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May 3, 2024
Updates in this email:
June 19, 2024, will be the second time Minnesota celebrates Juneteenth as a State holiday. Juneteenth recognizes the historical pronouncement of the abolition of slavery on June 19, 1865, when the Emancipation Proclamation was said to have been first publicly read in Texas by Union soldiers.
As is the case with other holidays defined in Minnesota Session Laws 2023 Chapter 5, no public business can be conducted on this day. This means schools cannot hold classes or programs, school board meetings, athletic practices and competitions, and other school-associated events.
The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) is hosting a New American Education Summit on Thursday, May 9, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Delta Hotel in Northeast Minneapolis. The summit brings together school leaders, English Learner coordinators and teachers, district coordinators, state agency leaders and community partners to explore best practices, share insights and collaborate on innovative strategies for supporting new students and families in our schools. Please register for the New American Education Summit. Space is limited so register early. Email MDE Public Engagement Director Lee Her with any questions or call her at 651-785-4064.
Stars of Honor and the University of Minnesota have partnered to celebrate the achievements of elementary school students in your area who are selected by their schools as "Stars of Honor" based on their hard work in the classroom, kindness to others and commitment to leading a healthy lifestyle.
WHAT: View video of Stars of Honor Academic Program
Participating elementary schools will have a chance to select their top “Stars of Honor” in grades K-5 to receive free tickets for the students and their families to attend a designated college sporting event at the University of Minnesota. At their special game, students will receive a certificate to commemorate their achievement, have opportunities to take fun photographs, and will also be invited to stand in their seats to receive an ovation from the crowd as everyone celebrates their selection as Stars of Honor.
Website: Stars of Honor
WHEN: Please email Trevor Taylor to register your school to participate. When sending the email, please be sure to provide:
- School’s name.
- Principal’s name and email address.
- School's point of contact name, email, and phone number.
- School’s mailing address.
Stars of Honor will then follow up with your school’s point of contact directly to provide them with a designated number of winning students to select from each grade from K-5. Stars of Honor will also send the school an award notification flyer that informs parents that their child has been recognized as a Star of Honor and provides them with directions on how to RSVP for their free tickets to the game. All your school needs to do is email Trevor to confirm that you will participate, then give the Stars of Honor award notification flyer to the designated number of students selected.
Is your school community working strategically to increase family and community engagement and consistent student attendance? Ensuring families have what they need is one of the primary goals of the new Department of Human Services (DHS) request for proposals (RFP) to create a Network of Community Resource Centers and Kinship Navigator Programs. Expanding places in community where families feel safe and supported to access programs and services is a key strategy in promoting family and community well-being. This RFP is now open for application.
Community Resource Center and Kinship Navigator grants are available to a broad array of entities including but not limited to community-based organizations, local governments, Tribal Nations, counties, school districts, community action agencies and collaboratives including one or more mentioned entity.
We encourage all eligible applicants to apply by May 31, 2024.
The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) is excited to launch the Statewide Testing Redesign Survey. Your voice and the perspectives of your community are important to this effort as new academic standards are adopted in science, reading, and math, along with new assessments. The survey asks about how you receive, interpret and use statewide assessment results. Your feedback will help MDE ensure the results from the new assessments students take beginning in spring 2025 are as clear and useful as possible.
The Statewide Testing Redesign Survey is now open for responses until May 19. It should take no longer than 15 minutes. Responses will be completely anonymous.
Additionally, MDE is hoping individuals in these groups will share their perspective:
- Students in grades 8–12
- Families of students in grades K–12
- Classroom educators
- School-level leadership staff
- District-level leadership staff
- Assessment coordinators
- Community group members and leaders
- State agency staff
Please share the link with your staff and families! We thank you in advance and appreciate your support in gathering feedback from these groups.
Your expertise is critical to this process and we know your time is valuable. Thank you sincerely for your time and consideration. If you have any questions, please contact mde.testing@state.mn.us.
The Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Center, in collaboration with Minnesota restorative practices trainers, is offering Restorative Practices trainings this June in Greater Minnesota, Online, and in the Metro in Crystal. Several sessions are especially designed for the basics and the complexity of repairing relationships and transforming conflict with both students and adults:
- Circle to Repair Relationships—Bemidji, June 10, 11, 12 or Crystal, June 24, 25 and 26, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. $250.
- Addressing Racial Harm: Exploring Our Stories—Crystal, June 26 and 27, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. $165.
- Restorative Repair—Students with Special Needs —Crystal, June 24, 25 and 26, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. $250.
- Online Bullying that Affects the School—Crystal, June 24 and 25, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. $165; Online, June 10, 11 and 12, 1 p.m.-4p.m. $125.
- Trauma Awareness—Cloquet, June 10, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. $80.
- Strength Based Support and Accountability Planning for Students and Adults—Crystal, June 24, 25 and 26, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. $250.
- Supporting Adults in Schools—Cloquet, June 10 and 11, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. $165
- Compassionate Witnessing—La Crescent, June 27, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. $80.
For further information, go to Implementing Restorative Practices, or contact Nancy Riestenberg, 651-582-8433 or Grace Yang, 651-582-8777.
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