Austin Packer Bulletin - 5/24/2024

As we celebrate the Class of 2024 next Friday, and with the approach of summer, I wanted to take a moment to share how Austin Public Schools has advanced the district's strategic plan throughout the school year. The commitment of our teachers, staff, students, families/caregivers, and community partners has allowed us to create a collective vision for excellence, and I am deeply grateful for their hard work and service.

I want to share a few examples of our accomplishments from the past several months.

At the forefront of the strategic plan is a commitment to foster a safe and inclusive environment where every student feels supported and empowered. Initiatives such as Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and BARR (Building Assets, Reducing Risks) have helped our schools nurture academic achievement and personal growth, focusing on improving student behavior through relationship building.

Another major highlight has been developing and implementing the "Packer Profile" for all learners, which aims to build strong character qualities such as responsibility and resiliency. We made great strides with the launch of Packer Pathways, a program that helps students explore potential careers. Starting in the fall, introducing a new class, Packer Profile Seminar, will provide 9th-grade students with new opportunities to explore their interests and strengths.

Overall, the Packer Profile is helping our district prepare students for life after graduation through career development – and I'm excited to see how this program continues to evolve.

Further, our district has expanded our network of multi-tiered systems of support. Instructional coaches provide personalized support for students in reading and math, while Success Coaches work with non-English speaking families to help them navigate their student's educational experience. Technology coaches help teachers effectively integrate technology into their classrooms. These programs are filling gaps to meet student and staff needs.

Meanwhile, the district's financial decisions have supported our commitment to equity and efficiency. For example, staff has successfully been working on transitioning our kindergarten into neighborhood schools, bringing our early childhood programming together, and unifying the IJ Holton Intermediate and Ellis Middle School campuses. These changes have optimized our educational spaces and helped us manage resources more efficiently.

These efforts produce tangible results, with graduation rates and district enrollment increasing. In addition, our students, staff, and programs have been recognized for their achievements over the past year. Austin Public Schools was named one of the Best Communities for Music Education by The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. The Minnesota Department of Education recently named three Austin students Scholars of Distinction. This prestigious award recognizes exceptional performance and achievement by students in grades 11 and 12, and of the eleven students honored statewide, three are from Austin. Congratulations to Ellen Ekins, Mia King, and Eeva Nelson. We couldn't be prouder.

While the accomplishments I've highlighted represent only a fraction of our progress, I hope they give our community a deeper understanding of what makes our district so special.

Austin Public Schools remains dedicated to building on this momentum as we look ahead to the next school year and beyond. Thank you to every person who contributed to the many successes of the 2023-24 school year. I feel fortunate to be part of such a dynamic and dedicated district community.

The Austin Packer Bulletin will be back in August. Enjoy your summer! Go Packers!

Sincerely,

Dr. Joey Page, Superintendent

Commencement for the Class of 2024 is next Friday, May 31, at 7:00 PM in Knowlton Auditorium. Each graduating senior has received four tickets to the ceremony and there will be overflow seating available in Ove Berven gym. We will be livestreaming the event as well, if you'd like to watch from home (or share with others).

In last week's issue, we highlighted our Packer Profile and shared one of our Pathways Posters. The next career poster focuses on Military Careers.

We invite you to join us in celebrating Juneteenth!

In the 2023 legislative session, Governor Tim Walz signed legislation establishing Juneteenth as an official state holiday. We are proud to join other Minnesota districts to celebrate this year on Wednesday, June 19.

Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. On June 19, 1865, the Emancipation Proclamation was first read publicly to enslaved people in Texas, nearly two years after its signing by President Lincoln.

To honor Juneteenth, all Austin Public schools and offices will be closed. We will resume our normal activities on Thursday, June 20.

Beginning this fall, Jessica Cabeen, the principal of alternative programming, will oversee our alternative learning center (ALC). Allison Gunderson will focus all her efforts on her role as the Assistant Principal of AHS. We are excited about these changes as we strive to achieve our school district vision.

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) knows how important it is for your child to have a successful transition to kindergarten. MDE wants to hear your thoughts on how schools can best collect information about what children entering kindergarten know and can do. This process is referred to as the Kindergarten Fall Assessment (KFA). We also want to hear how you think this information can be shared meaningfully with families so that all adults and systems can work together to support successful learners. Focus groups, led by a consulting firm, The Improve Group, are part of the initial phase of MDE's multi-year plan to gather community input to shape the development and implementation of the KFA.

Focus Group information

Please participate in a two-hour in-person or virtual focus group to share your thoughts on kindergarten assessments. Your time and expertise are valuable, and you will receive an $80 gift card in appreciation for your participation. In-person focus groups will also provide transportation, a light dinner, and childcare. Accommodations will be provided upon request.

Register for a focus group!

Focus group options run May 29 through June 20, and spots are limited.

Here at Austin Public Schools, we know that many students depend on the meals served at our schools every day. Once again, this summer, free breakfast and lunch will be available for all children ages 1 to 18 at the sites listed.

• Austin High School (M-Th) - 301 3rd St NW - 6/3-8/8
• IJ Holton Intermediate School (M-Th) - 1800 4th Ave SE - 6/3-8/8
• Banfield Elementary School (M-F) - 301 17th St SW - 6/3-8/9

A few notes:

• Breakfast will be served from 8:00 am to 9:00 am each day.
• Lunch will be served from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm each day.
• There will be no lunch served on Wednesday, June 19, or Thursday, July 4.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or EBT, helps ensure all Minnesotans get the food they need for nutritious and well-balanced meals. Through a monthly stipend that can be used for food, SNAP helps your household budget go further.

Have questions about SNAP? They, along with several other community organizations, are here to help!

Their new SNAP Center covers the basics, from "What is SNAP?" to getting assistance with enrollment. Materials and applications are available in multiple languages to help support a diverse population.

Those interested can use our SNAP Center to:

• Find out if you may be eligible for SNAP
• Estimate your monthly benefits
• Begin your application

Learn more here.

We invite you to join our Finance and Facilities committees for the 2024-2025 school year. Your insights, skills, and passion can make a significant impact on the future of our community.

Finance Committee

The purpose of the Finance Committee is to ensure fiscal recommendations to the School Board and District Administration align with the strategic priorities of Austin Public Schools. Learn more here.

Facilities Committee

The Facilities Committee aims to participate in general facilities planning for Austin Public Schools. To maintain the high standards the Austin School Board sets, the committee will focus on enhancing available resources to achieve our district's strategic priorities. Learn more here.

If you are interested in contributing your expertise and collaborating with a team of dedicated individuals, we invite you to join one of these committees. Your participation can help shape the future of our school district and make a real difference. To express interest or for more information, please email Superintendent Dr. Joey Page or call 507-460-1900. Thank you for considering this opportunity.

Minnesota State University, Mankato, is starting a new Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education Online program that will begin in August of 2024. This 100% ONLINE program prepares people to earn a Minnesota K-6 Teaching License.

Highlights:

• 100% Online with synchronous meetings in the evenings and on Saturdays
• Elementary Education cohorts start each fall
• Field experiences and student teaching completed within a student's community
• Bachelor's degree that leads to K-6 licensure from an institution known for training high-quality Minnesota teachers, Minnesota State University, Mankato

They have made it easy for someone to get started – visit our program page for information and application details. Further details about this program are also provided in this video.

Are you looking for a way to give back to the community and invest in the next generation? If so, we have the perfect opportunity for you!

At Austin Public School, our mission is to Inspire, Empower, and Accelerate as we prepare our learners to make a difference in the world. One of the ways we are working to support this mission is to ensure that all students start the school year off with the supplies they need to be successful. If you want to help support our students, please consider donating to the Accelerate Austin School Supply Fundraiser. All money raised will go directly to providing students with needed school supplies to help ensure they start the school year off right.

Your donation will help make a huge difference in our students' lives, and we appreciate your assistance. Please don't hesitate to reach out to us with any questions.

Donate here.

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Are you an alumnus of Austin Public Schools? If so, we'd love to hear from you! We're excited to hear about your accomplishments and are eager to share your successes and advice with our current students, families, and the Austin community.

All you need to do is take a minute to answer a few quick questions at https://www.austin.k12.mn.us/alumni-spotlight.

Thanks, and we look forward to hearing all your wonderful stories!

At Austin Public Schools, our mission is to inspire, empower, and accelerate every one of our learners, and we know that the only way for us to reach this goal is through the efforts of all our incredibly hard-working staff.

In this week’s Staff Spotlight, we’re highlighting Ellis Middle School math teacher Kendra Ward.

"My daughter comes home talking about how Ms. Ward is the best teacher she has ever had in her life. She is super fun, but when it’s time to do work, you are doing it. It’s amazing how well she’s helped my daughter understand math. She’s like a math hero!"

Congratulations!

If you’d like to nominate an outstanding Austin Public Schools staff member for our weekly Staff Spotlight, please take a moment to fill out the form at https://www.austin.k12.mn.us/district-resources/staff-spotlight. It only takes a minute and can truly make someone’s day. Thanks!

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APS offers a wide range of student activities, including competitive athletics, intramurals, academic clubs, fine arts, and performing arts. View schedules and learn more here.

The school district strongly encourages anyone interested to apply to join our teams. Reasonable accommodations are available to access job openings or apply for a job. Click here to learn more.

You can review previous issues here.