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Spartan School News, Nov. 16, 2020

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Spartan School News, Nov. 16, 2020
Spartan School News

From the Principal

“A connection is the energy that exists between two people when they feel seen, heard and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.”

Author Unknown

Greetings Spartan Families,

It feels like—now more than ever—making connections is critical to our well being; our social and emotional health. As an educator, I am here for our kids. It’s what gives me that energy to love what I am doing and to keep going! However, our move to distance has us facing yet another loss of social connection. Being apart from our community is very difficult. I think about my family and how we have become separated due to the current health circumstances of COVID-19. I can only imagine the ongoing struggles our children are dealing with, both visible and invisible. Please know, these circumstances are not easy. As stated above, we are in education to be with our students—facilitating learning as well as learning with them and from them. When that is compromised, it hurts. But, considerations for our families, extended community and their health and safety have to be in the forefront of our decisions. 

The following is a portion of the communication Mr. Ellerson, our Activities Director and I shared with Booster Club families, which we would like to share with all of you. 
 

The decision to transition to a full distance learning model for academics, AIR Pod and athletics/activities comes as no surprise to many. According to the data, Richfield Public Schools is doing what is necessary for the health and safety of our school community. There was a lot that went into the decision, including guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), the COVID-19 rate data from the county, city and district, along with the original guidance from Governor Walz and the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). Current data shows that as of October 26, the city of Richfield is at 42.5 per 10,000 people. The numbers today are exponentially higher. This is a trend that is not changing and guidance says secondary schools should move to distance learning when case rates are above 30.

We fully understand the effect that moving athletics and activities to a distance model could have on our kids. This is why the RPS Activities Core Planning Team worked this summer to put together a distance coaching model. In this model, our goal is to be an added layer of support for our student athletes. Their mental and emotional health is our first priority. We will continue to help build positive character traits while making sure they are staying physically fit. The plan includes coaches posting and checking in on physical fitness activities as well as check-ins on mental health and grades. 

It is important to note that we have a comprehensive plan in place to support students experiencing engagement or attendance issues, as well as social-emotional issues. We provide lessons related to coping with distance learning and all its effects, which we deliver to students during their AIR Pod. Please reach out to your child’s counselor with any questions or concerns: Morgan Kelley (Gr. 9) morgan.kelley@rpsmn.org, Jessica Okey (Gr. 10) jessica.okey@rpsmn.org, Sara Linde (Gr. 11) sara.linde@rpsmn.org, Danielle Jastrow (Gr. 12) danielle.jastrow@rpsmn.org. 

Our team of social-emotional support staff are proactively reaching out to students when attendance, engagement or grades indicate that they are struggling. We are so grateful to partner with Nystrom and Associates in providing therapeutic services for our students who are in need of mental health support. We currently have openings. If you have questions regarding this service, please contact our school social workers Marisa Zimmermann, marisa.zimmerman@rpsmn.org or Jill Carlton, jill.carlton@rpsmn.org 

As educators, we are truly saddened to be in a position where students are not able to fully participate in the sports and activities they love. Our district leadership is using clear data and guidance from MDH, CDC and Bloomington Public Health in the decision to move to a distance model. We are confident that leadership will continue to monitor and use data to guide any future decisions. As we continue to navigate this pandemic, we want to make sure we are doing what is best for every member of our school community.

In partnership,

Stacy Theien-Collins, Principal
Jared Ellerson, Activities Director

Community Meal Distribution

We are excited to announce that we will be providing meals for adults in our community! Thanks to an incentive grant from the Coronavirus Relief Fund (part of the CARES Act) through the State of Minnesota, we will be serving meal bundles for adults from November 5 through December 30. These bundles can be picked up at Richfield Middle School, located at 7461 Oliver Avenue South, every Thursday from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. The menu will rotate each week. Please help spread the word about this free resource. People do not need any identification, proof of income, or anything else. Just stop by and grab a bag!

Group photo of staff wearing masks and packing meals

Distance Learning - P.E. Equipment Pick-Up

Tuesday, November 17

  • Noon-4 p.m. P.E. Students - Curbside Equipment Pickup on 70th Street

Thursday, November 19

  • 10 a.m.-2 p.m. P.E. Students - Curbside Equipment Pickup on 70th Street

From the Activities Office

Winter Registration - Virtual Coaching is Open! 

  • Sign up now for our virtual coaching sessions through the ParentVUE portal or at www.schoolpay.com. Each participant will need to first complete MSHSL and COVID-19 Notice forms, before completing the registration. Check out these SchoolPay instructions for a step-by-step guide. We want all winter athletes to register for a virtual coaching session! 

Richfield Tapaires Tryouts 

  • Tryouts are November 16-18 at 5 p.m. in the new studio space located on the lower level. After tryouts, the team will move to our distance coaching model.
Spartan of the Week: Rebecca

Upcoming Events

Please check these two websites for the most up to date schedules and for any changes: RHS Athletics and TriMetro 

Tuesday, November 17

  • Noon-4 p.m. P.E. Students - Curbside Equipment Pickup on 70th Street
  • 4:30-6:30 p.m. Strategic Plan feedback meeting online, Registration required

Wednesday, November 18

  • 4:30 p.m. Volleyball C and JV matches vs. Fridley
  • 6 p.m. Volleyball Varsity match vs. Fridley

Thursday, November 19

  • 10 a.m.-2 p.m. P.E. Students - Curbside Equipment Pickup on 70th Street

Monday and Tuesday, November 23 and 24 

  • 9-9:20 a.m. Synchronous AIR Pod
  • All academic classes are asynchronous. Students should log into classes through Schoology and complete independent lessons. 

Virtual Drop-In Support and Virtual Support Space

Students are encouraged to utilize the new RHS Virtual Support Space! This virtual space includes calming sounds and music, coping strategies for stress and anxiety, calming coloring sheets and helpful apps for your phone or tablet.

ME to WE Food Drive

Please consider having your child bring canned or boxed food items to their last AIR Pod day at RHS. They will be helping to stock the local food shelf AND they will be entered into a raffle for a self-care gift package to help get them through the next stage of distance learning. 

One food item = one raffle entry! The more they bring, the bigger their chance of winning. Drop off boxes will be at the main door in the morning and available during lunch. 

Thanks! 
RHS Me to We Group

Parent Resources

Spotlight on Schoology

At RHS, we use a variety of tools to support all of our students wherever they are learning. Schoology is a virtual learning environment where students can manage lessons, assignments, messages and reminders for all of their classes. Because teachers and students are doing so much work within the Schoology environment, it is the best and most accurate way to check up on your child’s assignments, grades and overall academic progress.

Looking for parent access to Schoology? Follow these steps:

  • Make sure your email address is listed with RPS: Families must have an email account in our system in order to access Schoology. If you’d like to add or update your email information, please contact Lori Schmidt at lori.schmidt@rpsmn.org or 612-798-6125. Once we have added an email address for you, you can request your Schoology account information.
  • Check your email account: Earlier this fall, Schoology parent accounts were created for all families who provided an email address. You may already have an email from Schoology with your account information that will help get you started.
  • Re-request your account information: If you can’t find your Schoology email or forgot your password to log in, go to schoology.com. Select “Log In” and then “Forgot your password.”. Your account information will then be sent to the email address you have provided us.
  • Still stuck? We’re here to help! Families can always request login information or support for Schoology by emailing this address: support@richfieldpublicschools.samanage.com or by calling the Tech Desk at 612-798-6050.

More support for using Schoology at home is available on our website! Find Schoology tutorials and information on how to download and log in to the Schoology app on our RPS Online Learning page.

Technology Resources

  • Please visit our Technology web page to get connected! If you have technology-related questions or concerns, please call 612-798-6050 or email support@richfieldpublicschools.samanage.com.
  • If you need access to wifi, please contact your counselor or grade level administrator.
  • Beacons is also happy to offer space with wifi at the Southdale YMCA. Please take a moment to look at the flyer, linked here. If it is helpful, Beacons is able to support bus fare.
  • RHS is hosting synchronous learning spaces for students who need access to wifi. This program will NOT be available after November 20. We will continue to monitor data and any updates will be provided through our newsletter.
    • To sign up, use the registration links below or call your counselor at 612-798-6000.
    • Space is limited to 50 students.
    • Breakfast and lunch are provided.
    • You are expected to check-in by 8:45 a.m. and remain through the day's synchronous instructional schedule (unless other arrangements have been made in advance): 

MDH COVID Resources for Families

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) 

Information for Freshmen

  • Ninth-grade students who have not registered for the AP Human Geo Exam via College Board, please do so now! Your AP Human Geo teacher can help you—or, just check your email for a message from me!

Information for Sophomores

  • As we approach the midpoint of our first semester, I want to let you know that I have enjoyed getting to know some of the students new to my caseload, as well as reconnecting with previous students. I welcome you to schedule a meet & greet with me through my online booking link as your schedule allows. I am available most weekdays between 8 a.m.-4 p.m. by phone call, video chat, or in-person (1-2 people). Or, feel free to email Jessica.Okey@rpsmn.org or call (612-798-6123) at your convenience. 

Information for Juniors

  • LEDA (Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America) - Empowering Young Leaders From Under-Resourced Backgrounds
    • Applications are now available for this free 7-week summer program at Princeton University that provides leadership training, writing classes, college guidance and ACT preparation. Support for participants continues through their senior year with college counseling, recommendation letters, college essays, financial aid and scholarship applications, and much more. Students interested in applying should demonstrate a desire to be challenged academically, have a strong commitment to their studies, and a desire to be a leader in their schools and communities. The application deadline is December 14, 2020. More information can be found by clicking on this link.
    • Who should apply?
      • Current junior in good academic standing on track to graduate in June 2022
      • Minimum unweighted cumulative GPA of 3.5
      • U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or DACA status
      • Annual household income under $90,000
         
  • College Possible - APPLICATION DEADLINE EXTENDED - Juniors, be a part of the Richfield High School cohort! College Possible is a national college access and success organization with over 20 years of experience supporting students as they earn their college degrees. The program provides personalized support and mentorship to help students prepare for the ACT, create a college list, and apply for financial aid. Watch this video for more information! **Applications accepted until December 1, 2020** 
    • Liz Weiers is our College Possible coach - feel free to reach her at LWeiers@collegepossible.org or at 612-888-1641. To apply, visit CollegePossible.org/join or​ click here​. Here are the program requirements: 
      • Academics: Unweighted GPA of at least 2.0 
      • Income: Free or reduced-price lunch 
      • Aspiration: Desire to attend a 4-year college or university 
      • Commitment: Willing to attend virtual sessions and have consistent communication with the coach 
      • There is ​NO​ citizenship requirement 

Information for Juniors & Seniors

  • Racial Justice Oratorical Contest - Minneapolis College is hosting a speech and performance contest as part of its 2021 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration. Juniors and seniors are invited to submit a 500-1000 word speech or performance piece in response to the following questions and prompts:
    • What is “committed altruism,” and why is it “the ultimate solution to the race problem?” 
    • How are interconnection and empathy related to obeying unenforceable obligations? 
    • Where do contemporary examples make you hopeful for racial justice? 

$1000 scholarship prizes awarded in five categories. One submission per student is allowed. Use the email subject line “MLK Day Oratorical Contest.” Email submissions to: Charles.Watson@minneapolis.edu

Information for Seniors

  • Looking for Scholarships? Scholarships can be really helpful in paying for education after high school. In addition to the scholarship database listed below, here are some resources you can check out:
  • Senior Meetings and 1:1 Help Sessions - With the first big college deadline and the midpoint of semester one just behind us, I want to encourage you to schedule a time to meet with me. I look forward to connecting with each of you to review graduation status, discuss the next steps in post-high school planning, to answer questions—anything! I am here to help you complete college and financial aid applications, review essays, discuss career options, and anything else you need! Watch your emails and Schoology for drop-in office hours or workshop times. Please schedule an appointment to meet individually with me through my online scheduling link or email me at danielle.jastrow@rpsmn.org. I look forward to meeting with you soon!

Resources

Graduation

College Application

Financial Aid

Social-Emotional Learning: At Home Connection

Greetings Richfield families!

We hope all of you are staying well as we know the pandemic is truly hitting our state pretty hard right now. We see a rise in numbers and are preparing for RHS to be back in distance learning for a bit. For many students, the term is a bit of a trigger. We know how some students have really enjoyed their in-person time, and we look forward to when it can return again.

One of the biggest challenges our teens have faced is the creation of any normal sleep schedule. As teens, it is age appropriate for them to create a good structure in “normal’ times. By definition of a teenager, most already prefer to stay up late and sleep in late (of course, this is “most”, not all!) So how is a teen, in a pandemic, with minimal structure, supposed to stay motivated and believe the old idea “early to bed, early to rise….keeps a person healthy and wise.” It feels pointless to them at this stage.

We are hearing from many teachers AND students, that RHS students are self-reporting difficult sleep habits. Many are saying they want to get on the right track, but have no motivation and do not know how to start. We are hearing in our AIR Pod rooms and Student Support Office that RHS students WANT help with this.

As a caregiver, know that your child may want you to help them create some structure around this, even if they have not said it themselves. As we head into distance learning, it will be as important as ever to support a healthy sleep schedule. It will not just keep them on track with learning but will allow for a healthier immune system. Here are a few tips. We know it is hard to control these ideas for your teens. Maybe pick a few to particularly take a hard stance on, and focus on the ones you feel you can control.

  • Model consistency: As adults, we are having the same problems, right? The weight of the world in the day means maybe more Netflix at night than normal. Talk to them about your sleep plans for the week and encourage them to join you so they can see it is not just about “forcing” them to do something. The more well-slept the people in the house are, the better!

  • Screen time limit before bed: If you are going to focus on any limits of screen time, make it before bed. Keep their devices so they cannot be tempted at night, and explain to them why you are doing it. Research shows us over and over that the more they look at screens before bedtime, the harder it is to sleep. Maybe come up with some ideas for them to do about 30 minutes before bed—music, drawing, a family card game...

  • Encourage bed is for sleep; other areas for schoolwork: Many of our students report doing their school work and classes from their bed. We know for some, this may be the only quiet spot, and that is ok. But if your home has other choices, encourage your child to find a different area. If they do their work away from their bed, they will have a better chance of falling asleep at night.

  • Speak to a doctor about a possible biological clock boost: Depending on how difficult a time your teen is having, some physicians may suggest a small boost from melatonin to help get their sleep back on track. Ask your physician if your teen is truly struggling and nothing else seems to work. It is a normal question to talk to a doctor about at this time.

  • Discourage late-night snacking: The late-night treats tend to create a second wind for some students.

  • Set your own alarm to support and assess their sleep: Often, parents and caregivers head to bed before their teens. Set your alarm a few nights at different times (such as midnight or 2 a.m.) to see if they are up—not to “catch” them, but for you understand and assess what is really happening. Once you know, you can support them from there.

  • Set realistic goals: Help them set realistic goals for a week. They should attempt at first to go to sleep about 30 minutes before they usually do. You have to start small and keep creeping the time up. If they try to make huge drastic changes, it will result in frustration and a lack of motivation.

RHRC Services Available - Updated November 2020 

Clinic

  • The RHRC clinic will remain open on Wednesdays from 1-5 p.m. Patients with flu-like symptoms will not be seen at the clinic. Patients are required to wear a mask and practice social distancing. No appointment is necessary. The RHRC is located in Rm. 186 of Richfield High School. Services are free and open to all youth, from birth through high school graduation, who live in or go to school in Richfield. 
  • Telehealth services will also be available in a limited capacity. Students and families can call the clinic at 612-798-6020 and leave a message with their health needs or questions. Telehealth requests will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. 

Children’s Dental Services (CDS) 

  • CDS will be on-site at the RHRC on the third Thursday of every month providing dental care on a sliding scale. All youth under age 27 and pregnant women of any age are eligible. Patients can call 612-746-1530 to schedule an appointment. 

Portico Healthnet

  • Free health insurance application assistance and insurance navigation appointments are available via phone from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 651-489-2273 to schedule an appointment. 

Please reach out if we can help - or if additional information is needed.

We are here in this with you!

Your RHS School Social Workers,

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

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: Juan Jose Di Grazia!

From Ms. Vo:

Juan Jose is brand new to the yearbook this year, and he is working very hard, asking great questions, catching on quickly and delivering quality content to this year's yearbook.

Student Spotlight: Juan Jose

Staff Spotlight

Robin Conley, Special Education Teacher

My name is Robin Conley and I have been working at RHS for nine years. I am currently a special education teacher specializing in math. I also coach volleyball. I grew up mostly in Minnesota and graduated from Mounds View High school in Arden Hills. 
 
Something that has always been important to me has been learning about cultures different than mine. This inspired me to travel to Ecuador and India right after high school and to begin my education career in Chicago. When I first began as a paraprofessional here in Richfield, it was the diversity that instantly made me love our district and it has been the biggest reason I have stayed. We are very fortunate to have so many perspectives we can draw from in our classes, clubs and teams. 
 
Another passion of mine is helping students and athletes see what makes them unique. I understand that I may just be a person coming alongside for part of their journey, but I try my best to be honest and encouraging. Wins and losses or their grades do not need to define them, however, they will never regret doing their best. Helping students to see what their best can be is what I aspire to do, and I love it!
 
If you see someone walking around with a Cincinnati Bengals lanyard, that is me! Say hello (or Who Dey!)
 
I am so proud to work and coach in this beautiful Richfield community:)
 

Jana Roden, Special Education Teacher

My name is Ms. Rhoden and I am a teacher at Richfield High School. I love Richfield and have been here for 17 years. I grew up in South Carolina so I'm a southern belle at heart. I moved to Wisconsin with my family as a teenager and went to college in Minnesota. I did my undergraduate work at Winona State University and went to St. Thomas for my post-graduate work. 

I have only taught at Richfield High School, and I truly feel we have the best students anywhere. The students here are diverse and, since day one, have had more compassion than most adults. I feel like our schools are what the future of the world looks like and I'm blessed to experience it every day. From day one, I knew it would be hard for me to go anywhere else.

When not working, I enjoy spending time doing anything and everything that makes me happy. You can find me fishing, walking around a lake, taking care of my plants or eating out with friends. During the winter, there is no better way to spend a Friday night than at a Spartans basketball game. 

I am blessed to work with some of the most amazing students! They show me every day the importance of persistence. I can only hope that I teach them as much as they've taught me. 

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Band Students Earn Top Ratings
Band Students Earn Top Ratings

RHS Band students performed at the Region 3AA contest hosted by Simley High School on Saturday, April 13, and earned top ratings from MSHSL judges! 

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