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From the Office of the Superintendent 1/24/18
ISD 709 School News for Families
***REMINDER: Friday January 26 is a Staff Development Day for the Duluth Public Schools. No school for students Friday January 26.***
Thank you, Duluth Public School Paraprofessionals
Governor Mark Dayton has proclaimed the week of January 22, 2018, as Paraprofessional Recognition Week. Many thanks to our Duluth Public School paraprofessionals, working hard every day to make sure every child has the education they need to succeed in school and life.
A record 167 candidates were announced this year, five from the Duluth Public Schools:
Congratulations, Holly Bowen-Bailey, Jessica Guse, Kathryn Johnson, Elizabeth Kersting-Peterson, Cindy Upton!
Denfeld Student Takes 1st Place at Speech Tournament
Miracle Moore (left) took 1st Place in Poetry at the Grand Rapids Speech Tournament. Speech team members also earned 2nd in Drama, 3rd in Prose, 4th in Reading and 5th in Humor. Lots of fun and support for each other, congratulations! Thanks to Jill Lofald for the photos.
Duluth East Diver Qualifies for All American Consideration
Congratulations Miles Rohrbaugh, he took 1st Place out of 21 divers at MN Section 7AA True Team in Blaine this week with a score of 478.75, qualifying for All American consideration and setting a new True Team record. Our Duluth swimmers took 4th overall.
January School Board Agenda Items - Detailed Information Online
(This is not a comprehensive list of Board agenda items)
Comp Ed Resolution: The Board considered a draft resolution regarding how Compensatory Education funding is allocated. The draft resolution reflects a community request to see funds stay with students who are most in need of achievement support. Currently, a portion of Comp Ed funds are distributed among schools to help manage class size. The Board approved the resolution which will be incorporated into the FY 2019 Budget Planning process.
2018 Duluth Public Schools Legislative Platform: The Board approved its 2018 Legislative priorities, they'll be shared with our state and local representatives for consideration during the current legislative session.
Priorities include, but are not limited to:
>>School Based Early Education Programs: Fully fund the expansion of school-based early education programs allowing school district flexibility in implementation and design to best meet the needs of the local community
>>Special Education: Implement a timeline to fully fund special education commitments made by state statute
>>Mental Health Professionals: Increase State grants to fully fund mental health professionals on an ongoing basis
>>Mandate Reform & Reduction: Mandates that have negative, unintended consequences should be considered for repeal or revision
Denfeld Music Listening Team Heading to State
Congratulations to Logan Griggs, Hannah Feyen and Phoenix Ocean! Last week the Minnesota Music Listening Contest held Regional competitions with over 150 teams competing statewide. Denfeld's team took 1st Place in our region and came in 5th place overall, earning a spot in the State competition at Augsburg College in February.
This competition is a "knowledge bowl" of music with a study guide and listening samples participants must master. Thank you, Clare Chopp, for the info and photos.
National Award-Winning Author Visits Lincoln Park
Gene Luen Yang visited Lincoln Park Middle School students this week, many thanks to the Duluth Public Library and UMD for funding this extraordinary opportunity!
Yang's 2006 book American Born Chinese became the first graphic novel nominated for a National Book Award and first to win the American Library Association’s Printz Award. His 2013 graphic novel Boxers & Saints was nominated for a National Book Award and won the L.A. Times Book Prize. In 2016 the Library of Congress, Every Child A Reader, and the Children’s Book Council appointed him National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.
This fall and winter our high school Construction Technology students worked with LSC to build a Duluth-area home. It’s hands-on work, providing real-world experience, much of it outdoors. Despite bone chilling cold weather, our students didn’t want to leave the work unfinished.
Together, The Boldt Company, APi Group, Inc., United Piping, Inc., The Jamar Company, Northland Constructors and APEX donated essential cold weather work gear, including jackets, bibs, hats, gloves and safety glasses.
With appropriate gear, the students continued their work – and the donations will be used for years to come. Our CTE program devised a check-out system to ensure students can access the gear they need.
As mentioned by APEX President and CEO Brian Hanson, our region is experiencing a shortage of young people entering the trades and many local companies have good paying positions waiting to be filled.
Our Career and Technical Education programs can help connect students and their families to attractive career options in the trades. Many thanks to these companies for their generous support of students and of this program.
Cabin Fever? Sign Up for a 2018 Winter/Spring Community Education Class!
For details & online registration click link:: http://bit.ly/2EbaDJL
How about teaching a class, sharing your special skill, talent, hobby or expertise with the community? For more information, contact one of our Community Education Coordinators at 218-336-8760 or email communityeducation@ISD709.org. You can also sign up for Becoming a Community Ed Instructor, class #2100. The class is free, you'll gain important insights into the process of becoming a Community Ed instructor.
19th Annual Steps to the Future Powwow
Thursday, January 25, 2018
Myers-Wilkins Elementary School
1027 North 8th Avenue East, Duluth
Schedule of Events
4:30pm - Career Booths Open
5:00pm - Feast
6:00pm - Grand Entry
Only invited drums and dancers in regalia will receive honoraria
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
*No Smoking, drugs or alcohol*
For more information: Duluth Community School Collaborative, 336-8860 x8
Denfeld High School Presents:
An Evening of Fine ArtsThursday February 8, 2018 6:00PM
Denfeld High School
401 N. 44th Avenue West, Duluth, MN
Suggested Donation: $5.00
Featuring Student Talents from:
The DHS Music Department
Denfeld Speech Team
Denfeld's Visual Arts Department
Denfeld Theater
Questions? Call 218-336-8830 ext. 1028
Bring Your Coats, Hats & Gloves!
Fun song and video, great job by students, teachers at Minneapolis Public Schools - hope all those out-of-state Super Bowl visitors are listening!
Thank You, Essentia Health
Essentia Health donated 500 Question-Persuade-Refer (QPR) booklets to Duluth Public Schools to support suicide prevention and intervention.
The gift will support training in our district for the next five years. Certified staff take part in suicide prevention training as part of their re-licensure requirements. The gift and training is associated with our St. Louis County Public Health partnership.
We're proud to join dozens of Duluth organizations to help support the work of the Duluth Trafficking Task Force. January is Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month, there are still several learning opportunities left.
All events for the month can be found on the News & Events page at: http://www.enditduluth.org/events/
Facebook: Duluth January Trafficking Prevention/Awareness Month
Stay Connected
Email: info@ISD709.org
Website: www.ISD709.org
Location: 215 N. 1st Avenue East, Duluth MN
Phone: 218-336-8700
Facebook: www.facebook.com/duluthpublicschools/
Twitter: @ISD709News