The PK-12 Staff Grading and Reporting Committee and the Student Grading and Reporting Committee met throughout the school year following a work plan articulated by the Grading and Reporting Committee in 22-23. The work this year has been as follows:

The staff and student committees are finalizing their 25-26 school year recommendations. These recommendations will go before the school board at the May Study Session. School Leadership Teams for grades 5-12 will plan to support this work for the 25-26 school year.

Sincerely,

Dr. Joey Page, Superintendent

As a lifelong resident of Austin and a graduate of Austin High School, I am proud to serve as a member of the Austin School Board. My husband and I raised five children who graduated from the district, and now we have the privilege of seeing our grandchildren grow up here. I am excited about what's on the horizon for our community.

I have worked at Mayo Clinic for nearly 35 years, giving me a unique perspective as a school board member. My experience in financial management has fueled my commitment to ensuring the district's budget reflects our educational goals, mission, and vision.

Investing in our children's education isn't just about the present. As our district works to make responsible financial decisions to meet today's needs, we recognize the opportunity to create positive impacts for the future as well if we do it right.

Of course, it helps to have a roadmap, which is why our district's long-term strategic plan is critical as we manage current issues and plan for a brighter future. To learn more about how Austin Public Schools is creating a learning environment where every student has the support they need to thrive, please visit AccelerateAustin.org.

I want to thank the entire community for supporting our district. It's an honor to call Austin home.

Carol McAlister, Austin School Board Member

This year, the Austin Education Association (AEA) introduced a scholarship program for Austin seniors. Recipients receive both a monetary award and the opportunity for 4 years one individual mentoring with an Austin educator.

Congratulations to the following recipients of the inaugural AEA scholarship:

• Ter Reh
• Avery Wempner
• Claire Bliese
• Aaditya Sah
• Rose Garry
• Matthew Burrows
• Ellen Ekins
• Ava Denzer
• Brent Hernandez Trinidad
• Isaac Osgood
• Gage Helgeson
• Neviah Compton

Thanks to a generous grant from the Hormel Foundation, any Austin staff or community member can attend the Symposium free of charge! This includes all the sessions, breakfast and lunch on all three days, a banquet at the Hormel Historic Home on Wednesday, June 12, and much more!

Join us in Austin, MN, June 11-13, for one of the best Gifted and Talented Education professional learning opportunities available.

Attendees choose from a wide variety of sessions on evidence-based practices for equitably addressing the instructional and social emotional needs of gifted learners, including students who are twice-exceptional, culturally and linguistically diverse.

The Hormel Foundation Gifted & Talented Symposium provides an opportunity for educators, counselors, administrators and parents to gain greater understanding of the unique needs of gifted and high potential learners. Participants attend in-depth sessions focusing on foundational knowledge, creativity, curriculum strategies, and social/emotional needs of gifted and high potential learners provided by the field's finest regionally, nationally and internationally recognized presenters.

All are welcome to register and attend the symposium.

For more information and registration, visit the symposium website at https://gtsymposium.org.

When: May 18

Time: 11-3 pm

Location: Band Shell Park

Please join the PRC, Welcome Center, and other community partners in celebrating our collective cultural heritage. There will be a health and wellness fair, community resources, craft vendors, food trucks, food samples, educational displays, activities, and live performances from local artists.

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 Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 authorized a permanent, nationwide Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (Summer EBT) program for eligible families starting in 2024. In response, the state of Minnesota, through a collaboration between the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), and Minnesota IT Services (MNIT), announced plans to implement this new federal Summer EBT program in the summer of 2024. APS students are set to receive over $430,000 in funds! The Summer EBT program aims to enhance children's access to nutritious food during summer. (See MDE)

Thank you to our Food and Nutrition Services and Information Services Departments for their support in processing educational benefits and managing S-EBT data submissions. Their hard work ensures that our students receive the nutritious meals and financial support they need. A special thank you goes out to everyone involved in the Hometown Food Security Project for their outreach efforts. Your dedication and commitment are greatly appreciated.

The annual Mower County CEO Trade Show was held on Wednesday, May 15, at Austin's Packer Arena. Students got the opportunity to show off their businesses, answer questions, and sell their products. From coffee and snacks to woodworking and personal care items, this year's crop of businesses was incredibly diverse and, judging by the crowds attending the event, very popular.

Congratulations to all our CEO program participants on another banner year!

This week, the Year-End Celebration of the Young Scientist Program at the Hormel Institute partnered with APS to offer 6th-8th graders hands-on biomedical research experiences! Our students, who made liquid nitrogen ice cream and isolated RNA, among other activities, worked alongside scientists, inspiring the next generation of innovators. A special thank you to Paul and Joanne Worlein for their generous support!

To determine whether being a school board member is right for you this November, you'll want to understand the duties and responsibilities of this nonpartisan position, the legal requirements for running for and holding office, and the process for running for election.

• The next election is Tuesday, November 5, 2024.
• Filing dates are July 30 - August 13
• Check out our School Board Election informational website.
• Watch our Policy Governance Video

Stopfinder is a comprehensive parent engagement app crafted by parents, for parents, to keep you informed which will be an added feature to our transportation operations in the fall of 2024. It allows you to receive real-time updates on bus locations, including ETA and Geo Alerts, as well as messages, alerts, and the ability to send forms and other information. No other parent app offers such a wealth of real-time information to parents and school transportation departments.

With Stopfinder, a parent/caregiver will:

• Know the schedule of their child's bus
• Receive push notifications related to their child's bus schedule and any changes, such as bus number or driver changes
• Get real-time information on the location of their child's bus by creating their own alert zones with the upgrade to GeoAlerts
• Notice bus substitutions because they are clearly indicated – reducing misinformation and confusion
• Track multiple buses, a great feature if their children don't ride the same bus.
• Know exactly when their children arrive at school or home
• Enjoy two-way communication with the transportation office
• Provide parents and caregivers with multilingual options in the app

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) operates a network of air monitors at more than 50 locations around the state that constantly measure pollutants in outdoor air. The agency can track pollution trends over time using monitoring data and show whether outdoor air meets air quality standards and health benchmarks. APS follows the guidelines outlined here.

In last week's issue, we highlighted our Packer Profile and introduced one of several Pathways Posters. Our next career poster focuses on Arts and Communication. The Arts and Communication Career Pathway explores careers and experiences in visual and performing arts, journalism, and broadcasting that help connect people and organizations in a variety of ways.

The AHS Project Graduation Party has been a tradition for Austin area seniors since 1989, celebrating the senior class with an all-night event on graduation evening. This party is organized and run by parents, guardians of AHS students, and community volunteers. If you want to volunteer for one or more shifts, please sign up here.

• In 2020, there was a 31% increase in mental health-related emergency department visits among adolescents.
• As of 2021, 1 in 10 young people under age 18 experienced a mental health condition following a COVID-19 diagnosis.
• More than three-quarters of Americans (76%) say they are not content with the status of mental health treatment in this country.
• 7 in 10 Americans (72%) agree that people with mental health conditions face discrimination in their everyday life.
• Only half of Americans (53%) say they are familiar with the U.S. mental health care system.
• Data from SAMHSA, CDC, and others. Find sources for this resource at nami.org/mhstats and in NAMI's Poll of Public Perspectives on 988 & Crisis Response (2023).

If you think you may be experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition and are unsure of where to start, take a free, private mental health test at mhascreening.org to determine the next steps. APS has launched a new website with helpful resources. Well-being for students and staff is a part of a high-quality education that supports academic performance, school climate, and other important developmental outcomes and core values.

Healing from within: somatic practices for your mind and body:

To best care for your mental health, you need a variety of tools to help you cope. This session will explore one tool for healing - somatic practices. Somatic techniques are being used to help cultivate a body-mind connection, regulate emotions, and release stress, tension, and trauma. We will discuss how simple yet powerful exercises impact mental health and how you can explore this kind of healing.

Wired Differently: neurodivergence in the digital age

24/7 information and stimulation can be overwhelming and hard on mental health for anyone. For neurodivergent individuals, living in 2024 poses its challenges, benefits, and opportunities. During this webinar, you will hear from neurodivergent individuals about their experiences, how they have overcome challenges, found support for their mental health, and navigate a world of technology.

From algorithms to empathy: exploring AI's innovations and challenges

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the landscape for mental health providers and giving them insights to potentially enhance patient care. In this session, we will dive into how AI influences help-seeking behaviors, facilitates access to support and resources, and poses ethical considerations, risks, and complex challenges for mental health.

Register here

The key to the Violence Prevention Project Research Center's mission is collecting and disseminating the data and its key findings to the community so everyone can take action to prevent gun violence. Here, you'll find free monthly webinars to learn more about the Center's latest research and findings, on-demand webinars and training on preventing workplace and school shootings, and ongoing events hosted by the Center.

Their work is more than a mere response to violence—it is a proactive and preventative mission that saves lives and fortifies communities. Join them to learn about their work and what you can do to prevent violence in our community. (adapted)

Learn more about The Violence Project here.

The state flag was adopted on May 11, 2024. Check out this resource on the new flag and great seal.

Austin Online Academy Summer Acceleration is open to any Minnesota grade 9-12 student. All you need is a device and access to the Internet to participate!

Take a look at these 6 free courses. Covering fundamental topics such as:

• Resilience and Self Development
• Artificial Intelligence
• Leadership

Check them out here:

1. Introduction to AI with Python
2. Resilient Leadership
3. The Path to Happiness
4. Building Personal Resilience
5. Leadership: Creating Public Value
6. Persuasive Writing and Public Speaking

Mayo Clinic Health System is excited to introduce a new mobile app, Primary Care On Demand, which gives you 24/7/365 access to care, including video visits with a physician. Using the mobile app, patients and community members ages 18 and up can receive assessment and treatment for symptoms and conditions like sore throat, rash, cough, aches and pains, upper respiratory infection, sinusitis, urinary tract infection and more.

Primary Care On Demand is an extension of your care team. The on-demand team will be available to care for patients in the evenings, overnight, weekends and when same-day appointments in-clinic are filled.

If you complete a video visit with a Primary Care On Demand physician, Mayo Clinic Health System will bill your insurance like other primary care video visits.

• How often should you wash your hair?
• Essential tips to ensure safe sleep for infants
• Taming Ticks: Tips to avoid or remove a tick
• Young people wearing earbuds or headphones? Listen up

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 Austin High School school counselor Bryce Hoffa.

"[Mr. Hoffa] always puts the students first. He has created a safe space for students wherever he goes. He also pushes students to become the best version of themselves and follow their dreams."

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!

• Ditch the Detectors: Six Ways to Rethink Assessment for Generative Artificial Intelligence
• Minnesota Red Cross offering free smoke detectors, fire safety education
• Why writing by hand beats typing for thinking and learning
• Book ban prohibition approved by MN lawmakers, heads to Walz for signature
• Minnesota lawmakers OK school policy changes on cell phones, book bans, literacy

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.