HOPE AND HAPPINESS IN ACTION

 

As you know, our theme in Edina Public Schools this school year is "Bringing Hope and Happiness to Our Future." Looking through the lens of hope and happiness is quite powerful and critical to success not only in our professional work, but also in our personal lives. Hope and Happiness can be seen in the littlest of gestures, but they have a great impact. It has been exciting to see how this theme is already taking hold in our schools over these few
first couple weeks of school, for example:

• New students, especially those making transitions to new schools and programs (e.g. kindergarteners, sixth graders, tenth graders), becoming more comfortable with their new school surroundings thanks to extra support and welcome activities provided by fellow students and school staff
• Twelfth grade students discussing post-secondary plans and what steps they need to take to reach their goals
• Parents talking to one another about all that their children have learned in just a few days of school
• EPS teachers connecting during and outside of the school day to plan and adjust lessons based on individual student needs
• Bus drivers sharing their excitement for the new school year and connecting with students during their routes before and after school
• The overall energy and excitement felt throughout the crowd as the EHS marching band performed at this season's first football game

Our district is off to a great start to the school year and I challenge us all to be mindful of this theme of hope and happiness throughout the weeks and months ahead. Shane Lopez, in his book, Making Hope Happen: Create the Future You Want for Yourself and Others, discusses the concept of "nexting" as a way of practicing and sustaining hope in our lives. He encourages adults to pursue nexting with our youth by asking them "what is next" for them-as the next few days, their plans for the year, and their dreams for the future.  According to Lopez, nexting is something that comes naturally for young people as they are often looking to what lies ahead. Adults can take advantage of this innate drive for what is next in ways that allow for dialogues about what our students are feeling, what support they need, and what strategies they can employ to help them reach their goals. The more our young people practice thinking about their future, the more they have hope about what lies ahead of them.

 

Nexting is a wonderful, informal tool that can help all of us as we look to and plan for a future that is even better than the present. It aligns with our Next Generation strategic efforts and reinforces the importance of working in partnership with each other. The research shows that hope and happiness cannot be achieved alone. I encourage all of us to utilize the strategy of nexting as we work on bringing hope and happiness to our students, our future.

 

I thank you all for a fantastic start to the 2014-15 school year. It's been a great beginning, so I ask you all ... what's next?

 

- Ric

 

P.S. - I want to extend my thanks to everyone that assisted with our back-to-school preparation efforts. It takes literally hundreds of staff at the site, program and district levels working together to ensure our EPS team is ready to start the new year. A special thanks goes to our EHS Marching Band for continuing our tradition of filling the auditorium with music and energy at the All-Staff Kickoff event.

 

Yet, we know that not everything went off as well as it could have. As we championed in our yearly theme two years ago, we strive to be remarkable, not perfect. I apologize for the unforeseen schedule conflicts, sound system difficulties, attempts at humor that could be taken as offensive to some, and construction project challenges. We continue to learn from this event, to include seeking your input via the staff survey below. I thank you all for your feedback and appreciate the energy and excitement you bring to these back to school events. Have a great year!

 

 

JESSICA SCHMIDT

Kindergarten teacher at Normandale

 

When Jessica Schmidt graduated from Edina High School and started attending McGill University, the "Harvard of Canada," she enrolled to study pre-med. At the same time, on top of studying to become a doctor or a nurse, Schmidt served as a camp counselor at Camp Mariste in Montreal. The more involved she became with the camp, the more she realized that her true passion wasn't medicine. What she wanted to do was work with kids and make learning fun. 

 

From McGill, Schmidt transferred to the University of St. Thomas, where she completed her bachelor's degree in elementary education. Prior to her new position as a kindergarten teacher at Normandale French Immersion School, Schmidt completed her student teaching at Countryside Elementary and served as a KIDS Club recreation leader.

 

Read more about Schmidt's journey in becoming a teacher and how she plans to contribute to advancing our excellence.

Resources and updates from 

EPS Digital Learning Specialists

Want to learn more about technology and ways
you can utilize it in your work? Edina Public Schools Digital Learning Specialists have created this helpful online resource to guide you through the many technology platforms that are available in the district. Find links to district applications and resources on how to use various tech tools in your classrooms, work and life. Click here to get started.

WE NEED YOUR INPUT: August Training Evaluation Survey

All staff are invited and encouraged to complete the (very brief) 2014-15 August Training Evaluation Survey, which will be open through Sunday, Sept. 7. Your feedback is essential to our continuous improvements efforts and planning for future professional development opportunties.  

 

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 1½-hour sessions over the fall and early winter months, which are facilitated by Research and Evaluation Director 

• Meeting time: 4:30-6 p.m.
• Meeting dates:
• Thursday, Sept. 25
• Tuesday, Oct. 21 
• Tuesday, Nov. 11 
• Tuesday, Dec. 9
• 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

Facilities Advisory Task Force Sept. 2 Meeting Recap

 

On Sept. 2, the Facilities Advisory Task Force (FATF) held its second meeting to analyze pertinent information and consider options for future district facilities to meet the needs of EPS' Next Generation learners.

 

The FATF reviewed a host of relevant data, including: specifications, challenges and needs of current buildings as well as fitness, physical education and activities/athletics spaces; existing reports and work in progress related to safety and security, maintenance, and an alternative transportation site; community survey data; financing options; and a review of the most recent 2003 facilities bond referendum projects. 

 

FATF members then heard about Next Generation efforts, including future grade configurations, and a look at some current innovative spaces already in use in EPS. 

 

Visit edinaschools.org/FATF to learn more about how the group will work together to rethink and envision facilities to meet the needs of Edina Public Schools' Next Generation learners.

• All meeting materials and resources are available online.
• The next FATF meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 9, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Edina Community Center, Room 350. All meetings are open to the public.

September Board Meeting Previews

On Sept. 8, the School Board will hold a special meeting / work session to approve some personnel items and discuss leadership actions and efforts as part of the district's Next Generation of Edina Public Schools Strategic Plan.

 

The Board's next regular meeting is slated for Sept. 22 at which they will be discussing the district's World's Best Workforce Plan, hear an assessment update, and continue strategic discussion. A finalized agenda will be posted by Friday, Sept. 19.  

 

Previous School Board Meetings 

• Recaps and videos of past School Board meetings are available online.

 

The Concord Elementary PTO was featured in this 

month's issue of PTO Today for its wellness program 

and annual recipe contest. Click here to read about 

their efforts to educate students about food, health 

and wellness. For a look back at last year's recipe 

contest, click here.

 

 

 

Helping Hands (Edina Magazine)

 

Sleepless nights, soiled diapers and self-help books can leave new parents feeling like they're wading through a swamp of confusion for the first few years of their child's life. To help alleviate some of the stress, Edina Community Education Services offers free Baby and Me classes at the Edina Family Center. Read more.

 

Learn about the residual effects of drugs and alcohol on the body and brain development, as well as how sleep and nutrition affect concentration, energy levels, training and performance. Keynote speaker and Olympic Trainer John Underwood will talk about the curriculum for the Life of An Athlete program and how it can help students reach their full potential and become healthy leaders - in the classroom, on the field and in life. This forum is open to the community and presented in collaboration with Edina Committed, the Activities Department and Edina PCN.