Transition Plus Newsletter
May 2020 Special Edition
Want to add someone to the Newsletter email list? Email colleen.knuth@mpls.k12.mn.us
Transition Plus Community,
Although distance learning is not how we wish to interact with our students, and we look forward to getting back together, we would like to thank everyone; family members, staff, students, and teachers who are taking so much time and effort to make it possible to stay connected. Many students are keeping up on their assignment by using google classroom, meeting virtually with their teachers and by use of email. Many students are also connecting with classmates virtually by using google meet and by participating in the Dance Party and BINGO.
In The Newsletter This Month:
- Calendar
- Upcoming/weekly Events
- Family Resources
- Student Editorials
CALENDAR
May Calendar
Wednesday, May 20: Last day to submit Talent Show videos
Monday, May 18: Tplus cap & gown pick up and graduation pictures. GRADUATES ONLY (more info below)
Monday, May 25: No School - Memorial Day
May 25 - May 29: Spirit Week! - see themes below
Wednesday, May 27: Transition Plus Talent Show 1:30
Friday, May 29: Virtual Graduation Ceremony @ 12:00 (info below)
June 4: Graduate's Device return, Diploma pick up, non-graduates pick up locker items. Note: non-graduates keep devices until next school year. (info below):
UPCOMING EVENTS
Tplus Graduation
- The public will find a link to view the graduation on the Transition Plus web page
- Graduation will also be broadcast live on MPS Channel 15 and Eduvision.
Invitation Links:
Our Transition Plus students created our own graduation invite which you can see above. MPS also created invitations, which you can view on the following links:
On MONDAY, MAY 18, GRADUATES MUST COME TO TRANSITION PLUS TO TAKE A PICTURE IN THEIR CAP AND GOWN* The pictures taken in their cap and gown will be broadcast in the graduation ceremony. Due to social distancing measures, only graduates are allowed onto school grounds on this day during their scheduled time (below).
Diploma pick up on June 4: Graduates pick up your diploma and grad treats! We will be cheering for you!! (schedule below)
JUNE 4th ACTIVITIES
Lockers have been cleaned out by Transition Plus staff. All items have been bagged and labeled with the student's names. Bags will be returned to students on June 4.
Device Return: Graduates return their computers and hotspot devices on June 4. Non-graduates keep their devices until next school year.
Diploma pick up Graduates pick up your diploma and grad treats! We will be cheering for you!!
- 10:00am - 11:30am: students from Team 1 (teachers: Molly, Jeremiah, Jason Z, Jake, Brett, Collin, Kathy)
- 11:30am - 2:00pm: students from Team 2, Project Search, MCTC (teachers: Adam, Frederick, Jeremiah, Patricia, Tom, Jason W, Shekinah, Tia
- 2:00pm - 4:00pm: students from Team 3 (teachers: Brad, Greg, Banisky, Liz, Jewell, Luke)
Check with your advisor if you have any questions.
Virtual Talent Show -Final Call!!
Welcome to Talent Show Day!
We invite you to join us in our virtual talent show presentation today at 1:30pm. Your friends and peers have come together to share their talents, and we would be thrilled to have you there as we view them live together!
- How this works: you can open two windows on your chromebook/computer. You can also use your phone/device, just know that you will have to go back and forth between the screens.
- THE SHOW STARTS AT 1:30pm. You can check the youtube link at anytime, but the google meet will not start until 1:30pm.
- If you need help connecting, please contact your case manager or SEA. Every single staff at Tplus has these same exact links and can help you troubleshoot any issues.
- 1:30am Audience Google Meet https://meet.google.com/yqm-hfqu-jnk
- Private Youtube Live Stream ***YOU MUST BE SIGNED INTO YOUR DISTRICT ACCOUNT IN YOUTUBE TO ACCESS THIS VIDEO***
- Stream 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wks6XG4vuk8
- If you get a "session full" message, use Link 2 for the secondary stream. This is a re-broadcast of the original so it acts as an overflow
- Link 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFHn1bKI27c
SPIRIT WEEK!
Spirit Week!
We've got spirit, yes we do! We've Spirit, how about you?
Help us celebrate our graduates with a virtual spirit week! This is a fun but optional way to join our meet and greets, advisories, dance party, talent show, bingo game, and graduation ceremony in spirit gear! You should not be expected to purchase anything special for participating! Have fun, be creative, and remember we are on camera, so appropriate dress codes still apply!
- Monday May 25 - Memorial Day, no school
- Tuesday May 26 - Career Day/Professional Day - "When I grow up, I want to be..."
- Wednesday May 27 - Hero/Character Day - Costumes, book characters, historical figures, and heroes!
- Thursday May 28 - True Colors Day - favorite colors Day (this could also be your favorite sports team colors/gear)
- Fancy Friday May 29 - Do it up in your Dress up, fanciest clothes. Movie Star Make-up and dress to impress for Graduation Day.
DANCE PARTY Fridays @ 1:30
Join Google Meet video conference: meet.google.com/ici-chsx-xdq
Join by phone: +1 929-279-4930 (PIN: 506 798 568 #)
- Music requests can be emailed to tia.jamison@mpls.k12.mn.us
BINGO Fridays @ 3:00
Join with Google Meet: meet.google.com/uww-mmnf-ihe
Join by phone +1 727-873-0110 (PIN: 633 217 166 #)
- Winners get a coupon for a free cookie or prize -Thanks Tia!
- If you are interested in being a guest caller, email benjamin.rodriguez@mpls.k12.mn.us
- Get your digital Bingo Card. If you are on a device that does not allow two windows, copy your card to a piece of paper. Or check out how to make a custom Bingo card!
See Everyone on Video Meetings!
In order to see everyone on your screen at one time, download this google meet extension BEFORE logging into your google meeting. You have to be on a computer that uses chrome. I am not sure if phones are compatible with the extension.
Once you have downloaded the extension, and logged into the google meeting, click on the grid with a diagonal line through it located in the upper right area of the page.
Bike/Walk to ANYWHERE
Bike to ANYWHERE Month!
While we won’t be able to get together in person for large-scale events like ‘Bike to School Day’ this spring, we hope individual students and families will get outside on a walk or bike ride when possible. To that end, we are rolling out an alternative to national ‘Bike to School Day’ this spring… Bike to Anywhere Day!
That’s right, this year we want you to choose your own adventure to celebrate biking and fill in that blank! We encourage you to participate in as many elements of this promotional activity as you are able, and share your results with us by posting on our Facebook page using the hashtag #MNBikeDay or send us a note at saferoutes.dot@state.mn.us.
Bike Ride
For Bike to Anywhere Day, choose a destination and bike there solo or with members of your household. Right now there are (likely) fewer cars on the road, so it could be a great time to find a route to a destination you visit frequently (like school) and practice riding there. Sometimes you have to try different routes to find the most comfortable and safe ride, so pick a new destination each week and when those businesses or places open up you will know exactly how to bike there. Be sure to maintain six feet of distance from people who are outside your household and practice other basic safety precautions like stopping at stop signs, signaling turns and wearing a helmet. If you are willing to share a photo, email it to us or post it on our Facebook page using the hashtag #MNBikeDay.
Bike Fun Links:
training videos : brush up on your skills by watching these training videos
mileage tracker : See how many miles you and your family ride together this month–5? 10? 50?
Scavenger Hunt : Go for a walk and try to find all the things on the scavenger hunt
bike bingo card : can you cover the whole card?
crossword : great for those rainy/snowy days when you’d rather be outside
word search : Can you find all the words?FAMILY RESOURCES
COVID 19 Testing Sites
Boynton Health
University of Minnesota
410 Church St SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
612-625-7900
- By appointment
- Hours : Mon - Wed, Fri: 8:00am - 4:30pm.; Thurs: 9:00am - 4:30pm
- Accepting any symptomatic patient
NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center
Hennepin County Primary Care
1313 Penn Ave N
Minneapolis, MN 55411
612-543-2500
- By appointment
- Hours : 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Accepting any symptomatic patient
Whittier Clinic
Hennepin Healthcare System
2810 Nicollet Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55408
612-873-6963
- By appointment
- Hours : 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Hennepin County Library Multilingual Services
Hennepin County Covid-19 Resources
Families can get a case worker assigned to them to get needs met in ONE call.
New Hennepin County Covid -19 Help line 612-348-3000
Hennepin County office of multicultural services 612-348-2193
- They provide for culturally appropriate navigation and language interpretation in multiple languages.
- https://www.hennepin.us/residents/human-services/multi-cultural-services
FOOD RESOURCES during school closures
MPS Food Pick-Up Sites
The student food pick-up sites are listed here on this website (Tplus students included): https://cws.mpls.k12.mn.us/covid19
List of Restaurants offering free food to students during school closures:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/0/d/1iq1H-dlkdzfJPs7E641tMHmPvWXPQfxf4DvcREOOzyA/htmlview
FREE INTERNET during school closures
COMCAST
Comcast is committed to helping our community amid the COVID-19 outbreak. General program information can be found at www.internetessentials.com.
- 60 days of complimentary Internet Essentials service for new customers, which is normally available to all qualified low-income households for $9.95/month.
- Increased Internet speeds for the Internet Essentials service from 15/2 Mbps to 25/3 Mbps for all new and existing customers.
SPECTRUM
- If students don't have access to the internet, they can call 1-844-488-8398 during school closures for free internet from Spectrum
Comprehensive District Design
In the coming months, Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) will be making many important decisions about the Comprehensive District Design (CDD). You can learn more about the CDD, and the current models they are considering, as well as give your feedback in the form below and/or in the survey below.
Update Your School Messenger Preferences
As we head into the winter weather season, stay on top of school closures by making sure your school has your correct contact information. Once you've verified your school knows how best to reach you, create an account in School Messenger to manage your communications preferences. Families can now opt-in to receive text messages as well.
MPS High School Graduation Schedule 2020
Editorials
Transition Plus highlighted in SouthWest Journal
Click on this link to read the article.
Question: How did your life change since Covid 19?
It has made my life more depressing and sad. All I do is really stay in my room watching Netflix or listening to music. Since Covid 19 happened, I don't feel as happy like I should. It really changed my feelings. I feel stressed, depressed and all I want to do is cry. It’s not fair that everyone has family but I have to wait until the summer to see them. It makes me sad because I want to hug my mom and hug and hold my nieces and nephew. Its not fair at all. I hate my life, to be honest, because I feel like I have no one and all I do is cry myself to sleep. I've been so emotional that I barely want to do anything but stay in my room. The only time I get excited is if I have money or talking to friends and family. So it has changed my life.
- Janavia C-B.
Well nothing stays the same forever - once it changes it never goes back the way it used to be. Everyone and everything changed. It has impacted the world today and a lot of people are getting sick and a lot of people are taking more care of their health now and are changing how they eat. I just think that a lot of people can consume more plant-based food into their lives and take better care of themselves. The world is changing very fast and it's going to affect us and the animals and the environment all around.
- Danielle D.
How my life has changed since all this craziness is that I like being home with my new puppy and helping my family to train him and to play with him. I don’t like being home all the time because it can get boring at times and all you think about sometimes is when will all this craziness end? How much longer? I wish we were all back at school already and everything was back to normal.
- Chris D.
Question: What are you looking forward to?
Celebrating Eid with my family, and work.
- Habon A.
I am looking forward to Eid.
- Mohamed N.
To be a police officer.
- Iqra H.
Question: What is your normal day like now?
- Mohamed N.
Question: Why is Ramadan important to you?
- Iqra H.
Question: How do you practice a typical day of Ramadan?
Muslims are also supposed to try to curb negative thoughts and emotions like jealousy and anger and even lesser things like swearing, complaining and gossiping during the month. Some people may also choose to give up or limit activity like listening to music and watching television often in the favor of listening to recitation of the Quran.
When the evening prayer call is finally made or when the alarm on your phone's Muslims Pray app goes off, we break our fasting day with a light meal, called iftar (literally breakfast) before performing the evening prayer. Many go to mosques for evening prayer, which is then followed by a large meal shared with your family and friends at one another’s home throughout the month . Then it’s off to the bed for a few hours of sleep before it’s time to wake up and start all over again.
- Hamda M.
Transition Plus Services
Email: transitionplus@mpls.k12.mn.us
Website: transplus.mpls.k12.mn.us
Location: 2015 East Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Phone: (612)668-4100
Facebook: facebook.com/transitionplus.mps
Twitter: @MPS_Tplus