Somali Parents Advisory Council The Somali Community Reception for Superintendent Valeria Silva will be on Friday, April 23rd at 360 Colborne from 5:30 - 8:00 PM. Please share this information with Somali families in your school. Somali PAC Flyer Hmonglish Musical The Center for Hmong Arts and Talent (CHAT) has a Youth Leadership Group in the middle of production of HMONGLISH MUSICAL which will be staged at the Gremlin Theatre April 28- May 2, 2010. They are interested in schools having their students attend the day shows Wed. - Friday at 10:30am. Please see the attached flyer or contact Nou Ka Yang, Youth Programs Coordinator by phone: 651-644-6983 or via email: nouka@aboutchat.org Hmonglish Musical Latino Consent Decree Parent Advisory Committee Meeting As the Latino population in the United States experiences rapid growth, the emotional well-being of Latino adolescents becomes a growing concern due to their high rates of mental health problems. Latino adolescents report and demonstrate higher rates of mental health related sequelae, including depressive symptoms, suicide attempts, high school-dropout, and violence. Sophisticated interventions are needed to reduce these risk factors and optimize protective factors. Parents and schools are key protective factors in the lives of adolescents. The Latino Consent Decree Program has been working for the past two years in collaboration with Dr. Carolyn Garcia, Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing at the University of Minnesota, Student Wellness and West Side Community Health Services on a special project related to the mental health of teenage Latino students. This project is being piloted at Harding High School with Health Start and we hope to involve other schools in the future as we have evidence of its benefits. Our final Latino Consent Decree Parent Advisory Committee meeting (LCD-PAC) of the school year will be on April 28th, 2010 from 6:00 to 8:15 p.m. at 360 Colborne in rooms A and B. Staff from the University of Minnesota School of Nursing will be presenting about The Emotional Health and Well-Being of Our Children and Families: A Workshop for Latino Parents. As always transportation, a light dinner, and childcare will be provided. The LCD program and the Parent Advisory Committee highly encourage Latino parents to attend this workshop. Once you have received responses from the families, please contact Pierre Cejudo with all attendance information. Pierre Cejudo can be reached by telephone at (651) 767-8194, email at pierre.cejudo@spps.org, or fax at (651) 293-5411. If you have any questions about this workshop, please email Pablo Matamoros at pablo.matamoros@spps.org LCD PAC April 2010 - English LCD PAC Abril 2010 - Spanish Latino Community Reception for Superintendent Valeria Silva On behalf of the Latino Community Superintendent’s Reception Planning Committee, it is a pleasure to invite you to join us at a Welcome Celebration being held in honor of new Saint Paul Public Schools Superintendent Valeria S. Silva. Though Superintendent Silva is not new to our community or Saint Paul Public Schools, we do want to celebrate her selection as Superintendent of the second largest school district in Minnesota. This is a moment of pride for all of us. Please join us for some food, conversation, and a short program. You’ll be able to mingle with fellow leaders and members of our community and have a few moments with Superintendent Silva, as well. TIME: 5:30 p.m. DATE: Thursday, April 29, 2010 LOCATION: Neighborhood House,179 Robie Street, Saint Paul, MN 55107 Welcome Reception Flyer Collaboration & Differentiated Instruction Conference 2010 Save the dates! The 3rd Annual Increasing Student Achievement: Collaboration and Differentiated Instruction Conference is scheduled for Tuesday, August 17th through Thursday, August 19th. The sessions will focus on expanding and deepening the collaboration across general education, special education, and ELL teachers to differentiated instruction so students can access and achieve in the general education curriculum. The conference is open to all teachers, coaches, and administrators. For the first time this year, there will be an Early Childhood collaboration strand. Co-teaching teams will have time to co-plan. Participants will be paid the workshop rate. More information will be forthcoming as planning is finalized.
The Somali Community Reception for Superintendent Valeria Silva will be on Friday, April 23rd at 360 Colborne from 5:30 - 8:00 PM. Please share this information with Somali families in your school.
Somali PAC Flyer
The Center for Hmong Arts and Talent (CHAT) has a Youth Leadership Group in the middle of production of HMONGLISH MUSICAL which will be staged at the Gremlin Theatre April 28- May 2, 2010. They are interested in schools having their students attend the day shows Wed. - Friday at 10:30am. Please see the attached flyer or contact Nou Ka Yang, Youth Programs Coordinator by phone: 651-644-6983 or via email: nouka@aboutchat.org
Hmonglish Musical
As the Latino population in the United States experiences rapid growth, the emotional well-being of Latino adolescents becomes a growing concern due to their high rates of mental health problems. Latino adolescents report and demonstrate higher rates of mental health related sequelae, including depressive symptoms, suicide attempts, high school-dropout, and violence. Sophisticated interventions are needed to reduce these risk factors and optimize protective factors. Parents and schools are key protective factors in the lives of adolescents.
The Latino Consent Decree Program has been working for the past two years in collaboration with Dr. Carolyn Garcia, Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing at the University of Minnesota, Student Wellness and West Side Community Health Services on a special project related to the mental health of teenage Latino students. This project is being piloted at Harding High School with Health Start and we hope to involve other schools in the future as we have evidence of its benefits.
Our final Latino Consent Decree Parent Advisory Committee meeting (LCD-PAC) of the school year will be on April 28th, 2010 from 6:00 to 8:15 p.m. at 360 Colborne in rooms A and B. Staff from the University of Minnesota School of Nursing will be presenting about The Emotional Health and Well-Being of Our Children and Families: A Workshop for Latino Parents. As always transportation, a light dinner, and childcare will be provided. The LCD program and the Parent Advisory Committee highly encourage Latino parents to attend this workshop. Once you have received responses from the families, please contact Pierre Cejudo with all attendance information. Pierre Cejudo can be reached by telephone at (651) 767-8194, email at pierre.cejudo@spps.org, or fax at (651) 293-5411. If you have any questions about this workshop, please email Pablo Matamoros at pablo.matamoros@spps.org
LCD PAC April 2010 - English
LCD PAC Abril 2010 - Spanish
On behalf of the Latino Community Superintendent’s Reception Planning Committee, it is a pleasure to invite you to join us at a Welcome Celebration being held in honor of new Saint Paul Public Schools Superintendent Valeria S. Silva. Though Superintendent Silva is not new to our community or Saint Paul Public Schools, we do want to celebrate her selection as Superintendent of the second largest school district in Minnesota. This is a moment of pride for all of us. Please join us for some food, conversation, and a short program. You’ll be able to mingle with fellow leaders and members of our community and have a few moments with Superintendent Silva, as well.
TIME: 5:30 p.m. DATE: Thursday, April 29, 2010 LOCATION: Neighborhood House,179 Robie Street, Saint Paul, MN 55107
Welcome Reception Flyer
Save the dates! The 3rd Annual Increasing Student Achievement: Collaboration and Differentiated Instruction Conference is scheduled for Tuesday, August 17th through Thursday, August 19th. The sessions will focus on expanding and deepening the collaboration across general education, special education, and ELL teachers to differentiated instruction so students can access and achieve in the general education curriculum. The conference is open to all teachers, coaches, and administrators. For the first time this year, there will be an Early Childhood collaboration strand. Co-teaching teams will have time to co-plan. Participants will be paid the workshop rate. More information will be forthcoming as planning is finalized.
Kindergarten Pre-LAS Information
• All ELL eligible students, who enrolled in Kindergarten prior to January 29th, 2010 will need to be reassessed with the English preLAS only, during the spring window, March 22 - April 23. Keep in mind that spring break is March 29th - April 2nd.
• Please continue to assess students who are new to the district, within ten days of enrollment, and email Bonnie with their full name, student number, and preLAS score and level. Those students will not be reassessed during the spring window.
• Spring preLAS data is due to Bonnie Lawrence on April 23rd.
• Students in four-year-old kindergarten do NOT need to be assessed.
• PreLAS Coordinators were emailed a list of students last week. Please contact Bonnie if you have not received your list.
• Please email your TOSA if you need additional testing forms (please do not use copies) or have additional questions.
First Step Summer Institute Please share this opportunity with your students! First Step Summer Institute (FSSI) is a week-long residential experience at St. Kates that is designed to give women of color hands-on experience in college life. Students have the option of attending one of two sessions. Session 1 takes place from June 21-26, 2010. Session 2 takes place from June 28-July 3, 2010. Students accepted to FSSI, will receive the following benefits: 1. A tuition-free educational, dining, lodging, and community-building experience for one week in the summer. 2. Instruction from college staff and faculty about career options, ACT test prep, financial aid, essay writing, scholarships, study skills, college culture, and women's empowerment. 3. Advice from students of color attending St. Kates and professional women of color who are leaders in the Twin Cities. 4. A one-day excursion to Camp Sunrise where you and your peers will bond through outdoor activities requiring problem-solving skills, risk-taking, leadership, trust, and effective communication. 5. After successful completion of the program, each student is eligible for a scholarship of $2,000 per year for four years (totalling $8,000), if she chooses to attend St. Catherine University. 6. A network of faculty, staff, and student friends. To be eligible for FSSI, students must meet the following requirements: 1. Be either a sophomore or a junior woman of color attending high school. 2. Have at least a 2.5 grade point average (G.P.A.). 3. Submit a completed letter of recommendation from a teacher or counselor. 4. Submit a completed application. 5. Submit an official transcript. 6. Respond to one of the following essay topics: a. What does it mean to you to be a woman of color? How could the First Step Summer Institute help you meet your goal of going to college? b. Who is the person in your family or community that inspires you the most? What is one important lesson you have learned from this individual? 7. If admitted, attend at least 96 of 120 hours in order to graduate from your session. The application deadline is May 7, 2010. While we welcome all applications, this program is also competitive. Students will be notified about our admissions decisions by the last week in May. Please mail all application materials to the following address: St. Catherine University Multicultural & International Programs & Services (MIPS) Office Attn: Heather Jackson 2004 Randolph Ave., F-29 St. Paul, MN 55105 For applications or if you have any questions or concerns, please contact Heather Jackson at 651-690-6226 or email at hajackson@stkate.edu. All Secondary Content Areas Included in Write to Learn Seminars - June 15-18 Compelling data from research in schools with demographics and academic challenges much like Saint Paul’s strongly indicates that increasing the amount of nonfiction writing secondary students are asked to do across the curriculum is a key to increasing student performance and closing the achievement gap. In collaboration with the Leadership and Learning Center, SPPS is hosting a set of four one-day workshops focused on the integration of nonfiction writing in all content areas. Participant slots are limited for the June 15-18 sessions so teachers are encouraged to sign up on PDExpress as soon as possible. These practical and hands-on workshops are open to secondary teachers from all content areas. Teachers need sign up for ONE DAY ONLY, choosing ONE of the listed dates: June 15, 16, 17, or 18. At 360 Colborne Street from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM each day. Language Arts teachers and ELL teachers who primarily teach language arts classes are strongly encouraged to choose June 17 or 18, as breakout sessions specialized for Language Arts will be included on those dates. Attention to increasing the amount of nonfiction writing SPPS secondary students do in all subject areas is a key component of the district’s instructional reform partnership with the Leadership and Learning Center in 2010-2011. If you have questions, please contact Micheal Thompson at 651-744-1306.
Please share this opportunity with your students!
First Step Summer Institute (FSSI) is a week-long residential experience at St. Kates that is designed to give women of color hands-on experience in college life. Students have the option of attending one of two sessions. Session 1 takes place from June 21-26, 2010. Session 2 takes place from June 28-July 3, 2010.
Students accepted to FSSI, will receive the following benefits:
1. A tuition-free educational, dining, lodging, and community-building experience for one week in the summer.
2. Instruction from college staff and faculty about career options, ACT test prep, financial aid, essay writing, scholarships, study skills, college culture, and women's empowerment.
3. Advice from students of color attending St. Kates and professional women of color who are leaders in the Twin Cities.
4. A one-day excursion to Camp Sunrise where you and your peers will bond through outdoor activities requiring problem-solving skills, risk-taking, leadership, trust, and effective communication.
5. After successful completion of the program, each student is eligible for a scholarship of $2,000 per year for four years (totalling $8,000), if she chooses to attend St. Catherine University.
6. A network of faculty, staff, and student friends.
To be eligible for FSSI, students must meet the following requirements: 1. Be either a sophomore or a junior woman of color attending high school. 2. Have at least a 2.5 grade point average (G.P.A.). 3. Submit a completed letter of recommendation from a teacher or counselor. 4. Submit a completed application. 5. Submit an official transcript. 6. Respond to one of the following essay topics: a. What does it mean to you to be a woman of color? How could the First Step Summer Institute help you meet your goal of going to college? b. Who is the person in your family or community that inspires you the most? What is one important lesson you have learned from this individual? 7. If admitted, attend at least 96 of 120 hours in order to graduate from your session. The application deadline is May 7, 2010. While we welcome all applications, this program is also competitive. Students will be notified about our admissions decisions by the last week in May.
Please mail all application materials to the following address: St. Catherine University Multicultural & International Programs & Services (MIPS) Office Attn: Heather Jackson 2004 Randolph Ave., F-29 St. Paul, MN 55105 For applications or if you have any questions or concerns, please contact Heather Jackson at 651-690-6226 or email at hajackson@stkate.edu.
Compelling data from research in schools with demographics and academic challenges much like Saint Paul’s strongly indicates that increasing the amount of nonfiction writing secondary students are asked to do across the curriculum is a key to increasing student performance and closing the achievement gap. In collaboration with the Leadership and Learning Center, SPPS is hosting a set of four one-day workshops focused on the integration of nonfiction writing in all content areas. Participant slots are limited for the June 15-18 sessions so teachers are encouraged to sign up on PDExpress as soon as possible. These practical and hands-on workshops are open to secondary teachers from all content areas. Teachers need sign up for ONE DAY ONLY, choosing ONE of the listed dates: June 15, 16, 17, or 18. At 360 Colborne Street from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM each day. Language Arts teachers and ELL teachers who primarily teach language arts classes are strongly encouraged to choose June 17 or 18, as breakout sessions specialized for Language Arts will be included on those dates. Attention to increasing the amount of nonfiction writing SPPS secondary students do in all subject areas is a key component of the district’s instructional reform partnership with the Leadership and Learning Center in 2010-2011. If you have questions, please contact Micheal Thompson at 651-744-1306.
2010 ESL, Bilingual and Migrant Education Conference
Registration is now open for the annual ESL, Bilingual, and Migrant Education Conference on April 29-30, 2010 at the RiverCentre in St. Paul Minnesota. http://www.mnellconference.org/Register.html
The conference features: • Over 50 timely sessions featuring issues in ELL education. • Exhibitors showcasing the latest in materials and resources. • Partnership with Festival of Nations. • Expert national and local speakers including Dr. Kendall King and Dr. James Crawford.
Click here to see the Conference Sessions Overview.
Scholastic Warehouse Sale
Scholastic Book Fairs is having its biggest sale of the year (up to 80% off the cover price) in May at various locations. The sale is exclusive to school and district employees. Pre-register online and get additional coupons.
Brooklyn Park - Scholastic Book Fairs Warehouse Wed., 05/05/2010 - Wed., 05/19/2010 Weekdays --- 11:00am - 7:00pm Saturday (5/8) --- 8:00am - 4:00pm Saturday (5/15) --- 8:00am - Noon Closed Sundays 9201 Wyoming Avenue N Ste 102 Brooklyn Park, MN 55445 (763) 391-0930
Burnsville - Holiday Inn Tue., 05/25/2010 - Fri., 05/28/2010 11:00am - 7:00pm 14201 Nicollet Avenue Burnsville, MN 55337 (800) 635-7323
Hudson - Best Western Hudson House Inn Wed., 05/12/2010 - Fri., 05/14/2010 11:00am - 7:00pm 1616 Crest View Drive West Hudson, WI 54016 (800) 635-7323
Brooklyn Park Flyer
Burnsville Flyer
Hudson Flyer
Live with a family/teach English 1-2 hours a day and assist with games/sports/dance (possibly other activities depending on your personal interests) 1-2 hours a day for three weeks. Weekends are free to travel as you wish. There is no program fee. You pay your own airfare. Your room and board is provided for you by parents and community members in Mexico who are grateful to have you. You will live with a host family in a small town. You will improve your Spanish and cultural knowledge of Mexico. Sueños Compartidos is a nonprofit organization which arranges summer camps for elementary school students in Mexico. For more information, contact: tomas.davis@hotmail.com or check out suenoscompartidos.org.
History of Vietnam Lecture Series The Vietnam Center is presenting a series of 6 free lectures on the history of Vietnam from ancient times to the present day given by Stephen Young. All lectures are at the Vietnam Center on Saturdays from 1pm-3pm. April 24 - The Tay Son Challenge; the Nguyen Restoration of Orthodoxy and the Arrival of the West May 1 - Vietnam in Modern Times: French rule and the rise of Nationalism May 8 - Communism and the Vietnam Wars Vietnam Center 1159 University Avenue St. Paul, MN 55104 www.vietnamcenter.org
The Vietnam Center is presenting a series of 6 free lectures on the history of Vietnam from ancient times to the present day given by Stephen Young. All lectures are at the Vietnam Center on Saturdays from 1pm-3pm. April 24 - The Tay Son Challenge; the Nguyen Restoration of Orthodoxy and the Arrival of the West May 1 - Vietnam in Modern Times: French rule and the rise of Nationalism May 8 - Communism and the Vietnam Wars Vietnam Center 1159 University Avenue St. Paul, MN 55104 www.vietnamcenter.org