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From the Office of the Superintendent 1/3/20
Weekly Briefing for ISD 709 Faculty & Staff
Dear Colleagues,
Here we are in 2020 -- able to see clearly! So many punny opportunities this new year!
The end of the semester is about two weeks away. In the age of email, electronic newsletters, Infinite Campus, cell phones and more, there are a plethora of ways information is shared with students and families. This provides us many opportunities to share celebrations and concerns as well as support student success. Report cards are a valuable way to document progress, but are no longer the primary communication tool.
Thank you for everything you do to provide students and families with meaningful timely feedback all through the year.
Kind regards,
Bill
If you have questions or thoughts about what's going on in our school district, email: Superintendents@ISD709.org. Twitter: @billgronseth
The Duluth News Tribune asked Duluth School Board Chairperson Rosie Loeffler-Kemp and Superintendent Bill Gronseth to write about what's coming up in 2020.
As 2020 begins, citizens will be asked to review information related to current school attendance areas and discuss potential changes.
Week of January 13, 2020: Detailed information regarding draft scenarios, maps, impact analysis to be available online, in preparation for community meetings. Feedback immediately available through online survey.
Community Meetings January 22-23
Facilitated by Cooperative Strategies, a firm with expertise in helping school districts gather data, analyze and draft boundaries for public consideration.
January 22, 2020 6:00PM - 8:00PM: Duluth East High School, 301 N. 40th Ave East
January 23, 2020: 6:00PM - 8:00PM: Denfeld High School, 401 N. 44th Ave West
>Presentation of scenarios and impact.
>Opportunity to provide feedback and ask questions.
>Online materials and survey continue to be available.
The Duluth School Board values your ideas regarding public education in Duluth and what kind of leadership will best take us into the future. A timeline with extensive public input opportunities is being developed and will be shared with the community as the Board works to identify the next Superintendent for ISD 709.
Superintendent Search Web Page
ISD 709 News
Duluth East Cheer Division Champs
Duluth East Cheerleaders took first place in their division during their first competition at the University of MN, Twin Cities – Minneapolis. Congratulations!
#Inspire709 #GoHounds #SchoolSpirit
www.ISD709.org/Duluth-East
Boys from the Bantam A hockey team delivered presents to residents of the Benedictine Health Center.
#Inspire709 #HuntersCare
The Duluth East Boys Hockey team held a CHUM Food Drive at last week’s Hockey Frenzy. Their efforts raised over 474 pounds of food and $260.00 in cash which is able to be leveraged by 7X and gives CHUM over $1800 to spend to help our community.
Thank you, Jennifer LaMaster, for the photo and info.
#HoundsCare #GivingBack
www.ISD709.org/Duluth-East
Denfeld, Duluth East Students Learn Emergency Response Skills
Health Occupations students from Duluth and across Minnesota took part in hands-on medical response training at Camp Ripley. The work focuses on learning skills for disasters as well as other medical emergencies including CPR, incident command structure, psychological first aid and more.
#Inspire709 #GreatOpportunity #CareerTechEd
www.ISD709.org/Denfeld
www.ISD709.org/Duluth-East
www.isd709.org/career-and-technical-education/index
Laura MacArthur Elementary Fancy Lunch
Lots of excitement around fancy lunch, student reward for positive behavior. Beautiful table cloths, candles and flowers, ice cream for dessert - and check out Principal Jim Erickson playing the piano! Thanks to all who helped make this happen for our students.
#Inspire709 #FunAndFancy
Lowell Cookie Contest
Congratulations, winners of the 4th Annual Gold Spoon Cookie Contest and the amazing bakers who received Golden Spoons and Lowell Lions Aprons. Thank you to volunteer judges from Lowell staff and special thanks to Baihly Warfield and Renee Passal from WDIO-TV for participating in this fun event.
#Inspire 709 #SeasonsEatings
Duluth Dancers Perform at 2020 Outback Bowl
Several members of the Duluth East Dance Team took part, awesome! “It’s going to be a lot of people. I think it’ll just be a really fun experience that’s really rare. Not many people get to do this and we all are very lucky to do this,” said Audrey Olson, Captain of Duluth East Dance Team.
For the second meet in a row Duluth swimmers have broken pool records, this time at at Ordean East Middle School in a meet against Hibbing.
Denfeld Junior Joe Rudd broke the Ordean pool record in the 200 Individual Medley with a time of 2:02.69. The previous record was held by Cambridge Isanti’s Steven Smith, from 2017.
Rudd also broke the 100 Breaststroke pool record with a time of 1:00.25, beating former teammate Ryan Zelen’s time of 1:04.5.
Duluth East Freshman Grant Wodny set a new pool record in the 100 butterfly, with a time of 53.56, beating former teammate Ryan Zelen’s previous record of 55.01 from 2017.
Thank you, Cliff Knettel, for the photo and info.
#Inspire709 #GoDuluthSwim
www.ISD709.org/Denfeld
www.ISD709.org/Duluth-East
Spotlight: Lincoln Park MS Music
Thank you, Laura Saumer, for the photos and info.
#Inspire709 #SoundsOfTheSeason
www.ISD709.org/Lincoln-Park
NEW! 2020 Winter Duluth Community Education Course Catalog
Explore a new hobby, learn a new skill, meet new people. The gift of lifelong learning, something for everyone!
BROWSE & REGISTER ONLINE
>>Arts, Crafts, Hobbies: Cedar Plank Sign, Amateur Radio, Ceramics, Fused Glass Jewelry, Zentagle Pattern Drawing, More...
>>Cooking: Scones & Tea, Taste of Thailand, Taste of India, More...
>>Dance: Swing, Ballroom, Rhythm, Ecstatic Dance, More...
>>General Interest: Adventures in the Himalayas, Bridge, Chemical Free Household, Grafting Apple Trees, Growing Small Fruit, Vegetable Gardening, More...
>>Health & Wellness: CPR/AED Training, Meditation, Tai Chi, More...
>>Language: French, Spanish, Sign Language, More...
>>Music: Banjo, Ukulele, Community Band & Orchestra, More...
>>Swimming Pool Activities: Swimming Lessons, Aqua Aerobics, Scuba Diving, Lifeguarding, Free Family Swim, More...
>>Sports & Exercise: Cardio Walk-Fit, Cross Country Ski Lessons, Zumba, Yogalates, More...
>>Yoga: Chair Yoga, Soma Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, More...
Do you have a passion for cooking or gardening, a talent for art or music, and the enthusiasm to share your interest with others?
Consider Teaching a Community Education Class!
Contact us for details - CommunityEducation@isd709.org - or speak to a Community Ed Coordinator at 218-336-8760.
Could Language Immersion Benefit Your Child?
All Families Welcome!
Ojibwe & Spanish Language Immersion Open House
Thursday January 9, 2020
5:30PM – 7:00PM
Lowell Elementary, 2000 Rice Lake Road, Duluth
Research suggests language immersion may contribute to academic achievement, and that students exhibit greater problem-solving abilities, flexible thinking and advanced language literacy and proficiency.
Learn more about the benefits, the specific Ojibwe and Spanish language program models offered, and steps in the application process. Registration for September 2020 begins January 9 - space is limited.
For detailed information:
Misaabekong Ojibwe Language Immersion
Edye Washington, Office of American Indian Education:
edith.washington@isd709.org or 218.336.8700, ext.1152
Nueva Vision Spanish Language Immersion
Crystal Goldman, Spanish Immersion Coordinator:
crystal.goldman@isd709.org or 218.336.8700, ext.1166
More at www.ISD709.org
Stay Connected
Email: info@ISD709.org
Website: www.ISD709.org
Location: 215 N. 1st Avenue East, Duluth MN
Phone: 218-336-8700
Facebook: www.facebook.com/duluthpublicschools/
Twitter: @ISD709News