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EPS HEADLINES
The latest stories about what's happening in our schools
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Continued Reflection on the Power of Partnership
As I have mentioned often before, Edina Public Schools has long placed a high value on the power of partnership to advance our mission - partnerships with families and community, community partners, business partnerships, and partnerships with other educational organizations. Our Next Generation of Edina Public Schools Strategic Plan also recognizes the benefit of partnership, including it as one of the core strategies of the plan. Our commitment to reaching beyond our borders, in particular with other educational organizations, is central to retaining and advancing our district's core excellence and ensuring all learners have the skills they need to thrive in a rapidly changing, global society.
We continue to partner with neighboring and local school districts in various ways, including
curriculum writing, staff training and direct educational services. We are fortunate to have strong collaborations with the City of Edina and Edina Chamber of Commerce. These partnerships allow us to maximize resources and set common goals, all in the name of better service to our stakeholders.
New Partnerships
But we continue to seek partners beyond Edina and metro area. Over the past year, Edina
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Edina and Westside School Boards pause outside South View MS
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Public Schools (EPS) has been working to grow our educational partnerships with districts across the country and around the world. We've built connections with Westside School District (Omaha, NE), a district similar to ours in educational excellence and community profile and one that is also seeking innovative way to create more personalized learning experiences for students. In September, the Westside School Board visited to Edina to spend two days training with our Edina School Board. The training and
discussions looked at common leadership challenges and future cooperative opportunities. In addition, a team of our own EPS teachers recently traveled to Omaha to partner with Westside teachers on strategies to support the districts' commitments to personalized learning.
At the end of September, we were honored to host the 21st Century Consortium, a cohort of high achieving suburban school districts from across the U.S. The three days of workshops and sessions included discussions on the latest educational trends, sharing of common educational data, and site visits and tours of our EPS schools. Partnering with consortium members - Westside, New Trier (Chicago, IL), Palo Alto (CA), Highland Park (Dallas, TX), Manhattan Beach (Los Angeles, CA), Eanes (Austin, TX) - provides Edina with the opportunity to benchmark our performance with other nationally recognized, top performing districts. The consortium gathering provided us with great affirmation of our Next Gen strategic work, with the members districts showing strong support for the efforts we are making and our vision. They also offered key insights into how we could advance some of our targeted priorities, including our work around Professional Learning Communities and family engagement, to better meet our strategic goals.
As I reflect on recent conversations with our partners and the importance of collaboration in our work, I am reminded of just how strong we are when we work together. In continuing to seek opportunities to learn from and share our own work with others, we are demonstrating the importance and power of partnership to our students, families and staff. This idea of partnership is more than just a strategic plan action item, it is an affirmation of our core "All for All" mission.
~ Ric Dressen, Superintendent
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TEACHER TUESDAY SPOTLIGHT
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Shandra Prowell
Vocal Music Teacher
Countryside Elementary
Shandra Prowell has had a love of music, in every form, since childhood. Early in life she played instruments, but after switching to vocal music she found her passion. Shandra hopes to ignite the same passion and love of music in her students because she knows how important music is to the human spirit. This is her 16th year of teaching and continues to be committed to igniting a love of music in her students.
Read more about Shandra's enthusiasm for her students and how she shares her love of music.
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.
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STAFF NEWS
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Insurance open enrollment meetings set
The 2015 employee insurance open enrollment period is coming soon. Please watch dates carefully as the insurance website is updated, as there will be both 2014 and 2015 information for some time. Attend one of the meetings below according to your contract. Visit the Employee Insurance website to learn more or to subscribe to the insurance calendar.
Schedule of Open Enrollment Meetings
Teachers Only - PEIP
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Time
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Location
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Room
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Address
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Monday, Nov. 3, 2014
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3:15 p.m.
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EHS
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Media Center
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6754 Valley View Rd, 55439
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Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014
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7:45 a.m.
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Countryside
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Staff Lounge
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5701 Benton Avenue South, 55436
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Friday, Nov. 7, 2014
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7:45 a.m.
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Cornelia
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Room 44
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7000 Cornelia Drive, 55435
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Monday, Nov. 10, 2014
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3 p.m.
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South View
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Choir Room 252
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4725 South View Lane, 55424
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Schedule of Open Enrollment Meetings
Non-Teachers Only - Blue Cross/Blue Shield
Date
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Time
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Location
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Room
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Address
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Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2014
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10:30 a.m.
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ECC
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Demo Kitchen 165
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5701 Normandale Road, 55424
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Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014
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4 p.m.
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ECC/Normandale
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Auditorium
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5701 Normandale Road, 55424
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Friday, Nov.14, 2014
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8 a.m.
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Valley View
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Media Center
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6750 Valley View Road, 55439
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Friday, Nov. 14, 2014
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10:30 a.m.
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Bus Garage
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5220 Eden Avenue, 55436
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Update your email address/contact info in MyView
Insurance Open Enrollment information coming soon
Be sure to update your email address in myView by October 27, 2014 as the email address on file will be the one used for your Insurance Open Enrollment forms this fall. Failure to update your email address may result in you not getting your Insurance Open Enrollment information in a timely manner. Click here to access MyView.
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The EPS Bowling League wants YOU!
This is a fun opportunity to bowl on Wednesdays, January 7 through March 25. We bowl at Southtown Lanes in Bloomington, right off 494 & Penn Ave., from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Our group is made up of current and past employees, spouses and friends. On the last Wednesday, we bowl for dollars and have a banquet. You don't have to be an expert bowler; we're all about fun!
Get three friends together and join us. You even get to name your own team! If you can't get enough people for a team, let me know. There may be others that would also like to bowl and we can create a team. Please contact Karen Roach for more information and a sign-up sheet.
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SCHOOL BOARD UPDATE
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October School Board Meetings
The Board will hold its regular monthly meeting on Monday, Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. The tentative agenda includes the district's annual enrollment report, the annual financial audit, and a potential 2015 referendum proposal. The final agenda will be posted by Oct. 17.
Previous School Board Meetings
- Recaps and videos of past School Board meetings are available online.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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South View Presents: Little Women
Oct. 23-25, Thurs.-Fri. - 7 p.m., Sat. - 2 p.m. South View Auditorium
Come support South View Middle School students as they present their rendition of "Little Women." The play, written by Matt Buchanan, is based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott. Showtimes are Oct. 23-24 at 7 p.m. and Oct. 25 at 2 p.m. Tickets for the fall play can be purchased online by clicking here.
Edina Day of Service
Oct. 25, various locations
Each year, in partnership with the Edina Community Foundation's Connecting With Kids program, an Edina Day of Service is held to celebrate and encourage a culture of service in the community. This year Edina Day of Service will be part of Make a Difference Day, a nationwide program with millions of volunteers working to improve the lives of others! To participate and learn more, click here.
Second Annual Carnival Concert
Oct. 25, 6 p.m., Fick Auditorium
The Edina High School Varsity Band will be hosting its second annual Carnival Concert! The concert is particularly geared toward families and children 12 years old and younger, to promote the joy of music at home and in our schools. The 6 p.m. carnival features fun and games hosted by EHS band students and will include an "Instrument Petting Zoo" where kids may view and touch the different band instruments. The concert will begin at 6:30 p.m. and features Edina elementary music teachers as guest performers. Tickets are available at the door: $3 for general admission and free for students 12 years old and under.
EHS Thespians Present: Little Shop of Horrors
Opening Nov. 6 at Edina PAC
Tickets are on sale now for "The Little Shop of Horrors," presented by the EHS Thespians. This campy musical is based on the 1960s cult horror film where a nerdy florist's clerk buys and nourishes a Venus fly trap-type plant, which grows big enough to devour everything in its path. Enjoy music in the style of early 1960s rock-and-roll and doo-wop, as well as more traditional Broadway ballads.
"Little Shop of Horrors" performances will be at the Edina Performing Arts Center on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, Nov. 6-8 and Nov. 13-15, at 7 p.m. There will be a matinee performance on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 1 p.m.
Tickets are available at www.edinatheater.org
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DID YOU KNOW?
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REMINDER: Late Start on Wednesday, Oct. 29
Edina Public Schools has a late start scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 29. All schools will start two hours later than usual; busses will likewise run two hours later than their normal scheduled time in the morning. Dismissal times and afternoon bus routes will remain as normal.
Staff will be utilizing these two hours to enhance their practice and advance the district's Next Generation Strategic Plan.Teachers will be meeting in their collaborative teams to review student data to modify instruction as appropriate to help personalize learning for each student. For more information about the late starts, click here.
CES offers enrichment options for late start days Edina Community Education Services (CES) invited elementary students to participate in enrichment programs before school on scheduled late start days. CES collaborates with EPS teachers to offer activities that complement what students are learning during the school day. - Program (grades K-5): Elementary students can enroll in enrichment programs at their home elementary school for one, two, three or all four of the late start days.
- Cost: The cost per student for each two-hour time block is $20. To learn more about scholarships for the CES enrichment program, please call 952-848-3952.
- Registration: Interested families can register for enrichment programs at edina.thatscommunityed.com.
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Help us keep the 2014-15 school year Hope & Happiness theme alive.
Contact the communications team at 952.848.3919 or email us at [email protected] with news, story ideas or photos!
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5701 Normandale Road
Edina, MN 55424
952.848.3000
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