11/15/23 Wednesday Announcements
SPPS School Counselors
School Counselor Leadership Vision Statement
School Counselor Leadership Mission Statement
The SPPS Counseling Leadership Team focuses on equity, data-driven practices, and ASCA alignment to support school counselors through leadership, advocacy, collaboration and systemic change so that all SPPS students are positively impacted by an equitable comprehensive school counseling program which inspires students to think critically, pursue their dreams, and change the world.
All Counselors
Re-thinking Thanksgiving from Office of Equity
This Thanksgiving, use these resources to help your students understand the importance of gratitude, while interrupting the harmful narratives and stereotypes that often surround this holiday.
Celebrate Transgender Awareness Week: November 13-19
Q Quest is this week! This is a MNSOC-Q event that SPPS OOE offers to our LGBTQIA+ students. For more information, check out this link.
Wednesday, November 15: MNSOC-Q Quest High School
Thursday,November 16: MNSOC-Q Quest Middle School
Additionally, check out these educator resources from GLSEN. Supportive educators save students’ lives. Having just one visibly supportive educator in a school can ensure that LGBTQ students feel safe, welcomed, and encouraged to learn. All students deserve to know they are valued, respected and part of our community.
Reclaim! LGBTQ Youth
Check out this list of resources for queer and trans youth compiled by Reclaim! LGBTQ Youth.
Neighborhood House Winter Fresh Produce Distribution
Join Neighborhood House at Metropolitan State University for FREE fresh fruits and vegetables all winter long! Translated Flyers
Elementary School Counselors
Caring for yourself, Caring for others
In my site visits and conversations over the past few weeks, I am aware that things are really challenging in buildings right now. You are doing so much for so many and sometimes it doesn’t feel like progress is being made. Your presence in the lives of students matters, your smiles, hugs and encouragement matter. Do not ever hesitate to reach out to me if you need a reminder of this. I am truly honored to work with each of you.
Thank You
Thank you for a wonderful meeting yesterday! I appreciate your engagement and positive collaboration. What an amazing group of professionals you are! Some resources:
Mental Health Teams check in (if you didn’t have a chance to complete)
Network for the Development of Children of African Descent
Network for the Development of Children of African Descent - offers a free reading program at most St. Paul Libraries. Please share this information with families.
Copy of SankofaSPPS Flyer (8.5 × 11 in) (2).pdf
Middle School Counselors
PD/PLC Tuesday, November 14th 8am (Colborne A/B)
I am looking forward to seeing everyone next week! We will have a combined meeting with the HS counselors. This will give us an opportunity to collaborate around the 8th-9th HS transition for our students during our break out time.
Thank you to Morgan and Alyssa for bringing some snacks.
Individual Advising 1:1 PLP for 8th Graders
As I visit schools, I continue to see evidence of counselors doing intentional individual advising with our 8th grade students. Thank you for working hard on this! Let’s keep pushing to ensure our students receive this experience.
It is very important to document this meeting in Campus as PLP Individual Advising. As of Nov. 1, only 9% of 8th graders received this service.
To determine which students still need the PLP Individual Advising at your school, you can run the following report in Campus using Ad Hoc Reports.
Missing Individual PLP Individual Advising in Counselor Contact Log
Infinite Campus > Ad Hoc Reports > Data Export > Counselor Secondary click on the plus sign > Students Needing PLP Individual Advising > Export CSV (open in Excel and filter for 8th grade list)
MS Counselor Sharing Lesson Slide Decks and Resources
Add your slides to this document so we can build our shared lesson library. Check out the work of others and consider changes to your lessons, as needed.
High School Counselors
Thank you
Hello High School Counselors,
Thank you for all your hard work in the opening months of school. I am looking forward to Tuesday’s PD/PLC and seeing you all! If your team is willing to bring some treats to share for Tuesday or another upcoming meeting, please feel free to sign up here.
DCPP Info on the One Stop Hub & Reminder
Please remember to check your school’s approval list for DCPP Spring 2024 Courses. Susan Laskowski is working hard to fully roster the classes and needs your help in knowing which students are able to participate. If you need your school’s approval list, please e-mail Susan.
In working with Susan, we have added information about the DCPP to the HS One Stop Hub. It is located inColumn B, Line 23 of the HS Tab.
If there are any more links that should be included, please let us know.
Office of Equity is Looking for Youth Ambassadors (great leadership opportunity for students!)
The Office of Equity is looking for students interested in being Youth Ambassadors this year. They will receive training with us on 6 Saturdays and one evening just before the Equity Summit this spring, and they will have a role at the Beyond Our Walls Equity Summit this spring. Students will receive a stipend of $375 for their time doing this work with us.
Our first session is Saturday December 16, 2023 from 12-4.
Applications are due to us by Sunday night November 26, 2023
Students must be 16 years old to apply.
Brochure: Please share with students; contains a QR code link to the google form application.
Trainings from Get Ready and the National Postsecondary Strategy Institute (NPSI)
FAFSA Completion Strategies: Navigating US DOE Changes (virtual)
When? January 18th, 2024
Supporting Graduates Postsecondary Summer Transition (virtual)
When? April 17th, 2024
Click here for Brochure and Links to register
SPPS Grading Calendar Q1 Grade posting date change
The Q1 grades will be posted on Monday, November 20th instead of Friday, November 17th. This is a one business day change.
Grades Tab in Campus Info
There was a question about the Campus grading tab. Here is some clarification: In the above image, the last entry shows a D- for the Course Grade in Green, this means the grade has been posted by the teacher in Campus. Also shown is a Course grade of a C- and an N that are in yellow, this means that the teacher has not yet posted the grade in Campus.
HBCU College Fair TOMORROW
HBCU College Fair
Central High School
Thursday, November 16th
5:00- 8:00pm
Upcoming Events
Middle and Senior High School PD/PLC
- Tuesday November 21st 8- 11:30am
- @ 360 Colborne A & B
All Counselor PD/PLC
- Tuesday December 12th, 8- 11:30am
- Virtual
Celebrations
Happy birthday to all celebrating your birthday in October!
If your name is missing and you'd like to be celebrated, email Vanessa so she can include you!
Ayoub Nigatu 11/01
Melinda Vaillant 11/02
Marissa McClure 11/04
Rosa Miyashiro Matsumoto 11/04
Samina Ali 11/08
Teresa Pfab 11/11
Bre Gakuska 11/03
Cynthia Kaste 11/14
Brooke Hardman 11/20
Kim Rinehart 11/23