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Spartan School News, Jan. 19, 2021

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Spartan School News, Jan. 19, 2021
Spartan School News

From the Principal

All of us at RHS want to give a big SHOUT OUT to all students who:

  • Are showing up, working hard and completing their assignments.
  • Are showing up to synchronous instruction and 1:1 meetings from their jobs.
  • Are showing up while caring for siblings who are also in distance learning.
  • Are caring for sick family members and handling other responsibilities around their homes.
  • Our RHS Spartans are resilient, responsible and working hard to achieve during these most difficult times. We see you and recognize your amazing achievements!

 
KUDOS to you!! Let's end the semester SPARTAN STRONG!

From all of us at RHS

Special Announcements

Special End of Semester Synchronous Schedule Announced to Support Student Success

  • The class schedule has been altered to support maximum synchronous time for ALL classes as we end the semester.
  • NOTE: We will maintain the time schedule for each class but the day has been altered.
  • All end of unit summative exams/projects need to be completed by Jan. 22 (end of Week 19).
  • Week 20 (Jan. 25-27) is designated as make up, catch up, rest up week. Like our 30-minute synchronous sessions, all students need to check in for attendance purposes. Students that need to redo, make up, catch up will stay the necessary amount of class time. Other students will be released after attendance and check-in as directed by their instructor.


In-Building WiFi Access

We are excited to announce the return of RHS-hosted wifi on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays beginning on Monday, Jan. 11.

Sign up here:  

This week only, due to our altered Finals Schedule, we will also host wifi on Thursday, Jan. 21 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. If you are interested, please sign up here: Thursday, Jan. 21, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

From the Activities Office

Coding and E-Sports Club

The Activities office is looking at starting a new club for all Richfield students. If you have not yet completed the interest survey, please do so we can create a club that you would like to join! 

Coding and E-Sports Interest Survey

Tri-Metro Conference Spectator Agreement

The Tri-Metro Conference has decided to allow only home fans at indoor events with the exception of Boys Swim and Dive. There will be no fans permitted at Swim and Dive meets.

Richfield Spectator Guidelines and Expectations

There will be a limited number of home spectators allowed based on the number of players on the team. Each player may have two spectators on their behalf. The spectator must reserve their spot following this process: 

  • Reservations are required for every home game. To reserve your spot, find the team link below. 
  • The reservation form needs to be completed by 6 p.m. the day before a home game. 
  • You will need to fill out this form for every person attending the game.
  • If your child plays on JV and V, you will need to fill it out for each level. 
  • Upon arrival, enter through Door #7 and check in at the table. If you are not pre-registered you will not be allowed to watch the game. 
  • Spectators are required to wear masks/face coverings at all times in the building.
  • Please sit on the marked spots (blue x's) on the large section of the south “home” bleachers, this ensures social distancing. 
  • Once the match is completed, we will clear the gym for the next competition. You may only watch the match you signed up for on the reservation form above. If you are waiting for your student-athlete after the competition, please wait in your vehicle.

Boys Basketball Home Game Reservation Link

Girls Basketball Home Game Reservation Link

Tapaires Competition Reservation Link

Wrestling Reservation Link
 

There will be no concessions at events this year.

Streaming

For all Richfield Home Games we will be streaming on two platforms. You can find our home games on the Richfield Public Schools YouTube channel. The Tri-Metro Conference streams their games through the NFHS Network. The exception to this is Visitation School, they use this YouTube Channel. 

If you would like to see the conference away games you can subscribe to the NFHS Network. There is a cost for streaming games. They offer a year long subscription for $69.99 and a monthly pass for $10.99. 

Go to https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/schools/richfield-high-school-minneapolis-mn and click subscribe, which will pull up both the Annual pass $69.99 and the Monthly pass $10.99.

Upcoming Events

Please check for the most up-to-date schedule and for any changes: https://rhs.richfieldschools.org

Monday, Jan. 18

  • NO SCHOOL: MLK Day

Thursday, Jan. 28

  • NO SCHOOL: Professional Development Day

Friday, Jan. 29

  • NO SCHOOL: End of semester 1

Monday, Jan. 31

  • Start of semester 2

Parent Resources

Technology Resources

MDH COVID Resources for Families

Virtual RHS Media Center

Spartans, did you know you can request books from the media center? 

  • In the portal, look for the Destiny image 
  • Click on the Destiny link > Select Richfield High School > Click "Log in" (upper right corner) 
  • Enter your Chromebook username and password (the Google login option is not working yet)
  • Use the search bar at the top of the screen to look for books, including e and audio formats. Selections can be placed on hold, marked as favorites, etc.
  • Click on the triple line (hamburger) menu in the upper left corner to view your checkouts, books on hold, favorites, and more 
  • Mrs. Anderson and Ms. Glavas will work with you to arrange a pick up for any holds you request. Email us or call 612-798-6319.

CCR @ Air Pod

CCR @ AIR Pod is excited to announce our third guest speaker, 2015 RHS Graduate Beverly Hood, who is now a teacher, having earned her degree in Education from Mankato State. Beverly overcame many challenges in her youth, and we are grateful that she will be sharing her story with us, as well as her aspirations to become a principal one day.

Due to schedule changes for final exams, Beverly’s session won’t be seen in AIR Pods until the first week of February, but we are recording next week. Please submit any questions for Beverly via this Google form by Monday. Thank you!

Counselor's Corner

Counselor Contact Info 

Information for all Grades

  • Earn Scholarship Money Right Now! Did you know that you can start earning scholarships right now? RaiseMe is an organization that partners with colleges to assist students with earning micro-scholarships. A micro-scholarship is an amount of money that students are eligible to earn based on individual achievements throughout grades 9-12. For example, one institution might award $100 for earning an A in algebra; another might award $300 for the same achievement. These scholarships are awarded by the colleges and universities that partner with RaiseMe. Each college determines what achievements they want to award and how much students can earn per achievement. The amount earned via RaiseMe represents the minimum amount of institutional aid that the college will award you if you are accepted and enroll in their school. (source: raise.me) 
  • Need to Access Naviance? Naviance is a web-based, post-secondary planning tool that is used in AIR Pods to assist students with self-exploration and college and career research. Counselors and teachers use this tool to facilitate the college application process. You can access your Naviance account through your student portal—there’s no need for a separate sign in or a special code. Just click here to get started!!

Information for 9th-11th Grade Students

  • Upward Bound is currently accepting applications from 9th and 10th grade students. Who qualifies? Students who come from families that meet federal low-income guidelines and/or families in which neither parent has a 4-year degree and who are motivated to do well in high school and go on to college are eligible. What services does Upward Bound provide? 
    • ACT Preparation 
    • Financial Aid Events 
    • Career Visits 
    • Homework Help/Tutoring 
    • College Visits 
    • Summer Programs 
    • Saturday Academies 
    • More information and application can be found at the Upward Bound website.

  • Summer Scholars Program for Girls—Application deadline is March 1, 2021
    The Joyce Ivy Foundation Summer Scholars Program provides scholarships for talented, high-achieving young women from the Midwest to participate in academic summer programs at some of the country's top colleges: 

    Barnard | Brown | Cornell | Emory | Harvard | Johns Hopkins | MIT | Smith | UChicago | Wash U | Yale 

    Scholarships may be awarded based on merit and financial need. Several virtual information sessions are being offered that include presentations from Joyce Ivy alumnae. 

Information for Sophomores

The Business Emerging Leaders (BEL) Program at UW-Madison School of Business is now accepting applications. To be eligible to apply, students must: 

  • Be a current 10th grade student
  • Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (unweighted on a 4.0 scale)
  • Identify as at least one of the following:
    • Black/African American
    • Hispanic/Latinx
    • Native American
    • Southeast Asian American (Hmong, Vietnamese, Laotian, Cambodian)
    • Eligible to receive free or reduced lunch benefits at school

Open to students from throughout the U.S., the BEL Program is a pre-college business experience spanning three years beginning the summer after 10th grade. Students who successfully complete all summers of the BEL Program and who are admitted to UW-Madison are granted a full-tuition scholarship to the Wisconsin School of Business.
 
Program Highlights:

  • Students participate in a range of activities focused on career exposure, academic growth, self-exploration and team building. 
  • There is no cost to students to participate in BEL other than transportation to and from the Madison campus. A decision about whether this coming summer's program will be held on campus or online will be made in spring 2021.
  • Participation does not guarantee admission to the UW-Madison School of Business; however, being a BEL scholar does help participants clearly articulate their interest in business in their college applications. 

 More information and application materials can be found on their website. Application deadline is February 12.

Information for Juniors

  • Genesys Works - Learn more about how junior students can apply for a paid internship in 2021-22! 

    New for this year: Students will earn college credit for participating in summer training!

    • RHS is fortunate to be in its 11th year partnering with Genesys Works, a PAID internship and college preparation program, where junior students can apply starting Jan. 1. Through the free summer training program, students gain real-world skills like public speaking, Microsoft Office, networking and business technology. After summer training, students will have the opportunity to obtain a paid corporate internship during their senior year at a top Twin Cities company like Toro, Target Corporation, Optum, Best Buy, or Ameriprise Financial, all while earning $14,000 their senior year. GW interns also receive college and career support—in fact, 100% of GW students are accepted to college! 
    • The GW MISSION is to provide pathways to career and college success for high school students in these categories:
      • on track to graduate
      • eligible for free/reduced lunch status
      • first-generation college applicants
    • For more information, check out this short video by clicking on this link. Although the application opens on Jan. 1, 2021, interested students should complete this link now.
       
  • ACT at Richfield High School—Tuesday, April 20, 2021 - Originally scheduled for early March, the district-sponsored ACT for all juniors has been rescheduled for Tuesday, April 20. This ACT is intended to take place in-person during the school day—specific details are yet to be determined, depending on the status of how school attendance may resume according to state and district guidelines. Please stay tuned for more information. Any ACT questions may be directed to Sara Linde, counselor for students in the class of 2022. 

Information for Juniors & Seniors

  • Abbott and Fenner Scholarship Program - Open to juniors and seniors. Submit an essay on the following topic: Describe your educational career and life goals. Explain your plan for achieving these goals. Include your degree/major, why you selected it, and how this degree/major will help you achieve your goals. They will be awarding up to $1,000 to the winner(s). Deadline is June 12, 2021. Additional information can be found on the A&F Business Consultants website. 
  • Distinguished Young Women: Scholarship, Leadership, Talent - DYW is the nation’s largest and oldest scholarship program for high school women. It offers the opportunity to earn cash and college-granted scholarships in a non-competitive atmosphere. The competition is free to participants, and no fees nor expenses are expected of any participant. More information is available here.

Information for Seniors

  • Vernetta Wilson Memorial Scholarship (deadline Feb. 26, 2021) - The Minneapolis St. Paul Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority is committed to the education of young women in the Black community. Visit this website for more information about this scholarship offered by RMS Principal Dr. Hines’ sorority.
     
  • Hispanic Scholarship Fund Scholar Program - The HSF Scholar Program is designed to empower courageous young leaders of Hispanic heritage. The program helps ensure students achieve their higher education and career goals. To be eligible, applicants:
    • Must be of Hispanic heritage
    • Minimum of 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) for high school students
    • Plan to enroll full-time in an accredited, public or not-for-profit, four-year university, or graduate school, in the U.S., for the 2020-2021 academic year
    • U.S. Citizen, Permanent Legal Resident, DACA or Eligible Non-Citizen (as defined by FAFSA)
    • Submit the FAFSA or state-based financial aid forms (if applicable)
       
  • Native American Scholarship Database - These scholarships are available specifically for Native American high school students. Students should be encouraged to apply to ALL other sources of financial aid for which they are eligible. Special thanks to Tami Johnson, School Counselor in St. Paul Public Schools, for her creation and continued updating of this resource!
     
  • MnACC Student of Color Scholarship - MnACC is excited to provide scholarships for students of color who are in pursuit of higher education. Students who are awarded this scholarship will receive a one-time award ranging between $500 to $2,500 to be used towards their education during the 2021-2022 academic year.
      
  • Schedule Changes & College Applications - Nearly all college applications will ask you to list your senior year courses. Colleges will then factor that information when evaluating your admission application. If you want to change a CORE COURSE (math, social studies, English, science) at semester, you need to reach out to your colleges to ask if/how that change may impact your admission decision.
     
  • Community Service Hours—You’re already doing them!
  • What are you already doing?
    • The drastic changes to “normal” life and school have many seniors concerned about how to complete the 15 community service hours required for graduation. Fear not! As with everything else this year, we need to think about this in a new way.
  • Service is NOT limited to volunteering at the local community center; instead, the opportunities are all around us.
    • Many students have taken on more responsibilities in their homes and for their families. That COUNTS! If you are helping siblings with school, providing childcare, caring for a family member, cooking meals, shoveling, count it! Count it EVEN IF it’s something that you had already been doing! Complete the Community Service Hours Submission Form detailing the service you have completed. We will be sharing additional service opportunities as they become available. 
  • Are you looking for service projects? Check this out!
  • You can make 3-5 minute, educational videos (in English or Spanish) to be shared with our Pre-K students and families. These educational videos can include:
    • Reading age-appropriate books (sharing the pictures as you read, etc.) 
    • Demonstrating a simple skill (dribbling a basket or soccer ball, for example) and prompting them to try along with you
    • Completing a simple art project with items found around the house
    • Be age-appropriate AND creative!
  • When making the videos, be sure to be engaging! Speak clearly. It's okay to ask questions and allow them time to respond. Imagine that they are in front of you. These videos do not need to be professionally edited. Be thoughtful about what you're going to say. Make sure that the room/area that you are filming in is appropriate.
  • Completed videos can be uploaded to this Google Drive.
  • Questions? Contact Ms. Norwick, Pre-K teacher, at emily.norwick@rpsmn.org or Ms. Jastrow, Class of 2021 Counselor, at danielle.jastrow@rpsmn.org

Resources

Graduation

College Application

Financial Aid

Social-Emotional Learning: At Home Connection

Hello Richfield Families!

We hope this newsletter finds you well. We know that 2021 started off with feelings of stress as national news showed more division and tension in our country. We know everyone felt different levels of stress pertaining to the news and events on Capitol Hill. We know it is a divisive time in our country and many unknown events could still occur as the transition of administration is in process. As a result, we want to provide you with some quick tips on how to talk to teens about big events in case they emerge. Here some thoughts:

  • Ask open-ended questions: When big events are happening in the news, ask your teen what they think about things in a way that encourages their voice and thoughts. Questions such as “Wow, when you saw the crowd, what were you first thoughts? What are some of the smaller events that lead to today’s event?”
  • Talk about their news source: ask where they are getting their news from? Sometimes for teens, they tend to focus on news through social media. Put on a news channel that you trust and have them watch reporters without the influence of social media.
  • Share your values: Have open dialogue with them, listen, and engage in discussion of your own thoughts as well. Sometimes caregivers are nervous to put “ideas” into their kids heads; especially if you are feeling angry with the world. Admitting this and hearing this from adults they trust is important. Also, explain why you are able to be tolerant of those you disagree with—this is an area where teens struggle, as we all do. Life lessons on how you have done this over time will help guide them.
  • Admit when you don’t know something! This is always hard for us caregivers to do. But in big moments, it is true—we do not know everything!
  • Focus on hope: it can be hard to be distracted as large news stories and divisiveness circle around us. Ask them what they believe they would do if they were in charge. Ask them where they see hope in the situation. Talk about what they believe can change in the future. Praise them for their ability to discuss the situation and look to the future.

As always, we are here to support. Also, remind your students of the opportunities below:

Mindful Moment: Mondays at 8:50 a.m.

We will continue to offer a guided breathing exercise each Monday morning to help students enter their week feeling calm and focused.

Managing Stress During Distance Learning: Thursdays at 1 p.m.

Students will learn new strategies to manage stress as well as have the opportunity to talk about their stress in a safe and supportive group setting. 

We are here for you and your students!

Your RHS School Social Workers,

Marisa Zimmerman: Marisa.Zimmerman@rpsmn.org
Jill Carlton: Jill.Carlton@rpsmn.org

Student Pride Award

Each week, our staff will nominate students who go above and beyond in our community through contributions to academics, supporting peers, community service, participation in school leadership, kindness, etc. 

This week's Student Spotlight: Naomi Ferguson!

"Naomi is AMAZING! She is involved in all kinds of clubs and activities and works hard in everything she does. Naomi has a great school routine with the grades to show for it! Keep up the great work!" -Mr. Hanson

"Naomi is a student representative on Richfield High School's School Board and brings tremendous student voice and insight to Board discussions and decisions. We are lucky to have young people like Naomi leading in our school." -Principal Collins

Staff Spotlight

Joan Liljenquist, Testing Para

My name is Joan Liljenquist, I am the testing paraprofessional here at Richfield Sr. High School. This is my third school year, I was hired to assist with testing projects and protocols. When I am not getting ready for a test, I love helping wherever I can, in athletics, media, foods, arts, guidance, and the welcome desk. Or even supervising kids at lunch. I enjoy seeing and getting to know all the students and staff. Everyone has just been so great, kind, and genuinely caring. I am proud to work in a great district like 280.

I was born in Minneapolis, my first house was in Richfield (70th & Clinton), then moved to Ohio, and back to Bloomington, MN when I was 8. I went to Bloomington Kennedy then off to college. I got married and ended up back in Richfield with my husband and our 3 children. We have been residents of Richfield for almost 13 years. I cannot say enough great things about the schools here and the great friends we have found through sports and other activities offered. 

I love spending the summers up north at our cabin, getting to baseball games, boating, swimming, concerts, and drive-in movies. In winter I am a fan of ice skating, skiing, fort building, and just being outside (above 30ish degrees). Living in MN and having all 4 seasons, is such a blessing. I hope everyone has a chance to see all the beauty around. I hope to get back to being together and going to events again soon. I also enjoy a nice fire outside, a good book, and time with family and friends.

Brenna Peterson, Science Teacher

My name is Brenna Peterson and I am the new biology teacher at Richfield High School. I am very excited to be joining the community of learners at RHS and I look forward to getting to know my students and colleagues.

I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, where I played cello in the St. Olaf Orchestra and co-led the Swing Dance Club. After completing my undergraduate studies I moved to Madrid, Spain, where I worked as a teaching assistant at a bilingual school, Colegio Santa Gema Galgani, for just under two years. When I returned to the U.S. I worked as an immigration paralegal at two different law firms, but felt that teaching was my calling so last year I began studying a Masters of Education through the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. In my free time I enjoy playing and listening to music, speaking Spanish, reading, cooking, baking, running and spending time with my friends and family.

I am very happy to be on the RHS team. Thank you to all who have welcomed me and to those who are assisting me as I transition into this role. I want to especially thank Sherri Juenemann in the science department, who is mentoring me this spring.

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Recently, senior Kenia Melgar-Romero presented to a group of sophomores and juniors about a summer program she participated in last year called the Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS)

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