May 31, 2023 | 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.

Next Tuesday we will have the opportunity to celebrate the Class of 2023 during St. Louis Park High School’s One Hundred Twenty-Fourth Commencement Exercise.

This is such a special occasion for students, families, staff, and our entire school community. Any time a cohort of students reaches this important milestone, it is a testament to our entire school community as getting students to this point requires a tremendous amount of collaboration between parents/caregivers and staff, support, encouragement, high expectations, hard work, and love.  

Some of the students who will be crossing the stage on Tuesday started in St. Louis Park Public Schools in Pre-K. I am thankful for all of the staff who have positively influenced these graduates along the way and for every parent/caregiver who entrusts us with the education of their children.  

From Pre-K to commencement, a journey filled with learning, friendships, success, failure, and growth. The beginning of the Class of 2023’s high school experience was filled with obstacles, challenges, and a pandemic. This class did not allow the pandemic or the impact that it has had on the beginning of their high school experience to blur their vision for the future. I am proud of the resilience this class has demonstrated.  

As they enter the next stage in their lives, I know that they will continue to demonstrate the leadership, tenacity, and resilience that we have seen during their time in our schools. I also know that they will continue to interrupt systems and structures that diminish the humanity and dignity of others. 

I recognize that we would not be able to honor this class without the support of all of you along the way. Thank you for always putting children first in St. Louis Park and for your continued commitment and support of St. Louis Park Public Schools.

In community,

Astein

Seniors Visit Elementary Schools

2023 graduates walked the halls of their elementary schools today, cheered and congratulated by elementary students and former teachers!

Share the Mic Podcast: Quiz Bowl Students Quiz the Superintendent on Greek Mythology

Middle Schoolers Madeline Juul (6), Daphne Grapentine (6), and Elise Hogg (7) share all the prep that goes into Quiz Bowl competitions. Hear about what it takes to get to Nationals! Superintendent Osei gets quizzed on Greek mythology!

Listen on Youtube, Spotlify, or Apple Podcasts!

Preparing Students for a Dynamic Future through our Curriculum and Program Review Process

In recent years, teachers, students and families have experienced a number of significant academic changes, for example, the adoption of new math curriculum and instructional framework, the expansion of elementary talent development to every student, the introduction of Ojibwe and Arabic in elementary school, and phasing in honors-level literacy for all at the middle school. But are you familiar with how these decisions and changes get made? 

At the heart of our district's continual improvement process is a deep commitment to teacher leadership. Classroom teachers, who make up some of our most experienced instructional content experts actively engage in the three-year process. They conduct extensive research on best practices, innovative strategies, and successful programs from around the country. By learning from the teachings of racially diverse scholars, they collectively make recommendations to the superintendent regarding curriculum and program changes.

“Being part of a design team has played a crucial role in my development as an educator. The work helped me understand the immense potential of collaboration, reflection, and shared leadership. The process of acquiring knowledge, understanding and sharing multiple viewpoints, and communicating with students, families, colleagues, administration, consulting teams and then taking action to make our school district a better and just place lies at the heart of our mission,” shared Anne LaLonde Laux, Elementary IB Coordinator and member of the IB Design Team.

In their Phase 1 report, the Music Design Team shared their belief that music is

human and that all humans have innate musicality. We believe all racial and cultural

identities are assets to music learning and our community; the musical richness of each

learner’s individual brilliance belongs within, and enhances, our music curriculum, classes, and community.

“Having graduated from a highly respected music conservatory, I thought I knew most things about music. It wasn’t until I got my master’s degree that I realized that the system had given me a very narrow, Euro-centric music training that was focused on technical skills over music literacy skills. I realized that there were more cultures and skills in the music world that I didn’t know,” said David Davis, member of the Music Design team. 

St. Louis Park Public Schools’ Curriculum and Program Review Process is a comprehensive approach to ensure that every instructional/program area undergoes a three-year curriculum review and design process. Every five years, the area starts the review cycle again to ensure continuous improvement. The 12 areas include: Health/Physical Education, International Baccalaureate, Literacy and Language Arts, Math, Multilingual Learning, Music, Progress Reporting, Science, Social Studies, Student Services, Gifted Education/Talent Development, and World Language and Cultures.

With a focus on our strategic plan for racial equity transformation, teacher leaders play a vital role in measuring previous success and determining next steps within each curricular area. By continuously aligning our curriculum with state standards and strategic priorities, we ensure that St. Louis Park Public Schools remain at the forefront of academically rigorous globally-minded education.

Let's take a closer look at each year of our review process:

Year 1: Looking Inward - Know ThySelf: During the first year of the three-year review, the design team undertakes the following activities: teacher self-reflection, examination of disaggregated data, listening and reflecting upon student voice and community input, unpacking standards driven by Racial Equity Purpose Statements, exploring the intersection their program with of International Baccalaureate (IB), Advanced Placement (AP), & Immersion & Culturally Relevant Pedagogy (CRP), and engaging in Courageous Conversations.

Year 2: Looking Around - Distinguish Knowledge from Foolishness: In the second year, the design team focuses on the following activities: researching and visiting regional, national, and international exemplars, engaging scholars of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy, establishing criteria for adopting new materials or professional development, and engaging in Courageous Conversations.

Year 3: Looking Outward - Build for Eternity: In the final year of the review process, the design team focuses on the following activities: developing content area belief statements, adopting new curriculum with fidelity or engaging in curriculum writing, establishing collaborative team and professional development plans, developing multi-year benchmarks for success, and engaging in Courageous Conversations.

To ensure transparency and accessibility, we’ve created a new webpage dedicated to our curriculum and program review process. This webpage provides families with a long-term view of how St. Louis Park Public Schools continually reviews its curriculum and programs. It shows the review timeline between 2019-2030 and provides an overview of the current status and progress of each curriculum or program area. It will serve as a valuable resource for understanding our commitment to excellence and equity in education.

As an example, this spring, three curriculum/program areas presented their recommendations: Health & Physical Education, Social Studies, and Progress Reporting. These recommendations, which will be considered for implementation in the next school year, along with board presentations can be found on our website.

St. Louis Park High School Students Remember George Floyd

Three years ago, George Floyd, a resident of St. Louis Park was killed by police outside of Cup Foods in Minneapolis. His murder contributed to the nationwide dialogue about police violence. In his memory, about 50 students gathered in the St. Louis Park High School auditorium to reflect on his life and the aftermath.

Student leaders in SOAR (Students Organized for Anti-Racism) planned a memorial event with a mission to empower students of all races to become catalysts for change through racial equity. Peers were invited to engage in a meaningful conversation about racism, performative activism, and how they continue to move forward. 

To start, student leaders set the stage by creating a welcoming, non judgemental space. Their first question asked peers if they changed their profile photos to black squares, leading to considerations about the benefits and consequences of social media during civil and human rights movements. Some students shared beliefs that using the black squares helped show solidarity, while other students felt as though little action was followed by many so-called “allies.”

“I was afraid I was going to end up like George Floyd,” one student shared in his rationale about why he opted to change his social media picture but chose not to participate in a protest. Students continued to discuss this topic, and also talked about their hopes for the future. At one point, students encouraged adults to share some of their perspectives, and St. Louis Park Mayor, Jake Spano, contributed a few ideas.

Mayor Jake Spano talked about his great appreciation for his 12 years serving the community, but noted that he has decided not to seek reelection because he hopes to see more young, BIPOC people in office. 

After wrapping up the discussion, students held 8 minutes and 46 seconds of silence to commemorate the amount of time that George Floyd suffered beneath the officer’s knee. Once the time passed, students left in silence and returned to class.

A safety-minded school culture is the foundation for ensuring the well-being, safety, and security of students, staff and the community. This approach to school safety means that we must double down on the foundational practices we know keep our schools safe, like trusting relationships between adults and students, mental health supports, strong community partnerships, professional development, safety-awareness of staff and students, and engaging curriculum. It also means that we all must be diligent in our safety practices, such as wearing staff badges and visitor stickers, escorting visitors without identification to the office, checking that doors remain secure, actively partaking in drills, speaking up when something doesn’t feel safe, and so much more. A safety-minded school culture means that everyone is empowered to actively contribute to the safety and protection of our school communities. 

In St. Louis Park Public Schools, we follow a Unified Command Structure in cooperation with local law enforcement. The Unified Command establishes a common set of incident practices that schools and local partners follow. We continually review and strengthen our safety practices in alignment with best practices outlined by the National Incident Management System (NIMS), which guides all levels of government to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to and recover from safety incidents.  

We understand the prevailing atmosphere of fear and worry concerning safety incidents, in particular school shootings, that has enveloped our nation, and we acknowledge the distress it can cause. Your worries are valid, and we share your commitment to ensuring a safe and secure learning environment for all. Students and staff safety remains our highest priority. 

St. Louis Park Public Schools has many layers of safety in place, but not everyone is aware of all the moving parts. The physical security of buildings is just one layer of safety, and we need many layers of safety working in tandem to optimize our safety efforts. We invite you to learn more about our District and site safety practices.

What’s new with safety in St. Louis Park Public Schools?

Safety & Security Items in the Bond Issue: Nearly 20% of the August 9, 2023 bond issue will fund items related to safety and security. Totally $23.5 million, these items include security cameras, door card readers, improved emergency frequency access (800 MHz), exterior door security, secure data center including back-up power supply, technology infrastructure and redundant electronics, severe weather shelter at the High School stadium, and emergency storm shelter at the High School.

School Drills: Schools participate in a plethora of drills to prepare for severe weather, fire evacuations, and lockdowns. We recognize that practicing for emergencies can cause unintentional stress, fear, and worry for students. In the coming school year, we will review our approach to drills and find ways to minimize the negative impact of drills on student mental health, while also ensuring that students know what to do in an emergency. 

Secure main offices: All buildings were recently updated to have secure front offices. This ensures that visitors must enter a building from a single entrance. 

Text Messaging: In addition to phone and email, SLP will now send text messages to staff and families for weather closures and emergency situations that require evacuation or reunification. Text Y to 67587 to receive text messages in English, Spanish, or Somali.

Emergency Preparedness Committee: New during the 2022-2023 school year, we launched the emergency preparedness committee. The committee’s purpose is to continuously improve the district’s emergency response plan in order to ensure robust and racially conscious execution of the plan. The committee includes District and school staff members as well as local law enforcement. 

Partner Drills: City emergency responders conduct drills and training at SLP schools to become more familiar with our schools and layout in the case of an emergency. ​

St. Louis Park Public Schools is committed to maintaining a safe and secure learning environment for all students and staff. By prioritizing a safety-minded school culture, implementing multiple layers of safety, and continuously reviewing and enhancing safety practices, the district ensures that everyone can thrive in an atmosphere that promotes learning and well-being.

SLP Staff Spotlight: Andy Wilkes

English Instructor | High School

Andy is an English Instructor in at St. Louis Park High School for HL International Baccalaureate (IB) English Literature. He's also the advisor to the Echo student newspaper.

Andy's why for working in SLP 

My why is because the kids challenge me and force me to look at the world in a new way. They give me hope.

The SLP core value Andy most resonates with: 

The brilliance of ourselves and others. Everyone has the capacity and responsibility to foster the growth and brilliance of others.

This is what is amazing about the profession. At least once a day, I am floored by what a kid says, and how this changes my perspective. When you provide the space for kids to flourish, they will change your life.

SLP Text Messaging

If you haven't already, please opt in to receive text messages from St. Louis Park Public Schools. 

• Verify your cell number: If you already receive voice recordings from St. Louis Park Public Schools on a cell phone, your number is updated! If not, contact the main office of your student’s school to update your cell phone in PowerSchool. 
• Send us an opt-in text message: Text Y to 67587 to opt in to receive text messages.

Class of 2023 Share the Mic Podcast Series

Check out our six-week Share the Mic Podcast Class of 2023 miniseries featuring six graduates!

Stefano Giovannelli

Halima Bigirindavyi

Avery Filley

Kevin Martinez Herrera

Meshach Mandel

Katie Nelson

6425 W 33rd St | St. Louis Park, MN 55416

Phone: 952-928-6000 | Fax: 952-928-6020