News and Views

Staff were excited to welcome K-12 students back to school this week. Superintendent Lennox stopped by each school to say "hello" and personally welcome staff, students and families.

Families of bus riders should keep the following in mind as we start the school year:

• Many bus drivers are new and will be learning the routes. Please allow for some delays the first few weeks of school, until drivers are familiar with their routes.

• If you’re experiencing significant delays the first few weeks (20 minutes or more), please call 651-621-6027.

• Please have your student at the bus stop at least five minutes before their expected pick-up time. This will help keep all buses as close to on-time as possible.

Our staff want to see your students every school day. But families often wonder when students should stay home or attend school due to possible illness. Use this chart as a guide to decide if your child is well enough to attend school.

What’s the difference between a hold and a lockdown? The District uses common language and practices used throughout all buildings and shared with emergency responders. Known as the Standard Response Protocol (SRP), this simplified language proactively identifies five possible actions that could be required during an incident or an emergency. Every action carries specific instructions.

Hold: Stay in classrooms and lessons continue.

Secure: Get inside, lock/secure exterior doors and lessons continue.

Lockdown: Set classroom door locks, turn off lights and stay quiet and out of sight.

Evacuate: Leave the school, and move to a designated location.

Shelter: Seek safety during a hazard.

To learn more about what each SRP action means and what might prompt them, visit mvpschools.org/srp.

One critical aspect of crisis response is accountable reunification of students with their parents or guardians in the event of a school crisis or emergency. The Standard Reunification Method (SRM) provides school and district safety teams with proven methods for planning, practicing and achieving a successful reunification.

Last summer, a team of District and school staff, principals, administrators and high school student volunteers participated in a Standard Reunification Method exercise with local law enforcement and emergency personnel. Together, the participants walked through protocols and practices should a reunification ever become necessary. At such time, families would be notified where to visit and how to reunify with their student(s).

Show your school spirit! Shop from a selection of t-shirts, hats, sweatshirts, vests and other accessories for your school here. Stores are open through Friday, Sept. 6.

Parents, you can add your child's cell phone number to ParentVUE so they can receive text messages and robo-calls about school closings, significantly delayed school buses, emergencies and other alerts. To subscribe your student to these occasional urgent messages, read the easy instructions here.

The Minnesota Department of Revenue offers two valuable tax benefits for parents who purchase school supplies for their students: the K-12 Education Credit and Subtraction. These benefits can reduce parents’ taxes to increase their refund, but is only available for those who keep their receipts. Purchases for most school supplies, field trips and musical instruments for school band are eligible. Most Minnesota parents qualify for the K-12 subtraction, which reduces their taxable income. Parents under certain income limits may also qualify for the K-12 credit, which can refund up to 75% of their costs – even for parents who do not owe any taxes. Visit Revenue's website for details.

Registration for fall activities is open now! Check out the electronic catalog and register at mvpschools.org/RegisterCommunityEd.

Fall highlights

• All-ages star watch party

• Family fun day at Wild Mountain
  

• New youth enrichment opportunities for arts, languages, STEM and more

• Adult enrichment programming for financial planning, gardening and more

Yog xa tau kev pab thiab hais ua lus Hmoob thov hu rau Bao Thao: 651-272-0972. Haddi aad ubaahantahay faahfaahin dheerad-ah ama turjamaad, fadlan kala soo xidid Muna Mohamed lambaraka 651-262-4577. Para asistencia o preguntas en Español por favor contacte a Angel Toro: 651-724-2854 o Carmen Bender: 612-494-3895.