DECEMBER 10, 2015 VOLUME 4 ISSUE 17

SNAPSHOT  | EPS HEADLINES

SNAPSHOT: The EHS Student Council will be Secret Santas to lots of local children this year after collecting more than 500 toys for the VEAP toy drive. They challenged all of the school's homerooms to fill in squares on a game card, each of which indicated a particular toy from VEAP's wish list. The homerooms that completed the card first received donuts as a thank you. Pictured above are members of the toy drive committee:  Daniel Brunker, John Webb, N'namdi Andersen, Rihab Alemam and Josh Felton; not pictured, Anna Cerf.
Headlines
EPS HEADLINES




NORMANDALE STUDENTS 'SPIN' A WEEK WITH YO-YO MASTER
For second through fifth graders at Normandale Elementary School, this week's physical education classes had a special visitor, National Yo-Yo Master "Dazzling Dave" Schulte. He uses yo-yos to teach kids how physics plays a part in their everyday lives through the "Science of Spin."
FIELDWORK ABROAD HELPS STAFF GROW THEIR GLOBAL COMPETENCE
For nine Edina Public School teachers and staff members, weeks spent in other countries last summer not only taught them about the culture of the area, it caused them to view their own students with new eyes. Now, they are using their experiences to teach in new ways.
Read more
THIRD ANNUAL EDINA MODEL UN CONFERENCE LARGEST TO DATE
This January, Edina High School will host the third annual Edina Model United Nations Conference (EMUNC). EMUNC is a distinctive conference in that it is the only student-run conference in the state. "This is a huge step forward for EMUNC and a testament to our commitment to continuous improvement."
Read more
THERE'S MORE!
iameps
I AM EPS
Meet 'Teacher Lisa' Hoffman, preschool teacher at Edina Family Center

"My favorite part about being at the family center is knowing that I am making a difference and providing a safe, nurturing environment for all children. It doesn't matter if you grew up here or you are from another country. Children just need to know they are loved."

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. 
byline
BYLINE
PTO involvement connects parents with schools
By Michele Gatien, EHS PTO Marketing Chair

Hosting informational forums is just one way the schools' PTOs support families. 
Parents of Edina students make a significant commitment as soon as they enroll their children in the district. As those young people climb onto buses or scramble out of cars, it's a natural impulse to want to stay involved, even as the students seem to gain independence daily. How do parents strike a balance? They get involved in the school PTO, of course!
 
At the elementary schools PTO's organize volunteers for school activities, raise money to cover school needs outside the budget, provide service learning opportunities and supervise recycling programs, to list just a few activities. 

As children move into the middle school environment, parent involvement changes to reflect young people's growing independence, and desire for social activities with peers that occur in a safe, structured environment. The Edina High School PTO provides that last chance to connect with your student, as parents learn to allow their almost-grown students to manage their time while meeting stiff academic and extracurricular activity expectations.

Read more about the work of PTOs throughout the school district. 
For information about PTO at your student's school, go to the school's website and click on About on the left side menu. 
StaffNews
STAFF 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]
  • Condolences to Tom Connell, EHS social studies teacher, on the recent passing of his mother.
bowling Last call for bowling teams: Deadline is Dec. 14
The 2016 Bowling League is organizing now! This year's season will be Wednesdays, Jan. 6 through March 23 (12 weeks) from 4:30 to 6 p.m. The league has moved to Tuttle's, 107 Shady Oak Road, Hopkins. Cost is $11 per week, plus a one-time $6 fee to cover the end-of -the-year bowling for dollars and prizes. Teams should have three members each and you do not need to be a district employee to bowl. (Substitutes are needed too.) Send team name and list of members to [email protected] or [email protected] by Dec. 14. 

Did you 'opt in'? 
It is not too late to opt in to receive text messages from Edina Public Schools. Simply text "Yes" to 68453 from each device that you wish to receive text messages on. (Note that these cell phone numbers must also be listed in SchoolView contact information.) For more information about text messaging from Edina Public Schools, read these FAQs.
 
VEAP, Toys for Tots collecting for holidays now
Bring your donations for VEAP's annual toy drive to the drop box outside of the ECC Welcome Center through Dec. 11. Donations for Toys for Tots can be dropped off at the district transportation office through Dec. 17.

Schoolyard Gardens Conference at Arboretum March 4
Registration is open for the Schoolyard Gardens Conference at the University of Minnesota Arboretum on Friday, March 4. This day-long conference provides an opportunity to learn innovative strategies to sustain and engage diverse learners in the hands-on school yard garden experience, whether you are a schoolyard veteran or just learning about it.

Lori Murphy, EPS Community Education youth program manager, is a member of the planning committee for the conference. "It will be an awesome educational experience for school staff ,including teachers, food service staff, paras, school age care, OST programs, principals and parents, too," she said. Click here for more information about the conference.
SchoolBoard
SCHOOL BOARD UPDATE
School Board Meeting: Dec. 15
 
The next regular meeting of the School Board will be Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2015, which will also include the district's annual Truth-in-Taxation hearing.
 
Complete agendas and meeting minutes are available online.
Watch video of past School Board meetings on the district website.
EVENTS
EVENTS 
 

  Dec. 10-12: South View presents It's All Greek to Me

  • Thursday and Friday, Dec. 10 and 11, 7 p.m., SV Auditorium
  • Saturday, Dec. 12, matinee performance at 2 p.m., SV Auditorium
  • 6th and 7th grade thespians present an evening of four Greek myths woven together for a fun evening of history and humor
  • Tickets are $5 for adults; $3 for students, seniors and children
  • Follow this link to purchase tickets

 

    Dec. 11 & 12: EHS Winter Jubilee Concert

  • Friday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m.
  • Saturday, Dec. 12 at 3 p.m.
  • Presented by the EHS Performing Arts Department in Fick Auditorium
  • Click here to order tickets

 

 

    Now through Dec. 30: Holiday Spirit Store

  • Tuesdays through Fridays, noon - 7 p.m.
  • Saturdays & Sundays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
  • Closed Mondays and Dec. 24 & 26
  • Located inside the Neighborhood Ice Cream Shoppe, at the intersection of Valley View and Kellogg
  • Great selection of Edina apparel for all ages -- golf polos, hats, mittens, scarves, Faribault Woolen Mill Edina blankets, and stocking stuffers too!
  • All proceeds go to the Edina Athletic Booster Club, support all Edina High School athletic teams

    Dec. 21 - Jan. 1: No School/Winter Break

DidYouKnow
DID YOU KNOW?
Chartwells works with families to meet dietary needs

EPS School Food Service provider, Chartwells, has eliminated nut exposure from all school menus. School meals are peanut and tree nut free. To meet the needs of students with life-threatening allergies, food items brought to the school for celebrations/snacks are encouraged to be peanut and nut free. Examples of nut products include almonds, cashews, walnuts,  and Nutella� spread.

Dietitian Courtney Sanders is available to work with students and families to arrange a meal plan for students with allergies or a medical condition that requires an accommodation. For EPS to provide a special diet request, the USDA School Lunch Program requires that you complete a special diet form that is signed by the parent/guardian and the physician. Learn more about this on the Minnesota Department of Education website. If you have questions about any of this information or to request the paperwork, contact your student's school nurse or Courtney Sanders at 952-848-3812.

Families may view menus and nutrition information through the NutriSlice website and app available on the EPS school lunch page.

 

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