Transition Plus Newsletter
March 2021 Edition
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Transition Plus Community,
As Covid numbers are declining and more people are getting vaccinated, we are excited to be shifting gears toward getting back together! We thank everyone; family members, staff, students, and teachers who spend so much time and effort making connections possible. THANK YOU!!
In This Edition:
- Calendar
- In-Person Learning resources
- Upcoming events
- Family Resources
- COVID Vaccine Connector Link
- Latest in MPS Covid Info
CALENDAR
March Calendar
Throughout March- Learning about East African Cultures
- March 3 & 6: MPS Resource Fair for students with disabilities
- March 15 - 19: No School for Team 1 students
- March 18: Virtual Site Council @ 4:30pm
- March 22 - Team 1 students In-Person Learning begins
- March 29 - April 1: No School for Team 2 and 3 students
- April 2 - April 9: No school - Spring Break
- April 12: Team 2 and 3 In-Person Learning begins
*See entry below for more details*
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Upcoming events
Return to In Person Learning
Register Here to Indicate Your Preference before March 9.
Families who do not register will default to in-person learning.
Home Screening should be done each day before sending your student to school.
IMPORTANT DATES:
- March 12 - 19 There will be no school for Team 1 students during the week of March 12 - 19 while teachers prepare for in-person learning.
- March 22: Team 1 students choosing in-person learning start back at school
Team 1 students have one of of the following advisors:
Collin Beachy
Faith Binman
Rebecca Mijal
Brett Haugen
Jake Anderson
Molly Botsford
Kathy Causton
- March 26 - April 1: No school for team 2 and 3 students while teachers plan for in-person learning
- April 12: Team 2 and 3 students choosing in-person learning start back at school
Team 2 and 3 students have one of the following advisors:
Patricia Milbrath
Tom Perry
Frederick Varney
Adam Webo
Tia Jamison
Shekinah Dillon
Jason Walz
Brad Aubrecht
Luke Schmidt
Greg Kalberer
John Banisky
Mina Lein
Liz Carlson
Families can expect transportation information for their students at least 3 days before their return to school.
Virtual Resource Fair March 3 & 6
East African Cultural Celebration Month
Throughout the month of March, our Transition Plus community will be learning about East African cultures. Links to learn about our neighbors, brothers, and sisters from East Africa.
Videos:
- Quick overview of Ethiopian geographic regions
- how Islam came to the continent of Africa
- Quick overview of Somali geographic regions
East Africa Map Quiz
A Somali Experience
Oromo Thanksgiving
Budget Survey
Thank you!
Site Council 3/18 @ 4:30
Site council meets the third Thursday of every month at 4:30 pm via Google Meets. Our next meeting will be Thursday, March 18th at 4:30 pm.
Site Council is searching for active participants who can help collaborate with others to generate ideas of how our Transition Plus community operates. Students and parents are strongly encouraged to join.
Please email Shekinah.Dillon@mpls.k12.mn.us if you have any questions. Site Council meeting links will be posted on the Transition Plus website closer to date.
Google Meet joining info 1/21 Or dial: +1 256-600-8312 PIN: 928 080 254# More
Filicide Vigil March 1
From the Autistic Self Advocacy Network's page on this year's event,
On Monday March 1st, the disability community will gather across the nation to remember these disabled victims of filicide – disabled people murdered by their family members or caregivers.
In the year since our last vigil, our community has lost over 80 more people to filicide. These are just the cases that we are aware of – since we began monitoring this issue, we learn about more murders every week. We read the victims’ names, see their photographs, and gather what information we can about their lives. The criminal justice system has continued to give lighter sentences to parents and caregivers who murder disabled children. And we have seen the news media continue to portray these murders in a sympathetic light. We hold the Day of Mourning vigils to draw attention to these injustices, to commemorate the lives of victims, and demand justice and equal protection under the law for all people with disabilities.
Since 2012, ASAN and other disability rights organizations have come together to send a clear message that disability is not a justification for violence.
Everyone is welcome at our Virtual Vigil on Monday, March 1st – and we hope to see you there.
Here is the main website for Disability Day of Mourning, which catalogs cases from 1980 to the present.
This is the Autistic Self Advocacy Network's virtual vigil, from 4-6pm.
Here is a Minneapolis virtual vigil, from 12-1pm, put on by the Critical Disability Studies Collective - UMN.
Here is a Twin Cities virtual vigil, from 6-8:30pm, put on by Queer Grace Community.
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Black History Makers: Featuring our very own Rekhet!
Our own, Rekhet, is featured as black history maker in our community at the Hennepin County Library!!!
https://hclib.org/programs/black-history-makers
Thank you for all that you have done and continue to do, Rekhet! We are honored to have you in our Tplus family!
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FAMILY RESOURCES
Make Your Own Lunch...with advice!
Could your student use some help preparing lunch during Distance Learning?
Jill is available each day for “Make Your Own Lunch” help from 12:30 to 1:00 Daily. She will have an open Google Classroom. Students who may need a little direction in the kitchen can pop in and ask questions or get advice about making lunch or cooking in general.
Share this link with any Tplus student: https://meet.google.com/ugf-juhj-mcg
UMN Best Buddies
Connect with Best Buddies by contacting Corey Hughes at hughe889@umn.edu or 262-442-4941
Get-togethers can be socially-distanced in-person or virtually. Best Buddies also hosts events for students involved in the program.
How to Access Vocational Rehabilitation Service
Watch this video about how to connect with VRS
Tplus Social Work Webpage
Childcare Options
Virtual Calming Room
The site is designed to help support pro-active self-control by providing opportunities for relaxation and calming. Participants may experience visual, auditory, and tactile stimulation, as well as both mindfulness and activities.
Enjoy!
Update Your School Messenger Preferences
- The school must be notified of updates of contact information - the school does not send school updates.
- Be sure to receive text messages by sending a "Y" to 67587.
- Families can manage their communication preferences by creating a SchoolMessenger account
- To learn more visit: mpls.k12.mn.us/school_messenger
All MPS schools use the SchoolMessenger to share important information about weather closures, building safety, school events, transportation and more.
Winter Weather Protocols
If the Superintendent decides to close school buildings or cancel activities, we will let you know by phone calls, emails, texts, social media, our websites, and local news stations. To receive the phone calls and texts, make sure we’ve got your updated phone number. You can log into School Messenger to see what contact information we have on file and how you have chosen to be contacted.
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COVID Resources
Get your Vaccine
COVID Tracking App
As you may have heard from Governor Walz, the State has rolled out a
Covid tracking app. It's described as opt-in, anonymous, and secure.
The more people who use it, the more effective the app will be.
App download: https://covidawaremn.com/
News spot/info: https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2020/11/23/new-tracing-app-released-hours-before-gov-walz-is-set-to-announce-new-covid-technology/
Hennepin County Covid-19 Resources
- https://www.hennepin.us/residents/emergencies/covid-19-community-resources
Families can get a caseworker assigned to meet the needs of ONE call.
New Hennepin County Covid -19 Helpline 612-348-3000
Monday-Saturday 8am-8pm
Hennepin County multicultural services office 612-348-2193
- They provide appropriate cultural access and linguistic translation in different languages.
- https://www.hennepin.us/residents/human-services/multi-cultural-services
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Mission Statement
The mission of Transition Plus is to provide services to students with differing educational abilities & assets. We focus on meeting transition needs in post-secondary education and training, employment, and independent living to promote a successful transition from high school to adult life.
Our Vision
To provide experience and learning that will assist students to have meaningful, satisfying work and home lives as family members, leaders, employees, and citizens.
We offer students:
- Access to learning environments that help students develop their skills and confidence.
- A positive school environment characterized by peace, compassion, and the pursuit of knowledge and understanding.
- A structure of support and collaboration with our community, students, and families
- A team of highly qualified professionals with a passion for learning and sharing.
We offer:
- Continuing high school support after 18-21 years of age
- Lots of hands-on options
- Extensive learning & training in the community
- Additional resources available for individual needs
- Support the growth and maturity of each student
Transition Plus Services
Email: transitionplus@mpls.k12.mn.us
Website: transplus.mpls.k12.mn.us
Location: 2015 East Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Phone: (612)668-4100
Facebook: facebook.com/transitionplus.mps
Twitter: @MPS_Tplus