LinK12 Newsletter
September 2022
Secondary
Welcome to the 2022-2023 school year. We hope your student has the best year ever! In order to have the best year ever, our staff have been working on creating a fresh new school improvement plan based on your feedback from last May and student assessments. This year, we will focus on improving student’s academic performance, expanding teachers’ intervention skills through Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), and building a community where students feel a sense of belonging through being valued, appreciated, included, and accepted for who they are. We believe that through various activities and trainings throughout the school year, we will achieve these goals and our students will experience success.
Have a great start to the school year and please reach out to one of us if you have questions or concerns.
Dr. Dana Kelly
LinK12 Administrator
Meet Our New Staff
Mrs. Manning
Hello, My name is Mrs. Manning and I teach special education at the secondary level at LinK12. I live in Cannon Falls, MN with my husband and three children ages 5, 9, and 11. I enjoy being outside, traveling, being with friends and family, and playing with our dog Caramel.
I have an academic behavioral strategist license in special education, and finishing up my Master’s degree in special education, from Winona State University. This is my first year teaching at Lakeville LinK12 online school, but third year teaching special education. I love the freedom and flexibility that online learning provides students, as everyone has a different style of learning that works best for them! I look forward to a great year with everyone!
Ms. Frueh
Ms. Northrup
Ms. Bernier
Hello! My name is Kallie Bernier and I will be your Public Speaking teacher this semester. I look forward to working with you and watching you become a public speaker.
In addition to teaching public speaking, I teach 7th-grade Communications at Century Middle School full-time. Attending our weekly Class Connects is vital to your success as a speaker, so please make every effort to attend!
When I am not teaching, you can find me with my family. I have 2 boys: Matt (21) and Mitch (19) and I just recently got engaged to Kyle. No wedding date yet; stay tuned.
I am a huge fan of country music, campfires, and spending time at our cabin in Northern Minnesota. I love boating and snowmobiling too.
I can’t wait to start and look forward to a fantastic and successful semester! Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
Mrs. Lewis
Hello LinK12 Families! My name is Kelly Lewis and I am thrilled to be the Digital Learning Specialist for LinK12 this year! I have been a teacher in Lakeville for the past nine years, with the past three years being the Digital Learning Specialist at Cherry View Elementary School.
I have a passion for implementing technology to meet the needs of all students in engaging and meaningful ways. In this role, I will be able to help and support your family with technology support and technology questions. I want to ensure you are having a positive technology experience with LinK12, so please do not hesitate to call 507-291-8836 or email me at kelly.lewis@isd194.org with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your district iPad, Schoology, wifi, apps, or general technology support. I am looking forward to working together this year to make it a wonderful school year!
Ms. Baker
My name is Emma Baker, I am teaching LinK12
Middle School Art - Digital Art and Drawing
this year.
Last year, I created K-5 art lessons for LinK12 at the Elementary level, and am very excited to teach another LinK12 class this year for Middle School. Outside of LinK12, I am also the art teacher at Eastview Elementary school. This will be my 4th year teaching Art at Eastview.
Outside of teaching art to my wonderful students, I love to ski, design earrings for my small business, and hang out with my two dogs Winston and Oscar!
I am so excited to be your LinK12 Middle School art teacher!
Ms. Mason
Deborah has been teaching for 30 years both in the choral music classroom and in a private studio setting. She also has extensive experience as a recording studio singer and show choir ands musical theater choreographer. Deborah will be teaching the LinK12 Middle School Choir class.
Tuesday, September 6-First Day of School
- No Class Connects this week
- Check your schedule to make sure you have the classes you need. Email Heather Rabanus if you have any questions about your schedule.
Attendance Procedures
Under Minnesota law, school attendance is mandatory. Consistent participation with learning activities are important in the ongoing development of a child. Studies have shown that a child with consistent participation is more likely to be successful in school and in adult life. The Minnesota Department of Education requires a daily attendance record for each student, regardless of the learning model (online, in-person, hybrid).
LinK12’s online learning model is unique and consists of learning materials/assignments posted on Monday (or first day of the school week) for each class and are due by that Friday.
Students will be considered “in attendance” if one of the following occurs:
• Participating in Class Connects (or watch the recorded session) or in-person instruction;
• Participation in a virtual meeting or chat;
• Teacher or school counselor contact (e.g., phone call, text message exchange, email exchange, etc).
• Posting completed coursework to the Schoology on a given day;
If any of the above behaviors have not occurred during the school week, the student will be reported as absent for the entire week.
LinK12 supports student schedule flexibility; therefore, communication from students/parents/guardians to the teachers is essential and required.
If a student is marked absent for the week, parents/guardians will be notified via email (the following Thursday). Parents/guardians may submit an electronic “reason for absence form” to rectify the absent (change from unknown to excused). The record of absence in Campus will be updated to reflect the reason for absence. If no communication was received, the absence will remain unexcused.
Students with 3 or more unexcused absences, parents will receive a truancy notification letter. If a student has more than 5 days of unexcused absences, they will be referred to county truancy proceedings. After fifteen consecutive days of absences, the student will be unenrolled from the LinK12 Lakeville online program, per Minnesota law.
School Supply Lists
New to LinK12?
- Do you have an iPad?
- Do you know how to access your school Gmail account, Schoology, and Infinite Campus?
*Parents/Guardians- You will need to stop by the District Office to retrieve your parent portal letter. You may stop by on September 1 at 10:00 am. -2:00 p.m. or September 6 from 8:00 a.m. -2:00 p.m. to pick up your student and parent portal letter.
Start LinK12 Strong
Use these tips to start your school year on a positive note.
- Check and respond to emails daily (Parents should do this, too!)
- Academic Student Support is always ready to be there for you! Feel free to text, email, or call.
- Map out a schedule of when you are doing assignments each day(Assignments are due on Fridays, unless otherwise noted.)
- Cross out items on your Pacing Guides as you complete them (Follow the Pacing Guide’s suggested plan for each class.)
- Check grades in Infinite Campus (also called the Parent or Student Portal) weekly **Check to see if you have missing work as well
- Reach out to Teachers (email, text, or call) if you have any questions or concerns: SELF ADVOCATE!!!!
- Copy and paste your Teachers’ email addresses into your school Gmail Contacts list, so their names pop up easily when you have a question
- Add your Teachers’ numbers into your cell phone contact list, so you can text or call easily, when you have a quick question OR see if they are calling you (!!!)
- Make sure you are attending your Class Connects and/or watching the recordings, in a timely manner: remember they are worth 20% of your grade! That’s a lot of points!
Counselor Corner
Hello and welcome to the 2022-23 school year!! I am Steve Higgins, LinK12 School Counselor and SEL Character Strong Coordinator. I have the privilege to work with you and your students supporting your success socially, emotionally, and academically. I'm looking forward to an amazing year.
I encourage you to participate in this family dare.
Social Emotional Learning
School is not just about academics. Character Strong is an evidence-based Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum used at LinK12 to support our goal of educating the whole child. A school-wide monthly character trait will be the focus of SEL lessons and reinforced monthly the via Class Connects. During the month of September, LinK12 will focus on theme of respect.
Important Dates
September 14- Drop in Day at the Lakeville District Office 9a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
September 19-30-MAP Testing for Middle School Students
October 3- Picture Retake Day at the Lakeville School District Office 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
NWEA MAP Testing
All full time middle school students will take the NWEA reading and math test. Students will be required to take the these tests online from home. However, we will be offering two dates at the Lakeville School District Office on September 20 and 23 at 9:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. Additional testing information will be sent the first week of school.
Math MAP Testing
September 19-23
Reading MAP Testing
September 26-30
PSAT Registration
LinK12 students have the opportunity to take the PSAT on October 15 at 8:00 a.m. at Lakeville South High School. For more information click here.
Save the Date!
Families and students: Please join us for the Future 101 event. Future 101 is designed to help families assist their student(s) prepare for life after high school. There will be breakout sessions focusing on college selection, making the most out of high school, financial aid and readiness, test preparation, and careers in trade and military. Future 101 will be in the auditorium at Lakeville South on October 3. This event is co-sponsored by the district and Lakeville Area Chamber of Commerce. Click this link for more information.
LinK12 Important Contact Information
Academic Support Staff
Feel free to email, text, or call them with any questions or advice you might need regarding your student.
Grades 6-8
Jordi Ludtke
(651) 983-9458
Grades 9-12
Rachel Clark
(612) 440-7660
LinK12 Secondary Program Coordinator
For academic guidance, schedule changes, or any 6-12th grade LinK12 questions
Heather Rabanus
(612) 642-1497
LinK12 Digital Learning Specialist
Kelly Lewis
507-291-8836
Schoology, Infinite Campus, iPad, or GMAIL Issues
Create an online tech ticket regarding your tech situation.
D2L Issues (Spanish courses not in Schoology)
Follow us on Social Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LinK12Lakeville
Twitter: @_LinK12
LinkedIn: @LinK12Lakeville
Instagram: link12onlineschool