FHS Newsletter
December 2020
It has been 30 years since Fridley High School has had a team come home with a state championship title. The 2020 Football Fridley Tigers did it “Old School Style”. And why not? In an unconventional year like 2020, it is only fitting that the football state champions were named by the voting of Associated Press journalists. This last happened in 1971. In 1972, Minnesota began a play-off system that now determines a state championship in 7 classes of football. So, you might ask, what does 30 years have to do with it? It was 30 years ago when the 1990 Fridley Tigers Football team came home with the championship, beating the Sartell Sabers for the title.
This year’s team was led by KARE 11 Co-Head Coach of the Year, Justin Reese, and a veteran staff of assistants. The senior class of 2021 has been part of an amazing run of section football success. Fridley has won five of the last 6 six Section 4AAAA titles. However, this year’s team made the most of this Covid shortened season, going 7-0, knocking off last year’s Class 4AAAA State runner-up SMB and Mpls City Power, North High School, spoiling their 57 straight regular season unbeaten streak with a 21-0 victory. This team will be remembered by their crushing defense. They outscored their opponents 242 - 16. Defensively, they gave up (4) field goals, and the only touchdown scored was from a blocked punt in game six. The defensive team never gave up a touchdown.
This was a resilient group of student-athletes that overcame the social and emotional stress related to the impact of the Covid 19 Pandemic and played two games with just (21) players. Their love for each other and love of football will be their lasting legacy.
Fridley Parents and Guardians,
I want to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude to all our Fridley High School families. We have experienced unique challenges this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and I know it hasn’t been easy. I want to thank you for your hard work, resiliency, and patience in collaborating with Fridley High School during this time. We appreciate everything you do to support your children’s education. We understand the difficulties these changes have brought to our students and families. I want you to know the we are here to support, encourage, and engage your children to the best of our ability during this time. The education and wellbeing of our students are very important to us, and we are working hard to ensure that we are meeting the needs of our students. While we do not know when we will be able to safely return students back to school, we are hopeful and look forward to welcoming our FHS students back to school in the near future.
I wish all our families continued good health, and I hope that you are able to enjoy the holidays with your loved ones. We will get through this. We miss each of our students and can’t wait to see them again.
In kindness,
Patty Hand
Principal
Fridley High School
763 502 5601
Mental Health: Make it a priority
Job Posting: Fridley School District
11/24/20: Ever wanted to work in a school or work with school-aged children? Are you awesome at communicating with children and love being around them? If so, please consider applying for our ParaEducator positions. These are 32.5 hours a week, eligible for full benefits and paid time off. In this position, you would have the same days off as students and be at work during the same hours as students. The pay ranges from $14.99-$16.71 an hour depending on previous para work experience. We currently have 5 positions open across the school district. Visit our website at https://www.applitrack.com/fridley/onlineapp/ to review the job duties and qualifications and apply today!
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Coming to Advisory
We have heard from students, families, and teachers how important it is to offer students support during these unprecedented times. Therefore, we will be starting weekly social emotional learning (SEL) through our advisory classes. Studies have shown that students who receive SEL instruction perform better in school and have more success in relationships and jobs. Check out https://casel.org/what-is-sel/ for more information about what SEL is and why it’s great for our students.
Groups of Fridley students, led by a Fridley teacher, will get together during Tuesday advisory to talk and learn skills to deal with our current reality and our return to normal. In addition to learning and practicing skills, this is simply an opportunity to have conversations with other real, live people. Topics covered will include things like stress management, dealing with change, organization, and advocating for yourself. The lessons will last 30 minutes and will not require students to complete work outside of the lesson time, although we encourage students to use the skills they learn in their lives! These lessons will be highly interactive and discussion based, so it is important to have your student log in on time to their advisory Google Meet. If your student cannot make it, they should contact their advisory teacher via email. Hybrid students will be meeting every Tuesday at 8:30am. Fridley Academy students should check with their mentor to verify the time of these meetings.
In addition, students will notice that there will be SEL check-ins posted in their grade level google classrooms. These check-ins will help the Student Support Service staff allow us to get a gauge on how students are doing and where to put our energy in order to help best support our students. Another SEL check-in will be posted in google classroom after Thanksgiving for students to complete. Students can also find on their grade level google classroom a variety of resources to help with stress and anxiety. As always, students should reach out to their academic dean if they are struggling.
Questions? Contact your student’s academic dean.
Tara Stefanson, Ed.S. NCSP
Pronouns: She/Her
School Psychologist
Fridley High School and Transition
(763) 317-7633 (call or text)
Get Ready: Connecting Home & Learning
Parents/Guardians,
Get Ready which is a federally funded program through the Minnesota Office of Higher Education will be presenting another online workshop on Thursday, December 17, 2020 from 6:30-8:00PM providing families with tools for school year success.
Workshop: Connecting Home & Learning
This workshop will focus on middle school and high school students from Get Ready’s partnered schools.
Please join us for a night of learning about:
- The benefits to set expectations and have structure at home as a tool for a positive environment
- Understanding key elements of structure in the home for school success.
- Discussing factors that help students succeed.
- Participants will identify the importance of expectations of school success for their children.
Register Online: https://tinyurl.com/GetReadyMN
Families will have the opportunity to register up until December 14th. However, to receive a packet by mail must register by December 6th, 2020.
**The first 50 parents/guardians who register and attend this session will get a $25 gift card!
For additional questions, please contact Matt Kiefer at matt.kiefer@fridley.k12.mn.us or 763-502-5790
Thursday, Dec 17, 2020, 06:30 PM
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Fridley High School
Email: chelsie.wood@fridley.k12.mn.us
Website: https://www.fridleyschools.org/
Location: 6000 West Moore Lake Drive Northeast, Fridley, MN, USA
Phone: 763-502-5600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FridleyHighSchool/