Austin Packer Bulletin - 08/23/24

August 15 was an exciting day for Austin Public Schools. The Strengths-focused work that we have been implementing since 2021 in partnership with Flourish Consulting, as a part of our strategic plan, was rolled out to Austin High School and other employee groups in which staff had the opportunity to Know, Own, Show, and Grow their innate talents, intentionally.

KNOW – Staff gained a basic understanding of their top five Themes, according to the CliftonStrengths® assessment, and deepened their awareness of how those talents manifest in observable behaviors. We've all learned more about how we are uniquely wired to serve our students and community.

OWN - Staff were invited to internalize the value each of their talents brings, accept their innate talents as what is "right" about them, recognize how pairings of Strengths impact behavior, and grow in their capacity to notice how they might be perceived.

SHOW - Staff were taught how to correct the course, regulate the timing and intensity of their strengths, and dig into how their unique "brand" of talents can be an asset in relationships with students, colleagues, and the community.

GROW - As we continue our journey beyond the 2024-2025 school year, staff will continue to have opportunities to explore the impact of Strengths in their daily lives and relationships. They will be encouraged to take an asset-based approach to collaboration, communication, and navigating conflict and change.

Timeline of Austin Public Schools & Flourish Consulting Partnership

• 2024-2025 - Austin High School/District Office, Kids Korner, Custodial, Food and Technology Services
• 2023-2024 - Elementary Sites/Kindergarten staff
• 2022-2023 - IJ/Ellis/Oakland Education Center/CLC/ABE

Why is this work so important?

One of our strategic priorities is to provide support and resources to ensure a safe and welcoming learning environment. Our team must bring the best of ourselves to impact our students and this community's growth and development. Learning, communicating, contributing, taking responsibility, and building resiliency are the Core Values we follow and will help us become a better organization.

We are partnering with Bethany von Steinbergs, founder of Flourish Consulting LLC, in this important work. Flourish Consulting is a boutique consulting firm dedicated to engaging and developing organizational talent.

Sincerely,

Dr. Joey Page, Superintendent

Did you know the AHS Fight Song has lyrics? Check it out!

Homecoming is the week of September 22! This year there has been a change and the Battle of Connects will be held in the spring. In its place, students at AHS will be participating in a schoolwide service project.

AHS Schedule of Events

• Monday, 9/23 - No School
• Tuesday, 9/24 - SPAM Day
• Homecoming Court announced at afternoon pep fest
• Wednesday, 9/25 - Neon Day
• Thursday, 9/26 - Class Color Day
• Distinguished Alumni Ceremony
• Schoolwide Service Project
• Bonfire
• Friday, 9/27 - Red and White Day
• Coronation
• Mini Battle of Connect Activities
• Parade
• Homecoming Football Game vs. Faribault @ 7:00 PM
• Saturday, 9/28 - Dance and Activities at Wescott

The Battle of Connects will take place throughout the 2024-2025 school year with the traditional day of class vs. class events taking place in the Spring. If you (or your student) attend Austin High School, here's the information for purchasing Battle of Connects Shirts:

• Shirts are $10
• You can order at the cashier if needed, but we encourage online ordering when possible.
• Orders are due on Monday, Sept. 9th at noon! Any orders after Monday, Sept. 9th at noon will not be accepted.
• Orders will be available on Parent Portal:
• Login to Parent Portal
• Select School Store on the left-hand side of the screen
• Select Austin High School
• Select the shirt for the grade level of your student. You may see multiple shirts if you have multiple students. Make sure to assign the correct shirt to each of your students.
• Add your shirt(s) to your cart and pay.

***Please contact emily.hovland@austin.k12.mn.us if you have any questions or if you need financial assistance.

Schools that participate in School Nutrition Programs must distribute Applications for Educational Benefits at the beginning of each school year to the households of all enrolled students and continue accepting these applications throughout the year. Approval is based on comparing the household's reported income to current U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) household income guidelines.

As your elected representatives, School Board members welcome questions and conversations about governing the District. Board members actively participate in many areas throughout the community, attending advisory council meetings, serving on committees, and attending school and community meetings and events. Board members welcome invitations to your events and will try to attend. You can review agendas and upcoming meetings here.

Role of the School Board

As the entity legally governing a school district, the Austin School Board is responsible to its community for governing efficiently and leading effectively to provide equitable education, resulting in high student achievement. The Board's work is guided by five standards essential to being an effective, high-performing school board team. You can review these standards here and the Board's governance model here.

Communicating with the School Board

Formal and informal communication opportunities exist with the School Board and individual Board members.

• Email: If you wish to communicate with the entire Board and submit questions, comments, suggestions, concerns, or compliments, please email: SchoolBoardTeam@austin.k12.mn.us. All Board members and the superintendent will receive your correspondence; the Board Chair or Superintendent will respond to emails on behalf of the Board. Email addresses are published on the School Board home page if you wish to contact individual Board members.
• Telephone: A phone call or face-to-face meeting may be most effective for more complex or emotional topics. Board member phone numbers are published on the School Board webpage.
• Public Meetings: The Board meets at least monthly to conduct business and provide opportunities for public input. You can also make comments to the School Board at Regular Meetings.

Who To Contact

The School Board delegates the administration and management of the District to the superintendent. Austin Public Schools strives to address your questions and concerns quickly and effectively. Therefore, we have developed communication protocols to promote direct, open, and respectful interactions to resolve problems and concerns efficiently.

A reminder, the first level of communication does not resolve the issue. The immediate supervisor, principal, or superintendent should be the next contact.

Learn more about your school board here.

The number one priority of our Austin Public Schools is to provide support and resources to ensure a safe and welcoming learning environment. Over the summer and through the fall, several critical safety measures will be implemented to enhance the safety of all our facilities.

Creating safe and supportive learning environments is a top priority in Austin Public Schools; foods with peanuts and tree nuts cannot be brought into classrooms. There are many students with life-threatening food allergies, and exposure to a peanut or tree nut product puts many students at risk of anaphylaxis. We need your help to keep everyone safe. Cafeterias have peanut-free tables in every school cafeteria to provide a safe dining experience. Please visit our Food and Nutrition, Health Services, or Annual Notifications for further details.

Our mission is to Inspire, Empower, and Accelerate, and we know one of the first steps toward that goal is to ensure all stakeholders know and understand the policies and procedures used in the District. These Student Rights and Responsibilities and Student Handbooks outline student behavior expectations that we believe can help ensure the safe school environment students deserve and which allows them to learn and grow. These documents are periodically updated in response to changes in the law and other circumstances. The School Board policies referenced in the handbooks can be accessed here.

If you have questions or want more information about a specific issue, contact your Principal or visit our Report A Concern site. For details regarding consequences for violations affecting sports, clubs, or activities, please get in touch with the AHS Activities Office. Please review this information with your student(s) so you understand the rules of acceptable behavior and the consequences if rules are not followed.

Austin Public Schools is committed to working with you to make our schools a place where you and your child(ren) feel safe, welcomed, and valued. Please visit our Handbook page for additional information.

Cell Phone Policy Updates

• K-8
• 9-12
• 2024-2025 School Supply Lists
• APS & Palmer Bus Service Roll Out Parent/Guardian App
• Grading and Reporting, READ Act, and Much More

For the past ten years, we have provided opportunities for students to access School-Based Mental Health Services through a partnership with Nexus Gerard Outpatient Services. Nexus Gerard informed us that they cannot provide in-person school-based mental health services at each of our building sites this year as they have in the past due to staffing shortages. We are working with them to identify some opportunities for virtual services to start the year and are also working on an RFP to solicit additional partnerships.

ECFE class registration is now live. If you are interested in participating in a class with your child (ages birth-5), please look at our fall brochure here. Registration takes place through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. If you have questions, please contact Amy Goette at 507.460.1707 or amy.goette@austin.k12.mn.us.

Austin Public Schools and Palmer Bus Service have launched a new parent/guardian app called Stopfinder that will allow parents and guardians to track their children's school bus in real-time accurately. The easy-to-use app is secured so only authorized users can access school bus information.

APS StopFinder Support
trinar@palmerbusservice.com
507-433-5358

Austin Public Schools would like to thank the Austin Early Risers Kiwanis, Faith Church Austin, and the Austin Eagles Club for their generous donation to the Kids Closet program. Each year, these organizations combine to donate $3500, which is split between the PreK-4 sites and Austin's Head Start program.

The money is used to purchase clothing essentials such as socks, t-shirts, and pants, among other things. "When students need some of these essential items, it's hard for them to focus and be successful," says Sumner Elementary School principal Jill Rollie. "The generous donations we get from the community, our families, and even our staff go directly to helping support student needs."

The Kids Closet program, which started in 2016, has been a huge success, according to Rick Young, one of the Early Risers Kiwanis. "It's great to see this money go to help students in such a direct way."

Here are some reminders from the Austin Public Schools Activities Department.

Austin Packers Spirit Wear

It is time to get that back-to-school Austin Packers Apparel! We have two great options for you – BSN Sideline Store and Games People Play.

• BSN Sideline Store - AUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL PACKERS - AUSTIN, MINNESOTA - Sideline Store - BSN Sports – Open year Round

• Games People Play Online Store - https://gppaustin.chipply.com/AustinPackers23/ - Online store closes on August 26, 2024, at 11:59pm

New This Year: Digital Ticketing by GoFan

• Spectators will be able to purchase their tickets digitally by 1) Creating a GoFan Account or by scanning a QR code at the event. You also have the option of purchasing a ticket at the gate with cash or card.
• Season Passes can also be purchased on this platform
• Here is the direct link to the GoFan Page - https://gofan.co/app/school/MN22459

Activity Season Passes on Sale

This year, you have the option of HARD COPY PASSES or DIGITAL PASSES.

• Family Season Pass - $150 (everyone must be living in the same household)
• Adult Pass - $60
• Student K-8 Pass - $35
• APS Spouse Pass - $35

For Digital Passes and Individual Event Tickets, please visit GoFan.

For Hard Copy Season Passes, please stop by the AHS Activities Office to make a purchase. We are looking forward to a great year. GO PACKERS!

Help connect families with food resources in Mower County.

The Hometown Food Security Project released an app that:

• Connects our Mower County neighbors with food support resources.
• Identifies support opportunities for agencies that provide food support services.
• Supported languages include English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Burmese, French, Amharic, Filipino, and Luo.

Questions? Contact one of the co-leads:

• Gema A.: (507) 460-3906
• Molly Lanke: (507) 437-2313

• Mayo Clinic Minute: Building a back-to-school routine
• Mayo Clinic expert explains parvovirus B19, a common childhood infection
• Mayo Clinic Minute: Stacking your exercise over the weekend

• The pandemic is over, but Minnesota school nurses are still under pressure
• Minnesota lawmakers focus on student attendance
• AI reshapes back-to-school shopping as Minnesota consumers try to make every dollar count

Please consider joining me and the school board chair, Dr. Carolyn Dubé, at the Coffee House on Main for coffee and conversation.

Dates:

• 9/16
• 10/21
• 11/25
• 1/27/25
• 2/24
• 3/31
• 4/30

Time:
7:45 AM - 8:30 AM

You can reach me at joey.page@austin.k12.mn.us or call 507-460-1900 to schedule an appointment.

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.