School Talk, Fall 2013

School Talk FALL 2013

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MUN M A circle of support C H O OL

The community and schools find unique ways to serve, support and strengthen each other.

ALSO: ACT SCORES BEAT THE STATE • ANNUAL REPORT • LEVY RENEWAL

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A circle

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hat does it mean when 90 percent of Mounds View Public Schools residents agree that our community receives a good value from its investment in public schools?

To Superintendent Dan Hoverman, the message is clear. He believes the recent survey findings illustrate a positive connection between the District and the community. Hoverman calls this connection “a circle of support,” and he considers it strong evidence that the community and schools serve, support and strengthen each other in unique ways.

“The strength of our schools and the strength of the community are very much related,” says Hoverman. “We’re fortunate that our community really understands the active role it plays in the success of our schools. And in return, our schools are working hard to add value to the community.”

This mutually beneficial collaboration is visible throughout the District and deep into the community. The following stories illustrate just a few examples.

On the cover: In August, Shruti Iyer was among a group of more than 50 Boston Scientific volunteers who helped Valentine Hills Elementary School teachers get classrooms ready for the start of the school year. Edgewood Middle School also benefited from volunteer work done

by Boston Scientific employees.

The community and schools find unique ways The Community Supporting

Schools

Volunteer services While schools often tap businesses and community members to provide expertise and student mentoring, it was in another capacity that Boston Scientific employees visited schools last summer. Through a partnership with HandsOn Twin Cities, nearly 100 volunteers from Boston Scientific visited Valentine Hills Elementary School and Edgewood Middle School in August to help teachers and staff complete summer projects before the start of the school year.

Editors Rachel Gutierrez Colin Sokolowski

Designer Susan Abbott

Photographers Vicki Burns Rachel Gutierrez Greg Helgeson Lisa Stone Submitted photos

Superintendent Dan Hoverman

2013 School Board Bob Helgeson Amy Jones Greg Madsen Marre Jo Sager Lisa Sjobeck Jon Tynjala Sandra Westerman

School Talk is published by Mounds View Public Schools, Independent School District 621.

Send correspondence to School Talk editor, 350 Highway 96 West, Shoreview, MN 55126, e-mail rachel.gutierrez@moundsviewschools.org or call 651-621-6012.

Visit us: Follow us:

www.moundsviewschools.org

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Volunteers like Steve Carr and Brent Heckman (pictured) helped organize books, label folders and coat hooks, install bulletin boards, connect computers, clean desktops and shelves, paint murals, build signs and more.

“Twenty years from now, I hope to sit down at the dinner table with my students and their families and see students on the other side of these partnerships — working in the community for the businesses that are partnering with our schools.”

– Marvin Sims, Mounds View Public Schools Dean and S.T.R.I.P.E.S. Advisor

of support

to serve, support and

strengthen each other.

Schools

Supporting the

Community

From the classroom to the community Now a nationally recognized not-for-profit, H2O for Life started in a Highview Middle School classroom. While many schools throughout the District continue to partner with organizations like H2O for Life to address global issues, students are also working to address issues in their own community.

Area Learning Center students helped construct an organic garden at Pike Lake Education Center last spring that has already produced nearly 300 pounds of fresh produce for the Ralph Reeder Food Shelf. National Honor Society students at Irondale and Mounds View High School contributed nearly 9,000 hours to mentoring and community service initiatives during the 2012-2013 school year. This school year, Turtle Lake Elementary School students will participate in a yearlong hunger initiative that aims to benefit District families in need.

In May, Chippewa Middle School eighth-graders packed 119,016 meals for Feed My Starving Children. The meals they packed will feed 326 children for one year.

By the numbers Over the past three school years, Volunteer Service Club students have contributed more than 10,000 hours of community service and nearly $220,000 in equivalent labor.

Nearly $200,000 in locally generated scholarships went to 2013 District graduates.

260 volunteers contributed to the District’s Reading Buddies program in 2013.

In 2012-2013, the District’s National Honor Society student contributed nearly 9,000 hours to mentoring and community service initiatives.

Area Learning Center students helped to grow 300 pounds of donated produce for the food Shelf in 2013.

In 2013, more than 20 local businesses participated in career and Physics Fairs.

More than 100 volunteers helped schools get ready for the 2013-2014 school year.

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The Community Supporting

Schools

Mentorship “I love seeing the difference I can make in students’ lives,” says retiree Shari Waddell, (pictured with third-graders Kylee Angwenyi-Ojeda and Ellis Love). Waddell reads with Pinewood Elementary School students three days a week, volunteering through Lutheran Social Services and the Americorp Foster Grandparent Program. She is among 260 volunteers who are dedicated to serving as mentors and “Buddies” to hundreds of elementary school students annually through the District’s Reading Buddies program.

Offered at the District’s six elementary schools since 2007, the Reading Buddies Program continues to grow thanks to help from volunteers and employees from Boston Scientific, Medtronic, Deluxe Corporation, Brightondale and Wells Fargo, Land O’Lakes, the Americorp Foster Grandparents program and community members at large.

Expertise and funding High school Physics Fairs at Irondale and Mounds View provide an annual example of local businesses and schools working together. Not only are the events funded by community support (through the Mounds View Schools Education Foundation), they are successful thanks to the local science, technology, engineering and math professionals who judge the event.

In addition to judging the annual Physics Fairs, dozens of community professionals participate in an annual career fair at Irondale to promote post-secondary careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.

Locally-generated scholarships help further the District’s post-secondary focus. Nearly $200,000 in locallygenerated scholarships were awarded to Class of 2013 Irondale and Mounds View High School students.

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As a senior at Irondale High School, Mitchell Pesall received feedback on his Physics Fair project from Rudolph Technologies engineer Noah Bock and Cummins Power Generation engineer Bob Montero during the 2013 Physics Fair.

Schools

Supporting the

Community

Student-led community service clubs District-wide, there are about 200 students in high school learning clubs. According to service learning coordinator Greg Herder, these clubs provided nearly $80,000 in equivalent labor to community service projects during the 2012-2013 school year.

Over the past three school years, students have contributed more than 10,000 hours of community service and nearly $220,000 in equivalent labor.

Herder says “these numbers are impressive when you consider that the figures represent only the work of the high school student-run community service clubs — not the many school-organized community outreach programs, drives, fundraisers and events that take place every school year.”

Mounds View High School students Ruth Jiang, Namrata Gadela, Carly Bandt, Phoebe Ke and Indhirakshi Damodar (pictured) collected coats for area families in need during a coat drive in September. This is one of many service-learning projects that students will participate in this year as part of the school’s student-run Volunteer Service Club.

From the classroom to career A new partnership coordinated by advisor and dean Marvin Sims was introduced this school year to provide District students with internships at Fortune 500 companies. The student group is called STRIPES (Students Together Respecting the Importance of Education in School), and this partnership with Genesys Works puts Mounds View and Irondale seniors to work at companies like Target Corporation and Medtronic.

“Students walk away with some real world experience and some new skills that only hands-on work experience can provide,” says Sims. “And, in

turn, businesses benefit from the work provided by our students.” For Sims, helping students see the value of education and the impact that hard work and dedication has on postsecondary success is something that he hopes to see come full circle one day. He says “twenty years from now, I hope to sit down at the dinner table with my students and their families and see how they are excelling in their lives, in their careers. I’d love to see my students on the other side of these partnerships — working in the community for the businesses that are partnering with our schools.”

Get support/Give support Genesys Works program director Joe Crandall (left) helped place Irondale high school senior Lorenzo Robb in an internship at Medtronic.

Do you have time and skills to share with Mounds View Public Schools?

Or does your organization need support?

Contact service learning coordinator Greg Herder at 651-621-7497.

To learn more about the Foundation that supports Mounds View Public Schools, see page 11, visit www.moundsviewschoolsef.org or contact Mindy Handberg, Mounds View Schools Education Foundation executive director, at 651-621-7477.

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A CLOSER LOOK

5

Fast Facts

This Election Day, the School Board of Mounds View Public Schools has proposed to renew an operating levy that is expiring.

What should voters know?

E L E C T I O N D AY

for November 1

A successful levy renewal this fall will not increase taxes from their current levels.

The School Board voted unanimously to propose the renewal of the expiring levy at the same level of funding, with no increase.

For property owners, that means no increase in the current level of taxes associated with this levy renewal.

School districts have varying needs, but Mounds View is not among those districts at the polls this fall asking voters to approve a tax increase.

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Renewal

In 2006, voters approved an eight-year levy to preserve class sizes and programs throughout Mounds View Public Schools. This levy is expiring in 2014. Without renewal, the District will stop receiving $11.5 million a year.

NOVEMBER 5

2014

Watch a brief video and get more info at www.moundsviewschools.org

A levy that voters approved in 2006 is expiring.

3

• The levy is an important part of the overall budget, and the funds have provided stability in class sizes and innovative program offerings in somewhat less-than-stable times.

A successful levy will continue to maintain class sizes and innovative programs.

When voters passed this levy in 2006, the School Board promised to maintain class sizes and programs for two years. That commitment has been kept for seven years.

• If voters renew this levy, future class sizes will mirror current class sizes, and current classroom and co-curricular programs will continue as long as it is possible.

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Prepared an

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This publicati

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What about

An unsuccessful levy eventually may prompt an increase in class sizes and a decrease in programs.

new $$ the

• If voters reject the renewal request, the District would eventually lose $11.5 million annually – approximately the cost of 130 teachers.

5

Legislature gave us this sess ion?

New per-pup il funding = $ 2 million total, over tw o years.

Despite inconsistent funding, the District has delivered consistent results for students and residents.

Compare:

With limited resources, Mounds View remains one of the highest-performing and innovative school districts in the state, investing 77 cents of every dollar in student instruction and support.

Levy $$ exp iring = $ I I .5 million

Mounds View students perform 1 to 3 levels above national norms on standardized testing.

Mounds View is among the top school districts in the state for the most National Merit Scholarship semi-finalists.

• 2nd place (Class of 2013)

annually

• 4th place (Class of 2014)

Mounds View students outperform state averages for ACT scores.

• Mounds View average

23.5

(97% participation)

• State average

23.0

(74% participation)

• Half of all Mounds View students scored a 24 or higher, and 25 percent scored a 29 or higher. * Class of 2013

nd paid for by Mounds View Public Schools (Independent School District 621), 350 Highway 96 West, Shoreview, MN 55126.

ion is not circulated on behalf of any candidate or ballot question.

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MAKING THE GRADE Mounds View uses a number of tests and assessments to measure student performance and progress. Whether the results come from statemandated testing, District measurement systems or national rankings, Mounds View Public Schools continues to hold a place among the highest-performing districts in the state and in the nation.

A Top 10 school district

Top 10 school districts in Minnesota

Year after year, Mounds View Public Schools ranks among the top 10 districts in the metro and the state for the most National Merit Scholarship semifinalists. This year, 13 Mounds View High School students and one Irondale High School student were named semifinalists — ranking Mounds View Public Schools in the top six school districts in the state.

Edina

17

Eden Prairie and Wayzata

16

Eagan-Rosemount-Apple Valley and Rochester

15

Mounds View

14

St. Paul

13

Minnetonka

11

South Washington County

9

Bloomington

8

District students perform above the nation NWEA measure of Academic Progress (MAP) results highlight the District’s success in math and reading with District students on average performing one to three grade levels above national norms. Results from Minnesota’s Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) tests also show that District students outperform their peers in the state when it comes to the percent of students proficient in reading, math and science.

The District monitors student progress year after year to get a long-term perspective of trends and growth. Whether a student is college-bound or career-bound after high school, the schools use these exams and other tools to help students and their parents prepare for the future. These preparation and planning efforts require personalization in order to be most effective for every student — and they start as early as preelementary school.

The District’s design for post-secondary success includes growth targets, a focus on personalization, student connectedness and more. It is a team effort involving nearly every aspect of school operations, the work of school teachers and deans, curriculum planning, communication between home and school and more.

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What’s the difference between Minnesota’s MCA-III and the District’s NWEA tests?

MCA-III

NWEA MAP

How often is it given?

Once per year (spring)

Up to four times per year (fall, winter, spring and summer)

When are results available?

Summer/fall (months after administration)

Within 72 hours

Who takes it?

Grades 3 – 8, 10 & 11

Grades K-8 (selected 9 – 12)

How is it administered?

Standard paper and pencil test or computerized

Computerized

What does it measure?

Student, school and district performance on academic standards

Individual student growth and academic performance

How is it used?

Systems accountability: Measures how students are meeting the Minnesota Academic Standards and determines if individual schools and the entire district is making progress in academic proficiency, growth, and closing the achievement gap as defined by the Minnesota Department of Education.

Placement in District programs; Measuring individual student growth; Uncovering individual student’s academic strengths and weaknesses; Assists teachers in modifying instruction to meet the needs of students.

National Merit Scholarship program Recognition by the National Merit Scholarship program is one of the highest honors a student can receive for outstanding academic achievement. About 1.5 million juniors and more than 22,000 high schools entered the 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2011 Preliminary SAT, which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of semifinalists, representing less than 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest scoring entrants in each state.

More information Annual report To view the 2012-2013 Annual Report on curriculum, instruction and student achievement, visit the Curriculum web page and select District and School Test Scores at www.moundsviewschools.org.

Questions Questions about testing and assessment? Contact Mary Roden, assistant director of assessment and evaluation, at 651-621-6042 or mary.roden@moundsviewschools.org.

Irondale High School's National Merit semifinalist is Andrew Sweeney, pictured with principal Scott Gengler.

Mounds View High School National Merit semifinalists, pictured with principal Jeff Ridlehoover, are (in the front from left to right) Daniel Chang, Grace Johnson, Carly Bandt, Kelsey Murphy, Leyla Andromeda Soykan, Linnea Savereide, Melissa Deng, (in the back row from left to right) Jeff Ridlehoover, Minxuan Gu, Andrew Kelley, Vijay Narayanan, Christian Oswood, Joseph Morey and Nicholas Gedig.

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MAKING THE GRADE

Mounds View Public Schools and the ACT Three years ago, Mounds View Public Schools became the first district in the state to offer all of its juniors a free on-site administration of the ACT exam. Thanks in part to a grant from the Mounds View Schools Education Foundation, nearly all eligible students from Irondale High School and Mounds View High School took the exam.

How did the students do?

With more students taking the exam, the Class of 2013’s average score of 23.5 still outperformed the state and national averages.

Mounds View Public Schools (with 97% of students taking the test):

23.5

Minnesota average (with 74% of students taking the test):

23

National average:

20.9

*The District’s composite score includes students from other District schools such as the Area Learning Center and Oak Grove High School.

Taking a closer look, the number of students who scored in the college-ready ranges of 25-36 and 21-24 remained nearly identical to the prior years. Yet, more than twice as many students posted ACT scores in the 17-20 range. This is a group of students who may not have considered taking the ACT before. Now these students have an opportunity to move on to post-secondary options. The large increase in students who scored 17 or lower continues to be a District focus to give these students as many opportunities as possible to improve their chances at post-secondary success.

What’s expected from future classes? Last spring, 97 percent of the Class of 2014 took the ACT exam on site for free. Likewise, the same opportunity will be offered to the Class of 2015 in April 2014. This new Mounds View Public Schools tradition is evidence of the District’s commitment to preparing all students for post-secondary success.

First year free exam

2011

2012

2013

Number of students taking exam

612

821

792

Percent of class taking exam

69%

97%

97%

Average score of District student

25.3

23.4

23.5

22.9 / 21.1

22.8 / 21.1

23 / 20.9

2011

2012

2013

Average score in state/nation

A Closer Look

›— More students tested beating state ›— Still and national averages

Number of students with ACT composite score: 25-36

348

315

308

21-24

178

220

207

17-20

68

146

164

identical number of students ›— Nearly posting college-ready scores 21-36 More than twice as many

›— students who now realize they have post-secondary opportunities

17 or lower

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140

113

›— Continued focus of our preparation work

EDUCATION FOUNDATION THE HAASE FAMILY Investing in Mounds View Public Schools

The Mounds View Schools Education Foundation works in partnership with Mounds View Public Schools leadership to identify programs that require funding to advance District priorities and innovations that can reach students throughout the entire District.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Rock the School House is a fundraising event supporting Mounds View Schools Education Foundation. On November 9, parents, educators and community leaders will gather for music, dancing and socializing.

The evening will include a brief program highlighting foundation goals, followed by a live auction and fund-a-need. The Belfast Cowboys, a nine-piece Van Morrison cover band, will provide the entertainment, and there will be an appetizer buffet and cash bar.

Visit www.moundsviewschoolsef.org for more event information and to check ticket availability.

Partnering for Education luncheon The third annual Partnering for Education event brings together more than 175 parents, business and community leaders to hear about new District programs and key education initiatives — both on the regional and national levels. Check the website in December for details.

Ann & Ashley Haase have long believed that contributing to their community was the responsible thing to do. This belief has resulted in their willingness to dedicate their time through volunteering as well as through their charitable giving.

In 1984, when the Haase family relocated to Minnesota with their two oldest in college and their youngest entering seventh grade at Chippewa Middle School, Ann Haase was pleased to join the charter board of the then-developing “621 Foundation,” now known as the Mounds View Schools Education Foundation (MVSEF). Nearly 20 years later, the Haase family is still demonstrating their commitment to public education.

Ann’s commitment to Mounds View Public Schools ranges from her time spent as a “Reading Buddy” at Turtle Lake Elementary School to her belief that financially supporting the MVSEF is important to the future of all students at Mounds View Public Schools. “As public education is perhaps the single common and binding experience for our community, our family feels strongly that a gift to our schools is a wise investment for us all,” said Ann. The Haase family has again demonstrated their support of public education by being the first to commit a gift to the Foundation’s new annual giving program. This commitment, a five-year pledge, is a shining example of their dedication to public education. The Foundation is fortunate to have families like the Haase family to further its mission of providing enhanced opportunities for students in Mounds View Public Schools.

The annual giving program was recently created to recognize donors, like the Haase family, who generously support the Foundation with an annual philanthropic gift. Annual supporters are afforded numerous benefits and most importantly can take pride in knowing they have helped to impact the lives of students in Mounds View Public Schools so broadly and so equitably.

To learn more about the Annual Giving program, please visit www.moundsviewschoolsef.org.

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BACK TO SCHOOL Setting goals Edgewood sixth-grader Sanjana Kidambi and her family met with teacher Heidi Johnson in September for an early goal-setting conference. All middle schools throughout the District hosted similar goal-setting conferences to help develop a personalized three-year academic plan. Academic plans are designed to help students and families connect what happens in the classroom with life goals and postsecondary plans.

Students welcomed with back-to-school blast Highview Middle School students started the school year with a Back-to-School Blast in September. The free afterschool event gave students an opportunity to interact with each other and with staff outside of the classroom. More than 700 students attended the event which offered games, music, open swim and pool time, a staff/student football game and more.

‘Smart’ way to stay connected in 2013-2014 This school year, stay connected to Mounds View Public Schools through your smartphone. Simply visit www.moundsviewschools.org from any smartphone, and with one-touch mobile actions, you can quickly access school information on a site that’s easier to navigate than a traditional web site.

To pin Mounds View Mobile on your smartphone homescreen, watch a brief tutorial video at www.moundsviewschools.org.

Donated supplies District staff welcomed thousands of students to Mounds View Public Schools in September. Thanks to donations from District families and staff, area business and faith partners, community members and volunteers, the Ralph Reeder Food Shelf distributed school supplies to nearly 730 children during its annual Good Neighbor Back to School Project.

Students received everything from pencils to backpacks.

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New principals Jeff Ridlehoover joins Mounds View High School Mounds View High School’s new principal spent the summer and the first few weeks of school getting to know the students.

Ridlehoover joined students in the hallways, classrooms and lunchroom during the first weeks of school, and even participated in a flash mob dance performance to entertain during the school’s homecoming pep rally.

New resource for parents Parents can now access health services information and forms online via the District’s health services website. On the health services website, parents can access information and forms related to immunization requirements, medication at school, life-threatening allergies, head injuries, diabetes, seizures and other common health conditions. Resources available on the website can be used by parents when determining if their child is able to be in school due to illness, infectious conditions or pests like head lice. The health services website also offers a staff directory, which describes the roles of the Licensed School Nurses and Health Care Specialists and provides contact information for the staff that serve each school.

During the fist few weeks of school, Ridlehoover visited with hundreds of students including seniors Indhirakshi Damodar and Chance Carnahan.

Bel Air Elementary School welcomes Dawn Wiegand Students welcomed their new principal to Bel Air Elementary School before the school year even started. Walter Patterson, Hayden Gau, Chloe Kramlinger, Aiden Ellickson, Elizabeth Schneider and Ashlyn Glasheen shared their favorite Bel Air traditions with Wiegend when they met over the summer.

Video message offers important updates In September, Superintendent Dan Hoverman welcomed students and their families back to school with a two-minute video message. For important information about the 2013-2014 school year and to see what’s new this year, watch the video at www.moundsviewschools.org.

Get to know the new principals Visit www.moundsviewschools.org for brief video messages from both principals.

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SCHOOL BOARD 2013 School Board

Board keeps levy decision in voters’ hands Earlier this year, legislators passed a law that impacts school districts around the state in different ways, depending on the district.

The law allows the School Board of Mounds View Public Schools to convert $300 of voterapproved referendum to board-approved referendum. However, Mounds View is not among those districts that will exercise this authority. In declining to act, School Board member Amy Jones stated at the October 8 Board meeting, “We’ve agreed to keep this decision in the hands of voters.”

Enrollment continues to rise

Front row: Amy Jones, Marre Jo Sager and Lisa Sjobeck.

Back row: Sandra Westerman, Jon Tynjala, Bob Helgeson and Greg Madsen.

Truth in Taxation Ramsey County anticipates mailing truth in taxation notices mid November 2013.

Mounds View Public Schools will discuss the budget and the final property tax levy for 2014 at a focused forum scheduled at 6 p.m., before its regularly scheduled 7 p.m.

Board meeting on December 10, 2013, at Snail Lake Education Center, 350 Highway 96 W., Shoreview, when it will certify final property taxes. For more information, please visit the Budgets & Finance page at www.moundsviewschools.org.

Property taxes for schools reduced Taxes collected for schools in 2014 will decrease from 2013. The proposed taxes for 2014 total $41.6 million, which is a decrease of $564,737 or 1.3 percent less than final taxes payable 2013.

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Investing in students More dollars go to classroom instruction and support than to any other area.

This year, the District is investing 77 cents of every general fund dollar in classroom instruction and support.

The District’s fall enrollment of 10,235 students is an increase of 202 students from last fall’s October 1 reporting. Despite the increase, average class sizes remain the same as the last several years, thanks to voter-approved levy funding. Depending on the grade level, students receive small group instruction every day in math and reading with group sizes of five to 15 students.

Student instruction and support: 77¢

Sites and buildings: 8¢ Transportation: 5¢ District & school administration: 4¢ District support services: 3¢

Source: General Fund, Mounds View 2013-2014 Public Schools, 2013-2014.

Fixed costs: 3¢

AROUND THE DISTRICT District-owned environmental center hosts visitors of all ages Much of the Mounds View Public Schools community recognizes Laurentian Environmental Center as a learning facility up north geared toward District students. What many don’t know is that the center also plays host to youth sporting, music and faith groups as well as adult and senior groups. Laurentian also hosts special events. Groups often rent the facility for employee retreats, family reunions and more.

Last summer, more than 30 seniors attended Senior Camp at Laurentian where they participated in craft activities, navigated the outdoors and enjoyed time by Arrowhead Lake with their peers.

Seniors studied the macro invertebrates they caught in the Arrowhead Lake during Lake Ecology class. Sandra Knoche, Svetlana Shavzin, John Matlock and Jeanne Matlock were not the only ones surveying the wildlife at Laurentian in September.

Sunnyside students Charlie Dojan, Alex Lapadat, Elanum Abiy and Kalid Abdurahman found frogs tadpoles, crayfish and minnows during a Lake Ecology class they participated in during their school visit in September.

Register now Spend Presidents Day weekend lodging in a cabin on Arrowhead Lake, eating home-style meals and enjoying the outdoors with your family. The three-day Presidents Day weekend trip is slated for February 15-17, 2014. An allinclusive rate of $150 per person includes activities geared to all ages. Families will enjoy an itinerary of activities like snowshoeing, cross country skiing, geocaching, campfires and more. For more information and registration details, please visit www.laurentiancenter.org.

Take a virtual tour.

Scan this code or visit www.laurentiancenter.org, to take a video tour of Laurentian Environmental Center.

Follow Laurentian on Facebook.

To book a trip, please visit www.laurentiancenter.org. email info@laurentiancenter.org or call 1-888-749-1288.

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AROUND THE DISTRICT Peaceful Playground

Bel Air Elementary School’s playground became a little more peaceful this summer thanks to staff volunteers and PTA members like Dan Britz, Mark Suggs, Marc Bergman, Jean Gjovik, Pam Patterson, Becca Lucht, Dawn Ralston, Heidi Zimmermann, Claudia Zimmerman and (not pictured) Dan Walseth and Jeanne Ball. The school’s playground became an official “Peaceful Playground” with the addition of some new games that encourage an inclusive environment.

Chalkboard Capers 30th Anniversary Show Teachers of the Mounds View Education Association will celebrate the 30th anniversary of Chalkboard Capers this school year with an April variety show performance to benefit graduating high school seniors. The Chalkboard Capers variety show is presented annually by the teachers to raise money for student scholarships given to graduating seniors from Irondale High School, Mounds View High School, Oak Grove High School, Area Learning Center, and Adult Basic Education.

Each scholarship is for $621. The number of scholarships awarded depends on the financial success of the show. The 2014 Show is slated for April 2 – 5. For more information, please visit www.moundsviewschools.org/chalkboardcapers or e-mail chalkboardcapers@moundsviewschools.org.

Bel Air, Sunnyside among top 15 percent of Title I schools

Having trouble making ends meet?

The Ralph Reeder Food Shelf is here to help. The Ralph Reeder Food Shelf is a Community Education Program of Mounds View Public Schools and is available to any lowincome individual or family living within the school district.

Monthly food assistance includes a minimum of 25 pounds of food per family member including non-perishable foods, hygiene items, cleaning supplies, frozen meats, fresh milk and produce. Food assistance and other services including county application help and referrals to other resources and services are available at the Pike Lake Education Center in New Brighton, Monday through Friday by appointment. Call 651-621-7451 to make an appointment.

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Bel Air Elementary School and Sunnyside Elementary School in New Brighton have been named among the top 15 percent of all Title I schools in the state, earning the Minnesota Department of Education’s (MDE) designation of “Reward” schools.

“Reward” status is part of the state’s new accountability system that uses a Multiple Measurements Rating (MMR) to evaluate schools’ performance in proficiency, academic growth, achievement gap reduction and meeting targets for graduation rate projections.

“Reward” schools represent the highest-performing Title I schools on the four domains in the MMR. MDE plans to share practices from these schools with other schools in an effort to replicate best practices across the state.

In addition, the MDE also named Pinewood Elementary School in Mounds View as “Celebration Eligible.” This means that Pinewood’s student performance on MMR measures placed the school in the top 25 percent of all Title I schools.

“Celebration Eligible” schools may apply to be Celebration schools, and MDE selects approximately 10 percent of Title I schools to receive the Celebration school recognition annually.

A Title I school is a school that receives supplemental Federal funding based on the percentage of students qualifying for the free or reduced price lunch program. Funding is used to assist in meeting students’ educational goals.

Irondale mentors lead by example at Sunnyside retreat Sunnyside Elementary School fourth- and fifthgraders participated in a Kindness Retreat in September to focus on techniques for addressing harassment and bullying inside and outside of school. The Retreat was led by Youth Frontiers and the Irondale High School student mentors.

Irondale mentors participated alongside the elementary school students in team-building and kindness-promoting activities. High school students played an active role in helping the elementary school students understand the painful effects of bullying while leading fun games and exercises that offered tools to prevent bullying. The Kindness Retreat is an annual event at Sunnyside. Pinewood Elementary School students also participated in a back-toschool Kindness Retreat.

Sunnyside fourth-grader Ben led his classmates in the “kindness boomerang pledge” — a promise to spread kindness everyday.

FOCUS on your future Mounds View Public Schools Enrollment Information Nights:

www.moundsviewschools.org

It’s personal Every secondary student has a personal learning plan developed by staff who know their students personally.

It’s challenging The top three reasons why families choose Mounds View Public Schools are “Quality Teachers,” “Academic Excellence” and “Academic Opportunities” that can’t be found elsewhere.

High schools:

January 9, 2014

It’s safe

Edgewood Middle School: Chippewa Middle School: Highview Middle School:

January 7, 2014 January 14, 2014 January 14, 2014

94 percent of families say schools are safe and respectful.

Elementary schools/ Kindergarten Round Up:

February 6, 2014

It’s popular Year after year, 80 percent of resident students choose to attend Mounds View Public Schools.

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AROUND THE DISTRICT District employees walk to benefit the Ovarian Cancer Alliance

In honor of Island Lake Elementary School teacher and ovarian cancer survivor Mindy Klauer, 13 Mounds View Public Schools staff members participated in the Silent No More walk to benefit Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance (MOCA) on September 7. Pictured: Jacquie Spielmann, Julie Bohn, Cindy Shimitz, Mary Meyers, Diane Snuggerud, Mary Ann Bergantine, Mindy Klauer, Sue Wendt, Chris Paulson, Kaarin Kratz, Kathy Lampi, Deb Guthrie and Krista Seifert participated in the race as a group called “Mindy’s Marchers.”

Sunnyside students join television debut of ‘Vikings Huddle’ Sunnyside Elementary School students starred in the very first episode of Vikings Huddle, a family oriented show produced by the Minnesota Vikings and Children’s Hospital to promote proper nutrition and exercise.

On September 17, 90 fourth-graders who participate in health and exercise initiatives led by Sunnyside teachers Matt Moore and Greg Ulrich met Vikings football players and saw the behind-the-scenes action of a television production. The show aired on The CW on September 28. Sunnyside also was included in the October 12 episode. Rebroadcasts are slated to air on Fox Sports North.

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Homecoming tradition sends Mustangs back to elementary school For Mounds View, homecoming isn’t just about keeping alumni connected to their alma mater; it is an opportunity to connect with future Mounds View High School Mustangs like kindergartner Hailey Schmitt (pictured walking through a tunnel of Mustang athletes). In what’s become an annual tradition, Mounds View High school students headed back to elementary school on the day of homecoming to host a pep rally at Island Lake Elementary School.

Elementary school students were invited to join in singing the school song. They also enjoyed a performance from the high school dance team, and they heard from high school student representatives about the importance of academics. Mounds View High School student athletes talked to Island Lake students about cooperation, assertion, responsibility and self-control – social skills that Island Lake Elementary School students focus on throughout the school year as part of a schoolwide C.A.R.E.S. program.

New to Mounds View Public Schools?

Early Childhood Screening

If you have recently moved into the District and have preschool students who may one day enroll in Mounds View Public Schools, it’s important that you contact the Early Childhood staff to have your family information entered into the District’s data system. This will insure that you are notified of important dates and information regarding preschool screening, parent information nights and the kindergarten enrollment process. Please contact the District’s Early Childhood Department at 651-621-7420 or at susan.stoner@moundsviewschools.org.

Please include the following information:

Rapid learning and growth takes place in the early years of your child’s life — from birth to the start of kindergarten. Early Childhood Screening is a free, quick and simple check of how your child is doing. It is best to have your child screened between ages 3.5 and 4.

Screening identifies possible learning or health concerns so that your child can get the needed help before starting school. Early Childhood Screening is required for entrance into kindergarten and is offered throughout the year.

Call 651-621-7420 to make your child’s early childhood screening appointment today.

• Parent full legal name(s) • Address/City/Zip • The full legal name and birth date of each child • Contact home or cell phone number

Summer in Germany for Mounds View students

Mounds View students pictured at the Marksburg Castle (in the front row): Noelle Stadler with Jessica Trost (German Teacher) and (in the back row) Edward Hope, Ben Kaiser, Samuel Mastenbrook, Laura Zalewski and Nathan Torunsky.

Six students from Mounds View High School embarked on a 16-day journey through Germany and Austria at the end of June. The Shoreview-Einhausen Sister City Association and the “Einhausen Partnerschaftsverein” worked together to place students with host families in Einhausen, a small city south of Frankfurt in Hesse, Germany, where students took a cruise down the Rhine River and visited the Marksburg Castle and the Lorelei. They enjoyed a glimpse of a German high school when they visited the Geschwister-Scholl-Schule in nearby Bensheim. After the host family visits, Mounds View students embarked on the CETA Tours “Best of Germany and Austria” tour to Oberammergau, Salzburg and Nuremberg.

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AROUND THE DISTRICT

Young Americans More than 175 Mounds View Public Schools students in grades three to twelve performed with the international touring group The Young Americans, September 30 through October 1 at Irondale High School. The Young Americans tour the world working with school-age musicians to improve their singing, acting and dancing in a three-day workshop that culminates in a final extravaganza performance. The October 1 Young American performance at Irondale drew a crowd of nearly 500. Irondale High School choir director Jason Etten organized the event.

District-wide annual asbestos notification Mounds View Public Schools has continued to respond to asbestos in buildings in a cautious and proactive manner.

Building administration will continue with its ongoing asbestos operations and maintenance program, including periodic surveillance inspections, which are conducted on a semi-annual basis. Also required as part of AHERA (Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act-EPA) are re-inspections, which are conducted by accredited inspectors every three years since the implementation of the District’s Management Plan. The building administration’s ongoing efforts related to the management and control of asbestos containing materials are focused on providing a safe environment for our building occupants and employees. If you have any questions, would like to review the management plan, or are interested in recent response actions completed at the buildings, please contact Chris Paquette at 651-621-6090.

Pesticides and Herbicides: Parents’ right to know A Minnesota state law went into effect in the year 2000 that requires schools to inform parents and guardians if they apply certain pesticides on the school property. Specifically, this law requires schools that apply these pesticides to maintain an estimated schedule of pesticide applications and to make the schedule available to parents and guardians for review or copying at each school office. The long-term effects on children from application of such pesticides, or the class of chemicals to which they belong, may not be fully understood. If you would like to be notified prior to pesticide applications made on days other than those specified in the estimated schedule (excluding emergency applications), please contact Chris Paquette at 651-621-6090.

Translation assistance To learn more about District programs and events featured in this issue of School Talk in Spanish, Hmong or Somali, please call Isabel MoralesLizano (Spanish) at 651-621-7117, Mee Yang (Hmong) at 651-621-6743 or Ayan Esse (Somali) at 651-621-7116.

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Yog xa paub ntau tshaj nov txog peb lub District cov program thiab kev sib sau ua ke ntawm peb cov tsev kawm ntawv thiab niam txiv nrog rau me nyuam kawm ntawv uas muaj nyob rau hauv tsab ntawv School Talk no, thov hu rau Mee Yang ntawm 651-621-6743.

Para aprender mas sobre los programas del Distrito Escolar y de los eventos en esta edicion de School Talk, llame a Isabel Morales-Lizano al 651-621-7117.

Haddii aad dooneysid faahfaahin dheeraad ah oo ku saabsan barnaamijyada lugu soo qoro School Talk, ee ka baxa Iskuulada Moundsview, fadlan la soo xiriis Ayan Esse: 651-621-7116.

SPORTS ROUND-UP Mounds View High School

Summer Brills committed to Drake University for tennis.

Bella Sutton committed to Penn State for hockey.

Former coach and teacher Bob Stewart was inducted into the Minnesota Coaches Association Hall of Fame in October.

For the most up-to-date news, visit the new Activities and Athletics web site at www.moundsviewschools.org/moundsview, “like” Mounds View High School on Facebook and follow the Mounds View Mustangs on twitter at @gomvmustangs.

Irondale High School

Athletic Hall of Fame Irondale High School inducted the following alumni into the school’s Hall of Fame during a Homecoming Hall of Fame ceremony on October 4.

Inductees are: Jackie LaFleur Class of 2005 swimming and diving, gymnastics, softball

Amanda Benz Class of 2004 volleyball, basketball, track and field Diana (Mielke) Koepp Class of 2003 swimming and diving Scott Richart Class of 1980 football, hockey and baseball

Sam Donovan committed to Brown University for hockey.

For the most up-to-date news, visit the new Activities and Athletics web site at www.moundsviewschools.org/irondale and “like” Irondale High School on Facebook.

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WITH HONORS Students recognized at leadership conference District SkillsUSA students participated in the 2013 SkillsUSA Leadership and Championship Conference in Kansas City, MO, June 23-27.

Pictured: The Mounds View High School team, led by advisor Lynn Nelson, took home awards in several categories.

Lynn Nelson and student Andrew Wrobel accepted the grand prize Student2Student plaque on stage during the opening ceremony of the national SkillsUSA event.

The mission of SkillsUSA is to empower members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens.

Grand prize for mentoring Marissa Carolus, Amber De Joode, Siri Taylor, Renee Smith, Andrew Wrobel, Luke Tretsven and Adam Wutschke won the grand prize Student2Student Mentoring award. Amber De Joode was also named a Mike Rowe Scholarship winner. She was awarded $1,000. To qualify for the scholarship, competitors must place first at a state association competition.

High school newspaper wins national praise The National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) named Mounds View High School’s student newspaper The Viewer among the 2013 Newspaper and Broadcast Pacemaker Finalists. As one of only 18 chosen nationwide in its category, Mounds View High School’s paper made the list based on its coverage, quality of writing and reporting, leadership on the opinion page, evidence of in-depth reporting, layout and design and photography/ graphics. Winners will be announced at the JEA/NSPA Fall National High School Journalism Convention on November 16 in Boston. At the time of selection, Max Wang (a 2013 Mounds View graduate) was serving as editor. Martha Rush is the paper’s advisor.

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American Spirit competition winners Amber DeJoode (front), Siri Taylor (left) and Renee Smith (right) won seventh place in the nation in the American Spirit competition. This competition includes a community service project, patriotic project and promoting Career and Technical Education.

Excellence in the Teaching of Economics Mounds View High School teacher Martha Rush was awarded a trip to the 52nd Annual Financial Literacy and Economic Education Conference in Baltimore in October where she was awarded the John Morton Excellence in the Teaching of Economics Award. The award, along with $500 cash prize, is presented annually to a teacher who exemplifies that the importance of economic and financial education is critical to all students.

National poetry contest finalists named at Island Lake Island Lake fourth-graders Katie Nelson and Riley Stern were named finalists in the national Dare to Dream…Change the World writing contest.

Nelson’s “Skin Deep” and Stern’s “Aisle Rolling & Watching” were selected from a field of more than 800 entries of biographical poetry from students in grades three to eight. Finalists’ work will be published in a soon-to-bereleased free e-book by Kane Miller Books. Find both poems on the Star Students page at www.moundsviewschools.org.

Borlaug Scholar Mounds View High School student Brandon Duffy was named a Borlaug Scholar recently. Duffy was one of 12 students who participated in the Minnesota Youth Institute held at the University of Minnesota in September where he presented research and recommendations on how to solve global challenges. The Norman Borlaug Youth Institute Fund provides financial support to an undergraduate student who has attended the Youth Institute and will be attending the University of Minnesota. This fund also allows the student to participate in an international agricultural-related internship.

District student ranks top in the nation for ACT score Year after year, Mounds View Public Schools students exceed both the national and the state average on ACT exams. For the eighth consecutive year, Mounds View Public Schools students earned an average ACT score that beats both the Minnesota average and the national average. Thanks to a grant from the Mounds View Schools Education Foundation, all Mounds View Public Schools students have the opportunity to take the ACT for free during the school day as a junior. In 2013, 97 percent of students participated in the free on-site administration of the test.

Mounds View High School senior Minxuan Gu achieved a score of 36 on the ACT test, the highest score that can be achieved.

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NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

Independent School District 621 350 Highway 96 West Shoreview, MN 55126-1951

TWIN CITIES MN PERMIT NO 4112

On November 5, residents of Mounds View Public Schools will consider two school-related ballot questions.

E L E C T I O N D AY

Renewal NOVEMBER 5

The School Board of Mounds View Public Schools has proposed to renew an operating levy that is expiring. A successful levy renewal this fall will not increase taxes from their current levels.

What else should voters know? To learn five fast facts about the levy renewal request, turn to page six or visit www.moundsviewschools.org.

On Election Day, voters will elect three residents to serve four-year terms on the School Board. The following four residents are candidates: • John Hakes • Greg Madsen • Marre Jo Sager • Jon Tynjala For more information on the candidates, visit the Ramsey County elections page at http://www.co.ramsey.mn.us/elections/index.htm.

Find polling places, hours and absentee voting information at www.moundsviewschools.org. To find your precinct, visit the Ramsey County elections page at www.co.ramsey.mn.us/elections/index.htm or call 651-266-2171.