BAIL ME OUT!

I NEED YOUR HELP!

https://www.joinmda.org/MyLockup/MyHomepage/tabid/99840/Participant/stevenjordahl/Default.aspx

I'm going behind bars for "GOOD" PLEASE HELP BAIL ME OUT! Your donation is my key to freedom! Be proud of the fact that together we're providing help and hope to kids and adults served by MDA in our community.

Thanks for making a difference!

Feed the Right Wolf

A Grandfather from the Cherokee nation was talking with his grandson. "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy. "It is a terrible fight, and it is between two wolves. One wolf is evil and ugly: He is anger, envy, war, greed, self-pity, sorrow, regret, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, selfishness and arrogance. The other wolf is beautiful and good: He is friendly, joyful, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, justice, fairness, empathy, generosity, true, compassion, gratitude, and deep VISION. This same fight is going on inside you, and inside every other human as well."

The grandson paused in deep reflection because of what his grandfather had just said. The he finally cried out: "Oyee! Grandfather, which wolf will win?"

The elder Cherokee replied, "The wolf that you feed."

Master Calendar of Activities to be Implemented

We are in the process of creating a Master Calendar to keep us on task (by month) on the various initiatives to be implemented in the District. Since all of the District’s initiatives underway are not new, we will use the term “activities” or “actions” that are driving the strategic directions in lieu of “initiatives.” Most of this process will fall under the heading of “Learning and Development.” We have categorized a list of the various activities/actions of the District 742 Roadmap. This information will be presented to all staff at the Back-to-School workshop on September 2nd. We are still working on the timeline.

F.U.T.U.R.E. Parent Conference Sept. 26

St. Cloud area school parents are invited to Families Understanding Their Ultimate Role in Education (F.U.T.U.R.E.) Parent Conference to learn new ways to support their children's education. This free conference is 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 26 at Apollo High School. This is presented by the St. Cloud Area School District 742 and the Minnesota Parent Center. To register call 320-202-6897 or download the registration form. Registration deadline is Sept. 21. View the flyer for more information.

September 2nd

On Wednesday, September 2nd, all District 742 Schools will be closed between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. so that all employees may attend a district-wide "Welcome Back" session at the St. Cloud Civic Center from 7:30 - 11:30 a.m. In the afternoon, employees will be engaged in professional development sessions between 1:00 and 3:30 p.m.

The Welcome Center at Roosevelt Education Center will be open from 12:30 - 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 2nd.

Spaghetti Dinner and Carnival to be held at Kennedy School

Spaghetti Dinner and Carnival to be held at Kennedy School on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 from 5-7 PM.

Bring your family, friends and neighbors to our Spaghetti Dinner and Carnival at Kennedy School. Money raised from this event will help fund Kennedy Athletics.

Dinner will include Spaghetti, Bread, Vegetable, Fruit, Milk and Coffee.

Carnival will include: Gunny Sack Races, Obstacle Course, Face Painting, Whopper Hopper, Football Punt, Ladder Golf and many more fun activities. (Kids under 10 must be accompanied by an adult.)

Tickets can be purchased at our Kennedy School Office, Monday-Friday, 8:00-4:00 p.m. or by contacting Ann Alvord, 363-1434. Advance tickets are recommended so that we know how much food to prepare. Tickets may also be purchased at the door.

Spaghetti Dinner
Adults $5.00
Kids (10 and under) $3.00

If you are interested in volunteering at this event please call Patti at Kennedy, 363-7791. Thank you for your consideration for the youth of our community.

We will also have a table set up to purchase scrapbooking supplies.

This event is sponsored by the Kennedy School Booster Club.

GET ME OUT OF JAIL

Help me send out kids to camp, raise money for research, assist our ALS patients with equipment needs, and give HOPE back to those with MD!

I am going to be locked up for "good" at the MDA Lock-up on August 27th to help out Jerry's Kids! Every $800 that I raise helps send a local child with muscular dystrophy to MDA Summer Camp for a full week at no cost to their family!

Click Below to donate to me online:
https://www.joinmda.org/stcloud2009/stevenjordahl

Don't forget...all donations made are 100% tax deductible. Click on my personal link below to make a secure online donation. It only takes a second and will make a difference in the lives of local families affected by Muscular Dystrophy.

Guiding Change Document

The District 742 has the Guiding Change Document to understand (1) the context and realities within which the board will make budget adjustment decisions; (2) unacceptable means or considerations; and (3) the results expected when the adjustment process is complete. A timeline for the Board of Education to determine the specific budget adjustments to compensate for a $2.6 million dollar shortfall in the 2010-2011 school year is attached to the Guiding Change document. Community members should note three public meetings, where public input is welcomed. View a list of potential budget reductions and/or revenues, developed by district administrators. Community members may submit budget ideas to budget@isd742.org. The list will be updated as new suggestions are submitted and considered by the Board of Education.

School District Budget: 2010-2011

The St. Cloud Area School District 742 has been working through a decision-making process regarding the budget for the 2010-2011 school year. We realize that we have the very difficult task of adjusting our budget by reducing it $2.6 Million. The process looks at several options at this time; the only options considered will be ones that can be implemented. That sounds so obvious, but it's amazing how many options come before us that would be impossible and go against state and federal statutes.

The process call for the administrative team to develop options, go before our stakeholders to share these and then listen as they provide their input. In fact, we have options that would be very difficult to live with, but they are included because they can be implemented. These options are not recommendations. The administrative team will not be making recommendations to the school board until listening sessions and more administrative meetings have been held to work through all the input that will be received.

This is a process; it is an all-inclusive process that will call on the help of thousands of stakeholders. I just ask that everyone be patient and realize that your voice will be heard. This is a great school district who recognizes that we are in the business of student learning and development; we will not jeopardize our commitment during these tough economic times.

The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins: A Lesson for All

It’s amazing what we can learn from the very simplest of stories. Learn from them, but then create your own story so that others can learn from you.

The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins is a children's book, written by Dr. Seuss and published in 1938. Set in feudal times, the story begins in the Kingdom of Didd, when King Derwin is riding through a street past Bartholomew Cubbins, a poor boy in the market. Bartholomew removes his hat, according to the laws, but another hat mysteriously appears; when he attempts to remove this one too, another one appears again, and this continues, even as he removes more and more hats, each growing in extravagance and beauty. Eventually, as Bartholomew is being threatened with death, the 500th hat, studded with massive gems and gilding, comes off and Bartholomew's head is bare again. Stunned by the beauty of the hat, King Derwin grants him reprieve and trades him 500 gold coins for the 500th hat.

The reason I tell this story is to illustrate that many of the problems we encounter contain the solutions to the problem; Bartholomew's problem became his solution. The story also illustrates the fact that he never feels like he's doing anything wrong while the king sees that he is in the wrong. So, who's right here? The adventure takes on a few twists and turns much like that of real life, but then again, the beauty of life's adventures never fall on a straight path.

Often times, it's like this in the classroom. A child acts up, doesn't do his homework or just appears to be disrespectful because of his inattentiveness. Perhaps, if the king (the teacher) would just listen, create a relationship and try to understand Bartholomew (the student) all problems could have been avoided. Then, a real gem can be revealed and shown to the world.

It is often my actions that cause problems. I reflect and then realize that my actions can also be the solution to the problem. There have been times when I have been terribly wrong, and did not stop to think about my actions. Because of my impatience, I have tried to get others to see my point of view, agree with me or even to try to act or be like me. Then, when the anxiety set in and the fear of loss overwhelmed me, I fought with anger in my heart. Even with the fear that must have existed, Bartholomew did not fight back. He was patient and his problem was solved by the very problem that he had.

Reading a children's book can be so educational. Please read to a child or listen to a child read; but do so by having a meaningful discussion about the author’s intentions. Perhaps it will even bring you (the adult) a lesson or two about how to approach the adventures of life.

H1N1 Federal Guidance for Schools

Developing a clear set of recommendations for schools, in dealing with the threat of novel H1N1 flu, is a high priority right now. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) will be reviewing the new federal guidelines to see how they fit with the planning we have already been doing at the state level. They will be adapting and revising them as necessary to meet our unique needs and circumstances here in Minnesota.

Over the next few weeks, MDH and the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) will continue to consult with schools regarding Minnesota’s guidance for schools. For example, there will be an opportunity to discuss H1N1 guidance and planning at next week’s superintendent’s conference.

Additionally, we need to be prepared on a number of fronts for a possible “second wave” of novel H1N1 – and the possibility that the virus will cause a much more severe form of the illness the second time around.

One of our highest priorities right now is individual preparedness for a second round of novel H1N1 flu – and the steps people can take to protect themselves and others. Those steps are simple, but can’t be repeated often enough:

• Wash your hands, thoroughly and frequently. Use soap and water or an alcohol-based scrub.
• Cover your face with a sleeve or a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
• If you’re sick, stay home from work, school, or other places where you may expose others to the virus.

We are continuing to prepare for a successful school year that will be safe and healthy for all students.

Registration of New Students to District 742

ALL new students coming to the St. Cloud Area School District 742 should register at the Welcome Center. New registrations should not be done at individual school buildings. We want to be sure that all families are getting the correct and complete set of forms. The families can complete forms for all of their children in one spot.

We are logging very specific information to assist in district-wide planning and decision-making, and we miss the information if students do not register at the Welcome Center. We are also providing assistance and support for new families in accessing health and dental care (public health and medical staff from our community assist with this very important service).

Families who want to register during Open House should also be directed to the Welcome Center so that we can ensure consistency. We have maps/directions handy for those who are unfamiliar with St. Cloud. If you want a map from your school to Roosevelt, please call Kathy Massman 202-6897. Clearview and Kennedy are exceptions and may register students at their sites. All other schools are required to register new students at the Welcome Center.

Thanks for your cooperation.

North Jr. High Needs Volunteers

ING Direct, an online banking system with offices in St. Cloud, has selected North and South Jr. High to send their 300 employees to the schools for a day long community service project. There are several significant projects the ING team will be involved with at North including painting classrooms, doing landscaping, planting trees, putting up bulletin boards, installing fencing and other projects on August 20. To prepare for the ING team, North would like to invite parents, students and community members to join North staff in helping prep the building on Aug. 15, 17, 18 and 19. We need lots of help taping classrooms that will be painted. If you would like to help out, please call the North office (251-2159 ex 4001) and leave your name, phone number and the number of people that are coming with the school secretary. View the flyer for more information.

Being Strategic: We Must Rely on Data

The St. Cloud Area School District has worked to develop a draft Road Map that defines our Mission, Vision, Core Values and the Strategic Directions that will get us to our vision. The Strategic Road Map was developed with community input, and the Board's next step is to determine what level of public input they believe is needed for its refinement and approval.

The strategic directions are:
A. Developing & implementing instructional district practices focused on diverse student needs
B. Increasing our means by 20% & manage well within that
C. Changing, aligning systems & structures to move towards our vision
D. Developing partnership processes & capacity to address the we/they
E. Developing a clear & effective District 742 “brand”

Each of these has measures, weights, and etc. to determine our progress. For example, to measure letter "A" above, we have assessments in place such as the MCA II's, the NWEA MAP tests, GOM's, the PLAN, the BASIC, the ACT's, and etc. Each of these measures has assigned weights to determine the level of importance to the whole direction.

I realize that the above paragraph may be complex, but it illustrates the complexity of the measurement of student achievement and the district's assignment to respond to these measures. We are doing the same for each strategic direction by using measurements that we already have in place. By aligning our system in this way, we will be able to more effectively and efficiently use the data to diagnose student learning so that we can respond with teaching strategies that call for us to differentiate our instruction.

We must be data-driven to be successful.

Commitment: It's No Easy Task

Since the quality of the educational system cannot exceed the quality of our teachers, we must continue to provide our teachers with professional growth that will result in high performing teachers. High performance requires that every child succeed.

We also recognize that the leadership at the school level is the greatest predictor of teacher development; therefore, it's the principal who ultimately is the one who has the greatest impact on student achievement from a building while it's the teacher who has the greatest impact on each child's learning and development.

We need quality teachers, and we need them in every department and at every grade level. We need to recruit teachers who are dedicated to serving children and are passionate about continuous improvement.

We have the knowledge and understanding of what it takes to educate every child; it is complex, but we have the technology and tools in place to successfully diagnose learning and provide children with the instruction that works for them. We realize the demanding work of continuous improvement and we will make great gains under the direction of building leadership and quality teachers. We will hold ourselve accountable to this.

The Business of Student Learning and Development: My Expectations for Principals

I am not a proponent of comparing education to business for certain reasons, but for many to understand, I will say that District 742 is in the business of "student learning and development." Student are at the center of all we do and our decisions must always consider what's best for students. I often say that decision making must be data-driven with the best interest of the whole district first before doing what's best for individual buildings or teams. Even though I'm stating what must be obvious to most, it's a reminder that these data-driven decisions are always about student learning. We are focused on what it will take to grow learners in the most impactful way; we look for the best practices of teaching so that students are the winners.

As we hold ourselves accountable to this business of learning and development, we recognize the importance of accountability. We must monitor progress and diagnose how children learn. I rely on the instructional leaders (the administrators) of this district to measure achievement and hold adults accountable to instructional practices that will result in growth. The principal is the instructional leader of a building with the directive to continually improve; they must supervise, monitor, observe and evaluate with the intent to lead teachers to professional growth. They must be data-driven and setting and measuring goals that align with the district's mission and strategic direction.

Principals have an incredible responsibility. With over 800 teachers and another 800 non-licensed staff members, each principal is expected to supervise 80 staff members. Now, imagine a business executive being responsible for the evaluation and professional growth of 40 classroom leaders who are held to the highest standards of teaching and learning with the intent to hold them accountable to excellence with every student.

WOW!

Boys & Girls Club

I just recently received an invite to the Boys and Girls Club's summer benefit. Please consider supporting all that they do for children in this area of Minnesota by attending the benefit on August 13th from 5:30 - 9:00 PM at the St. Cloud Civic Center. If you're interested in this event contact Mark Sakry, Executive Director. He can be reached at 320-252-7616 or you can visit their website at www.bgcmn.org.