Weekly Update
Duluth Public Schools News March 25, 2022
From Superintendent John Magas
Dear families:
Two years ago today, I took part in the finalist interviews for this position and was selected as the next superintendent of Duluth Public Schools.
I couldn’t have been more honored or humbled then, or now.
Like then, the first glimmers of spring were appearing as the ice on Superior was beginning to break up. Looking back at my photos, the first freighters were already passing through. COVID-19 had been declared a pandemic a few days prior, but none of us would have guessed that it would last through the end of the school year, let alone affect the following two.
I am proud to have served in my role for the past year and eight months. Together, we have had our share of challenges and successes. Figuring out remote and hybrid learning, returning to in-person learning, weathering a second year of the pandemic, along with the Omicron wave and staffing issues in the first months of 2022, are just a few. Each of these challenges were overcome through teamwork, collaboration and perseverance.
As we head into warmer months, I am so pleased that our conversations have turned from what we need to do to survive to what we need to do to thrive. Next week, we will be sharing an update on this work as we begin to engage students, staff and families in our strategic planning process, building our collective vision for the future.
I again want to thank each of you for the honor of serving as superintendent. It has been the most challenging position I have had in my 30+ years as an educator, but it has also, by far, been the most rewarding. I am grateful to each and every one of you — students, staff and family members. You are what make Duluth Public Schools such an amazing place.
With deep gratitude and appreciation,
John Magas
If you have questions or thoughts about what's going on in our school district, email:
Virtual Student Art Show
March is Youth Art Month and the art department has been working on gathering student art from all over the district. Please check out the amazing artwork by our students in this year's Virtual Student Art Show: https://sites.google.com/isd709.org/virtual-art-show/home
Ordean East Middle School student takes home ribbons at swim meet
Alice Loons is a 7th grade swimming champ!
Alice joined the Ordean East Middle School swim team this winter and proved to be one of the fastest members of the team. In the final meet of the season, Alice won both individual events that she completed in, the 50 freestyle (34.39) and the 50 backstroke (41.34). Alice has a natural affinity for swimming, she has impressed her coaches since the first day of practice.
The middle school swim team is a program open to all Duluth middle school students (Lincoln Park has a team too), many go on to high school after this introduction to the competitive sport.
Congratulations to Alice — we will be excited to see you back in the pool next year!
Fifth Grade Lakewood students raise $450 for the Salvation Army
The fifth grade students at Lakewood Elementary School as part of their social studies curriculum identified a need in our community and made an action plan. They held a "penny or change" drive where the money would be donated to the Salvation Army. In a two week period, the Lakewood students raised $450 to help families in our community with food, shelter, clothing, and heating assistance.
The Duluth Salvation Army sent a thank you letter to the students saying their donation can feed 180 people a hot meal.
Way to make a difference in our community Lakewood Elementary students!
Ordean East students paint a garden mural
Duluth Adult Education Grand Opening
Duluth Adult Education will be hosting a grand opening event Wednesday, March 30 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at their new location. Duluth Adult Education moved from Historic Old Central High School to 325 W. First St., at the Arvig Building on the Third Floor.
The community are invited to the open house to learn about their programs and meet their teachers.
Many people think access to a free public education ends when they walk out of their high school, but this is not the case. Adults 18 and older can access free public education at Duluth Adult Education.
Duluth Adult Education offers online and in-person free classes for adults. There are 5 programs available:
Basic Skills and Refresher
- Students in this program brush up and practice basic writing, reading, and math skills to help with daily living or to enrich their lives.
Students in this program develop their English skills. The first language of current students in the program include: Dari, Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Russian, Portuguese, Spanish, and French.
GED or Diploma
- Students in this program study to pass the GED test or can also take classes to earn credit to finish the diploma they started in high school.
College Prep
Students in this program take reading, writing, and math classes at Lake Superior College to make sure they are college ready to enroll at Lake Superior College.
Career Path
- Students: Students in this program work with Duluth Adult Education, City of Duluth CareerForce, SOAR Career Solutions, Lake Superior College, and/or Community Action Duluth to obtain employment in the following fields: Certified Nursing Assistant, Auto Technician, Paraprofessional, Health Services, Information Technology, Construction Trades, and Highway Heavy Machinery Construction.
For more information, visit isd709.org/DAE. Connect with us on Facebook.
Middle school expansion for Nueva Vision Spanish Immersion program
The district has seen promising results from the elementary Nueva Vision Spanish Immersion program and is committed to providing students with opportunities to continue developing their second language fluency throughout middle school and high school. Assessment results reveal that students are being well prepared in both the English language and Spanish. We see the value in ensuring that these skills be expanded to enable students to be highly successful in middle school, high school, and college.
Duluth’s Nueva Vision Spanish Immersion Middle School program was designed to meet the needs of our middle school students by providing the opportunities to expand friendships and peer groups while continuing to develop language skills and vocabulary. Lincoln Park Middle School has been designated as the host school due to the available classroom space, flexibility with scheduling, and community school resources.
Students wishing to continue in middle school immersion would enroll in the one immersion language class, designated to be in the Social Studies content area depending on the licensure of qualified teachers. This plan aligns with many other middle school immersion programs across the country that offer 1 or 2 courses in a target language.
While the program is being established, a commitment from at least 12 students is necessary in order to offer the target language class.
Currently, transportation is not included in this planning.
Deadline for Child Tax Credit Payment Approaching
Most families qualify
If you have a child who has a valid Social Security number (eligible for employment), you may qualify — even if you haven’t filed a tax return or don’t have recent income.
If you received monthly payments last year you will get the rest of your Child Tax Credit payment after you file your taxes this year. If you didn’t receive advance payments in 2021, you will get the full Child Tax Credit payment you qualify for.
The Child Tax Credit does not impact most public assistance benefits
The Child Tax Credit payment does not count as income and will not affect most public assistance benefits. The Child Tax Credit is not a loan. Find out if you qualify and learn more about the Child Tax Credit at ChildTaxCredit.gov
Get started today!
File your 2021 tax return by April 18, 2022 to get the Child Tax Credit payment. You can file your tax return for free yourself or with help from a certified tax specialist at GetYourRefund.org/MNDHS.
At-home COVID-19 test kits available for staff and students
Duluth Public Schools Health Offices have a limited supply of BinaxNow OTC and BD Veritor home COVID-19 test kits available for students and staff. These test kits should be kept at home and used to test for COVID-19 only when COVID-19 symptoms are present.
Students:
If you would like one of these test kits, please reach out to your student’s school health office to have one sent home with your student. Because there is a limited supply, receiving a test kit, if one is requested, is not guaranteed.
As a reminder, please keep your students home if they are not feeling well. If they are experiencing COVID-19 like symptoms, please test your student for COVID-19 prior to having them return to school and activities.
Staff:
If you would like one of these test kits, please reach out to your school health office to pick one up. Because there is a limited supply, receiving a test kit, if one is requested, is not guaranteed.
As a reminder, please stay home if you are not feeling well. If you are experiencing COVID-19 like symptoms, please test for COVID-19 prior to returning to work.
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