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January 24, 2020
ISD 709 School News
2020 MN Teacher of the Year Nominees
Congratulations to Linda Puglisi (Stowe Elementary), Nicole Jensen (Lincoln Park Middle School), and Brian Jungman (Denfeld High School) nominated by the Duluth Federation of Teachers for the 2020 Minnesota Teacher of the Year Award!The three teachers were honored at a reception held at Denfeld High School and each received a special proclamation from the City of Duluth.
A state Teacher of the Year will be announced by Education Minnesota in May.
The MN Teacher of the Year program, now in its 56th year, is the oldest and most prestigious recognition program in Minnesota to honor excellence in education. The program chooses one teacher to represent Minnesota's thousands of excellent educators.
#Inspire709 #ExcellenceInEducation #DuluthTeachersRock
Welcome to our Student School Board Representatives for 2020: Phoenix Ocean, Denfeld and Nabiha Imtiaz, Duluth East! Student Representatives participate in school board meetings, ask questions and provide a student perspective to the Board. Thank you for your willingness to serve in this important position.
#Inspire709
www.ISD709.org
Help Develop The Superintendent Leadership Profile
The profile will describe district strengths, challenges and goals along with the characteristics, abilities and experiences a superintendent will need to be successful in Duluth.
The Board’s search firm, BWP & Associates, is collecting input through online surveys, focus groups with community groups and organizations, and a walk-in focus group for the public.
- Online Survey: Available through 12Midnight January 24. Take the Survey!
- Community Walk-in Focus Group: Monday January 27, 2020, 5:30PM - 6:30PM
- Denfeld High School, 401 N. 44th Ave West, hosted by BWP & Associates.
View the Superintendent Search Timeline and other Search information.
ISD 709 Boundary Study: Survey Open Thru Feb 3
Over 10,000 people have visited the Boundary Study web page and over 2000 surveys have been completed. Attendance at the community meetings at Denfeld and Duluth East this week numbered over 650.
The Boundary Study is a process and opportunities for public input will continue along the way. Feedback will be used to create another draft scenario and a recommendation will be made for the School Board's consideration. Public input through listening sessions will be held before Board decisions are made. An implementation plan related to the recommendations would be researched, developed and reviewed by the Board and community before proposed changes are put in place. Many thanks to all who are participating in the Boundary Study process.
- Community Information & Online Survey: Survey available through 8AM February 3, 2020
Duluth School Board meeting schedules are available online and board meetings are streamed and archived online: www.isd709.org/district/School-Board
Do you know people getting ready to send their child to high school, middle school or kindergarten in September 2020?
- Families can enroll new students online any time, learn more. This includes parents getting ready to send children to Kindergarten in September 2020.
- 2020-21 Course Catalogs for middle and high school are online now, just in time for registration.
Middle School Registration, January 22 - February 23
Kindergarten Roundup Events, March & April
During the MN School Board Association Annual Conference, ISD 709 presented a workshop called "Meeting Your Communities Call for Increased School Safety" and included representatives from Duluth Public Schools and the City of Duluth, sharing their journey to fund, implement and coordinate efforts to prevent and respond to potential threats in our community. The information was presented by Jeff Horton, Assistant Superintendent; Dave Spooner, Facilities Manager; Jason Barsness, Health, Safety and Environmental Management Coordinator: Rosie Loeffler-Kemp and Alanna Oswald, Duluth School Board; Sergeant Mike LaFontaine, Duluth Police Department.
Mushing Morrows
Sawyer and Hazel are students in Misaabekong and have been mushing sled dogs for three years. This is something that they enjoy doing and take pride in the native culture and history that the sport represents in this region.
In the 2020 Cub Run, Sawyer placed 1st in the 2.6 mile race with Elmer and Earhardt and Hazel tied for 2nd in the 1.5 mile race with Earhardt and Battleship, congratulations!
As part of the Cub Run awards ceremony Sawyer presented (in both English and Ojibwe) the 7 Grandfather Teachings to his 20 fellow mushers (ages 3-12 years old), he did a great job sharing his language and knowledge with others.
Thank you, Edye Binesiikwe Washington, for the information and thank you, Ambers Impressions, for the photos.
#Inspire709
Congratulations, CJ Ham!
Minnesota Vikings fullback, Augustana College and Denfeld High School grad CJ Ham named a Pro Bowl alternate and will play in the NFL's annual all-star classic Sunday at 2PM in Orlando. Congratulations, CJ!#Inspire709
Future Denfeld Hunters in grades 6, 7 and 8 performed beautiful music at the Winter Choir Concert at Lincoln Park Middle School in front of a packed house! Denfeld teacher Paul Christenson provided accompaniment, many thanks.
#Inspire709 #BeautifulMusic
www.ISD709.org/Lincoln-Park
Solidworks Certification Success
On their first day off after finals Denfeld and Duluth East students in Donald Simons's Engineering classes took the Solidworks certification test. The CSWA is an Associate level test and takes about three hours, the CSWP is a Professional level test and takes about 3 hours and 20 minutes. These tests are a National standard test in Engineering Design within Solidworks.
Twenty-six students took part, thirteen passed the CSWA with two perfect scores and three passed the CSWP, congratulations!
"I am extremely proud of all of them, for their commitment and wanting to learn," said Mr. Simons. "Even those who didn't pass realized what they need to do, so they can pass next time. These tests are usually only given to college students, but we have changed the standards and are moving forward to the success of our students."
Thank you, Donald Simons, for the photos and information.
#Inspire709
Spotlight: Denfeld Hockey
Hunter Buddies
Members of the Denfeld Hockey team and a few of their Hunter Buddies at the Essentia Duluth Heritage Center. Thanks to Gary Morgan Park, Duluth Heights & Piedmont youth hockey for the visit!#Inspire709 #InspireTheFuture
www.ISD709.org/Denfeld
From Caitlyn Hakes, PACER:
ABCs of the IEP: Making the Individualized Education Program Work for Your Child
Friday February 25, 2020 6:30PM - 8:30PM
LaQuinta Inn & Suites 1805 Maple Grove Rd Duluth, MN 55811
Free workshop will help parents understand how to use the Individualized Education Program (IEP) to benefit their child. To participate in the workshop, parents will need to bring a copy of each of the following:
• Their child’s most recent special education evaluation report
• Their child’s current IEP
If an ASL interpreter is needed, contact PACERWorkshops@PACER.org or call (952) 838-9000 with 48 hrs. notice. This workshop is funded in part by a grant from the Minnesota Department of Education.
To register: PACER.org/workshops or (952) 838-9000
ALC Blood Drive January 30
You're Invited: (& all your family and friends, seriously, invite everyone!)
What/When? Duluth Public Schools & Area Learning Center (ALC) Blood Drive
Thursday, January 30 from 7:30AM to 2:30PM
Where? Bus parked in 3rd St. & Lake Ave. parking lot
Click HERE to schedule online or contact Jackie Dolentz at (218) 336-8704, ext. 1008 or jacqueline.dolentz@isd709.org
HUGE BONUS: For every unit we collect, $10 goes towards a scholarship for an ALC student (minimum of 50 units required between our 3 blood drives).
We collected 18 units at our 10/23/19 drive!!
SAVE THE DATES for our future blood drives (same time and location):
04.30.20.19 (Thursday)
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