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New Programs at RMS
Several members of the Richfield Middle School shared information with the Richfield School Board at its February 1 meeting on several new programs that have been introduced or modified at the Middle School.
1. PROSPECTIVE PARENT TOURS: Dr. Stephen West, RMS Principal, said that RMS now provides informal parent tours during the school day as well as more formal parent tours which include presentations by teachers, students and parents of students. These tours are more personal than the previous model.
2. IMPACT MATH: Gretchen Gifford, RMS Math Teacher, talked about RMS transitioning this year from CMP to IMPACT math, which has greater rigor and access to higher level math sooner in the curriculum. This program requires that students be good readers. As students move along in IMPACT teachers plan to add activities that explore the "why" of math.
3. ZAP PROGRAM: Dr. West explained that the ZAP program was started to address concerns over lack of classroom participation and uncompleted assignments. If students are "zapped" they may be required to do missing schoolwork during lunch, after school, or in Saturday School.
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Richfield DECA Promotes Career and Technology Education
Federal Perkins Grant Coordinator and RHS Marketing Teacher, Dean Breuer, introduced a delegation of high school students including Jaleesa Wright, Taela Fullilove, Carolina Ortiz and Mahamed Yusuf who spoke about Richfield High School's DECA program. Public schools across the country annually recognize February as National Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month. Richfield High School has a long and proud tradition of excellence with its CTE programs including the student DECA organization. Each student spoke about one of the four points of the DECA Diamond (Leadership Development, Vocational Understanding, Civic Consciousness and Social Intelligence).
DECA is a student association that works on developing leadership skills in marketing, management and entrepreneurship. There are 4,000 DECA chapters in the United States, Guam, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Germany and Canada with over 180,000 student members. RHS membership has grown from 35 in 2008-09 to 62 members in 2009-10.
Chairman Flood said DECA has a great reputation which is being continued. The students did a great job and were very professional. Member Belkengren said there are 23 students going to State which is phenomenal. Dr. Slotterback said that when other students see classmates who they admire and respect, those students are interested in the program. The School Board wished DECA student good luck with the upcoming competitions.
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February 2010 Black History Month
Richfield Schools will celebrate Black History Month during February. The theme for the 2010 celebration is "The History of Black Economic Empowerment."
Individual schools will participate in a variety of activities during the month to honor and celebrate Black History. These activities will be highlighted on those schools' web sites.
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Board Approves STEM School and Reorganization
The School Board directed the District administration to prepare the District to begin a K-5 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) magnet school to be located at RIS, and to reorganize Centennial and Sheridan Hills Elementary Schools into K-5 Schools. The recommendation makes no changes to RDLS. These changes are to be in place for the start of the 2010-11 school year.
Discussion of the logistical issues to be addressed covered issues including staffing, staff development, facilities, busing, support services, food service, and budget.
A more complete report is available in the January 4 Board Bulletin report, found here.
Recent SunCurrent coverage of the STEM Magnet school can be found by clicking this link.
Coverage of School Board discussions related to creation of a new STEM school can be found in 2009-10 School Board Bulletins, which can be accessed here.
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District Calendar 2010-11
The 2010-2011 calendar for the Richfield Public Schools was approved by the School Board at the December 7 School Board meeting.
Much of the calendar was influenced by mandatory testing windows. Significant changes to the calendar for 2010-2011 include:
* Two additional days of required training for approximately half the teaching staff
* An 8-day winter recess
* A staff development/workshop day at the end of May to allow for analysis of assessment data
The last day of school will be June 10, 2010 and RHS graduation will be June 13, 2010.
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H1N1 Update--Minnesota FluLine
A new phone-based service is now available for Minnesotans who think they may have the flu. People with possible flu symptoms can call the Minnesota FluLine at 1-866-259-4655 for information and treatment options. Professionals will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. People with limited English skills will be connected with an interpreter. There is no charge for the call.
FluLine is expected to help decrease the spread of the flu. By providing assistance over the phone, the new service is expected to limit the number of potentially infectious people who gather in emergency rooms, urgent care centers and clinics. Possible symptoms of the flu include a fever of 100 degrees or more, along with a cough or sore throat. Flu symptoms can also include runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and/or fatigue. In some cases, symptoms of novel H1N1 influenza can also include vomiting and diarrhea in addition to respiratory symptoms.
Health officials continue to emphasize prevention measures as the first line of defense against the flu: stay home if you're sick with a flu-like illness, cover your coughs and sneezes with a sleeve or a tissue, and wash your hands frequently. In most cases, people can recover from the flu at home without needing to visit a health care provider. People are being encouraged to get vaccinated now against seasonal flu, and get the H1N1 vaccine as it becomes available.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.flu.gov
Minnesota Department of Health
http://www.health.state.mn.us
MDH Web Site
http://www.mdhflu.com
National Association of School Nurses
http://www.nasn.org
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