Austin Packer Bulletin - 11/15/2024

This is Part 3 of a three-part newsletter series on student well-being. Please refer back to previous newsletter editions for Part 1 and Part 2.

Greater connectedness is essential for students affected by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). As a reminder, ACEs are potentially traumatic events that occur during childhood, such as abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction, that can have long-term effects on mental health, behavior, and academic performance.

At APS, we strive to create a safe and welcoming school environment where every student receives the support they need to thrive. By serving our students in their formative years, our K-4 elementary schools strengthen student well-being in several key ways:

• Connection to Community: Students experience a greater sense of belonging and connection by attending school close to home. Neighborhood schools also promote close relationships between students, teachers, and staff. This sense of community helps students, particularly those impacted by ACEs, feel emotionally supported and secure in their learning environment.
• Collaboration with Families: Our neighborhood schools foster stronger family/caregiver engagement, allowing parents to partner more closely with teachers to support their child's well-being and academic progress.
• Individualized Attention: Because teachers know their students and families/caregivers well, they are well equipped to identify those struggling and use our Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) framework to respond with the right level of support at the right time.

• The Role of Community Partnerships: Our commitment to creating a safe and supportive learning environment extends beyond the classroom. We are fortunate to collaborate with numerous community organizations that play a key role in supporting student and family well-being. Partners such as Austin Aspires, APAC, United Way of Mower County, Hometown Food Security Project, and the Parenting Resource Center help provide crucial resources that support students and families dealing with the challenges of ACEs.
  These partnerships allow us to offer additional services that address food insecurity, parenting resources, mental health support, and academic enrichment. Working hand-in-hand with these community organizations strengthens our ability to ensure that every student has the support they need to succeed.

• Successful Implementation of BARR: Besides neighborhood schools providing greater connectedness for students and families, our Building Assets, Reducing Risks (BARR) program – part of the MTSS framework – is a core piece of our strategy for supporting students impacted by ACEs. The BARR model helps schools proactively identify risk factors for students, build supportive relationships between students and staff, and deliver timely interventions. This strengths-based approach empowers educators to address academic and non-academic needs, promoting student success regardless of background or challenges.
• The Packer Profile: The Packer Profile also plays an important role by focusing on each student's strengths. By helping students build confidence and resilience, the Packer Profile ensures that all students – especially those impacted by ACEs – are prepared for success in school and life.

Our focus on student well-being and connection and our commitment to helping safe, supportive school environments advance our mission to inspire, empower, and accelerate student learning. By partnering with our community to ensure every student feels seen, heard, and valued, we are fostering the Packer Profile characteristics we hope to see in every APS graduate: Responsible, Resilient, Learner, Communicator, and Contributor. This is how we fulfill our vision of preparing every learner to make a difference in the world.

Thank you for joining me in this three-part newsletter series on student well-being. We look forward to continuing this important conversation and sharing more insights about our steps to address ACEs and improve student outcomes.

Sincerely,

Dr. Joey Page, Superintendent

The week before Thanksgiving is American Education Week, highlighting different themes daily. It's a tribute to everyone in the country's public schools. Thank you to our Austin Public Schools staff for the work you do to prepare all learners to make a difference in the world. Learn more here.

Austin has a long and illustrious history of success in athletics, a testament to both the talent of our students and the dedication of our coaches. This year, two Austin fall coaches received Coach of the Year honors in their respective sports.

Congratulations to:

• Girls Diving Coach Anna Anderson. This is the second year in a row that Coach Anderson has received this distinction.
• Girls Volleyball Coach Dr. Nichelle Gabrielson. Coach Gabrielson was named Co-Coach of the year along with the coach from Albert Lea.

Well-being is the positive sense of self and belonging when our cognitive, emotional, social, and physical needs are met. Well-being in the early years and the school setting is about helping children and students become resilient and self-aware to make positive and healthy choices to support their learning and achievement both now and in the future.

We have a Well-Being website for our staff, parents/guardians, and school community to provide information and connections regarding students' academic, social, emotional, and behavioral well-being. The following resources give an overview of student well-being and outline our school processes for accessing support within the district and from the various community agencies that can provide additional support. On this site, you can find a list of trained school staff ready to help plan for your student's well-being and support resources for staff.

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. In partnership with families and the school communities we serve, we set priorities based on their local stakeholders' feedback to provide a foundational focus for students as they progress through their educational journey.

A reminder that this day refers to a school day where teachers and students communicate online or set up prior learning expectations instead of coming to school, and the students continue their learning from home. Teachers can opt to do this off-campus or in their classrooms.

For more information, see the policy for complete details and visit the Remote Learning Days site for review and/or possible updates.

This is a reminder that Austin High School has a new Future Teachers Club! This is a great opportunity for students interested in exploring the teaching profession through hands-on activities, exciting field trips, and more. Come discover what it takes to be a teacher!

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 Special Education teacher Leighann Korn.

"[Ms. Korn] is incredibly selfless, intelligent, and humble. She's extremely dedicated to her students and puts a surpassing amount of consideration into every detail of supporting them."

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/aps-staff-spotlight. It only takes a minute and can truly make someone’s day. Thanks!

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. Please visit our Student Handbook page for more information.

• How excessive daytime sleepiness can affect heart health
• Does hitting 10,000 steps a day really make a difference?
• Does my child need a flu shot?

• A Whole Child Regimen to Reducing Absenteeism
• Initiative Implementation: The Role of the District and the Principal by Dr. Katie Baskin
• 9 Ways to Overcome Adversity
• Southern Minnesotans honored for National Philanthropy Day

Please join me and a School Board member at the Coffee House on Main, 329 Main Street North, for coffee and conversation.

Dates:

• 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.

Austin Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of sex and prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity. Individuals may report concerns or questions or make a complaint of sex discrimination to the Title IX Coordinator, Sue Stark.