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St. Louis Park Middle School's Weekly News
Please note: For the most up to date information please click on the Middle School website. (Language Translations available)
March 14, 2024
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Dear Middle School Families,
Third quarter is nearing to an end. We are entering the last two weeks of the third quarter which means that students are likely to have summatives coming up. Friday will be a good opportunity to connect with your students’ teachers to find out what your student should be working on to successfully complete the quarter. If you are unable to attend on Friday, please be sure to be checking PowerSchool and Schoology for current grades and upcoming assignments.
The last day of quarter three will be on Thursday, March 28th.
Thank you for your continued support of your student here at SLPMS!
In partnership,
Melissa Kalinowski
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Mar. 15 - Asynchronous Learning Day for Students
Mar. 15 - Family Engagement Day - Individual Conferences with Teachers
Mar. 28 - 6th Grade Field Trip to MN History Center (Permission Slip Required)
Mar. 28 - End of 3rd Quarter
Mar. 29 - No School for Students - Teacher Grading Day
Apr. 1-5 - No School - Spring Break
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Interdisciplinary Team Websites | |
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Dear MS Caregivers,
If you are new(ish) to the Middle School or have general questions, please be aware that we have a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page on the MS website. Click here to access this informational page. Please give us a call, too, if you have questions that are beyond the scope of this page. Thank you!
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Greetings,
Curriculum Update: This week the music and Design 6 teachers met together for a half day to further their work on their interdisciplinary unit - Stop Motion Animation. IB World Schools aspire to integrate students' learning across multiple subject areas as one way to embed authentic learning and assessment. In grade 6, the interdisciplinary unit brings to life a student's personal story created in Design 6 and then enhanced with sound effects in music using the tool Soundtrap as part of their summative assessment. Please ask your 6th grader about this process and their story.
Visitors on our campus:
Tuesday, March 12th we hosted a visit to our Middle School from Global Academy. They are a charter school in New Brighton that has a mission similar to our school's beliefs....
Global Academy is a free, chartered public elementary and middle school (K-8) that seeks to serve a diverse group of students. Global Academy is committed to service in the broader world based on the goals of the International Baccalaureate Organization. Empowered by academic rigor, graduates of Global Academy will be fully prepared for success and leadership in challenging high school programs.
They sent a number of their teachers as well as their director to observe and learn from staff here. There were dozens of MS staff who spent time with them sharing aspects of our classrooms and programming with them. The visit included time observing classrooms, meeting with department leads on curriculum, hearing from our culturally relevant literacy coaches, tours of our library media center, etc.
Learning with and from each other is one of many benefits from being part of an International Baccalaureate community.
Mia Waldera
MYP IB Coordinator
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March 15 Family Engagement Day
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Mark your calendars! SLPMS teachers will be available for individual conferences on Friday, March 15th. Conferences will be held in teacher’s classrooms during the following times: 9:00-10:45am and 11:45am-4:00pm. | |
Asynchronous Day Expectations for Students for March 15th, 2024
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Friday, March 15th is the third of four asynchronous learning days for the 2023-2024 school year. (The next and last asynchronous learning day will be Friday, April 19.)
Asynchronous days are school days. Teachers will post 10-20 minutes of work for their class that students will complete online at home by 9:00am. Students will have until 3:00pm to complete their work for the day. Teachers will be taking attendance based on student completion of assigned tasks. Students will be marked absent if they do not complete the assigned work for that day.
Students should reach out directly to their teacher if they are encountering any issues or challenges completing the assigned work that day.
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Masion Uplift Mock Trial
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24 of our 8th grade students presented their cases at the UMN Law School this past Tuesday. They met every Tuesday after school to meet with several wonderful volunteer attorneys from the Maslon Uplift Program for Teens. Some also met an extra Friday morning to meet with attorneys when the trial date became closer and they wanted more time to prep and get questions answered. Not only did our volunteer attorneys provide snacks each Wednesday along with their expertise, they also provided donuts on Friday mornings. Please click this link to view all the photos. We were all very proud of the 8th grade students. They demonstrated poise and confidence even when curve balls came their way during the Court Proceedings. Huge thank you also goes to two Hennepin County Judges and all the families that were in attendance. Thank you to all the wonderful attorneys for giving the gift of time to help our 8th grade students.
Sincerely,
Ms. Lisa Lillie
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UPLIFT Legal Institute for Teens is a mock trial program serving middle school students who reflect the rich diversity of the Twin Cities. UPLIFT offers students engaging opportunities to learn from volunteer attorneys about the legal profession, criminal justice, and the court system. Participation in the program helps students build confidence, develop analytical and speaking skills, foster long-term vision, and create a framework to pursue academic excellence in high school.
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7th Grade Field Trip to Science Museum
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Thank you so much to the Site Council for their sponsorship of our 7th grade field trip to the MN Science Museum. Students were able to explore, test, create, and learn. Students were so excited to share their learnings when we returned. If you'd like to see some pictures, check out this link | |
8th Grade Field Trip to Westwood
| Last week 8th graders got to learn about winter survival skills at Westwood Nature Center. Our science department has been building a relationship with Westwood to create unique learning experiences for all students. On this trip, students learned some winter survival skills, how to safely build a fire, and were able to boil water to make their own hot chocolate. Students, parents, and staff continually said how much fun this trip was. We are so excited to strengthen our community and continue to use this wonderful resource! To see pictures from the trip, use this link | |
SLPMS Global Amity Interns
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The Amity Global Interns are enjoying their time here in St Louis Park. They have had an opportunity to travel some and see outside of Minnesota as well. They have both recently moved in with new host families. I would like to thank their fall host families, Stana and John Gerlach who hosted Noelia and Kerry Manaster and Heather Recibe who hosted Sebastian. Without the support of the host families and greater SLP community we wouldn't have this opportunity for our students at the middle school, so thank you! | |
We are also looking ahead to next school year. If you have interest in hosting or have questions about the program please reach out to me [email protected] or Sra. Fuster at the middle school [email protected]. We are hoping to have 2 interns again next year and will therefore need 4 host families as well. It is a very rewarding experience. We are also in search of a coordinator to replace me starting in the next school year. If anyone has interest in that please reach out as well. | |
Spring Sports Start March 25th
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Registration is open for all 6-8th graders and practice starts after school on Monday, March 25th for Spring Sports. Sports offered at the middle school are Boys Tennis, Boys and Girls Track & Field and Girls Lacrosse. Registration and information can be found on the Middle School Athletics page on the Middle School website. If you have any questions please email Derek Wennerberg - [email protected] | |
Washington DC Trip Information
for Current 6th Graders
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ATTENTION all current 6th grade families! This is your invitation to attend an informational meeting about the 2025 Washington, D.C. trip. This trip is open to all students who are in 7th grade during the 2024-25 school year.
DATE: March 26th, 2024
TIME: 7:30pm
LOCATION: LMC Classroom, St. Louis Park Middle School
CONTACT: Samantha Wyffels at
[email protected]
Financial assistance, affordable payment plans, and easy-to-use fundraising programs are available.
Extended payment plan also available! Sign up by 06/29/2024 and pay $149 a month until trip balance is paid in full!
READY TO SIGN UP NOW? Our trip ID is 215165
worldstrides.com/register
800-468-5899
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Registration Information for 2024 Clay Target Team | |
St. Louis Park Schools has a Clay Target Team! Spring season runs from late March through early June. Students shoot 1 - 2 times a week (minimum once a week). Shooting days will be Sundays or Fridays @ Park Sportsman’s Club.
To be eligible, students must…
1. Have completed firearm safety training and obtain a firearm safety certificate.
2. Be a current 7th - 12th grade student in the S.L.P. School District.
3. Registration deadline is 3/24/2024
Interested 6th graders should obtain their Firearm Safety Certificate this year so they may compete during their 7th grade year. For registration info or any other questions please email [email protected]
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Looking for a way to support your community and make a difference in your child's school district? St. Louis Park Middle School has Special Education para professional job opportunities available. Para professionals provide support to students with a wide variety of disabilities. No evenings or weekends. Similar work calendar as your child's school calendar. Summers off, with optional employment opportunities if you should desire to work. If interested, please apply at slpschools.org/employment. | |
We are in need of pants/bottoms in sizes XS-L, gently used is accepted. If you are able to donate and have questions, please contact Abbie Mullen at [email protected] or drop the donations off at the front office. Thank you for considering! | |
Redcross Babysitters Training (Ages 11+)
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Youth Enrichment Programs (YEP) is excited to offer additional Red Cross Babysitters Traning classes for students aged 11-15! Below is the information about the upcoming class.
Created by industry-leading experts, the American Red Cross's Babysitting Basics class covers a wide range of information that can help new babysitters gain the skills and confidence needed to care for infants and children. The course includes information on:
- How to care for infants and children
- What to do in an emergency and how to stay safe
- Choosing age-appropriate activities
- Recognizing, understanding, and handling certain behaviors
- Starting your babysitting business
The Babysitting Basics course culminates with a final exam. Upon successful completion, participants will receive a printable certificate that they can share with potential employers.
Dates: March 23 & 30
Time: 9 am-12:30 pm
Location: St. Louis Park Middle School LMC Classroom
Price: $119
Click here to register now!
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Every Meal Weekend Food Program
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Please click here for more information to sign up. If you have questions, please contact Kristen in Student Services: [email protected] or 952-928-6389
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Washington DC Trip for 7th Graders | |
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During the week of Spring Conferences, (April 17-19) we would like to show our support and appreciation for our amazing MS Staff.
Please click on the link below to volunteer your time, your cooking, your snack items, etc.
We are also happy to accept any monetary donations to help pull off the task of feeding these heroes.
Our Venmo account is @SLPMS-SiteCouncil
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0E48ABA92BA4F85-48284532-slpmsteacher
All the information is in the Sign Up Genius link but if you have questions, please reach out to:
Laura Truett and/or Leah Anklam
[email protected]
[email protected]
As a reminder, no meeting this month - our next call is April 24th @ 630 pm
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Home Athletic Events Expectations for SLP Schools
For all home High School athletic events where admission is charged:
- Any child in 8th grade or below must be accompanied by a paying adult who is responsible for them, their behavior and their whereabouts at the event. The student must be in the bleachers unless with the accompanying adult.
- No bags, backpacks or outside food/drink will be allowed in at home football games and there will be no reentry.
- All tickets must be purchased electronically, either in advance, or at the event. There will be no cash options available. No refunds.
- For football, admission will stop at the end of the third quarter.
Please purchase your tickets here: https://gopark.hometownticketing.com/embed/all
If you have questions, please reach out to Andy Ewald, Athletic Director, [email protected] 952-928-6118
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Download the Calendar-At-A-Glance for the 2024-25 school year is now available! This calendar includes important dates and details for families to stay informed and organized throughout the year. Please note the calendar is subject to change throughout the year. The bottom right corner includes a date indicating when the calendar was last updated.
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Welcome to Summer Learning Academy 2024!
We're thrilled to announce that this year's elementary summer learning program will be held at Peter Hobart Elementary from June 17 - July 25, running Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Please note that the academy will be closed on district holidays: June 19, July 4, and July 5. To ensure a productive and enriching experience, breakfast and lunch will be provided daily. Registration will be open from March 1-31, with both online and paper forms available. Keep an eye out for flyers for more information on how to register your child for this exciting educational opportunity!
Paper forms are available in the middle school front desk and can be turned into the YEP offices.
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Superintendent search updates are posted several times each week. Read all updates.
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Supporting Students During Ramadan
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community. This year, it will take place from March 10 to April 9. Practicing Muslim students will be fasting from dawn until dusk (approx. 5:30 a.m to 7:30 p.m). During their daily fasts, students will not partake in any food or beverage. Please be aware of what we are sharing with SLP staff about how they can provide support to students during this time:
- Understanding and patience: Students may show signs of exhaustion, hunger and dehydration. Celebrations often involve gatherings and prayers late into the night, so it’s not unusual for students to be up past midnight for prayers and then get up at 3:30-4 a.m. to eat before dawn. Even students who do not fast may be tired as they may stay up late celebrating with their families.
- Diversity within diversity: There is diversity within diversity, and not everyone will observe in the same way. Do not ask why someone may choose not to fast. There are many reasons why someone might not fast - it is not appropriate to ask about this.
- Fasting: Educators may provide spaces for students to be away from others while eating and drinking is present. It is best to allow students a separate place.
- Prayer spaces: Help to direct students to designated prayer spaces. Fasting students may request a space for prayer, and they will need to face East. Students may pray five or more times per day.
- Acknowledgement: It’s also appropriate to say “Happy Ramadan, “Ramadan Kareem,” “Happy Mubarak,” “Ramadan Mubarak” if you wish to acknowledge the holiday.
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Kids Place Summer Program - Registration Opens March 1, 2024
We’re excited to host the Kids Place Summer Program for grades K-5 at Aquila Elementary.
Program Highlights:
•Balanced schedule includes structured enrichment activities as well as supervised play time for children to explore their own interests
• Daily academic skills practice
• Focus on building friendships
Visit slpcommunityed.com/kids-place/ for more information
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Kindergarten Welcome: Orientation and Tours
Join as at your student's school!
Aquila, Peter Hobart, Park Spanish Immersion and Susan Lindgren Elementary Schools
Mark your calendars for March 21 from 5:30- -7:30pm! Join us for our Kindergarten welcome tours and orientation event, where you'll get an exclusive look into your child's educational journey with us!
Arrive at 5:30pm for a school tour, then stick around as your school principal shares valuable insights about our programs and services. It's the perfect opportunity to get your family ready for everything that will be part of your child's exciting kindergarten experience! We can't wait to welcome you and your rising kindergartener on March 21.
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New ParkTV channels for SLP board meetings and other programming
ParkTV is updating its Comcast cable channels to include more high definition (HD) channels, while still maintaining standard definition (SD) viewing options. St. Louis Park Public Schools programming, including concerts, plays, school board meetings and sports, can now be viewed on HD Ch. 859 and SD Ch. 16. View the airing schedule.
Additionally, you can watch school board meetings and other videos on our Youtube channel.
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In the Loop SLP Construction Update
View updates from Knutson Construction and St. Louis Park Public Schools about construction projects in the school district. February highlights include project milestones and progress for the High School, Central Community Center, and Data Center.
Fun Fact:There will be roughly 5000 square feet of brick installed at the new SLP Data Center. That is equivalent to the size of the SLP High School Main Gym Basketball Court!
View the construction updates webpage.
In the Loop: SLP Construction Newsletter
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Middle School Youth Enrichment Programs
Middle School Gaming Club (spring session)
Join us in the Cafeteria on Tuesdays to game with your friends!
Tuesdays, April 9-May 28
4-5:15 pm
Pick your price: $20/$30/$40/$50 (pay the price that works best for your family)
Click here to register now!
Middle School Chess Club (spring session)
Mondays, April 8-June 3
4-5 pm
$145
Click here to register now!
Middle School Competitive Improv
Flex your acting, comedy, and improv muscles while competing against your classmates to see who can win the most points each session!
Saturdays, April 20-May 11
1-2 pm
$89
Click here to register now!
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