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May 8, 2019
ISD 709 School News
National Teacher Appreciation Week May 5 - 11
National Teacher Appreciation Day May 7
Thank you, Duluth Teachers!
Duluth teachers do so much. They stay up late grading papers and planning extra lessons. They answer calls and emails on the weekend from colleagues and parents. They stay late at conferences to accommodate families. But most of all, they never stop trying to help their students learn and succeed. Many thanks to our dedicated faculty and all they do to support students, families and public education, both in and out of the classroom.
You're Invited: All Duluth Public School employees, families, students and friends are invited to a special event to announce the recipient of the $5,000 Award and help celebrate our inspirational teachers:
Wednesday May 15, 2019 7:00PM
Lincoln Park Middle School Auditorium
3215 West 3rd Street, Duluth
The evening includes an Ice Cream Social, it's free and open to the public.
***Please RSVP number attending by May 12 (helps plan for the ice cream!) https://2019goldstar.eventbrite.com***
Congratulations, 2019 Gold Star Teacher Award Nominees
The Goldfine family presents $5,000 annually to an outstanding teacher within the Duluth Public School system. The Award recognizes public school teachers who inspire their students and provide a strong foundation for educational, personal and professional success.
Nominees for 2019:
- Philip Warmanen, Lowell Elementary
- Lynn Thompson, Piedmont Elementary
- Kristin Paschen, Lester Park Elementary
- Erin Krizaj, Homecroft Elementary
- Nancy Broman, Myers-Wilkins Elementary
- Adam Metzer, Laura MacArthur Elementary
- Lisa Heehn, Stowe Elementary
- Kim Evavold-Bolf, Lakewood Elementary
- Kathleen Lofstuen, Congdon Park Elementary
National School Nurse Day May 8, 2019
We honor our Duluth Public School nurses and more than 73,000 school nurses in the United States who make a difference in the lives of children every day. School nurses lead the way to advance health and support education by ensuring that students are safe, healthy, and ready to learn.Make It OK is a campaign created to encourage individuals to talk more openly about mental illnesses. By breaking the silence, we can help friends, neighbors, loved ones and colleagues feel understood and supported.
Just as learning about physical health or financial health helps create stronger families and a more caring environment, we believe that combating stigma will help us make Duluth Public Schools a more supportive and accepting organization-and might even have a positive impact on our community at large.
Mental illnesses are surprisingly common. One in four Americans, from all walks of life, experiences a mental illness each year. But because of the stigma, most people live with their symptom for 10 years before seeking treatment. This impacts not only those with mental illnesses, but their friends and loved ones, too. Mental illnesses are highly treatable: the sooner people get treatment, the greater their chances of recovery.
Let’s Learn Together
With “Make It OK” we’ll learn the facts about mental illnesses; myths, misunderstandings, and misconception; about living successfully with mental illnesses, among other topics.
Online learning experience:
http://makeitok.org/interactive/intro-to-mental-illnesses/
Stigma Impact : Online learning
http://makeitok.org/interactive/stigma-impact/
Thanks so much for all you do and please join us for exciting community events this month.
In The News
Proud of Duluth East Food for Thought and Denfeld Clocktower Cafe instructors and students - great food and professional service!Duluth News Tribune
Denfeld, Duluth Career & Technical Education
Congratulations to Max Magnuson, Denfeld, selected to the Minnesota All-State Symphonic Band. Max has played trumpet for several years, he recorded an audition and was selected into this elite group. All-State is a program to develop the finest musicians and leaders among Minnesota's most accomplished high school students.
Thank you, Josh Lehigh, for the photo and info.
Thanks to all who came out for the reception and exhibit at the Miller Hill Mall, lots of great work by our talented students. Thank you, Deb Hannu, and our fabulous art teachers and staff for making this happen.
Denfeld Student Athlete Feature
Best wishes to Wryott and the Denfeld track team!Duluth East Student Athlete Feature
Best wishes to Jorja and the Duluth Wolfpack Lacrosse team!Denfeld students and staff had an exciting and inspiring visitor, Olympic Gold Medalist Billy Mills. Mr. Mills won a gold medal in the 10,000 meter run in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. To date, he's the only American to win gold in that event. He's a member of the Oglala Lakota Tribe, served in the United States Marines and was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal in 2013 by President Barack Obama.
Mr. Mills shared a powerful message of surviving, thriving, & soaring - “It’s the hope of a dream that heals broken wings”.
Thank you, Mr. Mills, for inspiring us with your message. Many thanks to Ivy Vainio, AICHO and Edye Howes, ISD 709 Office of American Indian Education for making this opportunity possible.
Among many honors, Mr. Mills has been inducted into the United States National Track and Field Hall of Fame and the United States Olympic Hall of Fame. He's one of a select group of former American Olympians given the honor of carrying the Olympic flag into the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum at the opening ceremony of the Games of the XXIII Olympiad.
Duluth East Jazz big band took 1st Place and their combo earned 3rd Place at the Eau Claire Jazz Festival, congratulations! Student also had an opportunity to hear saxophonist Grace Kelly and Airmen of Note perform, along with listening to other schools in the Class AA division. The Festival draws over 100 bands from across the Midwest for the two day event. The end of each day culminates in a Headliner Concert along with the winners of the competitions from each day, Duluth East had a spot in the concert. Each Jazz Band and Jazz Combo (groups with about five or six musicians) are adjudicated by professional musicians. Thank you, Blake Peterson, for the photos and info.
These Congdon Park Elementary students earned first place at in the school's Math Masters competition! We're proud of them and all students who participated.
The Math Masters Challenge encourages students to use critical thinking skills and problem-solving abilities in mathematics, while recognizing academic effort and achievement.
Denfeld High School Alum, Augustana University Alum and Minnesota Viking CJ Ham honored at Denfeld High School this week. All our best to you, CJ, your family and especially your mom.
The bands had a successful trip to Grand Rapids for Solo and Ensemble. Duluth East had 12 entries and each earned a Superior rating. Congratulations, Greyhounds!
Denfeld Alum To Be Honored
Congratulations, Denfeld Alum Mark Sertich, who will be inducted into the DECC Athletic Hall of Fame on May 16! Mr. Sertich (still playing hockey at 97) says he plans to play hockey until he's 100. You're an inspiration to us all.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