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)

February 2, 2023

"Thoughts are ancestors of action" - Black History month is laughter and crying - It is a moment of recognizing the successes and achievements of those around us - Recognize how far we have come and that there is still room for growth - A time to feel the love of black culture - A time for listening- A time for learning- Celebrating our ancestors and their sacrifices - When I think of black history two things come to mind: resistance and institution building.

Black Resistance: Building Bridges and Navigating Barriers

Seed time and harvest time. I had the pleasure of witnessing seed time and harvest time unfold symbolically and in reality while watching our SLPMS students bring the theatrical production of the play "Seedfolks" to life. Under the leadership, direction and guidance of our MS Theater Department teachers, Jessica Edelheit, Jen Schmerler, and Lil Zumberge, our 6th, 7th, and 8th graders shared their brilliance with families and the community. 

The play centered around individuals in a neighborhood slowly becoming a caring community through cleaning a lot, planting seeds, cultivating the growth, and sharing the harvest. To make a theatrical production come alive, the writers, crew, visual artists and set designers, directors, costume designers, music curators, sound and light techs, and of course the cast have to also collaborate as a community. 

Our teachers planted the seeds, our MS students cultivated the growth and provided the harvest, and our community received the gift of the harvest from the amazing performance.

Thank you, SLPMS theater students and teachers!

Cam Muata

Interim Assistant Principal

SEEDFOLKS

Congratulations to the cast and crew of "Seedfolks!" The students put on 4 amazing shows in only 48 hours. 

Thanks for bringing your love for theater and such an important story to the stage! Thanks to all the families, friends, and staff that volunteered and/or came out to see the show. 

We hope to see you all in the spring for our musical: The Little Mermaid Jr.

• 2/3/23 - NO SCHOOL Professional Development

Anton Treuer is coming to SLPMS next Tuesday, February 7!

Anton is an Ojibwe professor at Bemidji State University. He has spoken at a teacher work day for ALL teachers in St. Louis Park. He is an excellent storyteller, and believes that both Native and non-Native people should gain a deeper understanding of Native culture that is not often taught in the school system.

All 8th graders will have time with him based on their Keystone Design 8 section, but we'd also like to invite any 6th or 7th grade student who identifies as Native American to join as well. Please tell your Advisory teacher if interested.

5th Grade ⇨ 6th Grade

• Feb 2 - Virtual Information Night https://ms.slpschools.org/incoming-6th-grade-families
• Feb 6-10 - Dean to visit SLP 5th Grade Classrooms
• Feb 3 - Registration Information sent to students/families
• Feb 15 - Deadline for Registration Forms

6th Grade ⇨ 7th Grade

• Feb 13-17 Deans visit Math Classes to review Course Guide
• Feb 22 - Deadline for Registration

7th Grade ⇨ 8th Grade

• Feb 13-17 Deans visit Math Classes to review Course Guide
• Feb 22 - Deadline for Registration

8th Grade ⇨ 9th Grade

• Feb 8 - Virtual Parent Information Night 5-6pm
• Link to join: https://slpschools-org.zoom.us/j/87905972630

Dear Families,

We inform you that for the 2023-2024 year, St. Louis Park Middle School is offering a course for Spanish-speaking students who speak Spanish well and who wish to improve their reading and writing skills. If you are interested in registering your child to take this class, the class description will be found in our school's Course Guide for the 2023-2024 year.

If you have any questions please contact Gladis Romero-Phillips.

Phone: 952-928-6356 or email romero.gladis@slpschools.org

Reading and Writing for Spanish speakers.

Grades 6,7 and 8.

Alternating days



This course is designed for Spanish-speaking students who speak Spanish well and want to improve their reading and writing skills. The class is taught entirely in Spanish and focuses on phonics (sounds), spelling, punctuation, academic language, reading and writing (composition).

This class is also offered in grades 9-12.

Next Site Council Meeting is Feb 15 at 6:30 pm

Coffee with the Principal is Feb 24 at 9:15 am in the Performing Arts Center

Today, Mr. Schmitz and the SLPHS Wind Ensemble visited our Band 8 students. Band 8 students were able to listen, watch, and play, as the high school students showcased music from concert band and pep band. Band 8 students were able to interact with the high school students and learn more about what high school band is all about. Please see the attached pictures! 

SLP Family Communications Survey

We invite families to take a short survey to help us better understand your communications preferences, as well as your understanding and support of St. Louis Park Public Schools’ strategic direction. This survey will help inform how we can strengthen authentic communications to energize and enhance the spirit of our community. 

Family Survey: English | Spanish | Somali - complete by February 8. The survey is anonymous and will take 5-10 minutes to complete.



Time for Summer Activities - Registration Opens Mar 1, 2023

Summer Learning Academy, Summer Learning and Play, and Credit Recovery.

Elementary School

June 19-August 4 - Summer Learning Academy

June 19-Aug 17- Summer Learning and Play

Middle School

June 19-July 28 - Summer Learning Academy (Rising 6-8th grade students)

High School

June 12-30 - Credit Recovery

For more information visit slp.thatscommunityed.com

New Opportunity - Free Boiler Operator License Class 

Adult Options In Education (a community education consortium partner of Hopkins, Minnetonka, St. Louis Park and Wayzata Public Schools), in partnership with St. Louis Park Public Schools and its Facilities department, will host a new and exciting pilot opportunity for up to 15 individuals (10 spots made available to the district and 5 available to the SLP public) interested in obtaining a Boiler Operator License. This joint venture will allow our district custodial staff, onsite training and development to pursue and obtain this required level of licensure. This opportunity is free and open to the public until all seats are filled, class begins on Monday, January 30, 2023. 

To learn more about career pathway classes, click here. 

Interest Form for the Policy 506 Student Behavior Intervention Procedures Development Team

Background: On Aug. 10, 2021, the St. Louis Park Public Schools School Board unanimously approved and updated Policy 506 Student Behavior Intervention (formerly Student Discipline) to align with the mission and vision of the 2020-25 Strategic Plan for Racial Equity Transformation, reduce exclusionary practices that are highly punitive and racially predictable, include the use of non-exclusionary behavior interventions such as Restorative Practices, and center the humanity of students. A team will convene to develop procedure recommendations.

Purpose: Create procedure recommendations that embody the restorative commitments of Policy 506 and the mission/vision of St. Louis Park Public Schools.

Scope: Research, best practices (Restorative Practices and trauma-informed practices as two examples), and input from stakeholders will inform the work. Team members are expected to understand the current policy, and encourage the engagement, input, and feedback of all stakeholders. Team members will develop a recommendation that supports our district mission to see, inspire, and empower each learner to live their brilliance in an environment that centers student voice and experience to create racially equitable learning that energizes and enhances the spirit of our community.

If you are interested in participating in the development of the procedures for Policy 506 Student Behavior Intervention, please complete the form below by Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Contact Flower Krutina, krutina.flower@slpschools.org, with any questions.

506 Procedures Team Interest Form

Language and Literacy: Redesigning the Middle School Experience

We’re embracing the International Baccalaureate (IB) framework to create a consistent literacy progression across secondary courses. Therefore, we have redesigned the middle school experience so that honors-level learning can move students seamlessly into high school prepared to take honors-level courses.

All students get research-based, rigorous reading and writing instruction focused on enrichment and inquiry, regardless of the classroom they are assigned. Expanding rigorous literacy for all students and eliminating regular Language and Literature classes allows us to dedicate more time to exploring further learning experiences. It is important to understand that we are not eliminating or decreasing any learning experiences, rather, creating opportunities for honors-level work in every class. The course changes will occur over the next three school years, beginning with 6th grade next school year, 7th grade in 2024-2025, and 8th grade in 2025-26.

Learn more, read FAQs, and on the Middle School Language and Literacy website.

Middle School Clubs from Youth Enrichment Programs 

Gaming Club 

Wednesdays until March 15th

Sliding Scale Pricing: $20/$30/$40/$50

Register Here: Link 

Newspaper Club 

Tuesdays and Thursdays until June 6th 

Sliding Scale Pricing: $10/$20/$30/$40

Register Here: Link

Art Lab

Wednesdays beginning January 25 through March 29

Sliding Scale Pricing: $10/$20/$30/$40

Register Here: Link

Mr. Jason Boll, Interim Principal

Mr. Cam Muata, Interim Assistant Principal

2025 Texas Avenue South

St. Louis Park, MN 55426

Phone: 952-928-6300

Attendance: 952-928-6394

Fax: 952-928-6383

boll.jason@slpschools.org

muata.cam@slpschools.org

ms.slpschools.org