Transition Plus Newsletter

Transition Plus sends out monthly newsletters to keep you informed about what is happening in our Tplus community, actions you need to take, and to make helpful information easily accessible to you. Past newsletters are also found on our website. We are so excited to partner with our students and families to make a robust year of learning and growing!

🔶¿Le gustaría traducir el boletín en español? Haga clic en el botón "translate" en la parte superior del boletín.🔶

💠Ma doonaysaa in aad ku akhrido warsidahayaga af-soomaali? Guji badhanka "tarjumo" ee ku yaal qaybta sare ee warsidaha. 💠

Please click above to access the MPS calendar. Print it and hang it somewhere handy. Transition Plus follows the MPS calendar.

• May 2: Talent Show 1:30 - 3:00
• May 16: Tplus Student Art Sale 11:00 - 5:00
• May 16: Know Your Rights Workshop 1:00 - 4:00
• May 26: No School - Memorial Day
• May 30: Tplus graduation 11:30 @ Pantages Theater (last day of school for graduates)
• June 5: All-School BBQ @ Nokomis (alumni welcome with their own transportation)
• June 6: Last day of school

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If you or your student made connections at the Career & Resource Fair on April 17, we'd love to hear about it!

Please complete this form to give us feedback.

Our highly anticipated annual student talent show is THIS Friday, May 2nd at 1:30. Please come encourage our students as they share their talents with the Tplus community. It's really a blast!

If you plan to bring your student home with you afterwards, please inform their advisor/case manager before the talent show starts.

See you there!

On May 16 from 11:00am - 5:00pm, families are encouraged to support our student art sale. All sales are cash only and all money goes directly to the artist!

Families need to inform case managers before Friday if they plan to take students home with them, and students must sign out at the engagement desk.

In addition to the art sale, get excited about the following additions:

• Adult-size bike sale
• Bike raffle
• Coat rack raffle (made by woodshop)
• Plant Sale
• Possible student performances
• Live artist exhibitions
• Face/Tattoo painting
• Aaaannnndddd a DJ DANCE PARTY!!!!

On May 16th from 2:30 - 4:30: Anyone who needs to make a plan for their children's care in case primary caregivers are not available for an extended period are encouraged to attend the Know Your Rights workshop that we are hosting.

• Families can get help:
• making a family separation plan
• Creating a Delegation of Parental Authority (DOPA)
• A notary will be present to make plans official
• individual consultations

Participants should bring:

• State ID
• Child's birth certificate
• Social Security numbers if you have one
• Any immigration status documents if that applies to you
• A list of medical conditions would be helpful as well

Graduates must return their Chromebooks and library books NO LATER than Thursday, May 29. (They can return them earlier if they are not using them.) Please encourage your graduates to return these items to the library as soon as possible.

Families of graduates, please encourage your graduate to come to Transition Plus dressed for a photo this Friday between 10am -12:30pm, or schedule a time to take a photo with Benjamin.drewelow@mpls.k12.mn.us

Caps and gowns will be provided for the photo.

Our Transition Plus graduation will be held at Pantages Theater, 710 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55402 on May 30th at 11:30. Guests plan to be seated by 11:15. Anyone who arrives after 11:15 will have to wait until after the graduate processional to be seated.

Students who graduated earlier this year are welcome to participate in the graduation ceremony.

Another graduation message will be sent out closer to the date with specifics about tickets and other details.

LOCATION

• Pantages Theater, 710 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55402
• Friday, May 30 @ 11:30

PARKING/BUS LINES

• Parking options near Pantages Theater

• The Metro Transit bus lines C, D, 5, 22 also get passengers to the Pantages Theater area.

CAPS & GOWNS

• Students may pick up their graduation gown from the main office starting May 12.
• Gowns will be labeled and kept in their case manager's room, then returned after the ceremony in exchange for your diploma.
• Students may keep their caps and tassels.

GRADUATE PORTRAITS

• Graduates may get formal graduate portraits dressed in caps and gowns in room T309 at Tplus on Friday April 18 and Friday, April 25th between 10:30 -12:30 and 1:30 - 3:30.
• Special Arrangements will be made for Project SEARCH graduates to get their portraits
• If a graduate can't get to Tplus for the scheduled portrait dates and times, the graduate should contact Benjamin.Drewelow@mpls.k12.mn.us to schedule a time that works.

FAMILY & FRIENDS

• Graduates may invite up to 6 guests to graduation
• Invitations and ticket information will be shared soon
• Guests must be seated by 11:15. Anyone who arrives after 11:15 will be seated after graduate processional.
• Please allow ample time for parking and entrance - at least 15-20 minutes
• Information about livestreaming will be available closer to the date

RECEPTION & DIPLOMAS

• From 1:00 - 1:30, Transition Plus will host a graduation reception in our school cafeteria. Graduates will pick up their diploma and grad gift bag during the reception.
• At 1:30, normal classes will resume. Graduates will sign out and leave with care givers. They are now high school graduates!!!

RETURN CHROMEBOOKS AND LIBRARY BOOKS

Graduates must return their Chromebooks and library books by Thursday, May 29

AFTER GRADUATION
Graduates are finished with school! School buses will no longer pick them up and if graduates arrive at school on their own, we will greet them warmly and move them along toward home. We are so proud of them for completing their high school journey!

MPS High School Graduation Schedule

Transition Plus is hosting it's annual All-School BBQ at Lake Nokomis main beach on Thursday, June 5. Alumni/Graduates are welcome to join in the fun if they have their own transportation to and from Lake Nokomis. We plan to arrive at Nokomis at about 10:30, and leave at 12:30. The food is Potluck style so feel free to send some food or beverages to share that day!

2025 Teen Teamworks Summer Program Applications will be open March 17th – May 5th, 2025

• Only paper applications are accepted for summer positions in 2025.
• Applications can be found at any Recreation Center in the city, or at the Mary Merrill Headquarters building at 2117 West River Road. You can also print a copy of the PDF below.

You can return your application one of two ways:

• Via mail to our offices at 4001 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55409
• In person to any Rec Center, the Mary Merrill HQ Building, or to our offices (drop it in the secure mailbox if the office is closed)
• Emailed copies of applications will not be accepted.

All Park Care Crew positions are assigned through a lottery. Positions are NOT first-come-first-served. Positions will be offered after May 5th.

• Spark’d Studios, JD Rivers’, and Recreation Center placements are interview-based, with interviews taking place after May 5th.
• All lottery and interview updates will be sent to the email address on the candidates’ applications.

Click--> Link to application

https://www.minneapolisparks.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/TeenTeamworksApplication2025.pdf

Students DO NOT need their diploma to apply.

Interested students must apply soon! Application link: https://www.tfaforms.com/5059103

Students could earn up to $4,800 in ten weeks, enjoy free daily transportation to work, earn industry certifications, and we will even help those interested in getting a driving permit or license!

Tree Care and Landscape Construction paid employment program running Mon – Fri, 9am – 3pm.

Students who have already done Tree Trust are still welcome to apply.

The next cohorts will be:

• June 24 – August 28 – Spots Available
• September 3 – November 12 – Spots Available
• November 17 – January 30 – Spots Available

MPS is changing GPS systems in all school buses starting in April. This means your Here Comes the Bus app will no longer work to track buses until the end of the school year (April - June 6)

Starting with Summer School (ESY) the new GPS tracking system will be up and running. Please download the new parent app called My Ride K-12 for Apple or for Android to track your buses.

Learn More

School staff will still be able to assist with bus questions.

ESY runs Monday - Thursday, from June 23 - July 31 this year. All interested families should reach out to their school case manager or to the ESY coordinator James.Menke@mpls.k12.mn.us with questions.

Hey Families! We need your input and feedback! Filling out this form helps us understand if you feel we are missing something important in our program that better supports your students and reflects your family!

• Transition Plus Office: 612-668-4100
• Tplus Transportation: 612-668-4103
• Tplus Nurse line: 612-668-4071
• District Transportation Dispatch (before 8:30, after 4:00): 612-668-2300

Mission Statement

The mission of Transition Plus is to provide services to students with differing educational abilities & assets. We focus on meeting transition needs in post-secondary education and training, employment, and independent living to promote a successful transition from high school to adult life.

Our Vision

To provide experience and learning that will assist students to have meaningful, satisfying work and home lives as family members, leaders, employees, and citizens.

We offer students:

• Access to learning environments that help students develop their skills and confidence.
• A positive school environment characterized by peace, compassion, and the pursuit of knowledge and understanding.
• A structure of support and collaboration with our community, students, and families
• A team of highly qualified professionals with a passion for learning and sharing.

We offer:

• Continuing high school support after 18-21 years of age
• Lots of hands-on options
• Extensive learning & training in the community
• Additional resources available for individual needs
• Support the growth and maturity of each student

Transition Plus provides services for students with learning disabilities and transition needs.

Website: https://transitionplus.mpschools.org/
Location: 2015 East Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Phone: 612-668-4100
Facebook: facebook.com/transitionplus.mps
Twitter: @MPS_Tplus