Austin Packer Bulletin - 12/13/2024

This school year, we launched the Packer Profile Seminar for all 9th-grade students — a new course designed to help our 9th-grade students navigate the academically and socially challenging transition from middle school into high school. Research tells us that 9th-grade performance is one of the strongest indicators of graduating on time. The Packer Profile Seminar aims to set every student up for long-term success by empowering them with the academic, social, and soft skills (i.e., Packer Core Values) they need to thrive in high school and beyond.

The Packer Profile Seminar fulfills the requirement of Minnesota Statute 120B.125 for students to have access to a Personal Learning Plan starting in 9th grade. This plan should include academic scheduling, career exploration, career and employment-related skills, community partnerships, college access, post-secondary training, and experiential learning opportunities. I am proud that our seminar does all this and more.

With an emphasis on organization, time management, self-advocacy, study skills, and learning strategies, the Packer Profile seminar allows students to identify their interests and aptitudes and begin charting a path toward post-secondary education or employment. Additionally, the class focuses on exploring career pathways, developing personal strengths, and discovering how to contribute to the community. Upon completing the full-year course, each student will have built a Packer Portfolio to document their growth, earned an elective credit toward graduation, and gained the foundation for a positive high school experience.

As many of you know, our theme this year is "Connection." We know that students thrive when they feel connected. With the Packer Profile Seminar, our 9th graders will strengthen their relationships with themselves, their peers, their families, and the larger APS community. They will also build stronger connections with teachers and mentors committed to their success.

We are grateful for the support of families, caregivers, staff, and community members in this endeavor. Together, we create an inclusive environment where learners are connected, empowered, and prepared for a bright future. To learn more about our long-term strategic plan, please visit AccelerateAustin.org.

Sincerely,

Dr. Joey Page, Superintendent

We sincerely thank Evan Sorenson for his dedicated service as a school board member. It's been an honor to serve alongside someone committed to ensuring that every learner has the opportunity to reach their full potential. Thank you for your leadership, commitment, and positive impact on Austin Public Schools. Your contributions have made a meaningful difference in our community!

I am honored and humbled to serve as a member of the Austin School Board in this incredible district. At the November 12, 2024, Regular School Board meeting, I was privileged to hear an outstanding presentation entitled "Global Youth Institute," which was given by Lisa Sanders, Austin High School Social Studies teacher, and four of her students, Chloe Cannon, Makayla Dokpodjo, Sabreen Nagid, and Bella Rosenthal. Their presentation left me awestruck. Clearly, these four students are destined to be future leaders of the world. They are shining examples of the vision of Austin Public Schools coming to fruition, which is for all learners to make a difference in the world.

The way the students were selected to attend the Global Youth Institute was noteworthy. The students chose a topic near and dear to their hearts, conducted their research, and wrote an initial 3–5-page paper on a critical aspect of global food security. The students first presented their papers at the Minnesota Youth Institute at the University of Minnesota in May of 2024. The top papers were then selected to be presented at the Global Youth Institute.

The Global Youth Institute is an academic conference that empowers youth to recommend solutions to global food security issues. The 2024 Global Youth Institute Conference was held in Des Moines, IA, from October 29 – 31, with 175 student delegates from the US and around the world in attendance. At the conference, the students presented their papers. They supported their findings in roundtable discussion groups of seven to nine students led by three distinguished global science, industry, and policy leaders. The Global Youth Institute website states, "Student papers are subsequently published in the Global Youth Institute Proceedings and are available online." Our student delegates researched and presented on the following topics: Chloe Cannon, "Poor Infrastructure in Rural Romania;" Makayla Dokpodjo, "The United Arab Emirates: Turning Deserts into Greenhouses;" Sabreen Nagid, "Political Causes of Starvation in Sudan; and Bella Rosenthal, "Improving Belize's Food Waste and Food Production."

Chloe, Makayla, Sabreen, and Bella shared their experiences at the Global Youth Institute conference with Superintendent Page and the school board members. Their delivery was engaging, and none of the students used notes or slides when speaking. The students gave an enlightening, stimulating presentation and easily answered our questions.

Ms. Sanders and the students highlighted the following experiences they encountered at the conference:

• Participated in the Plant the Moon activity and heard from Astronaut Clay Anderson.
• Ate breakfast with the Hormel Team, including CEO James Snee and Jackie Joyner-Kersee, a six-time Olympic medalist, who shared insights about the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation in East St. Louis.
• Listened to government officials (U.S. and foreign) describe their work on food security in their respective countries and globally.
• Took part in immersion tours of farms, businesses, and factories, where they learned about various new technologies, including hydroponic and aquaponic farming.
• Presented their papers and solutions on food security issues to peers and academic and business leaders from around the world.
• Observed the FarmCraft game, which demonstrated farming in a virtual setting.
• Participated in the Meal Packing Event, gaining valuable hands-on experience.
• Attended the Laureate Award Ceremony virtually.
• Joined the Student Awards Ceremony and Dance Party.

Future opportunities abound for our four 2024 delegates. According to Ms. Sanders, our student delegates could become Youth Leaders at the Global Youth Institute in 2025 and be eligible for internships and scholarships. Austin High School offers several avenues for interested students to attend the MN Youth Institute in May 2025. AP Human Geography, Human Geography, and Modern World Events Semester 2 courses offer opportunities to meet the eligibility requirements.

I want to thank the entire community for supporting our district. Exciting things are happening in Austin Public Schools!

Carol McAlister

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 Sumner Elementary School principal Jill Rollie.

"Jill is an incredible leader. She is always thinking ahead, is a fantastic communicator, and holds true to a very strong whole student philosophy in every decision she makes. She values [staff] contributions and always gathers our opinion and expertise before making changes."

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!

The Superintendent's Student Advisory Council held its second meeting on December 6, bringing together high school students to share ideas and perspectives on key school themes.

Students worked collaboratively at themed stations, brainstorming ways to improve the school environment, student support, curriculum, policies, and resources. Through group discussions and a voting process, they identified and prioritized actionable ideas.

The students' creativity and thoughtful input were inspiring and continue to provide valuable insights into enhancing the school experience. Thank you to all who participated in this meaningful conversation!

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.

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

Dates:

• 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.