Transition Plus October 7th
Kindness can make a bad day good, and a good day better
Trouble Viewing your Memo?
If you are having trouble with a link - make sure you are using your MPS Google Account
Professional Development Update
Upcoming opportunities abound! Here at TPlus we will have PD once a month.
Here’s the schedule for the rest of 2019:
October 15 Equity provided by the office of Equity and Engagement
November 1 Varies TBD, more information to come soon
November 26 LGBTQ provided by Out 4 Good, Jason Bucklin
Have questions about the license renewal process? Check out this page:
https://humanresources.mpls.k12.mn.us/relicensure
Need a specific license requirement training? Check back to this site for updated information for this
school year.
https://staff.mpls.k12.mn.us/Depts/ProfessionalLearning/Pages/Upcoming%20Professional%20Develpment.aspx
Interested in Sexual Abilities for All? The Mount Olivet Rolling Acres Fall Conference will explore
supporting the sexual health of people with disabilities. Conference is in Excelsior, MN on November
21st.
https://mtolivetrollingacres.org/education-training/annual-fall-conference/
Picture Day!
AESOP Entry for Licensed Staff
SALSA!
HOLA!!
It’s salsa competition time!! Each advisory is encouraged to prepare a big batch of salsa for this Friday’s Latinx Celebration. Please deliver your entry to the Food Service kitchen by noon on Friday. Students will each get a small tasting of each salsa and then will vote on their favorite. Anyone who can beat Ms. Jewell’s class will get a special prize!! Game on!
Ask Tia or Colleen if you have questions.
Engagement News
On behalf of the engagement team, the Behavior/Incident Referral Report and the TPlus Behavior Form are for levels 3-4 behavior incidents. You are welcome to fill out the form online and email to Erin Ditmarson, or print out the document and return it to Erin's mailbox. These forms can be used for any student, and are meant to document levels 3-4 behaviors only. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact a member of the engagement team. Thank you!
Hmong Affinity Groups
We are proposing to formalize a Hmong Affinity Staff group in Minneapolis Public Schools that is inclusive of staff who identify as “Hmong” from the schools and the central office. The term “staff” is open to all staff in the school district. We feel that it is important to come together as Hmong staff to foster and build relationships and to support one another.
The purpose and goals of the group is to network with each other, share relevant information, updates, and resources as necessary to support student academic achievement and the retention of MPS students and staff. We aim to provide a safe and welcoming space for all those who attend the meeting.
We plan to meet one-time a month with specific topic to discuss and share information.
In order to be inclusive to ensure that school staff can attend the meeting, we are asking you to provide information and feedback so we can accommodate dates and times that will work for people to meet once a month.
https://forms.gle/32ZxAsgCEVSMENqy8
Jenny Yang
Engagement, Education, and Outreach Specialist
Phone: 612-668-0233
Email: Jenny.Yang@mpls.k12.mn.us
We have tons of postings on Career Training opportunities, Employers who are hiring, and Job Fairs in our area.
Work coordinators can assist students with resume creation (& updates) and individual job search efforts. Please encourage students to check out the listings!
Valic at Transition Plus on 10/9 for MPS 403(b) reviews
I will be at Transition Plus NEXT WEEK Wednesday October 9th to meet with the staff regarding the Minneapolis Public Schools 403(b) plan. THIS WILL BE MY ONLY VISIT THIS FALL.
Please register below and come visit me if you would like to:
- Find out how to take advantage of the MPS District match! FREE $$$ FOR YOU!!
- Receive your vitality points
- Learn more about the MPS 403b retirement plan
- Enroll in the plan
- Increase your contribution
- Review your account
- If you have retirement or other financial planning questions
- Find out if you are “on track” to retire
Click here to register: Register
Have a great day!
Eric Gross
VALIC Financial Advisors, Inc.
Financial Advisor | Upper Midwest District
Benefits Fair
We will be having our 8th annual Benefits Fair on Monday, October 14th, 2019. The fair will be held at the Davis Center from 1:00pm to 5:30pm in the assembly room. Please see the flyer below for more information. Employees can enter their name in a drawing for a number of prizes that are donated by vendors.
The Benefits Fair kicks off Open Enrollment which will be from October 14th through November 1st for coverage effective 1/1/2020. Keep an eye out in your MPS email for updated information regarding insurance plans, updated rates, etc.
Greetings from the school counseling department!
October is College Knowledge Month!
Please contact your school counselor, Rachel Prince, if you would like her to present about post-secondary opportunities such as PSEO, Job Corps, short-term trainings, Power of You at Minneapolis College, etc.
(And don't forget to invite Rachel to all relevant IEP meetings! )
On October 9th, at 6:30pm, Jason Walz will be celebrating the release of his new young adult graphic novel, Last Pick: Born to Run. Stop by Red Ballon Bookshop to be one of the first to pick up a copy and have it signed.
Aliens have invaded our planet and have taken most of the earth's population away. They have left behind the one's they have deemed to be too old, too young, or too "disabled". It's up to those that have been discarded to fight back and save the universe.
Last Pick: Born to Run continues the action packed story that Kirkus Reviews labeled one of the "best science fiction books of 2018".
You can find out more about the books here.
We have already come to what should be the last week of Self-Awareness work. The following week our focus will be on Self-Management. I’m happy to visit classrooms to do a circle on this topic if you would like.
There have been some reports of bullying within the last week. Please let me know if you become aware of this going on. It’s important to address it early and purposefully.
Have a great week!
Tia
If students have shopping bags with them when they enter a store, they are welcome to leave them at the front counter while they do their shopping. This will also be communicated to South High.
PSWE
In partnership with SEL activity ideas, PSWE offers tips and ideas for accommodations and approaches to support your inclusion. This past week, our SEL coach shared 3 main parts where SEL can be included in your Advisories. Here are some tips to engage all learners.
- Warm welcome: Example Question of the day - literacy (include that question in written format, ask the question orally, AND offer visual supports to non-readers and EL students to provide social context). To universally support all students, consider offering a non-writing way to participate using the visuals for them to answer or select their choice.
- Engaging practices: Consider including at least 3 forms of multisensory approaches to engage all students in your lesson.
- Orally: for auditory learners
- Visual supports of your lessons and video for visual learners (such as board-maker online lesson components, picture symbols for students in crisis to make choices and know the structure of your lessons).
- And tactile approaches to support self-regulation: fidgets, exercise balls for those needing sensory input to support regulation, and small classroom breaks for students to reset before returning to the group.
- Optimistic Close: Consider a physical component in your optimistic close such as a dance-off (just an example) which helps many students needing a positive physical outlet before switching classroom. This supports the expenditure of physical energy prior to entering a crowded hallway and elevator or stairwell.
For any questions or ideas where you've used accommodations or adaptations for your students, please contact: Christina Brantner (T307), PSWE lead
Food Service News
Breakfast sandwiches:
Wednesday mornings $2.50
Staff lunch meal deal:
Thursdays $5.50
Bakery Orders:
There’s still plenty of time to get your order in for a special treat! Bring cookies, pumpkin bars, a Bundt cake to that next football party of family event. Yum!
Please Clean up after yourself
If you take something - put it back where you found it. The engineers have been continually looking for door stops- if you borrow one - put it back. If more need to be ordered - let me know!
Please clean up after yourself when using the break room and especially the microwaves. Also, remind students to clean their mess if they spill something in the microwave.
Public Service Announcement
VRS Counselors
- Anna Pietsch (replacing Amber G) anna.pietsch@state.mn.us
- Alamin Wahila alamin.wahila@state.mn.us
- Cheryl Delery cheryl.delery@state.mn.us
Please reach out with questions or needs!
Coming Up at TPlus
Tuesday--------------- Team 1 Mtg----------------------------8:30-9:30---- Jeremiah's room
Wednesday---------- Team 3 Mtg----------------------------8:30-9:30---- Brad's room
Thursday-------------- Team 2 Mtg----------------------------8:30-9:30---- Tom's room
Friday------------------- Latinx Celebration/ Salsa------1:30-3:30
October 14------------ Picture Day
October 16 ---------- Flu Clinic---------------------------------------------11:30 - 2:30
Third Friday of the Month-------Newsletter Submissions for Families
3 Strings Band
Guitar Concert and Fundraising Event Wednesday, October 9th
A group of TPlus students are part of this band!
The 3 Strings Band, one of Southwest’s many guitar ensembles, has been selected out of hundreds of applicants to perform the keynote address at the National Association of Music Educators Conference in Orlando, Florida this November. The group, under the direction of guitar educator, Ruth LeMay, will demonstrate innovative inclusive music education. The group must raise $58,000 to take 54 people, including 16 students with special needs, parents, staff and student support to Orlando in the two months. They have raised $39,000 and are working on the final $19,000.
A concert and fundraiser will take place in the Southwest High School Commons on Wednesday, October 9th, at 7:00 p.m. and feature many Southwest guitar ensembles, including The 3 Strings. Fundraising will include a silent auction, homemade bake sale, ice cream truck, and pizza. Requested donation is $10.
If you're not able to attend but would still like to donate please visit their gofundme page.