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January 13, 2023
Updates in this email:
To support local high schools with their financial aid efforts, the Ready, Set, FAFSA! series will again be offered to students and families. Between Feb. 7–28, five virtual sessions will cover the financial aid process, details on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the Minnesota Dream Act for undocumented students, understanding offer letters and how to search for scholarships. All sessions will have simultaneous interpretation in Spanish, Somali and Hmong.
Financial aid experts from local colleges will be available during the events to answer questions in the chat. Students who attend or watch a session recording will be eligible to win a $500 scholarship. Registration is open now for families on the Ready, Set, FAFSA! website.
Schools can access Promotional Materials with ready-made graphics and content to promote the series to students and families. Please contact Beth Barsness for further information.
The Ready, Set, FAFSA! series is a collaboration between MDE, Minnesota Office of Higher Education, ECMC The College Place and Minnesota Goes to College.
The Escape the Vape Video Challenge, a youth vaping prevention video contest, is back for 2023. Minnesota middle and high school students are invited to create and submit a 30-second public service announcement (PSA) video to educate their peers on the dangers of e-cigarette use, also known as vaping. Submissions will be entered into a competition for cash prizes for students and their schools.
Key Contest Dates
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Feb. 1 – Video Submission Opens
- Students will have the month of February to finalize and submit their videos.
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Feb. 28 – Video Submission Deadline
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March 24 – Finalists Announced
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March 24–April 6 – Public Voting
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April 7 – Winners Announced
Minnesota youth can learn more about the Escape the Vape Video Challenge and submit their video at mnescapethevape.org.
For more information on sponsorships or how to promote the contest with youth in your community, visit Escape the Vape Video Challenge.
Girls Who Code, a nonprofit organization, is offering free computer science resources to educators and students through Girls Who Code Clubs.
You can sign up to access resources from the Girls Who Code Clubs program for students of all genders in grades 3–12. You'll access:
- CSTA standards-aligned coding lessons in Scratch, p5.js, Swift, and Python with new tutorials in cybersecurity
- Comprehensive planning resources like scope and sequence resources a student recruitment toolkit
- Virtual events with tech leaders in the industry
- Girls Who Code t-shirts and stickers for each Club member and a $500 Amazon Wishlist for supplies through the Clubs Fund once you have three or more Club members
Read the Clubs flyer Inspire Coders of Tomorrow with Free Clubs Today for more information.
Applications for the U.S. Department of Energy’s American-Made Energy CLASS (Champions Leading the Advancement of Sustainable Schools) Prize are now open. Local education agencies (LEAs) have until Feb. 28 at 4 p.m. CT to apply via Energy CLASS Prize.
The two-phased Energy CLASS Prize, totaling $4.5 million in awards, provides up to 25 LEAs with the resources to staff and train select administration and facilities personnel as energy managers. Energy managers trained under this prize will learn how to identify, plan and implement critical upgrades in school facilities, so students can learn in comfortable and healthy classrooms.
Phase 1 – Application
LEAs will submit their statement of need and letters of support, demonstrate their commitment to making building energy upgrades and identify staff to participate in the program. Up to 25 LEAs will each receive $100,000 in cash prizes to support participation in training over 12 months during Phase 2.
Phase 2 – Skills Development & Coaching
Phase 1 participants will be invited to take part in 80–160 hours of online educational courses delivered by training professionals. In addition to DOE-funded trainings, teams will receive one-on-one support and coaching on building upgrades associated with the specific LEA district. At the conclusion of Phase 2, participants will submit a progress report on actions identified or taken and a plan for future building upgrades for a chance to win a $50,000 bonus prize.
For more information, visit the Energy CLASS Prize Informational Webinar Recording and follow the Energy CLASS Prize on HeroX.com for all prize-related updates. Please contact challenge@nrel.gov with questions.
Apply now to become a part of a community of educators working to increase equity in visual and performing arts education across Minnesota! The Culturally Responsive Arts Education Program is designed to support the development and implementation of culturally responsive and anti-racist arts curriculum, instruction, policies, and practices in Minnesota schools. The program’s Professional Learning and Action Cohort will engage in three years of ongoing professional learning beginning in June 2023.
The cohort will be comprised of teams and individuals selected from applications open now. Each team will receive technical and financial support towards local Pilot Action Initiatives in K-12 classrooms, schools, and districts. Cohort applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 15. Access the application at Culturally Responsive Arts Ed and find more information on the program, eligibility, and the application process.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has a new Schools and Nonprofits Program that is making $500 million in grant funding available to some of the nation’s highest-need K-12 public schools for critical energy upgrades.
DOE is now accepting applications for the Renew America’s Schools Grant. Concept Papers are the first step of applying and must be submitted by 4 p.m. CT on Jan. 26 to be eligible for funding. Funds will help school districts to make upgrades that will lower facilities’ energy costs and foster healthier learning environments for students. Learn how to submit papers at Grants for Energy Improvements at Public School Facilities. You can also sign up on this webpage to receive future updates about grants for energy improvements at public school facilities.
Children ages 6 months and up are now eligible for the updated (bivalent) COVID-19 vaccine dose. Please share this information with your school communities.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is urging parents to get their children vaccinated against COVID-19 and to make sure they and the entire family are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently authorized and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expanded recommendations for children age 6 months through 5 years to receive an updated (bivalent) COVID-19 vaccine dose to help increase their protection against currently circulating variants. Because protection from the vaccines can decrease over time, and because the strains of COVID-19 that are circulating have changed since the original vaccine was developed, it is important for children 6 months and older get an updated (bivalent) COVID-19 vaccine when eligible.
Vaccination rates for our youngest Minnesotans remain low across the state and lower up-to-date vaccination rates for all age groups are concerning for health officials. Vaccination is one of the best ways to protect children and families from COVID-19, and that includes the updated bivalent vaccine when due.
Children can receive COVID-19 vaccine at the same visit as other recommended vaccines, including the flu vaccine. This is a good time to connect with your child’s health care provider to see what vaccines your child may need.
Visit COVID-19 Vaccine for Children and Teens for the latest information and recommendations for getting children vaccinated against COVID-19.
Where to Get a Bivalent Booster
- Check with your regular health care provider or local pharmacy to see if appointments are available.
- Use the state’s Find Vaccine Locations map to find vaccine providers near you—providers will update their information as appointments are available.
- Check for vaccine appointments at Vaccines.gov, where you can search for appointments by vaccine type (e.g., Pfizer).
- Watch for vaccination clinics being offered at other community locations around Minnesota.
The Minnesota Department of Education, through the CDC 1801 Improving Student Health and Academic Achievement cooperative agreement, is offering free virtual training opportunities to current Minnesota school health educators.
Starting this month, RMC Health will provide high-quality, interactive training opportunities. Educators are encouraged to participate in both training sessions. However, this is not required, and participants can choose to register for one.
Each training will have two cohorts that participants can select from with varying dates/times. There is limited capacity in each training, so we ask that participants commit to the full series if they sign up. For training descriptions and specific dates/times, please refer to the registration links below. Continuing education units (CEUs) will be provided upon completion of each training series.
- Introduction to Skills-Based Health Education (4 hours total)
- Practice, Practice, Practice: The Road to Students Mastering Health Skills (9 hours total)
Don’t delay—sign up now.
The exponential rise in children’s respiratory illnesses resulting in hospitalizations from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza (flu) and influenza-like-illnesses (ILI) has placed an unprecedented strain on our hospitals and emergency departments (EDs).
As a result of this increase, Minnesota hospitals are receiving an overwhelming number of parents and guardians requesting notes from hospital staff, specifically in EDs. The increase in requests for these notes has placed an additional burden on an already strained system. If your district policy necessitates notes from medical providers for student absences, please consider asking parents to request these notes from a healthcare provider instead of going to the ED to get a note.
We continue to encourage school districts to promote basic public health measures including handwashing, covering your cough, staying home if sick, and promoting vaccination. Thank you for your continued leadership to ensure a safe and healthy learning environment for students and staff.
The Language Access Network (LAN) is a statewide community of practice centered on ensuring that families who speak languages other than English have access to information and services from public schools. LAN consists of school and school district personnel with responsibility for the interpreting, translation and language access needs of Minnesota’s multilingual children and families.
At this time, we have the following dates set for the Language Access Network (you will receive calendar invitations upon registration).
- Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023; 2–3:30 p.m. (virtual connection with MDE)
- Thursday, March 16, 2023; 2–3:30 p.m. (virtual connection with MDE)
Register for the Language Access Network.
We invite you to join us as we work toward making education a more supportive and inclusive place for Minnesota’s multilingual families.
If there are questions, contact Amy Tervola Hultberg at Sourcewell.
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