OCTOBER 29, 2015 VOLUME 4 ISSUE 12

SNAPSHOT  | EPS HEADLINES

SNAPSHOT: Kindergartner's in Mehan Meyerhofer's classroom at Creek Valley used their noses to identify mystery items during the "Smelly Jars" exercise earlier this week. The smell portion of the five senses unit started with a story about the sense of smell, then students took turns smelling eight jars. The jars contained cinnamon, lemon, vanilla, mint, garlic, chocolate, coffee and black licorice. They wrote what they think is in the jar (using inventive spelling) and then Meyerhofer opened the jars so everyone can see if their guesses were correct. She said one student thought garlic was the smell of "dirty socks." Chocolate and coffee are most often identified correctly, she said, with students associating the smell of coffee with grandma or mom.
Headlines
EPS HEADLINES

Congratulations!
For the 19th year in a row the EHS girls tennis team ended their season as state champions. Congratulations to all of the athletes and coaches on an amazing accomplishment!




EHS CLUB CONNECTS HIGH SCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY STUDENTS
Named for the time it begins, Club 350 at Countryside Elementary School gives students who participate in KIDS Club another outlet for their creativity, as well as a chance to learn from and spend time with "cool" high school students.
NUMBER OF EHS STUDENTS ON AP SCHOLAR LIST CONTINUES TO GROW
The number of Edina Public School students earning honors for Advanced Placement Scholar Awards grew again this year as the district congratulates 533 students for their achievements - four more students than last year. 
SOUTH VIEW CHORAL STUDENTS LEARN VALUABLE LESSONS FROM CLASSICAL MPR EXPERT
"You are not singers, you are singing athletes," Tesfa Wondemagegnehu said to a group of ninth grade boys choir students at South View Middle School on Friday.
Read more
THERE'S MORE!
iameps
I AM EPS
Meet Amy Lindahl, school psychologist at Cornelia
Ever since Amy Lindahl was young she knew that she wanted to help people. However, it wasn't until she was a teenager that she realized her passion was to helpyoung people, a calling that was affirmed during her undergraduate studies.

"I knew that something in social work and psychology is kind of what I wanted to do," Amy said. "But I'd say that school psychology found me rather than I found it."


If you have an idea for someone to feature, email us at [email protected] with the subject: I am EPS Blog. Otweet us using the hashtag #IamEPS with your story and what makes you Edina Public Schools. 
Districtupdate
DISTRICT UPDATE
Planning for Next Generation facilities continues across the district
High school facilities planning is now in the design development page, while the elementary Core Planning Teams (CPTs) are concluding schematic design work. The middle school CPTs held their second joint meeting this week, and the Early Childhood CPT also met for the second time, continuing to draft criteria and commitments.
 
Read updates for all of these CPTs on the district website Construction Updates page, under Next Gen Facilities Planning. Click on Planning/Design to find meeting materials for each of the CPT meetings.
Inthenews
EPS IN THE NEWS
Star Tribune photo
Star Tribune: Former Band Director
Bill Webb featured in Sunday paper
Bill Webb, retired EPS band director, was featured in the West Metro section of Sunday's Star Tribune. The story focuses on Webb's contributions to music in Edina schools and in the Twin Cities, and about his recent health issues. Read more

Star Tribune: EHS students featured in story about their bite-sized news blog
Seniors Arvind Veluvali and Matias Figari started a news blog geared to appeal to social media users who are accustomed to short bursts of information. Donations to their Argus Chronicle help support a children's school in Peru. Read more

StaffNews
STAFF NEWS
Staff Milestones
  • Congratulations to Nate Koller, Countryside physical education teacher, on the recent birth of his daughter, Audrey.
  • Condolences to Jennifer Johnson, Normandale Success Center teacher, on the recent passing of her brother.
  • Condolences to Harriet Abdo, Normandale kindergarten teacher, on the recent passing of her brother.
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] 
 
Benefits Open Enrollment period starts Nov. 2
The two week Open Enrollment period for EPS employee insurance benefits will begin Nov. 2 and go through Nov. 16. 
 
There will be a meeting at each school if you would like to learn about your benefit options. Representatives for the teachers' health plans and the non-teacher health plans will be present at each meeting, to answer your questions. More information about the benefits and the Open Enrollment meeting schedule will be on the Staff Resources page of the EPS website very soon. Corporate Health Services (CHS) will send an email to all eligible employees on Nov. 2 with instructions on how to enroll online.
 
Click here to see the meeting schedule.
 
Election day recommendations for schools Five EPS schools will be used as polling places on Election Day, Nov. 3. Whether or not your site is a polling place, here are some reminders about election day protocol for district employees.

Registration open for TIES conference Dec. 12-15
TIES logoRegistration is now open for the TIES 2015 Education Technology Conference, Dec. 14-15, with preconference workshops on Dec. 12-13, all at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Minneapolis. The conference theme is Breaking Through: Transforming Pedagogy with Technology. The preconference agenda features 49 workshops on a wide range of topics. Keynote speakers for for the conference are Sylvia Martinez, co-author of Invent to Learn: Making, Tinkering and Engineering in the Classroom, and George Couros, internationally known technology leader, speaking on the development of leadership, people and what is best for kids.
 
Staff who wish to attend should work through their building professional development team to request payment for the conference and substitutes for the days they attend. Read more about the conference and register here.
 
Ed Fund Innovation Grant Program accepting applications now
The Edina Education Fund has opened the application process for the 2015 Innovation Grant Program with an added incentive. In honor of the Ed Fund's 20th anniversary, it is offering one $20,000 grant award in addition to several $1,000 to $5,000 grants. Since 1999, nearly 300 Innovation Grants have been awarded in every school across the district. "Educators have wowed us with their creativity and dedication to keeping Edina Schools on the cutting edge of teaching learning" said Tracie Huhn-Carr, executive director of the Ed Fund. "We are so proud to able to make their innovation project happen."
 
The grant process is open to all Edina Public Schools staff. For key dates, grant guidelines, applications and other related information visit:  www.edinaedfund.com/programs/grant-schedule/  Don't delay -- Initial Project Concept Forms are due December 1, 2015.
 
Grow your leadership skills through e.leadership
Edina Public Schools is again offering a four-session leadership skills course for all staff entitled "e.leadership." The course is open to all staff involved in leadership positions within their sites or programs, and provides training and applied learning in a collegial, cohort model. Over 65 teachers, custodians, coordinators, administrators, and support staff have completed this training. The commitment involves four 90-minute sessions from November to February, facilitated by Superintendent Ric Dressen. The first session is scheduled for 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, November 10, in ECC 349. The other three sessions are set for December 8, January 12 and February 2.  Staff completing the e.leadership course will be granted one-half comp day, and receive continuing education units.
 
Here is a screencast that provides more information if you are interested (log into Edina Apps before clicking on the link). You can sign up for this learning opportunity via KeepCertified. For more information on registering, please contact Connie Gastler.
 
Make a difference -- volunteer!
There is always a need for more volunteers around the district. In classrooms, with special projects and events, before and after school -- volunteers help meet the needs of students. Right now there is a need for after school homework support with the Countryside "Crew." These volunteers work with students on Thursdays from 4 to 5 p.m. assisting with homework, and supervising activities and snack time. If you are interested, contact Carynn Roehrick, volunteer program manager, 952-848-4923.
 
Hwy 100 closed this weekend
Motorists traveling on Hwy 100 between Golden Valley/Minnetonka and Edina, will encounter a weekend road closure and detour beginning Oct. 30  as crews reconstruct the Cedar Lake Trail bridge over Hwy 100 in St. Louis Park. At 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, crews will begin reducing lanes and closing ramps to Hwy 100 between I-394 and Hwy 62. At 10 p.m., both directions of Hwy 100 and all of the associated ramps within the closure limits will close. The highway and the ramps will reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, Nov. 2.
  • During the weekend closure motorists will be detoured to I-394, Hwy 169 and Highway 62. Weekend travelers should allow for extra drive time throughout the weekend.
The closures are necessary for a construction project which includes adding an auxiliary lane on Hwy 100, reconfiguring and reconstructing the Minnetonka Boulevard, the Hwy 7, and the Cedar Lake Trail/railroad bridges and building noise walls along the 1.6 mile stretch of road. 

For more information, or to sign up for e-mail project updates, visit the project website . For real-time travel information anywhere in Minnesota, visit 511mn.org or dial 5-1-1.

SchoolBoard
SCHOOL BOARD UPDATE
Video of school board candidate forums available online
Seven candidates running for three seats
Watch video of two School Board Candidate Forums that were recently held to provide the community with an opportunity to see and hear the seven candidates running for three open seats on the Edina School Board. The candidates are Melanie Allen, Layla Avila, Claudia Carr, Cathy Cella, Amir Gharbi, Sarah Patzloff and Leny Wallen-Friedman. 
  • Watch the forum sponsored by the Edina Parent Leadership Council on Oct. 12.
And don't forget, election day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.
 
For more information, visit edinaschools.org/BoardElection

Learn more about school board candidates online
Find more information about the school board candidates on the School Board Elections page of the district website. Look for Meet the Candidates and a list of external links. The links are provided by the candidates. The content provided on these external links is solely the responsibility of the candidates and not the school district.

School Board Work Session: Oct. 26
WORK SESSION highlights -
  • Transportation Facility - In a closed session the School Board continued discussion of a possible land purchase for a new transportation facility.
  • 2016-17 and 2017-18 Calendars - The Board continued discussion with administration about the development of school year calendars for 2016-17 and 2017-18. The board asked the Calendar Committee to look at additional options to those presented at the work session on Oct. 19, with the charge of maximizing time for construction and meeting the outcomes intended with its framework approved in September. The Board is expected to receive a recommendation at its meeting on Nov. 16, and take action on the calendars in December.     
  • Elementary Schematic Designs - Administration and Wold Architects presented draft schematic designs for the elementary schools, as developed by the Elementary Core Planning Teams (CPTs). The Board is expected to receive and approve final designs at its meeting on Nov. 16.
Watch video of past School Board meetings on the district website.

The next regular meeting of the School Board will be Monday, Nov. 16. Complete agendas and meeting minutes are available online.
EVENTS
EVENTS 

Nov. 3: Don't forget to VOTE!
Nov. 5: World's Best Work Force Public Hearing
  • Thursday, Nov. 5, 7-8 p.m., Edina Community Center, Room 350
  • Pursuant to state World's Best Workforce (WBWF) legislation, the School Board will host a public hearing on the district's WBWF 2014-15 report, and plans for 2015-16.
Nov. 5-7, 12-14: EHS Thespians present Crazy for You
  • Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 5-7, 12-14 at 7 p.m.
  • Also matinee performance on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 1 p.m.
  • Reserved seating, $12; Adult general admission, $8; Student/senior general admission, $6
  • Edina High School Performing Arts Center
  • Click here to purchase tickets online or to request accessible seating
Crazy for You is a musical featuring classic Gershwin songs. The story is about a stage-struck New York playboy, Bobby Child, sent to a small, poor town in Nevada to close down the local theater. Soon Bobby falls in love with the theater owner�s daughter, Polly. In order to save the theatre, he dreams up the idea to put on a show to raise money for the theatre. Spoiler alert -- its a happy ending for everyone!

DidYouKnow
DID YOU KNOW?
Remember to 'fall back' - Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday
Daylight Saving Time officially ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1. Remember to set your clock back one hour.

According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, Benjamin Franklin was the first to suggest Daylight Saving Time in 1784. But the practice was not officially adopted in the U.S. until 1918, when Congress passed the Standard Time Act, establishing time zones for the country. It was repealed two years later after an outcry from dairy farmers who objected because cows don't pay attention to the time change. It was brought back during World War II as a way to save on fuel, and since then has been used on and off, and the start and end dates have changed numerous times. Enjoy your extra hour this weekend!

 

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