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EPS HEADLINES
The latest stories about what's happening in our schools
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Confucius Classroom ceremony celebrates culture Edina High School students perform traditional music and dance
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Dignitaries, staff and students celebrated the district's designation as a Confucius Classroom with a program of traditional Chinese music, song and dance on Oct. 31 at Edina High School (EHS). It was the culmination of a process that began late last year when the district was first named a Confucius Classroom and received a grant that supported the purchase of learning materials for teachers and students at EHS and both of Edina's middle schools, and the community.
The designation was awarded in December by the Confucius Institute at the University of Minnesota (CIUMN), a collaborative initiative between the university and the Hanban/Confucius Institute Headquarters and Capital Normal University in Beijing. Joan Brzezinski, executive director of the China Center at the University of Minnesota, presented a plaque to Dr. Bruce Locklear, EHS principal. READ MORE
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| EHS JUNIOR WORKS TO IMPROVE PAIN TREATMENT IN HUMANS
On Sept. 19, Edina High School junior Aditya Mittal presented scientific findings from his University of Minnesota mentorship at the National Institute of Health. Of all the trainee presenters, Mittal was the only secondary student to speak in front of a select group of researchers. The remaining presenters were highly distinguished senior scientists.
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VALLEY VIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL LAUNCHES ONLINE NEWSPAPER
With the help of family and consumer science teacher Joseph Pastoor, students launched Valley View Middle School's first online newspaper, The Edina Review. The group, ranging from six to 10 students, held its initial meeting on Sept. 9, and since that time they have posted more than 10 stories to the website. READ MORE
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RIC'S REFLECTIONS
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An urgent call to action for all of us
Closing the gap in Edina Public Schools to advance learning for all
There is much discourse nationally, and especially in Minnesota, about a persistent achievement gap wherein some student groups perform significantly better than many students of color (particularly Black, Native American, and Hispanic) and students in poverty. When we look at our local data here in Edina, we trend along with our Minnesota peers. Yes, overall our students outperform their Minnesota peers, and our students of color and students in poverty do perform better than their state peers. However, the gap between our highest and lowest performing students ranges from 25-40 percent, which is unacceptable. We must address this disparity, and the only way we can do that is by personalizing the educational experience for all learners, regardless of their background. As noted in our Next Generation of Edina Public Schools (EPS) strategic plan, a plan crafted in partnership with the Edina community, a key vision outcome of the personalized learning core strategy is that we will see "measured growth and high achievement for each and every student without predictable links to race and income." In fact, closing the achievement gap was identified as a top priority of the group and as such we have been working for the past few years on an action plan to address it. In this "All for All" plan, we've aligned our work in five key gap areas, as defined by Hassan & Mahmoud-leadership, belief, preparation, teaching and learning, and time. To meet our vision outcomes, we've identified a framework of actions to address these areas, including extensive staff training, family and student outreach, staff recruitment, instructional interventions, and community outreach. Yet, while we can point to pockets of success in closing the gap with some of our students, our overall achievement gap remains relatively unchanged, no matter which measurement or assessment we identify. We could spend days arguing the merits of standardized assessments, but the bigger issue is that there continues a persistent gap between our highest and lowest performing students. This achievement gap is not representative of Edina Excellence, and therefore the time is now to put renewed efforts into tackling the challenge. Our students deserve our focused energy on this critical issue, which is why I have declared closing the gap as our top leadership priority for this school year.
To make this happen, we need everyone's help-teachers, staff, parents, families, community members and students. Each of us must assume a role in closing the gap, and we must do so with intentionality and urgency. We must, as our district position statement on racial equity and cultural competence says, promote healthy school climates, establish high expectations for all learners, and erase barriers that impede student success. If we are able to align our work in this way and focus on personalizing learning for each and every student, we will not only close the achievement gap, but also advance our Edina Excellence for all Next Generation learners.
We have a tradition of defining excellence in Edina Public Schools. I thank all of you for your ongoing commitment to the EPS community of learners, and I look forward to the day when we can demonstrate that we have closed the achievement gap and are truly educating all learners with the skills they need to thrive in a rapidly changing, culturally diverse, global society.
Regards,
-Ric
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TEACHER TUESDAY SPOTLIGHT
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ROLLAND TALAN
Fifth grade teacher at Normandale French Immersion School
When asked what brought Rolland Talan to make his home in Minnesota, his answer is simple and honest - luck. After finishing law studies in Paris, Talan considered teaching French abroad. On a whim, he responded to an internship posting in Edina at the Normandale French Immersion School, where he landed the job.
"After my first year as an intern at Normandale, I was about to leave to teach law at the university in China, in English. But there was an unexpected opening at Normandale, and I seized the opportunity," he says. "I have never regretted it."
Read more about Talan's thoughts on global education and why it is important for all learners to have an understanding of the world around them.
Do you know a teacher or group of teachers who deserve recognition? Send your nominations to communicati[email protected] to be considered for the weekly blog spotlight.
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NEXT GENERATION MAGAZINE
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JUST RELEASED:
NEXT GENERATION ONLINE MAGAZINE
Last week, Edina Public Schools released the first issue of a new online magazine that is devoted to sharing stories about the strategic work of the district. What does the Next Generation of Edina Public Schools Strategic Plan mean
for you, your student, family and the community? Click here, or on the cover photo to view the premier issue.
Stories include:
- Global Learning Abroad in China
- Classrooms of the Future pilots
- Profiles of students and teachers
- Strategic Roadmap to 2017
- The history of strategic planning
- The latest on the grade configuration
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EPS IN THE NEWS
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Edina Student Musicians Excel
with Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies
The Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies (GTCYS) may not call Edina home, but much of its talent does. Known as "GIT-seez," hundreds of students ages 8 to 18 take part in the program each year.
From its beginning in 1972, GTCYS has helped more than 16,000 students hone their skills as musicians. "Every decision we make is to further musical education and education in general," says Mark Russell Smith of Edina. Now in his third year, Smith is the artistic director and symphony conductor for GTCYS.
Read more about two Edina Public Schools students, Emma May and Maggie Yuhas, and their real-world, musical experiences.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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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 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.
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 build 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 [email protected].
Celebrating Veterans Day
Nov. 11 at Valley View Middle School, South Gymnasium
Valley View Middle School invites the community and especially veterans and their families, to join them as they recognize Veterans Day, Tuesday, Nov. 11. There are two assemblies, at 9:10 a.m. and 10 a.m. with the same program at each. A guest speaker will reflect on his years in the service and student groups will perform musical tributes. All veterans attending the assembly will be recognized for their service. Light refreshments will be served following each program.
Family Forum on Friendship
Nov. 13, 6:30-7:45 p.m., Normandale Auditorium
This dialogue follows the district-wide efforts on Bullying Prevention
held during the month of October. Parents and their school-aged children are invited to come together for a presentation by Normandale social worker Sandi Stein, with a discussion, videos and take-home resources to follow. Some of the topics discussed will be: structuring a play date to increase the likelihood of success; increasing flexibility and adaptability; developing coping skills when disappointments happen; managing the end of a relationship; and bullying: what it is and isn't and strategies for those being bullied and those who are bystanders. If you plan to attend the forum, please email Sandi Stein or call 952-848-4108.
Cornelia International Night
Nov. 13, 6-8 p.m., Cornelia Elementary
International Night is organized and sponsored by the Cornelia PTO to celebrate the school's rich cultural diversity. The free community event aims to connect families of all cultures at Cornelia and throughout the entire Edina school district. At this year's celebration, families are invited to host a table representing their cultural heritage or a place they have visited or lived. Participants will share physical representations of their culture, such as artwork, books, clothing and other objects, as well as stories, games and other experiences. During the second half of the evening, a few cultural groups will perform a musical "world tour" featuring Indian, Chinese and Aztec performances.
Edina PCN Presents: Substance Abuse in Edina
Nov. 17, 7-9 p.m., EPAC At this free, community forum, former Edina High School Resource Officer Brian Hubbard, recently promoted to Sergeant, will lead a forum on substance abuse in Edina. Hubbard's position within the schools makes him uniquely qualified to discuss issues that directly affect our students. He is an avid advocate of reducing substance abuse and increasing awareness within our community.
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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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