----------------------------------
From the Office of the Superintendent 5/22/20
Weekly Briefing for ISD 709 Faculty & Staff
Dear Colleagues,
We have outstanding teachers in the Duluth Public Schools. This is the 14th year for the Goldfine Gold Star Teacher Award, honoring all teachers and lifting up inspiring individuals.
Manley and Lillian Goldfine established the Award to recognize ISD 709 teachers who stimulate the intellectual development of our students and provide a strong foundation for educational, personal and professional success.
The final 2020 Award recipient will be announced Wed May 27 and receive $5,000 from the Goldfine Family and the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation.
Congratulations, 2020 Nominees:
>>Doug Antonich, Ordean East
>>Katie Britton, Lincoln Park
>>Scott Forbort, Duluth Area Learning center
>>Ed Lewis, Denfeld
>>Kim Olson, Duluth East
>>Barb Paquette, Residential/Day Treatment
2020 Gold Star Teacher VIRTUAL Award Ceremony
Wed May 27, 2020 7:00PM
Watch the Ceremony Online
Wishing you and your family a safe, restful holiday weekend.
Kind regards,
Bill
If you have questions or thoughts about what's going on in our school district, email: Superintendents@ISD709.org. Twitter: @billgronseth
Update: Free Breakfast/Lunch Distribution, New Food Items
Free breakfast & lunch service will pause for Memorial Day, Monday May 25. Service will resume on Tuesday May 26.
New items are being used in the free bagged lunches available M-F at school bus hubs and elementary school sites.
They’re included a couple days a week and are foods that can be reheated or baked at home. Instructions are included in the bag.
Menu at School Bus Hubs & Elementary Sites:
>>5/26 Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches
>>5/27 Assorted Meat Sandwiches
>>5/28 Frozen Garlic Cheesey Bread
>>5/29 Frozen Chicken Strips or Chicken Nuggets
At Lincoln Park & Ordean East MS, Denfeld & Duluth East HS sites a hot item will be available for pickup along with the bagged lunch on the following days:>>5/28 Hot Hamburger on Bun
>>5/29 Hot Chicken Strips, nuggets or Chix Patty on Bun
Free Breakfast/Lunch Distribution Locations, TimesGrading During the Pandemic
The MN Department of Education directed school districts to review and adjust
how grades are reported during the pandemic. In their guiding document, "Creating Equitable Grading Systems Under COVID-19," they said "This unprecedented moment in public education has created stress, anxiety, and uncertainty for educators, families, and students...educators will need to design new assessment and grading systems that cause no harm and minimize long term detrimental impacts for students."
Elementary K-5:
For end of year report cards, standards-based grading will still be used. In order to account for the changes resulting from the pandemic and distance learning, we are including two additional marks to report progress. For standards that were not able to be fully assessed or taught due to distance learning, additional marks will be used as follows:
“IP” for In Progress: when standards have continued to be worked on but not assessed during distance learning
“DL” for Distance Learning: where little to no evidence was collected or the standard was unable to be addressed due to emergency distance learning
“DL” may also be used for performance level under successful learners. Report cards will also have this information included.
Middle School 6-8:
For non-credit bearing courses, end of year grading will be pass “P” or no mark “NM.” Neither impact GPA. For credit bearing courses, students will have the opportunity to receive a traditional letter grade of A, B, C, D. This would impact GPA. If lieu of an F, students would receive no mark, indicating that credit was not earned, and GPA is not impacted. If a student wishes, they may choose a pass “P” in lieu of a letter grade. This would not impact GPA. If a student wishes to choose this option, they should reach out to their school counselor.
High School 9-12:
Final Semester Grades:
For credit bearing courses, students will have the opportunity to receive a traditional letter grade of A, B, C, D. This would impact GPA. If lieu of an F, students would receive no mark, indicating that credit was not earned, and GPA is not impacted. If a student wishes, they may choose a pass “P” in lieu of a letter grade. This would not impact GPA. If a student wishes to choose this option, they should reach out to their school counselor. For non-credit bearing courses, end of year grading will be pass “P” or no mark “NM.” Neither impact GPA.
Final exams will not be part of final semester grades unless required through a post-secondary course.
The following note will be included on all report cards and transcripts:
Grades that are documented during the time period of March 16 through June 30 of 2020 reflect the distance learning period resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Future use of these grades for academic placement, admission, acceleration, or remediation is discouraged and should only be used with caution after balancing the information against student performance in other grading periods.
ISD 709 News
Class of 2020 Denfeld High School Virtual Commencement
Tuesday June 9, 2020 6:00PM
WDSE/WRPT Explore Channel
Streaming online TBD
Class of 2020 Duluth East High School Virtual Commencement
Tuesday June 9, 2020 7:30PM
WDSE/WRPT Explore Channel
Streaming online TBD
Class of 2020 Adult Learning Center, Area Learning Center, Bridge Program, Transition 12 Program Virtual Commencement
Tuesday June 2, 2020 3:00PM
#Inspire709 #DuluthPublicSchoolsStrong
Friendship, From Kindergarten to Graduation
Nia Filipovich and Amy Oswald, Denfeld High School, took time after their graduation walk and pictures to recreate their Kindergarten graduation photo, taken 13 years ago in Mrs. Borich's classroom. An incredible journey of friendship and learning!#Inspire709 #FriendshipRocks
Honoring Class of 2020
Thank you, Lamar Advertising, for working with the Denfeld Student Exec Board to support and congratulate the Class of 2020 by creating a billboard across from the school on Grand Avenue. We appreciate the business community for finding ways to make things special for our students.#Inspire709 #CommunitySupport
Applause4DuluthTeachers
"For many of us if not most of us, at least one teacher has had a significant impact in our lives, we all know what teachers are going through and we wanted some way to recognize them to send out a public message that it's incredible the work they've been having to accomplish," said Mary Owen, one of the Representatives for the Education Equity Alliance.
Laptop Donations For Denfeld
Denfeld guidance counselors ventured out to hand deliver refurbished laptops donated byPfizer through their representative Tom Meador. Ten seniors received a laptop from a drawing. Enjoy the computer as it helps you further your education.
#Inspire709 #CommunitySupport
The influence of a great teacher can never be erased!
Staff had a delightful surprise message on the front sidewalk of Ordean East Middle School.
#thankateacher #Inspire709
The Denfeld softball team led a caravan of students and staff past coach Dick Swanson’s house in support of his cancer recovery. A gesture of compassion by these caring Hunters, best wishes to Coach Swanson.
#Inspire709
#mathwithmeMN has hit Duluth and Congdon Park Elementary. Staff are asking students and families to look around for opportunities talk about and learn how math is used day-to-day, beyond textbooks and worksheets. Add some Math to your sidewalk and send photos to Congdon Park Elementary. Thanks to Ordean East teachers Jane Juten, Pamela Nelson, and Tanya Jackson for working on this project.
#Inspire709
From the City of Duluth:
Duluth Youth Mask Project
The City and several partners are launching the Duluth Youth Mask Project. We know that these are hard times. We wanted to give YOU the chance to design your own mask. Submit your design and we will feature selected masks on the City of Duluth Facebook page and City website. We can’t wait to see what you create!
All you have to do is:
✅Download the mask template
✅Create your drawing + Submit the design
✅Use your imagination & Have fun!
To find more information visit: https://duluthmn.gov/covid19/duluth-youth-mask-project/
Thanks to our partners American Indian Community Housing Organization, Essentia Health, Duluth Public Schools ISD 709, St. Luke's, St. Louis County, Minnesota, Duluth YMCA
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