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December 21, 2022 | Stories from St. Louis Park Public Schools
The SLP Communicator, published monthly, centers the stories and voices of students, staff, and our community. District-level news and information will be shared in school newsletters.
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Happy Holidays from Superintendent Osei | |
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As we approach winter break, I want to take a moment to acknowledge and thank you for your partnership and support to help us create safe, welcoming and engaging learning environments for our students. There are so many things to celebrate here in St. Louis Park Public Schools and I am thankful for our collective action to see, inspire, and empower each learner to live their brilliance. As I think about the intentional action that occurs in our district every single day by staff members to support student growth, I am optimistic that we can create the conditions that will contribute to the healthy development of each learner.
During this holiday season, I hope that you will be able to spend time with people you care about and take time to express the gratitude you have for them. Over winter break, I am going to work to be present with family, friends, and loved ones. Too often, I take for granted the moments I have with family and friends because I am too focused on the next thing and do not allow myself to fully engage in the moment. I was recently introduced to a quote from Robert Holden that resonated with me. He shared, “the real gift of gratitude is that the more grateful you are, the more present you become.”
One of the intentions I set for myself this year is to embody a spirit of gratitude at all times regardless of what is happening around me. Thank you again for your partnership and support and I hope you have a relaxing and enjoyable winter break.
In community,
Astein K. Osei, Ed.D.
Superintendent
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Share the Mic Podcast with Suwaydah Aden, Erin Enright, and Ibtisam Ahmed whose climate action project inspired the Idle Free SLP Campaign
Seventh Graders Suwaydah Aden, Erin Enright, and Ibtisam Ahmed coined the term "Idle-Free SLP" during their Climate Action presentation last spring during science class. Their slogan and presentation have since served as inspiration for a new initiative in St. Louis Park to reduce carbon emissions in parking lots all across St. Louis Park.
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Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts
- Interviews with students, staff, and community members
- Conversations about what matters to the SLP community
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Connections to the SLP Strategic Plan
- New episodes every month
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Listen to episodes 1-3 on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. | | |
Middle School Adrienne Krill Shares about her IB Experience
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"It has made me realize how important it is to make sure you surround yourself at one point in your life with people of different races, gender's, sexual orientations and background, as well as how vital it is to look farther within questions you face in every day life.” | |
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Adrienne Krill, 8th grade student at St. Louis Park Middle School has learned a lot throughout the International Baccalaureate - Middle Year Programme (IB-MYP). This versatile education provides opportunities for students 11 to 16 to make practical connections between their studies and the real world.
During her 7th grade year, Adrienne was introduced to a unit called Changemakers: Past and present. Students were asked to explore a real world issue of injustice and discuss if the issue still exists today. Using argumentative logic, students made connections to support their stance and apply their thinking with their thoughts and beliefs.
“It was a very real world connected project and felt like it was preparing me more for my life outside of school. Usually in schools you would learn about many things of the past, which we do, but being able to take action and immerse myself more in the current world felt so much more realistic and interesting,” shared Adrienne.
By engaging in the IB-MYP curriculum, Adrienne has developed her critical thinking skills, and she often finds herself looking for different perspectives. She is also using this ability to deepen her activism.
“I think I had a very one-sided mind before coming to this school and overtime with more perspective learning other than my own, I have expanded my mind and thinking strategy. It has made me realize how important it is to make sure you surround yourself at one point in your life with people of different races, gender's, sexual orientations and background, as well as how vital it is to look farther within questions you face in every day life.”
Adrienne continues to learn in school and enjoys projects related to current events. She is optimistic about leaping into topics that are important to her, and the skills she is learning are preparing her for her many career aspirations as a professional ballerina, community activist, or physical therapist. The skills she is learning through the IB programme will prepare her well for each of her endeavors.
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SLP Staff Spotlight: Mehgan Setten
6th grade science teacher
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Mehgan Setten was named by middle school Share the Mic Podcast guests Suwaydah Aden, Erin Enright, and Ibtisam Ahmed as an adult in SLP who has made an impact on them. | |
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Mehgan Setten's why for working in SLP
I believe that our students are already change agents in the world! My "why" as a science teacher in SLP is to offer students learning opportunities that allow them to explore the world we live in, to examine how they fit into it, and to develop critical consciousness that empowers them to take action. It brings me joy to see students working in collaboration to identify problems and offer solutions that will improve our school, community, and world.
The SLP core value Mehgan most resonates with:
Collective responsibility. Embodying the collective and urgent responsibility of anti-racist practices enriches a work and learning environment and community.
"It is our collective and individual responsibility to preserve and tend to the environment in which we all live." - Dalai Lama
I believe that the transformative anti-racist work we are pursuing in Saint Louis Park Public Schools cannot be done in isolation. We must continue to learn from each other, and support each other on this journey.
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Did you say Grammy? Yes, we did.
Music teacher David Davis selected as a Grammy semifinalist
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General music teacher, David Davis, has been selected as one of 25 semifinalists for the Music Educator Award™ presented by the Recording Academy®. This award recognizes current educators who have made a significant and lasting contribution in music education. Mr. Davis has been a music educator for more than 12 years, and he joined St. Louis Park Public Schools to make music more accessible to all students.
“I always felt like in the band and orchestra world, I was in this box. I was pushing against the traditions and norms, and my goal was to teach everyone. I wanted to teach 100 percent of the students, but the system didn’t let me,” said Mr. Davis.
Mr. Davis’ has a rich background in instrumental music, and he plays saxophone locally. He started his teaching career as a 5-12 grade music instructor. He noticed barriers in instrumental education, and as he grew as a teacher, he wanted to find ways to provide equitable access to students. This led him to general music.
General music showed new challenges and opportunities for Mr. Davis, but he still finds ways to be creative in his teaching. He incorporates instruments and uses his students’ interests to build his classes. He hangs up pictures of inspiring artists that his students recommend, and he introduces new genres of music at the start of every class.
“To center student voice, he is working to embed more project based experiences that resonate with our children within the music classroom. He is also collaborating with others to provide special events at different grade levels,” said Corey Maslowski, principal at Park Spanish Immersion Elementary School.
One of his ideas was to teach students using groove boxes, an electronic platform for students to make music. In the spring of 2022, Mr. Davis applied for a school grant from the Park Public Schools and Community Foundation, which enabled him to purchase groove boxes to be used in his classes.
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4th and 5th grade students excel in band and orchestra
Through music, students have opportunities to develop different parts of their brains by learning about patterns and notation, while also having a creative outlet to express themselves. At St. Louis Park Public Schools, students can start learning an instrument in 4th grade orchestra or 5th grade band. Band teacher Emily Bertram and orchestra teacher Tim Binger work with students at all the elementary schools and see the ways students flourish.
“The biggest asset of starting early is students get the experience of playing in an ensemble. A lot of school districts start in middle school, and there is already a lot that is new. Starting early gives students confidence and helps them to continue a lot longer,” said Ms. Bertram.
Both students in band and orchestra have weekly 30-minute sessions led by their teacher to learn more about their instrument. Students meet with peers who play the same instrument to practice individually and in small groups. Over the past few years, teachers developed ways to allow students to progress at their own rate, and one of the ways they continue to involve students is through a belt system. By practicing songs, counting beats and learning notes, students get more belts. Students who are unable to attend class can still advance by practicing and recording video submissions from home.
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2023-2024 Calendar Now Available
The School Board approved the 2023-2024 school calendar at the December 13, 2022 Board Meeting.
Visit the calendar page on the website and click on the calendar for next school year (23-24).
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January Dates
- 1 - New Year’s Day
- 2 - Winter Break (No School E-12)
- 3 - First day back from Winter Break
- 10 - School Board Study Session
- 16 - No School E-12, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- 22 - Chinese New Year
- 23-27 - MN Paraprofessionals Week
- 24 - School Board Business Meeting
- 27 - No School E-12, Grading/reporting Day, International Holocaust Rememberence Day
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6425 W 33rd St | St. Louis Park, MN 55416
Phone: 952-928-6000 | Fax: 952-928-6020
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