XPERIENCE SPRING LAKE PARK SCHOOLS
WINTER 2022 CREATING CONDITIONS TO LEARN
Staff are using common strategies across all grade levels to support student learning and engagement
COUNSELING CONNECTIONS
Grades 7-12 students meet with their counselor for personalized learning at least once each year just to focus on future plans
FALL ATHLETICS AND ACTIVITIES HIGHLIGHTS
Wrapping up successful seasons for teams and celebrating opportunities for students to make new connections
SO MANY REASONS TO BE
FEATURE STORIES
#SLPPantherProud FOLLOW US
Get frequent updates by following our Spring Lake Park Schools accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr social media channels! Here’s just a few highlights of what the community has been engaging with recently. Transitions Life Skills students circulate around the District Services Center with their coffee cart – and on Friday mornings, with donuts! They practice customer service, exchanging money and operational management.
CREATING CONDITIONS COUNSELING TO LEARN CONNECTIONS
FALL ATHLETICS AND ACTIVITIES HIGHLIGHTS
Second graders sit in a circle on the music room floor. There’s excited chatter, the volume rising. Today, they are creating sound effects. The teacher raises her hand with all five fingers extended. Without saying a word, she is asking them to “give her five,” – eyes on speaker, quiet voices, ears listening, hands free, body still. Slowly, the kids’ hands go up in response. The room grows quiet.
This fall, junior Reilly Kopp ran at the state cross country meet, the trap/skeet/clay sporting teams placed in the top three in their conference, the football team made it to the section finals and the math team had two all-state students, one who competed in a national math competition at Berkeley. There are many more highlights from this fall. Everywhere Panthers went, they made us proud!
“Give me five” is one common strategy Spring Lake Park Schools teachers are using across all grade levels to quietly and calmly gain student attention. It’s one of several strategies for creating a learner centered environment staff have focused on this school year to support student learning and engagement. “We’ve gathered a set of common strategies to support all aspects of a student’s development and create safe, positive and welcoming learning environments,” says Kaline Sandven Marinello, director of special education and student services. “Kids need these things in order to learn and we want to support teachers in consistently creating these conditions for learning across our schools and grade levels.”
A school counselor’s day is never dull. A typical day includes everything from managing student schedules and changes to supporting emerging student emotional needs to hall and lunch supervision to proactive, planned meetings with students and parents. That last part – the proactive, planned annual meetings with students and parents – is somewhat unusual among public schools. Spring Lake Park Schools students in grades 7-12 can expect to meet with their counselor – who is a counselor for personalized learning – at least once each year just to focus on a student’s future plans. Parents are invited. “We don’t just want to get students to graduation day,” says Megan Jahnke, associate principal at Spring Lake Park High School. “As an entire school district, we want to get them there with an idea of what they like to do, knowledge about how they learn best and an individualized plan for their next steps.” Read about the full approach to counseling connections online.
Read more about the ways we are creating conditions to learn online.
SLP Online Elementary students are learning about the many communities that they are a part of at home, school and in Spring Lake Park. They shared their learning with detailed poster projects: “We help each other, a place to live together.” Lifesaving moment from a student! When 16-year-old Rochelle Lavalle noticed a young family member choking on his food, she sprang into action using knowledge from her First Aid/CPR class.
Along with other established sports and club offerings, there are a handful of new and exciting opportunities. Panther Buddies is a club that pairs a high school student with a student at Park Terrace Elementary once per week with similar interests to provide a positive role model in their lives. Other new offerings include Alpine Skiing, Muslim Women’s Society, Equestrian Club and more.
Story: bit.ly/3FkX5gS
A new year of Panther athletics and activities brings an abundance of opportunities for each student to find connection, belonging and purpose. This year, there are 15 girls’ sports, 15 boys’ sports and 47 student-based interest clubs and co-curricular activities.
College Fair Day! Spring Lake Park High School students had the chance to visit 60+ booths right in the Panther Gym and meet with post-secondary reps in November. The career fair will be hosted in the spring.
Read more fall highlights and view the photo gallery online.
WINTER 2022 EDITION
READ THE FULL STORIES ONLINE SCAN THIS QR CODE WITH YOUR SMARTPHONE OR DEVICE CAMERA, OR VISIT THE WEBSITE:
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SUPERINTENDENT’S MESSAGE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY LEARN SOMETHING NEW THROUGH COMMUNITY EDUCATION
SAVE THE DATE: PANTHERS FOR A PURPOSE
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“ COMMUNITY MATTERS ”
Week of Giving: February 19-25, 2023 Fundraising week which includes online silent auction, dine-to-donate opportunities at local restaurants and Panther Pride activities all week long!
From youth to adult to family programs, everyone is invited! Now is a great time to explore interests, discover passions and learn a new skill. Programs are designed to enhance the quality of people’s lives through affordable classes, and help connect participants with others who share similar interests. Register and browse classes online.
Party: Saturday, February 25, 2023 (tickets on sale Jan. 3) Join us at Bunker Hills Event Center in Coon Rapids. Guests will enjoy a live auction, a program with giving moments and musical entertainment by local favorite band, Good for Gary.
GIVE THE GIFT OF MUSIC SPRINGLAKEPARKSCHOOLS.ORG/LIVEON65 This holiday season, you can give the gift of music with tickets to Live on 65 Performances! Attendees will enjoy world-class entertainment right here at Spring Lake Park High School’s Fine Arts Center. Through the generous sponsorship of the Spring Lake Park Lion’s Club, tickets are affordable for the whole family. Tickets are available for purchase online. 2023 Performances (all shows start at 7 p.m.) MISS MYRA AND THE MOONSHINERS | Thursday, January 5 GARY MAUER | Thursday, April 13 COPPER STREET BRASS | Monday, May 15
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BY THE NUMBERS
DONATED THROUGH PANTHER PRIDE SWEEPSTAKES
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ETHAN VUE
One of our counselors for personalized learning noted, “It truly does take a village to raise a child.” Our counselors work tirelessly each day to support emerging student needs and connect students and families to community resources. They also meet proactively with each student in grades 7-12 – and their parents – each year just to focus on future planning. This is unusual for K-12 schools and I hope you’ll learn more about our approach to counseling connections. In this issue of SLP Experience, you can also learn more about how our staff has intentionally worked to create community in our classrooms. They have been using a common set of proactive strategies to set a positive tone for learning each day. These actions are going a long way in preventing disruptions and behavior challenges. I hope you’ll take a minute to learn more about this work to create a truly learner centered environment in our schools. Finally, check out our Panther highlights. Our athletic teams worked hard and experienced success. Theater and music entertained. Students connected with each other and emerging interests through 47 interest-based clubs and activities at our high school and a variety of extracurricular offerings at all grade levels. With the winter season well underway, the positive momentum continues. Our Panthers make us proud. Our schools continue to be places for community to gather, connect with others, and explore interests and passions. I hope you find a connection to our schools in these coming months. Check out an upcoming Live on 65 concert. Catch a play or game. With winter’s arrival, maybe join the walking club at the high school or sign up for pickleball to get a little indoor exercise. This community matters a great deal to Spring Lake Park Schools and we’re grateful, each day, for your support of our schools and our students.
SLPHS JUNIOR
I’m proud to represent Spring Lake Park High School. The school’s mission and values has influenced me to seek opportunities to engage and contribute. I’m learning time management and interpersonal skills to balance my school and out-of-school programs and activities. Getting involved in Asian Club, Art Club and theater has guided me to amazing opportunities to give back to the many communities that I belong to.
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$5K
THE PANTHER FOUNDATION DONATED $5,000 AS PART OF THE PANTHER PRIDE SWEEPSTAKES STUDENT WINNERS USE THE PRIZE MONEY FOR SCHOOL INITIATIVES OF THEIR CHOOSING
T S P OT L I G HT
DIVISION 1 STUDENT-ATHLETES
2 STUDENT-ATHLETES COMMITTED TO DIVISION 1 ATHLETICS AT THE NOVEMBER NATIONAL SIGNING DAY EVENT: ISAAC MORTON, TEXAS A&M BASEBALL AND ASHLEY STEWART, NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY TRACK
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MEETINGS WITH A COUNSELOR
EACH STUDENT HAS 6 PLANNED ANNUAL MEETINGS WITH A COUNSELOR DURING GRADES 7-12
To our community: Community matters in the education of our children. This fall, our community showed up big time. The stands were packed to cheer. Guest instructors provided real-world context for learning across schools and grade levels. We’ve received many supportive calls, emails and comments about the house rising in our high school parking lot. Community support matters.
Jeff Ronneberg, Ed.D Superintendent, Spring Lake Park Schools
SCHOOL BOARD Amy Hennen, Chairperson Tony Easter, Vice - Chairperson Marilynn Forsberg, Clerk Sarah Bowe, Treasurer Michael Kreun, Parliamentarian Melody Skelly, Direc tor Sam V illella, Direc tor
NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID TWIN CITIES, MN PERMIT 1174
XPERIENCE DISTRICT SERVICES CENTER Independent School District No. 16 1415 81st Ave NE Spring Lake Park, MN 55432
WINTER 2022
SpringLakeParkSchools.org
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BUILD A CAREER
SIGN UP TO TOUR AND TALK
ENROLL FOR 2023-2024
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When you join the team at SLP, you are building your career! From paraprofessionals and custodians to nutrition services and substitute teachers, there are several locations and schedule options. Come work here and make an impact on students and your community. Competitive benefits and retirement package.
Tour and Talk events at Spring Lake Park High School are offered on several dates throughout the year to fit busy family schedules. These 45-minute events are for students in grades 8-11 who are not currently enrolled in SLPHS and want to learn more by touring and asking questions. Students and families are welcome to attend together. Select from 2023 dates and sign up to help us plan for your visit.
Enrolling in Spring Lake Park Schools marks the beginning of a personalized learning journey that prepares students for their unique career, college and life path. We are committed to helping each student discover who they are as learners and find joy in learning. Come out to any of our locations for a visit or enroll now online.