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)

November 10, 2022

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Assistant Principal's Message

During November, our Monthly Collective Grade Level Advisory in the Performing Arts Center Auditorium is focused on Social Media Safety. Led by our Social Workers, Kristen Engen-Routzohn and Abbie Mullen, and our School Counselor, Wendy Klute, Ms. Small, and their Advisory teachers, the students engage in discussions around sharing, cyberbullying, and social media laws.

Students also share their knowledge by playing the game 'Eggspert' as a team against other advisory teams.

Let's Go!

Cam Muata

Middle School Highlights

Upcoming Dates

*TONIGHT* - Spelling Bee Championship 6:30 pm

Middle School Performing Arts Center

Student Led Conferences:

Please click here to access links.

Wednesday 11/16 Evening
Thursday 11/17 Evening
Friday 11/18 All day **Asynchronous day of learning**

NOTE: Our Lost and Found items will be in the grand hallway (main entrance) during conference times.

Athletics Calendar

Asynchronous Day Expectations

Please also remember that the expectation for students on Friday, November 18th is to sign in to Schoology, go to each of their courses and complete the work/activity/assignment that their teacher has posted there between the hours of 8 am to 2 pm. There will also be a question or poll that will be part of each course that day and this is for attendance purposes.

We'll be talking to students about this as well but please make sure they do this part so they get credit for doing their work and being "present". We are planning that each class have approximately 10-20 minutes of asynchronous learning.

REM 5 8th Grade Field Trip

This past week, all of the 8th grade Individuals & Societies classes took a field trip to REM5 virtual reality laboratory here in St. Louis Park. The purpose of this field trip was to "visit" Africa through the use of Google Earth VR and the Within 360º goggles. This field trip was the culmination of their interdisciplinary unit between I&S and Science, and the Solar Suitcases the students built that are being sent to Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement in Uganda.

The students visited the Sahara Desert, flew over the Nile River, visited an Egyptian pyramid, before seeing just how vast Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement is. The Within 360º goggles allowed the students to “immerse” themselves into Africa. This learning experience was made possible through a grant from the St. Louis Park Public Schools Foundation.

Fall Food Drive

Student Leadership Advisory students would like to have a fall food drive next week from Monday-Thursday (Nov. 14-17). Non-perishable foods should be dropped off with advisory teachers and will be picked up on Thursday by SL students.

Site Council

Hello Middle School Families!

Site Council will be providing a meal for staff on Thursday, November 17th to show our support and appreciation. In addition to Jimmy John's sandwiches, we have created a Sign Up for additional items. Please take a look and see if you can sign up!

Here is the link for the Sign Up Genius-

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0E48ABA92BA4F85-slpmsteacher1

The Middle School Staff is always very grateful and for the amazing support our SLP community shows them! Thank you in advance for your support!

MS Site Council

STEP Toy Drive

In December, STEP provides new toys and Target gift cards to St. Louis Park Children. Registration for this program is November 21-December 12.

Family Change Group

Family Change Group is starting at SLPMS! This group will be on Tuesdays during 5th hour starting the week of November 15 and run until winter break. SLPMS has a partnership with MoveFwd and therapist Amanda Dwinell will be facilitating the group. For details, print and send in the (Consent and Release of Information). To view the Participant Handbook please go here .

If you would like a paper copy sent to you in the mail or have questions, please contact Kristen Engen-Routzohn at 952-928-6389 or engen.kristen@slpschools.org

High School Gymnastics

Are you a 7th or 8th grader interested in joining the High School Gymnastics team? Learn about the team and how to join by clicking HERE.

Contact Coach Dawn Thielen slpgymnastics@gmail.com with any questions.

Purchase a Yearbook

Yearbooks are on sale! The cost is $42. Click here for purchasing link.

District News

High Rates of Illness at School

Masks are Highly Encouraged. Stay Home When Sick and Slow the Spread of Illness

We are seeing unusually high rates of illness in multiple SLP schools, in particular, influenza (flu) and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). These viruses can be easily spread through close contact when people cough, sneeze, and talk.

Please help partner with us in an effort to prevent the spread of illness by following our illness guidelines:

Situations when your child should stay home:

Fever of 100 degrees or more. The student should stay home for 24 hours after their temperature returns to normal without the use of fever reducing medication.
Vomiting or diarrhea. The student is to stay home until 24 hours after the last episode.
Any uncontrolled cough.
Rashes with unknown causes. Check with your family physician/clinic before your student returns to school.
If feeling ill/unwell and the student is unable to fully participate in school activities.

If your child displays symptoms of influenza or RSV, you can reach out to your child’s health care provider to see if testing for these illnesses is recommended. For information about influenza and RSV please refer to the Parent Fact Sheets from Hennepin County Public Health:

Influenza information can be found HERE
RSV Information can be found HERE

Thank you for helping to prevent the spread of illness.

Get Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests at School

Free at-home COVID-19 tests are available to SLP students. If you need one, an adult or student may pick it up in the health office.

St. Louis Park Public Schools will continue to follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) regarding COVID-19 during the 2022-23 school year. View the MDH Guidelines/Flowsheet and the CDC Isolation guidelines

Students and staff will be required to wear a face covering if 5% or more of the students and/or staff who attend or work at their school site test positive for COVID-19. Students and staff can choose to wear a mask at any time.

View the COVID-19 webpage for more information on COVID-19 guidance.

St. Louis Park High School Theatre Presents Chicago: Teen Edition

Kander and Ebb’s Chicago is a scathing social commentary on our national obsession with violence and fame. Based on the 1926 play by Maurine Dallas Watkins, the musical follows Roxie Hart, whose crime of passion lands her on Merry Murderesses Row, sharing the spotlight with vaudeville icon and fellow felon Velma Kelly. To keep their names in the headlines and themselves off death row, Roxie and Velma rely on lawyer Billy Flynn to “razzle dazzle” the jury and the press core. Please note that Chicago: Teen Edition represents adult situations and is not appropriate for a young audience.

Performances are November 11, 12, 18, and 19 at 7:00 pm and November 13 and 20 at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for students and senior citizens, and free with student ID for all SLPHS students. Please purchase tickets at https://gopark.hometownticketing.com/embed/all. No cash will be accepted at the venue.