Schools throughout SPPS celebrate National African American Parent Involvement Day
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On Monday, February 11, 2013, many SPPS parents experienced a slice of their children's education by visiting their children at school. This year, schools offered a multitude of activities as a way to get families of all students engaged in this annual event. Watch the video above for event highlights from several schools.
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Macalester Students Give!
January in Minnesota's private colleges is "J term" where many students leave campus for study abroad, travel and service. This year, a group of Macalester students stayed in town and dedicated their J term to SPPS students as interns in four schools: Horace Mann Elementary, Riverview Elementary, Highland Park Middle, and Ramsey Junior High.
Many tutors are absent during J term, which means students do not get the academic support they need. The interns covered the tutoring responsibilities, allowing students to receive the tutoring they needed during this time. In return, the Macalester students were able to receive campus housing and a stipend for their month of service as well as an inside look at what working in a public school is like.
Kudos to Ruthanne Kurth-Schai, Professor and Chair of the Education Studies Department, to Ruth Janisch Lake, Assistant Director of the Civic Engagement Center, and to President Brian Rosenberg for working with us to make this happen.
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Azteca Mexica New Year Festival
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Click the image to view the event Facebook page
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When: Saturday, March 9th, 11am-4pm
Where: Johnson Senior High School
This family-friendly, cultural festival highlights the diversity of the Twin Cities. Guests will receive the opportunity to: observe a traditional Aztec/Mexica dance ceremony honoring the Aztec Mexica New Year, create stamp art inspired by Aztec/ Mexica symbols, play games/ activities, win prizes, learn about community resources, see displayed Mexica art from Battle Creek Middle School students, and eat at the community feast. All families are welcome to participate!
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Friday, March 1st is
Read Across America Day
Share your love of reading with kids and teens around the country and around the world! Remember, you're never too old, too wacky too wild, to pick up a book and read with a child.
Find out more here.
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Saint Paul Public Schools Foundation55 Fifth Street E
St. Paul, Minnesota 55101
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Mary Anne Quiroz
As a child, Mary Anne's family emigrated from the Philippines to Minnesota and purchased a home that landed them in St. Paul's East Side. What might have been a difficult transition for her was made easier by her involvement in many youth programs and activities. After her transition, she attended Sheridan Elementary, Battle Creek Middle, and Johnson High and currently works at Battle Creek. Mary Anne attributes her commitment and involvement in the East Side and community to her great teachers and her mother.
"They didn't see me or my husband as delinquents. They didn't see us as poor low-income students of color and I was raised in single family home. My mom was going to school and working two jobs at the same time."
Mary Anne said that her mother kept her involved in the community. Her mother would get her in as many programs as Mary Anne wanted to keep her involved and help her be successful.
"I was running the streets but didn't get into trouble. I went to the rec center and took dance classes. I grew up at the YMCA."
Because she was enrolled in so many programs, she was able to be surrounded by many positive people. She had great role models and understood the importance of being a part of her community.
"You feel like you have to give back and that is what has kept us connected."
Lovers of St. Paul's East Side, Mary Anne and her husband, Sergio, have settled there for good and do everything they can to be involved. She says that most people wouldn't want to live in the East Side. She continued by saying that the East Side is full of potential and is very diverse but it is not always portrayed in the greatest light. Even so, Mary Anne feels tied to the East Side. Read more...
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..and learn more about Alumni & Friends
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Ka Vang at Frost Lake Elementary
On Tuesday, February 12th, we spent our morning at Frost Lake Magnet School! Ka Vang, a playwright, fiction writer, and poet, was there as a part of a literacy initiative program funded by our Inspired Educator Grant. Students in grades 3 through 5(and even some parents) gathered in the gym to hear her speak!
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Funder Spotlight:
Ecolab is committed to delivering innovative, sustainable solutions that help our customers achieve cleaner, healthier, and safer surroundings in the most cost-effective manner. We're just as passionate about finding innovative ways to serve the communities that surround us.
Thank You!
Thanks to many generous company sponsors, foundations, and individual contributors, we are able to reach more students with quality tutoring programs in Saint Paul Public Schools!
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