Weekly Update
Duluth Public Schools News May 27, 2022
From Superintendent John Magas
Dear families,
The past few days have certainly presented both the bright and positive aspects of humanity, as well as things as dark as can be imagined.
We all learned in horror about the senseless mass shooting at a Texas elementary school on Tuesday afternoon resulting in 20 students and two adults being murdered in their school. Schools must represent a safe place for all learners and that is why the safety of our students and staff remains our highest priority.
When horrific events like this happen it can increase the number of threats to schools across the nation, and Duluth Public Schools is no exception. Recently there was a threat made to students at Lincoln Park Middle School and I want to assure you that the district and the Duluth Police Department will continue to take appropriate steps to ensure all of our schools and students are safe.
Our hearts go out to the families, friends, students and educators in Uvalde.
It is often in the times of great challenges that we have even greater appreciation for the good in the world, and this week we had much to be grateful for.
The Special Olympics Unified Track and Field event at East High School Tuesday could not have been more uplifting! Students with special needs from Duluth, Proctor, Cook County and Cloquet participated in a variety of events with great joy and enthusiasm. Peer volunteers supported and encouraged our athletes, while many teachers and other staff members also assisted with the event. A perfectly warm and sunny day, and glorious view of Lake Superior made the day even more special.
Wednesday night, we held the 2022 Goldfine Gold Star Teacher Awards at Lincoln Park Middle School. This was the first in-person appreciation event of its kind since before the pandemic!
Nominees included Jebeh Edmunds (Congdon), Michelle Bowker (Myers-Wilkins), Paul Manoppo (Lincoln Park), Lisa Lochner (Homecroft), Cindy Sutherland (Piedmont), Kara (KC) Pavlisich, Heather Kemp (Lakewood), Linda Puglisi (Stowe), Peter Graves (East), Amy Auran (Laura MacArthur), Moira Olson (Elementary Residentials), Alison Wood (Denfeld), Sue Janchar-Baker (Lester Park), Jeffrey Stork (Secondary Residentials), Heidi Schuchman (Lowell) and Mike Zwak (Area Learning Center, AEO).
One elementary and one secondary educator were selected from the 16 nominees, all of whom are deserving! So congratulations to Denfeld teacher Alison Wood and Piedmont teacher Cindy Sutherland!
Closing with two more positive points; our COVID-19 rates in schools are going down and we are hopeful that we will be able to hold mask optional graduations, and we have been approved to hold two optional 5-11-year-old booster clinics on June 8. Once again, we will be one of the first school districts to be able to offer such clinics in the state and nation. More information will be shared very soon.
I want to thank all staff for stepping up this week and wearing masks once again. We realize wearing masks has its drawbacks but it has really helped our COVID-19 numbers within the district and it’s most appreciated.
Enjoy the long weekend!
Best regards,
John Magas
If you have questions or thoughts about what's going on in our school district, email:
Alison Wood and Cindy Sutherland were named 2022 Goldfine Gold Star Teachers
Congratulations to all of our Gold Star Teacher Nominees
Barry Fischer was named Assistant Principal of the Year
So if you see Assistant Principal Fischer around tell him congratulations on the award!
Thank you to staff from a parent
Thank you for all you do to show our kids you love them, support them, and teach them. Thank you for caring and showing up. I'm a mom of 2 kids. One is in school at Stowe and her little brother will be in pre-k next year.
In response to the school shooting in Uvalde, I need to let you know that I see you. I appreciate you. and my heart is heavy for you. I see the uphill work you do with the limited resources, limited public, and limited parent support.
I see the constraints you operate under. I know the responsibility you carry to protect our children, keep them safe, keep them fed, keep them clothed, keep them healthy, and keep them loved. I see you.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Mother of 2 kids in school
Duluth East hosts first Special Olympics Unified Sports Track & Field Day
Duluth East High School hosted a Special Olympics Unified Sports Track & Field Day Tuesday and we couldn’t have asked for better weather!
Unified Sports is a program that assigns Special Olympics athletes and athletes without disabilities to the same teams for training and competition.
Students from Cook County Isd166 & Community Education, Cloquet Middle School, Cloquet High School, Proctor Public Schools and Duluth East High School participated
Duluth East is working to become an official Unified Champion School.
Education Field Trips
Meet & Greet with author Angeline Boulley
Welcoming local teens and young adults for a meet and greet with Angeline Boulley, author of the "Firekeeper's Daughter." Free to attend and no RSVP is required. Guests are encouraged to bring a copy of the book if they have one. Light refreshments will be available.
Sunday, June 5, 2022 | 3:30 PM
Dr. Robert Powless Cultural Center
202 W 2nd St, Duluth, MN 55802
A Long Walk to Water
22-23 Duluth Public Schools Blended Learning Form
A new blended learning agreement is required each year to ensure access for your student to all of the licensed materials and their device.
If your student is attending summer school the form will need to be filled out before they begin. If they are not attending summer school, it needs to be filled out before the beginning of next school year.
Get it done for each of your students now so you don’t have to worry about it in the fall!
Click on the link below.
Denfeld Engineering & Manufacturing students shine at competition
Denfeld finished in First Place, winning the team welding competition! Welding team members Grant Thompson finished 3rd place individually, and Clarissa Thompson finished in 8th place individually.
The team also had success in the CAD competition, with Denfeld student Calvin Kinziger taking home First Place honors.
Congrats to all of our Engineering & Manufacturing students. They did an amazing job competing today!
Looking for Homebound Teacher
Please see the homebound teacher responsibility sheet below. If you have any questions or want to know more information, please contact Mikilia (Kayla) Carroll at mikilia.carroll@isd709.org.
Laura MacArthur student council visits the Mayor
Summer meals are available to all kids
Breakfast will be served from 8-10:30 a.m. and lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Laura MacArthur Elementary, Lincoln Park Middle School, Lowell Elementary, Myers-Wilkins Elementary, Piedmont Elementary and Stowe Elementary.
If you have questions, please call 218-336-8707.
Americans can order additional free at-home, rapid COVID-19 tests
The tests available for order:
- Are rapid antigen at-home tests, not PCR.
- Can be taken anywhere.
- Give results within 30 minutes (no lab drop-off required).
- Work whether or not you have COVID-19 symptoms.
- Work whether or not you are up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines.
- Are also referred to as self-tests or over-the-counter (OCT) tests.
You should take an at-home test:
- If you begin having COVID-19 symptoms like fever, sore throat, runny nose, or loss of taste or smell, or
- At least 5 days after you come into close contact with someone with COVID-19, or
- When you're going to gather with a group of people, especially those who are at risk for severe disease or may not be up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines.
You can also get a rapid antigen or PCR saliva test at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) for free Tuesday-Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.and Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Students should stay home if they are sick
For the safety of our students, staff and families, we ask that you please continue to screen your child daily for any symptoms of illness and keep them home if they are ill. COVID-19, Influenza, Strep Throat, Norovirus, and basic colds are still present in our community and affecting some of our students.
If your student is experiencing any COVID-19 like symptoms, please keep your student home and test as soon as possible. Please review Duluth Public Schools district webpage for our current COVID-19 guidelines.
District COVID-19 numbers
These numbers reflect positive COVID-19 cases by site. The total includes all self-reported positive cases based on the date the case was reported to the school district. Not every person who reported a positive case was in a district building while contagious. These numbers include at-home COVID-19 test kits.
The CDC and Minnesota Department of Health only report positive cases where the person was inside a school building while infectious. The department’s numbers do not include positive cases determined by an at-home COVID-19 test kit.
They do this because there is not a medical professional present to:
Confirm who is taking the test,
That the home test has not expired,
That a proper sample is taken and more.
The CDC and Minnesota Department of Health is also reporting numbers that are at least a week old. If you have questions regarding these numbers, feel free to send your questions to covidquestions@isd709.org.
Detailed updates are available from the Minnesota Department of Health and St. Louis County Department of Health.
Stay Connected
Email: info@ISD709.org
Website: www.ISD709.org
Location: 4316 Rice Lake Road, Duluth, MN, USA
Phone: 218-336-8700
Facebook: www.facebook.com/duluthpublicschools/
Twitter: @Duluth_Schools
Communications Officer Adelle Wellens
Email: adelle.wellens@isd709.org
Website: www.ISD709.org
Location: 4316 Rice Lake Road, Duluth, MN, USA
Phone: 218-336-8735