NOTE: The Buzz will not be published during Spring Break. Publication will resume on April 9.
March 26, 2015 
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 30


 

CLASSROOM SNAPSHOT 
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Mock state legislature convenes at Valley View 
Students bring forward bills to change Minnesota law in mock session
Students in Jason Dockter and Erik Anderson's ninth grade U.S. government classes at Valley View Middle School convened this week for a mock legislative session of to vote on bills and eventually bring them before the "Governor," John Justice, a Valley View staff member. The students learned about the process of a bill becoming a law in class. They learned how to take their ideas and put them into the proper legal format for the State of Minnesota, and on Wednesday and Thursday, brought their bills before Justice, who either signed, vetoed or pocket-vetoed the bill. Bills ranged from current fireworks law to an official Minnesota Day and propose new coding or amend current law. One vetoed bill, which would have lowered the legal driving age from 16 to 15, was brought to a veto-override vote. The override vote passed the "Senate", but failed to pass the "House."
Headlines
EPS HEADLINES
The latest stories about what's happening in our schools
EHS students attend interactive seminar on American Indian culture

Sophomores spend two days at Fort Snelling State Park





FOR SIXTEEN STUDENTS, IMPROV COMEDY PROVIDES INVALUABLE SKILLS, CONFIDENCE
Hilarity ensued Tuesday when Edina High School's Comedy Sportz team, who recently won the state crown, met for its final rehearsal. The 16-student team practiced various games and exercises with the help of Comedy Sportz cast member Michael Bruckmueller, who acted as the team's coach, to hone their skills and prepare them for their Thursday night performance. "We teach our students to be fearless, and the skills improv teaches are invaluable," said Tony Matthes, EHS theater teacher and artistic director, and the team's advisor.
CORNELIA STUDENTS READ TO RAISE MONEY
Students in Cornelia Elementary School's 5th annual Read-a-Thon read a total of 192,825 minutes from March 8-20. They also raised $10,331, which will go directly back to the school. 

The Read-a-thon this year was launched after an author visit from Mike Wohnoutka, a children's book author from Minneapolis. 

While the minutes read is certainly impressive, students came up short in a challenge to make Cornelia Principal Lisa Masica camp outside. 
STUDENTS TO SPEND SPRING BREAK ON CIVIL RIGHTS RESEARCH TOUR
There will be no time to kick back over spring break for five Edina High School students. They have chosen instead to participate in a 10-day Civil Rights Research Tour (CRRT). Covering nearly 4,000 miles and seven cities, they will visit the most important historic places pertaining to the civil rights movement in the U.S. The CRRT will culminate in a student-produced video and young people who will be a knowledgeable voice in their schools when it comes to African-American history.
READ MORE

ONLINE NEWS ARCHIVES
Referendum
FACILITIES REFERENDUM UPDATE

  


Details of Next Gen Facilities Plan available on website 

View district's 'MDE Review and Comment' document  

Details about the proposed Next Generation Facilities plan can be found on the district's website in the MDE Review and Comment Document. This document is required under state law to be submitted to the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Education for review prior to seeking voter-approval of a bond referendum. The document includes enrollment capacities and descriptions of proposed renovation/additions for each building, along with additional facility needs and information on project financing. The district submitted its $124.9 million project proposal to the state on Jan. 26. It received a positive review from the commissioner on Feb. 10.

 

Why is the referendum in May? How was the grade reconfiguration decision made? How old are district facilities? 

Find the answers to these and many other frequently asked questions about the 2015 Facilities Bond Referendum on the district website at www.edinaschools.org/Referendum2015.The site is being continuously updated with additional information, including answers to Frequently Asked Questions and details on the components of the facilities plan, so be sure check back often.


If you have questions regarding the referendum or facilities planning, contact the 2015 Referendum Hotline by email at [email protected] or by phone at 

952-848-4038.


EPS STAFF: Here's help to understand your role during 
referendum election 
We have prepared an FAQ to help you understand your role as a district staff member during this referendum election. A good general rule to remember is - if you are acting in the capacity of a district staff member, you should not be advocating for or against the bond referendum. There are 15 frequently asked questions that more clearly describe your role and scenarios you may encounter. Clear here to READ MORE.

Join the conversation: Referendum Community Conversation, April 7 at 7 p.m. at Edina Community Center 

This event is scheduled to be livestreamed to YouTube with interactivity through Twitter.
Read more in Upcoming Events.


Absentee voting 
available now
Vote in-person at Edina City Hall or by mail
In Minnesota, you no longer have to wait until Election Day to vote - you can vote early with an absentee ballot. Absentee voting is available starting March 20 at the City of Edina office (regular business hours 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) and continues through 3 p.m. on Tuesday, May 5. To vote absentee, voters must first submit an application, after which they will receive a ballot.
  • U.S. MAIL -  Download an application from the City of Edina website and submit it 8to the contact information on the form. You will receive your ballot by mail and can then submit your ballot by mail or in person at the City offices
  • IN PERSON - Starting March 20, you may go in person to the City of Edina administration office to fill out and submit an absentee ballot application. You will receive your ballot immediately and can cast your vote at the same time.
Edina Public School residents can vote absentee in the following ways: Learn more at www.edinaschools.org/vote2015.
Teachers
TEACHER TUESDAY SPOTLIGHT
Get to know our amazing teaching staff!
Kari Hagan 
Art teacher, Creek Valley Elementary School
Hometown: While she was born in Minnesota, Kari grew up primarily in Annandale, VA, a suburb of Washington, D.C. She has strong family ties to Minnesota.

Education: Kari received her a bachelor's degree in Studio Art from St. Olaf College in 1998 and 4 years later began the Post Baccalaureate Program at the University of Minnesota. She received her teaching license and Masters in Art Education from the U of M.

Experience
: Kari came to Edina Public Schools in 2010 and taught for 2 years at Concord Elementary. She then spent one year in Richfield and returned to the district to teach at Creek Valley. This is her 2nd year back in the district and 12th year teaching art. Besides Edina and Richfield, Kari also taught in the Columbia Heights and Robbinsdale Districts, as well as at Beacon Academy Charter School. EPS asked Kari about her inspirations and how she encourages creativity in her 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.
 
InTheNews
EPS IN THE NEWS  

What's Cool in our Schools - 3-D Printers

KARE 11 featured Concord's 3-D printer use in its "Cool in School" segment. 
KARE 11's latest edition of "Cool in School" featured Concord Elementary School students' work with a 3-D printer. More than 50 Concord fifth graders signed up to spend two days with the printer instead of go to recess. View the story, which aired Thursday morning, here
StaffNews
STAFF NEWS
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].

  • CORRECTION: In last week's Buzz, we incorrectly reported that Erik Lowe's father had passed away. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. Condolences to Erik on the recent passing of his mother-in-law.
  • Condolences to Ev Emerson, Normandale music teacher, on the recent passing of her husband.

EdTech Team Minnesota Summit features Google apps

The third annual EdTechTeam Minnesota Summit will be Saturday, May 9 at Edina High School. The summit will feature Google for Education and is a high intensity one-day event focused on deploying, integrating and using Google Apps for Education and other Google tools to promote student learning in K-12 and higher education. The program features Google Certified Teachers, Google Apps for Education Certified Trainers, practicing administrators, solution providers, Google engineers and representatives from the Google education teams. EPS teaching and learning and DMTS will cover the cost of staff to attend this event! Express your interest in attending this event by completing this Google form. 

 

Teachers and students: Come share at Tech Open House

We are looking for teachers and groups of students to come and share what they have been doing to advance Digital Age Learning in your classroom at the eLearning2 Open House for the community on Saturday, April 18, 9-11 a.m. Parents love coming to see what you and the students have been doing in your classroom. Here are the details:

  • Write up a short paragraph on what you will showcase to go in the event program. This can be an example of Google Apps for Education, iPad use, anytime/anywhere learning, blended learning, interactive white boards for engagement...any ways that you are using technology in your classroom to personalize learning and engage your students.
  • Work with some of your students and their families on something they can showcase.
  • Plan to be at the open house (third floor of the Edina Community Center) from 8:45 to 11 a.m. as community members stop by rooms and stations to see classroom technology in action.
  • Staff will be paid for two hours at your prorated district rate. You will receive a time sheet at the event.

Please fill out this form ASAP if you are willing to share your classroom technology at the open house. The deadline is April 6. 

 

Deadline for ELI presentation proposals is tomorrow! 

Save the date:  ELI slated for August 17-20

Four great keynote speakers will kickoff each day of the 

2015 Edina Learning Institute (ELI), but planners are looking for staff who are interested in sharing their knowledge and expertise with colleagues to help fill out the days' schedules. Themes for this year's institute are around the district's educational competencies

Proposals for presentations and related workshops are welcome. Staff who attend and present wlll earn a $350 stipend for the day; staff who attend will earn $170 per day. Lunch is provided for all attendees.


See the ELI homepage for information on this year's speakers and themes. The deadline for 

presenter proposals  is Friday, March 27 at 4 p.m. Registration will open Friday, April 10. 

 

Highway 100 Construction

The following information is from the MN Department of Transportation

On March 27, four days after the Minnetonka Boulevard Bridge in St. Louis Park closes, Hwy 100 between I-394 and Hwy 62 will close for the weekend.


Friday, March 27 at 9 p.m. crews will begin reducing lanes and closing the ramps on Hwy 100 between I-394 and Hwy 62. By 10 p.m., the highway and all of the ramps will be completely closed.The road and ramps will reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, March 30.


Motorists will detour around the closure using I-394, Hwy 169 and Hwy 62.When the road reopens on March 30, motorists will encounter delays on Hwy 100 between W 36th Street and Barry Street as the highway will be reduced to two lanes in each direction.


The weekend closure and the lane reductions are needed so crews can remove the center pier of the Canadian Pacific Railroad Bridge and prepare to shift traffic to one side of the road. Please drive carefully and watch for construction crews and equipment near the highway.


Download a PDF of the construction zone here.


For more information, visit: mndot.gov/metro/projects/hwy100slp/ 

  

Events
UPCOMING EVENTS

Two referendum community conversations set for April 

In addition to the over 50 small group presentations and dialogues about the upcoming referendum, the general public is invited to attend an upcoming community engagement conversations. Superintendent Ric Dressen and other district leaders will talk about the components of the Next Generation Facilities Plan, details on how referendum dollars would be spent, as well as the design process and future input opportunities should the referendum pass on May 5. There will also be time for questions and answers. Plan now to attend one of these meetings (please note location changes):

  • Tuesday, April 7 at 7 p.m., Room 349, Edina Community Center
    (this meeting is scheduled to be live streamed to YouTube with interactivity via Twitter)  
  • Monday, April 20 at 7 p.m., Council Chambers at Edina City Hall
    (sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Edina)
Edina Student Art Show at Edina LIbrary through April 16 

Artwork by students from six Edina elementary schools will be displayed at the Edina Library from March 19 through April 16. A public reception celebrating the show and the artists was held. The student art show is sponsored by the Friends of the Edina Library.

 

 

One Night Only: EHS Comedy 

Sportz team to perform 

Thursday, March 26 at 7 p.m. at EPAC

The Edina High School Comedy Sportz High School League team will perform a one-night-only improv comedy show at the Edina Performing Arts Center (EPAC) at Edina High School on Thursday, March 26 at 7 p.m. General admission is $5.

 

The EHS improv team beat Hopkins in the Comedy Sportz HS League State Championships last weekend, making it their third win in four years. 

 

Let Community Education make spring break fun!

If your spring break is a stay-cation let EPS Community Education Services help you keep your kids busy while having fun. A wide variety of morning or afternoon programs are available for many age groups and interests. Crafts, LEGOS, babysitting training and performance camps are just a few. See the full selection in the school year Youth Program catalog and register online. The school age care programs, KIDS Club, WISE Guys and SURGE, also have special programming during spring break. Families enrolled in these programs should talk to their program managers.

 

SAVE THE DATES:

4th Annual Edina Technology & Learning Fair, April 18 at ECC
See how technology is transforming learning in Edina Public Schools (EPS) at the annual Technology and Learning Showcase, Saturday, April 18 from 9 to 11 a.m. Students, teachers and technology specialists will share the learning they've experienced with real-life demonstrations about activities happening in EPS classrooms. 

 

Student Wellness Challenge, April 25 at South View

This year's Student Wellness Challenge will take place Saturday, April 25 in the main gym/auditorium at South View Middle School from 9-11:30 a.m. The Challenge will feature student stations, which will include topics such as: nutrition, Pros of the Rope, Tai Chi, cooking, and hand-eye coordination. There will also be several speakers who will cover topics such as adolescent psychiatry, benefits of yoga, stress management and anorexia. Watch for more details to come!

 

DidYouKnow
DID YOU KNOW?

Multicultural Dates to Note:

As part of our efforts to increase the awareness of the changing demographics of our Edina Public Schools community, The Weekly Buzz will periodically include a listing of some upcoming multicultural and religious holidays and events. For background on many of the multicultural events noted, click here. 


April is National Autism Awareness Month

  • April 2: International Children's Book Day
  • April 3-11: Passover (Jewish)
  • April 3: Good Friday (Christian)
  • April 5: Easter (Christian)
  • April 7: World Health Day
  • April 12-18: National Environmental Education Week; National Library Week
  • April 12: Eastern and Greek Orthodox Easter
  • April 14: Baisakhi (Sikh)
  • April 15-16: Holocaust Remembrance Day
  • April 19-25: National Student Leadership Week
  • April 20-24: Public School Volunteer Week
  • April 22: Earth Day
  • April 24: National Arbor Day

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