Transition Plus Newsletter
January 2021 Edition
Want to add someone to our email list? Email colleen.knuth@mpls.k12.mn.us
Transition Plus Community,
While distance learning is not how we want to interact with our students, and we hope to get back together, we would like to thank everyone; family members, staff, students, and teachers who spend so much time and effort making connections possible. THANK YOU!!
In This Edition:
- Calendar
- Upcoming events
- Student Editorials
- Family Resources
- Latest in MPS Covid Info
CALENDAR
January Calendar
Throughout January - Learning about Hmong Culture
- No School December 21 - January 1 (winter holiday)
- January 18 No School Martin Luther King Jr Day
- January 21 Site Council @ 4:30
- January 29 No School - Record-Keeping day (end of 1st Semester)
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Upcoming events
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
Site Council 1/21 @ 4:30
Site council meets the third Thursday of every month at 4:30 pm via Google Meets. Our next meeting will be Thursday, January 21st 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
HMONG CELEBRATION MONTH in January
WE NEED YOUR HELP TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR HMONG FAMILIES!!
Through the month of January, please send Colleen.Knuth@mpls.k12.mn.us videos or photos:
- past or present celebrations
- dances
- family elders
- art
- beloved music
- Stories
- recipes
- the arts
- great educational resources
- books
- anything else that can help a person learn about your culture
Click on these links to start learning:
- Hmong Cultural Center
- Hmong in MN - MN Historical Society
- Hmong Archives - check out the collections
- Embroidery traditions and symbols
- Where to find Hmong Culture & Cuisine in the Twin Cities
- 10 Things about Hmong you Probably Didn't Know
- Learn some Phrases in Hmong
- Hmong ABC Arts, Books & Crafts
- MN Hmong New Year video compilation
- How to play Tuj Lub (spinning top) tournament (video)
- Ball tossing video outside Luang Prabang
- Ball tossing tradition & Marriage customs
How it should be shared:
- use flipgrid to record videos of a student / staff member / family member reading a poem, story, story, or description, singing a song in English or an indigenous language
- write or take a picture of your favorite food/recipe
- link your favorite songs, or beloved song from your culture
- Digitally send photos or documents to their case manager or email Colleen
Tplus will celebrate many cultures represented by our community throughout the year, so please be prepared to share your resources with Colleen.Knuth@mpls.k12.mn.us
UMN Best Buddies
Connect with Best Buddies by contacting Corey Hughes at hughe889@umn.edu or262-442-4941
Get-togethers can be socially-distanced in-person or virtually. Best Buddies also hosts events for students involved in the program.
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STUDENT EDITORIALS
Cow Tipping Press worked with several Tplus students for 5 weeks to have their voices and viewpoints heard. Each student had several of their stories printed in the Cow Tipping Press book and received a copy of the book. I've copied a couple of their entries below, only editing spelling or punctuation when I think the meaning may get lost. Enjoy!
Extra Time
Bryant Landi Ortiz
The Best Thing I Never Had
Today I'm writing about myself. My lights are red and my mind is lost. I tried to open my door but the wind hit my soul. It takes me a minute to find a hello. I tried to cry out but no one heard my pain. How far I should go but I lay in a dark hole.
Thinking and hoping for something new.
Terrielle Cole-Harris
Feelings Basis of Me
Something you have to live with
something to cope with.
Sometimes it gets the better of you. It's Hard Hard Hard.
Excitement.
It makes me jump around And dance dance dance.
Crazy Crazy Crazy little dances. Screeching like a banshee.
Sadness.
Feeling droopy and down in the dumps. When life is hard it makes you feel like giving up.
Kieran Souster
I Just Feel Like People Want Change
I just feel like people want change abut Corona.
I don't like online school. I just wantt o go to school an see everybody, their faces and learn, make some new friends. We need a good leader that would tell people to wear a Mask Corona. Numbers are going up everyday and people need to start taking serious. That's how I feel about Corona, I just feel like people want change. I agree with the black lives movement. I think people are tired of other people treating other people different by their color. I just want people to treat people the same way.
Abdurahman Mohamed
Me, Myself, and I
My life can be hard but I can improve it. I like people in a nice manner. People need to have good actions and not make things worse. We need to agree to disagree. I mastered a different way of learning. You learn from your mistakes by not doing the same mistake you did yesterday. Everyone has a chance to change, you just do it the right way and not the wrong way. Don't be upset, turn that frown upside down. You have the right to say what you want to say and voice your opinion. How can you help others when you can't help yourself?
Isaiah Smith
What with the future look like?
Live on a different planet/solar system? What will the future look like?
Joshua Ashford
I like the Cat
Phoenix Nordgaard
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FAMILY RESOURCES
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.
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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The Latest Covid Information
Update
Just before winter break, we received Governor Walz' announcement that elementary schools can open to in-person learning as early as January 18, followed by Minneapolis Public Schools' information that the earliest MPS schools will open up to in-person learning is February , which marks the beginning of second semester. We at are Transition Plus are continually preparing for in-person learning with the intent that when it is safe to return, we will be ready. We follow both MPS and MN Department of Health guidance and advocate for our students. As soon as we have good information, we will pass it along to our students and families.
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/
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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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