Brief Overview of this issue: |
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- November Calendar
- Important Dates
- Somali Parent Night
- Tutor Opening
- Conference Feedback
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- Advisory Circles
- Ed Fund Cake-Off
- Student Services Corner
- PTO News
- Important Reminders
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A Note From the Principal
Dr. Tim Anderson
Hi Everyone!
As usual, I invite you to review each newsletter we publish, as we work to include key details in order to position you as an important partner in our work to help our learners grow. This issue is no different; please take a few minutes to review the content. For example, this issue includes some highlights of our work to honor our veterans, reviews some ways we have been reinforcing key values like respect, and reflects some feedback data we captured relative to our recent learner-led conferences. As always, we thank you for your engagement and partnership!
Talk to your middle schooler about the importance of respect
To be successful in school, students must learn to respect themselves and others, including teachers, school staff and classmates. Still, many kids aren’t yet quite sure what respect really involves in certain situations. We are finding that students are benefitting this year more than ever from refreshers and reminders about what respect means. At South View, we do kindness, courage and respect retreats each year as a part of our effort to reinforce these values. As of this writing, all three grades have participated in these retreats this fall. You can help reinforce the messages students have been learning at these retreats and in school. Talk with your child about the role respect plays in:
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Behavior. Your child should always think before acting. Your learner should consider, “Would I like to be treated this way?” “Will this action give me a positive result?” If your child can answer yes, your child will probably act respectfully.
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Disagreements. Your child can disagree with someone and still be respectful. Teach your learner how to choose words carefully.
- Property. Your child should take care of things and return items borrowed on time and in the same or better condition.
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Friendships. Your child should try to be surrounded with peers who treat others with respect. Remind your learner that people will be judged in part by their friends’ behavior. That may be all it takes to convince your learner to choose friends carefully.
Reference: November 2021 issue of Parents Still make the difference!® (Middle School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2021 The Parent Institute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc.
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Calendar Events
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Link to Nov. Calendar
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Nov. 1 & 2 Virtual Conferences
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Nov. 2 No School
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Nov. 9 Choir Concert
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Learner-led Conference Feedback
Thank you to those of you who participated and shared feedback on learner led conferences! Please know we take the feedback you shared (both supportive and constructive) seriously and use it to frequently adjust our approach as we seek to continuously grow our effectiveness. Of the respondents:
- 95% agreed that community building and academic work learners do in Advisory helps them feel safe and supported at South View.
- 87% report that they better understand how their learning is doing in each of their classes as a result of my learner's conference and/or preparation for conferences.
- 90% respondents agree that conferences with their student's advisor helped strengthen the home to school connection.
- 83% agree as a result of the conference, their student better understands themself as a learner.
- 92% agree learners meet the learning target around developing agency,
- 97% agree learners meet learning target around developing communication skills,
- 91% agree learners meet the learning target around reflection and being able to take action from teacher feedback.
Advisors will continue to monitor and support learners in advisory through circles (community builders and social emotional learning) and academic check-ins. The development of independent learning skills can be viewed in your students’ check and connect section of the “Learner Story”. And, remember you can always access your child’s teachers (who will always welcome a phone call, email, or virtual meeting) for specific information and feedback you’d like if needed outside of learner-led conferences.
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Advisory Circles
Each week the advisory circles (greeting, share, and activity) are focused around a theme. This week’s theme was “finding joy”. Learners set a five for five goal around finding joy, shared things that bring them joy,
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and participated in fun activities that included “Four People on a Couch” and “Race to Who Can it Be”. These activities involved communication, strategy, teaming, getting to know one another, and fun! |
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Somali Parent Night Dec. 9th
Asalamu alaikum Dear South View Middle School (SVMS) parents,
I am excited to invite you to our first parents’ night of the year. This is an important parents’ night as we return to in person learning this year. We will cover several important programs/topics that are critical to our students’ education. We will discuss the following programs:
- Overview of SVMS School
- Academic support
- Navigating Schoology and infinite campus
- enrichment/activities and much more
Dr. Tim Anderson, South View Middle School’s Principal as well as other leaders will speak at the event.
Please invite other parents who may not get this email.
Please wear a mask, as it is required when indoors.
- Date & Time: Thursday, December 9, 2021, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
- Location: 4725 South View Ln, Edina, MN 55424 (please come through the main entrance)
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Contact: Abdikadir.ibrahim@edinaschools.org (952.848.4051)
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Veteran’s Day
Yesterday (11/11/21), we recognized Veteran’s day in our advisory period. Students learned about the history of Veteran's day and viewed virtual tours of monuments dedicated to veterans in Washington DC. Many learners choose to come to a flex to write letters to veterans and servicemembers. South View TV also featured a special segment honoring Veterans in this week’s episode. We are grateful for the many sacrifices and service our veterans have given!
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Tutor Needed
Know someone who might be interested in helping children succeed in math? Help me spread the word! We are currently accepting applications for Math Corps Tutors at South View Middle School. Please apply HERE!
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Cake-Off is back!
Join us in person (or via Zoom) on Friday, November 19th 10:00 AM at Church of St. Patrick. Enjoy coffee, time with fellow community members and of course, cake! The program begins at 10:30 and will highlight Ed Fund’s work with EPS in STEAM, Literacy & Mental Health, remarks from Superintendent Dr. Stanley and a live auction to finish the event. Learn about all the programs and lives you touch through your donation and hear what's next for our kids. The event is free, please register here: https://www.edinaedfund.org/s/cake-off
Are you a baker? Check out the virtual Cake-Off Home Edition, get creative and have some fun! Bake a cake, cupcakes, pie, cookies, any baked good you love! Email us a picture of your creation and enjoy your baked good with your family. Entries accepted NOW through Friday, November 12th. All entries will be featured on the Ed Fund website and prizes awarded for most votes. Click here for more information: https://www.edinaedfund.org/s/cake-off
We look forward to seeing you soon!
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Student Services Corner
The latest news from your SV counselors and School Social Workers
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Parents, Care-Givers & Students…
DID YOU KNOW? That you can locate some really great resources right on the students’ portal! Look for the following app in their portal (or parents click on the link here) and spend some time clicking on the different faces that will open up a variety of resources on that specific topic.
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Your Connection to Community Resources, Services and Information Free, confidential service for anyone who lives, works or goes to school in Edina
952-848-3936
Contact@EdinaResourceCenter.com
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Carmine LeVoir - All of 6th & 7th Grade Great Lakes team School Counselor
952-848-4410
Janet Schmiel - All of 8th grade and 7th Grade Mighty Mississippi team School Counselor
952-848-4412
Doug Eischens - School Social Worker
952-848-4411
Laura Polson - Student Services Secretary
952-848-4402
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We are seeking volunteers for several open spots on the PTO Executive Board. Please email southviewedinapto@gmail.com if you are interested in helping on our board this year or for next year – Specifically we are looking for a Treasurer-Elect, Membership Coordinator and Volunteer Coordinator. We’d love to connect and share about these positions.
Did you know that PTO provides Teacher Grants at South View?
Here are some recent grants we approved:
- Voice Amplifiers for Teachers
- New music stands for Band and Orchestra
- 2 Pottery Wheels for Art classes
- Band Instrument Cleaning Support
- Training for Enviro Club Students to start a Recycling Program at SV
- Markers, Colored Pencils and hot tools supplies for Science classes
- White Boards & supplies for Math Classes
- Books for Social Studies classroom libraries
- Mini Basketball hoops, cross net sets, spike ball sets and beach balls for PE department
- Maker space supplies for Engineering classes
- New stools for FACS classes
- Paint & furniture for new Quiet Room within the lunchroom
- Hand Sanitizer for ALL classrooms, GYM and both Lunchrooms
Please join us to get informed and involved. Mark your calendar for our next general PTO meeting on November 17th from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at South View. Check in at the main office.
Traci Mercado - President, Sheila Shane - President Elect, Holly Dau - Secretary
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Parking Lot Safety/Pick Up & Drop Off
Traffic flow is much heavier than anticipated. This is causing congestion that we are working to manage. Please note: the 6th and 7th grade parent pick-up/drop-off zone is the south side of the building at the new main entrance. This route is a one way route, and we ask that you pull all the way forward so traffic can flow much easier. When leaving the lot during heavy traffic you may turn right only!
Parents of 8th graders are encouraged to use the west side of the building (doors 10-11) for pick up/drop-off. This route is a one way route, enter by the ECC and make the full loop in order to pick up and drop off by the pool doors.
For safety reasons, you should NOT pick up or drop your student off on the north side of the building. We will continue to discourage this.
Please remember to slow down and drive safely in our parking lots and cooperate with our traffic attendants as they work to keep us all safe.
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Hornet Central Early Arrival Option
Hornet Central which is an early arrival option for Middle School Students. Hornet Central is available. Hornet Central is a supervised quiet space for students to gather before school Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 9:05 am. Information regarding the Hornet Central program and registration may be found via this link or on the Edina homepage searching Hornet Central.
Students that need to arrive before 9:05 need to register for this program, where a safe supervised area is provided for students to gather. Waiting outside Door 1 is neither safe nor supervised.
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Online Attendance
Online process to excuse your child from school for South View! Parents please use our online system to excuse students from school. You may also still call the school’s attendance line if you prefer. Please use the resources below to learn how to use the online attendance system.
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Join the SV Math Teachers for Math Lab!
When: Mondays from 8:45 - 9:15
Where: Math Flex Space (2nd floor)
What: Join our SV Math Teachers on Mondays for Math Lab. Come and go as you need. A teacher will be available to help with practice, studying for tests, and clarification of understanding.
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Early Student Pick-Up and late arrival
Please schedule appointments outside of school hours. If your child needs to leave school, all pick ups and late arrivals can be arranged thru the online attendance system in the parent portal.
All calls to the attendance line need to be made by 9:00am the day of the absence or appointment by calling 952-848-3702.
If a parent or guardian submits online attendance for a student to leave early, it is the student's responsibility to pick up the admittance pass in the front office prior to the start of the school day. The student will show the teacher and the office staff the pass when it is time to leave.
All drop off and pick ups will be at door 1.
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