May 5, 2021 | Volume 1 • Issue 32
A Message from Superintendent Osei
This week, May 3-7 is being recognized as Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week. Thank you for everything you have done this week to acknowledge your child’s teachers and staff. Your engagement this week and throughout the entire school year has been supportive and much appreciated. 

We have a core value in St. Louis Park Public Schools that speaks to the importance of community engagement, recognizing that it truly takes all of us to enhance the healthy development of each learner. This school year, I have seen countless examples of staff and teachers and parents/guardians finding creative ways to collaborate to meet the needs of our students.

Our ability to adapt and adjust throughout this school year has led to new strategies and forms of engagement that I believe will benefit us in the future. The ability to respond adaptively has permeated our entire school community and is influencing the way parent groups are convening and facilitating school level events to be more inclusive of all members of the school community.  

One example of this is the work of the Senior Celebration committee led by Stacy Atlas, Sally Berry and Jodi Bohrod. Traditionally, the Senior Celebration or Senior All Night Party committee would develop an event that would occur after the commencement ceremony to give graduating seniors an opportunity to be with one another in a safe and fun environment. This traditionally has been an event in which students would have to pay to attend, which was prohibitive for some students. This year the committee felt compelled to figure out a way to make it a free event to be inclusive of all graduating seniors. 

Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of Park Tavern and the Park Public Schools & Community Foundation, the Senior Celebration committee was able to make this a free event for all of our graduating seniors.  

The philosophy of Ubuntu, I am because we are, continues to be on display in St. Louis Park Public Schools. The collective approach we take in this community to support one another is beautiful and a reflection of our core value on collective responsibility. While this has been a challenging year, there is some much I am thankful for and the educators in St. Louis Park Public Schools are at the top of the list. We have outstanding educators who care deeply about our students. I truly appreciate the care you have demonstrated for them this week and this school year.

Thank you for your continued support of St. Louis Park Public Schools. 

Astein
Edina COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Tomorrow for 16+
Community Care Clinics is inviting students 16 and older to a COVID vaccination clinic at Edina High School. The clinic is open Thursday, May 6, from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Edina High School Field House (Enter Door 6), 6754 Valley View Road, Edina, MN. The Second Dose Clinic will be Thursday, May 27 - same place, same time!
 
PLEASE NOTE: Community Care Clinics are also anticipating the release of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for 12-15 year-olds this weekend and are making plans for a middle school clinic next week. Details to come!
 
CLICK HERE for the Vaccination Permission Form. Children ages 17 and under must present this signed form to receive the vaccine at the clinic.
Updated COVID-19 Dashboard
The dashboard will be updated every Wednesday and can be found on the District's COVID-19 News & Updates page at www.slpschools.org/covid19.
COVID vs. Allergies: Do I Need to Quarantine?
Some symptoms of general illness such as seasonal allergies, colds, and/or flu overlap with symptoms of COVID-19. If a parent/guardian/family member believes their child/student has any illness - which displays the same symptoms as COVID-19 - the student, and other household members, are not allowed to attend school until:
 
  • The symptomatic student tests negative for COVID-19; or
  • An alternative diagnosis (such as allergies, cold, or flu) is received from the child’s/student’s health care provider in written form and copied to the school health office.

If the student with symptoms does not test for COVID-19, or receive an alternative diagnosis from their health care provider, they would need to isolate at home for 10 days and household members would follow the 14 day quarantine protocol.
May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month
May is Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. Annually, this is an opportunity to listen and learn about the diversity within AAPI communities as well as how deep the connections are to all facets of American history. Students will learn about this month in age-appropriate classroom lessons and activities. To access more resources in Minnesota, visit the Coalition of Asian American Leaders.
High School Ensembles Perform Outdoor Concert
The COVID-19 pandemic has cancelled many events and moved many others to a virtual format over the past 14 months, especially in the category of the performing arts. Several of the St. Louis Park High School music ensembles decided to perform an outdoor spring concert on Monday, May 3 in order to provide a safe and inclusive environment for audience members. The ensembles that performed included Band 9, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble. You can view more photos from the concert by visiting this Flickr photo gallery.
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Support the Class of 2021
Show support for the class of 2021 and the Park Public Schools and Community Foundation with a lawn sign! Proceeds from lawn sign sales will help make the 2021 Senior Party free for all students and will help fund future innovative classroom grants for St. Louis Park students for years to come.

Lawn signs are available for a $25 donation. Click here to order yours today!
May 3-7 is Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week
St. Louis Park Public Schools continues to celebrate Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week, May 3-7. This year more than ever, all St. Louis Park Public Schools teachers and staff have gone above and beyond to keep all students learning and engaged. Look for signs at schools, the Central Learning Center and District Office to celebrate and be sure to follow us on our social media channels to participate in daily themed shout-outs to your favorite staff members. Join us in celebrating our teachers and staff by using the hashtag #IAmBecauseWeAreSLP.




6311 Wayzata Blvd. | St. Louis Park, MN 55416
Phone: 952-928-6000 | Fax: 952-928-6020