The April 12 School Board Study Session will be cancelled this evening and not rescheduled. “Out of care, concern and compassion for our School Board Members, Staff, Students and Community, we are cancelling tonight’s Board meeting,” said School Board Chair Mary Tomback. St. Louis Park Public Schools acknowledges the loss of Daunte Wright during an already challenging time as we process the emotions of the on-going trial of Derek Chauvin and manage the continuing trauma and loss of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Due to the retirement of Aquila Elementary School Principal Shelley Nielsen at the end of the 2020-21 school year, St. Louis Park Public Schools is seeking a new elementary principal. The position is posted internally for current staff to apply and externally for new leaders seeking to join the school district. The school district is committed to a selection process that is both rigorous and objective.
The St. Louis Park Public Schools School Board will host a Listening Session at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 20 in the Aquila Elementary School Media Center. Please note that capacity will be limited to what is safe in the space based on current social distancing guidance.
Click "Read More" for important messages from Health Services including new quarantine guidance for fully-vaccinated individuals and information on allergy, cold, and flu season and the overlap of symptoms with COVID-19.
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Week of the Young Child on April 10-16, 2021. The NAEYC is the world's largest early childhood education association, with nearly 60,000 members and a network of 51 affiliates. The purpose of the Week of the Young Child is to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs.
St. Louis Park Middle School and High School students will return to school for four days of in-person learning starting Monday, April 12. The District's "Return to School for Increased In-Person Learning" Guide is full of information that will help create a smooth transition for students and families.
St. Louis Park Public Schools is excited to announce that LaNisha Paddock has been selected to become the next Principal for St. Louis Park High School. "Ms. Paddock's beliefs and actions align with the strategic direction of our organization and I believe she will be a great leader for our High School," said Superintendent Astein Osei. "Ms. Paddock will help us raise the academic rigor for all students and support us in our mission to see, inspire, and empower each learner to live their brilliance in an environment that centers student voice and experience to create racially equitable learning that energizes and enhances the spirit."
After months of reflection, I have decided to retire at the end of this school year. This decision has not been easy, but I know it is right for me personally. For 31 of my 37 years in education, I have worked in St. Louis Park as a teacher, coach, and principal. As many of you know, I attended Aquila in third grade. In fact, St. Louis Park has been a part of my life for 52 years! I have loved being a principal and part of the SLP community for so much of my life.
The St. Louis Park High School boys swimming team finished its 2020-21 season by placing 13th at the Class AA State Meet on Saturday, March 20 at the University of Minnesota’s Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center. Senior Hayden Zheng capped his remarkable high school career by capturing two individual state championships at the State Meet -- the sixth and seventh state titles of his career.
St. Louis Park Public Schools currently has multiple projects under construction and is preparing to send projects at the high school out to bid for Summer 2021 construction. Construction during the COVID global pandemic has created a myriad of challenges and while the approved referendum construction budget has not been reduced, increased costs and regulations are causing the District to prioritize the projects for completion, dependent on the results of bidding.
The School Board unanimously approved the 2020-2025 Strategic Plan for Racial Equity Transformation at its Monday, March 8 meeting. Included in the plan is a new Mission Statement for the District that reads, "St. Louis Park Public Schools sees, inspires, and empowers each learner to live their brilliance in an environment that centers student voice and experience to create racially equitable learning that energizes and enhances the spirit of our community."
As a part of the process to hear stakeholder perspectives, Superintendent Osei will be hosting Listening Sessions over the course of this school year for students, parents/guardians, and staff to better understand the impact of the implementation of the District's educational delivery models. Click "Read More" to view upcoming listening sessions.
