2014. All meetings will be open to the public, who is invited to attend as observers. Engagement of community members in attendance will be encouraged as appropriate. Information will be present at each meeting by various sources on applicable topics, including but not limited to: Next Generation of Edina Public Schools Strategic Plan, demographic and enrollments trends and projections, district facilities, district finance information, etc.

DID YOU KNOW?didyouknow
Edina Community Education classes begin Sept. 2*
Discover a new passion, learn something new and connect with like-minded individuals 

Look for these new and exciting offerings: adult cover
  • 14-Day Fall Cleanse (Adult): Join us for a 4-week workshopthat will support you through a 14-day fall cleanse to shed extra weight, gain tons of energy, and feel great! You will eat lots of great fresh food that will kick-start your metabolism. If you have ever thought about jump-starting your health and creating new eating habits that will help you look and feel great, then this is the workshop for you!
  • Yoga for Asthma & Allergies, or Yoga for Your Back (Adult): Discover how the application of simple yoga principles can gently relieve your troublesome asthma and allergy symptoms in our one-time class, Yoga for Asthma and AllergiesJoin us for simple yet powerful therapeutic yoga practices carefully designed to alleviate pain and promote a healthy back with pain-free range of motion in our three-night class, Yoga for Your Back
     
  • Java Script Game Coding (Youth): Learn JavaScript, the language of the web, using youth cover nothing more than a browser and see cool 3D results as you type. This is real-world programming skill building in a real programming language. Sign up for Monday nights or Saturday mornings.
  • Dance Party! (Youth)Join us for one night and learn the latest moves to upbeat music that will get your heart pumping and your feet tapping!  Bring the whole family to our Family Hip Hop Sampler!  
REGISTER online now!

*Note: 
Youth Programs catalogs will no longer be offered seasonally, but instead have two editions; School Year and Summer. Adult Enrichment catalogs will still be offered seasonally. Staff are encouraged to utilize their 20% discount on course offerings and 50% discount for KIDS CLUB.



 

Help us keep the Hope & Happiness theme alive. Contact the communications team at   952.848.3919 or email us at [email protected] with news, story ideas or photos! Missed an issue of The Weekly Buzz? Click here for archives.
 
 
5701 Normandale Road 
Edina, MN 55424
952.848.3000

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