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EPS HEADLINES
The latest stories about what's happening in our schools
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STUDENT VOICE
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Students bring important voice to facilities task force
By Lillie Westbrook, EHS Zephyrus
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Dennis Bao
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This year, Edina Public Schools has introduced a new task force devoted to refurbishing and renovating all buildings for the next generation of learning. The Facilities Advisory Task Force (FATF) began in August, and consists of Edina parents, EHS alumni, Edina community members,administrative staff, teachers, architects, and two current students. The last meeting of the year was Tuesday, Sept. 30.
Josh Felton, a freshman at Valley View, is a member of the task force. He shared his views on the importance of including students. "We can provide a different view," he said "Most of the parents have not been at the schools when they are in session; they do not know how crowded the hallways are." He explained that during meetings, the group divided into groups of four members, with the district's communications director and the lead architect circulating. The groups discussed information they received about district facilities and offered ideas.
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Josh Felton
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"Alumni know what school was like years ago, and how it prepared them for secondary education," Felton said, explaining the importance of everyone on the task force. "Basically, we got all the information about the school capacity and how the students feel, new generations, renovations, and we worked to get our school ready for the next generation of learning."
Dennis Bao, a senior at EHS, is also on the FATF. "As a student, I feel like my voice is being heard. We are encouraged because they [the adults] know what school is like from a teacher's standpoint, an administrator's standpoint, but I am able to give them my view of the school," he said. The main goal of the task force is to integrate more spaces for flexible learning. "Most of the alumni went to school in the sixties, seventies, eighties," Bao said "We can provide a perspective of the school now, and how technology is integrated."
What can we expect from the FATF? "We wrapped it up last night (Sept.30) and the general consensus was that we have $125 million to spend and we have to allocate it for each school.The FATF's recommendations will be presented in a report to the School Board on Monday, Oct. 6. From there, administration and the School Board will use the information to develop a referendum that will go to voters next year.
The main plans the FATF has been thinking of have a lot to do with the possibility of freshmen being integrated into the high school. Since there is limited space, an addition would need to be built at EHS. . Another plan being considered is the addition of an activity center, which could consist of several basketball courts and a fitness center. Of course, no plans are final yet, but it seems that the FATF has done a lot of good for all those involved with Edina Public Schools.
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TEACHER TUESDAY SPOTLIGHT
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Jamie Johansen
Continuous Progress Teacher
Highlands Elementary
After subbing for a year upon graduating from college, Jamie Johansen quickly landed a long term substitute teaching job and then got a full time job as a Continuous Progress teacher at Highlands Elementary. According to Johansen, teamwork, long term relationships with families and students and TED talks all inspire him in his work in the Continuous Progress Program at Highlands Elementary.
Read more about Johansen's teaching journey and how he works with staff to constantly improve curriculum and instruction.
Do you know a teacher or group of teachers who deserve recognition? Send your nominations to communications@edinaschools.org to be considered for the weekly blog spotlight.
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COMMUNITY NEWS
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Vision Edina: Community Engagement Workshops 
Nov. 10, 7-8:30 p.m., Edina Community Center Room 350
Vision Edina is an ambitious, broad-based and inclusive community visioning process. It will also serve as an important foundation for other strategic efforts, such as theCity's Comprehensive Plan and Capital Improvement Plans. The Community Engagement Workshops builds on the first Vision Edina workshop held on September 9 and 11. That workshop, attended by approximately 110 people, developed a series of plausible scenarios for the future of Edina. The Community Engagement Workshops are designed to allow broad community input and discussion about the future. They will build on the framework already developed and will give each resident the chance to a direct input into formulating our future vision.For more information, please contact Heather Branigin at 952-826-0403 or hbranigin@EdinaMN.gov.
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EPS IN THE NEWS
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 Star Tribune features South View Middle School Writing Center Last Wednesday's West Metro section of the Minneapolis Star Tribune featured a story about the Writing Center at South View Middle School. Reporter Kim McGuire interviewed Tess Bademan, the English teacher who is the inspiration for the center, and numerous students who are 9th grade writing coaches and the students they were coaching. Click here to read the full article.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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 South View Presents: Little Women
Oct. 24-25, 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. 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 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.
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5701 Normandale Road
Edina, MN 55424
952.848.3000
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