Panther Pride Bulletin

At Battle Creek Middle School, all members of the learning community (students, parents, families, colleagues, and partners) are valued and respected. All members learn through culturally responsive teaching and learning. All members meet and embrace high academic and social expectations and beliefs that learning is collaborative and life-long. All members interrupt instances of inequalities and injustice.

February 21, 2025

Greetings Battle Creek Middle School Families,

We hope the coldest days of Minnesota Winter are behind us! It’s hard to imagine it, but Spring and Summer is just around the corner.

On February 10, we celebrated National African American Parent Involvement Day here at Battle Creek. We welcomed parents into our building to experience what their kids see daily at school with a scavenger hunt. Parents got to meet teachers, listened to a lecture, see a science classroom, enjoy refreshments with Ms. See, and talk to Principal Yang. Although the turnout was lower than we had expected, we had many great conversations and the parents that came enjoyed time with their student.

There are many upcoming opportunities provided by the district in the next couple days at various sites throughout St. Paul. Check out all the information below and read blurbs for each event. Don’t miss out on exciting opportunities for your family.

Our next Coffee with the Principal is on Friday, February 28, 2025. This is our standing monthly Coffee with the Principal from 9:00 am – 10:00 am in the main office.

This March is Ramadan. It will begin at sundown on Friday February 28 and goes through sundown on March 30. Ramadan observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community. To support our Muslim students, we will provide a space for them to pray in addition to a to-go meal for them to take home if they miss their assigned school lunch.

Follow us on social media for updated information and event reminders.

This is workshop is our Hispanic family with students in Level 1-2s.

The fair will be held on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at Harding High School from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. At this unique event, students will have the chance to meet with HBCU representatives and alumni, college admissions staff, and local employers. There will be musical performances, FAFSA help, an HBCU panel and a presentation on how to earn college credits while in high school. More information can be found at spps.org/tccefair. Students who attend the fair will have the chance to apply for the fall HBCU college tour! Additional information on HBCU can be found HERE. If you have any questions, please contact John Eschenbacher (john.eschenbacher@spps.org).

St. Paul Public Schools has teamed up with Children’s Dental Services to offer dental care for students during the school day. Services may include exams, x-rays, cleanings, fluoride treatments, sealants, fillings, crowns, extractions, and other necessary procedures. Due to insurance and treatment policies, Children’s Dental Services cannot see students who already have a current dentist. If you would like your child to receive care from Children’s Dental Services, please have your child visit the school nurse to obtain a parent consent form. Consent forms are available in English, Spanish, Hmong, Karen, and Somali. For any questions about their services, you can contact Children's Dental Services by phone at 612-843-0202 or via email at schoolbasedcare@childrensdentalservices.org.

Muslim students who are fasting and wished to have safe place to stay during Ramada can check with Ms. Orensten to hang out in the Library during Ramadan. If students plan to pray, they can check with Mr. Mohamuud to be on the list.

These scholars are Mastery Award recipients. They have scored 100% on their Functions Quiz on January 24, 2025. Traditionally, functions have a difficult concept to grasp. But not for these scholars. One other thing to note, is I put questions from previous units on every quiz.

Way to go:

Scholar Angle Ray

Scholar Lyndon Yang

Scholar Vincent Vue

Scholar Soriya Thao

Scholar Averie Einfeldt

Scholar Adan Rosas Mendoza

8th Grade: Rayne Berry (Ms. Corri)

7th Grade: Lee Dee (Schwartz/Zhang)

6th Grade: Matthew Vang (Ms. Sauve)

Winners have been awarded their certificates and a cross body bag. Next month's prize will be different, so encourage your students to keep up with their planner and they too could be next month's winner!

Did you know Sunray Library offers homework help to SPPS students?

Click on this link to see what resources they have to help your student: https://sppl.org/homework/

In addition to homework help, Sunray Library also have an abundant array of resources for your family. Be sure to check them out over break.

Interested in getting a free bag of food every Friday through the Every Meal program? If so, sign up today. You can enroll or opt out at anytime. No private information will be collected. No qualification required. Anyone can sign up.

You may sign up for a bag here: https://forms.gle/QDbas64P3kuoo3K2A

If you signed up your student to get a bag, please talk to them so they know it will be placed in their locker every Friday. Check their website for more information: https://www.everymeal.org/

If you have any questions, please contact Ms. See at see.vang@spps.org for more information or to enroll.

PARENT’S RIGHT TO KNOW TEACHER AND PARAPROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

Under the Every Student Succeeds Act, parents have the right to request information regarding the professional qualifications of their student’s classroom teachers and paraprofessionals. Parents who would like to receive this information should write to the Human Resource Department, Attn: ESSA Teacher Qualifications, Saint Paul Public Schools, 360 Colborne Street, Saint Paul, MN 55102-3299. You have the right to ask for the following information about each of your child’s classroom teacher(s).

• Information about whether the teacher has met state qualification and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction;
• Information about whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which state qualification or licensing criteria have been waived;
• Information about whether the teacher is teaching (subjects or content) in which proper certification is held by the teacher.
• Information about whether the child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications.

Hmong

Karen

Somali

Spanish

Email: oulia.yang@spps.org
Website: spps.org/BCMS
Location: 2121 North Park Drive, Saint Paul, MN, USA
Phone: 651-293-8960
Facebook: facebook.com/bcmspanthers