In Troubling Times, Our Community Goes the Extra Mile
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School TalkSUMMER 2020 Above and beyond In troubling times, our community goes the extra mile. Resilience in action f you want to see the definition of Iresilience in action, look no further than public school districts and their communities — especially Mounds View Public Schools. As a result of the COVID- pandemic, schools unexpectedly closed to limit the spread of coronavirus, and students never returned to classrooms after spring break. The spring athletics and activities season was canceled along with proms, field trips and traditional graduation ceremonies. School, quite simply, never looked the same for the rest of the academic year. In the face of this adversity, how did our community respond? Teachers reorganized entire lesson parents’ cars, along with Chromebooks, recognized all these efforts with smiles, plans and shifted to distance learning musical instruments and left-behind virtual high-fives, “thank you” posters, from makeshift office spaces in their medications. They transformed sections flowers, pizzas, coffee and other homes. From kindergartners to seniors, of several schools into childcare centers donations. students learned how to log on and for children of parents who work in “This is not a path any of us chose,” tune in for video lessons with their the emergency or healthcare fields. said Superintendent Chris Lennox. patient and flexible teachers. At home, Staff handed out thousands of grab- “But it’s been heartening to see our parents juggled childcare concerns and and-go meals from school curbsides. school community extending so much homework help with their own job Custodians disinfected spaces to support, encouragement and grace to responsibilities during uncertain times. accommodate the on-site needs of our students and staff. It’s clear that we Beyond the academics, staff also essential workers reporting to some all miss each other, and we appreciate played a critical role in responding to schools. everyone’s best efforts to make the best the challenge. They collected students’ Showing great appreciation, families, of the situation.” belongings and brought them to community members and businesses By order of the state, Mounds View and other school districts were required to provide distance learning for students, breakfast and lunch for On the cover: Editors Superintendent students and childcare for healthcare Irondale High School Megan McKeen Chris Lennox junior Maria Johnson Colin Sokolowski and emergency workers. But by order 2020 School Board of no one, the Mounds View Public managed public relations Designer Shauna Bock and order fulfillment Susan Abbott Heidi Danielson Schools community went much of face shields created Jim DeMay further. by her robotics club Photographers Diane Glasheen teammates. Greg Helgeson Marre Jo Sager J.J. Killins Jonathan Weinhagen Here are just 10 examples — Lifetouch Sandra Westerman Megan McKeen of dozens — that illustrate how our students, staff, parents and School Talk is published by Mounds View Public Schools, Independent School District 621. Send correspondence to School Talk editor, 4570 Victoria St. N., Shoreview, MN 55126, community members went above e-mail [email protected] or call 651-621-6012. and beyond what was required Para asistencia en traducciones ó ayuda como intérprete, por favor comuníquese con Angel Toro during this unprecedented time. al 651-724-2854. Yog xa tau kev pab thiab hais ua lus Hmoob thov hu rau Mee Yang ntawm 651-724-0396. Haddi aad ubaahantahay faahfaahin dheerad ah ama turjumaad, fadlan kala soo xiriir Basima Mohamed, taleefanka 651-724-7482. Like us: Watch us: Follow us: Visit us: www.moundsviewschools.org 1 Students tap skills to produce face shields When more than 11,000 District a day, six days a week to produce students left school for spring break, and ship 1,000 face shields a week. only a handful of Irondale High In all, the students provided School students returned. They had a about 35,000 face shields for mission to provide desperately needed dozens of groups in the Twin personal protective equipment (PPE) Cities and around the country, to healthcare and emergency workers at including hospitals, assisted the height of a nationwide shortage. living homes, dental offices, law From early April to early summer, enforcement agencies and first- about five students from the school’s responders. Along the way, their state-championship KnightKrawler effort even attracted local media Robotics team developed a sophisticated attention from television to print production and shipping system outlets. with guidance from volunteer coach “Helping out medical workers Scott Davis. The team operated two is really a nice thing to be doing,” dozen 3D printers relocated from four said Kyle. Labor and delivery nurses in the Regions Hospital schools in the District to Chippewa Supplies for the effort were Birth Center in St. Paul appreciated Irondale’s Middle School. Led by senior captain funded by the Mounds View face shields because they allowed nurses to Kyle Warren — and practicing social Schools Education Foundation. preserve their N95 masks. “It’s amazing to see distancing — the team operated 10 hours Learn more at team2052.com the reach we’ve had,” said junior Maria Johnson. 2 ‘You have a visitor!’ From the earliest days of school house calls, checking on students and When library para Janie Hecht found closures, dozens of teachers, staff and bringing them learning materials, out that Valentine Hills Elementary administrators began to make personal supplies and even care packages. School students were needing Students and families additional learning supplies, she came appreciated the into the school and pulled books that surprise visitors. could be sent home “for keeps.” Hecht Second-grader boxed them up according to a variety Michael Christensen of levels and interests and coordinated loves hockey. So when with staff who were making meal his Island Lake teacher deliveries to add some new books to Nicole Anderson those deliveries as well. stopped by his house Integration and equity liaison Angel in April to drop off Toro is used to serving as a resource some hockey coloring for the District’s Spanish, Latino and pages, he and his Hispanic communities. So he wasn’t family were thrilled. surprised when Irondale High School “I have had tears and activities director Chris Fink called him chills all morning,” to see if there were any families in need said Michael’s mom of food during the first week of distance Chrissy. “I cannot learning. “I knew a single mother of five express how much this children who lost her job, and she didn’t meant to Michael and have transportation to go to the food “Thank you for working so hard to maintain a relationship our family during this shelf,” Toro explained. “In less than with Michael,” said his mom Chrissy Christensen. “That’s crazy time of distance an hour, Mr. Fink was in her driveway what matters most right now!” learning.” with a car full of groceries.” SUMMER 2020 School Talk 3 3 ‘Best buddies’ teach each other Last fall, Mounds View High another friend and School partnered with Best Buddies equally enjoys his time Drew Will International to pair students who with Will. have intellectual disabilities with “Even though we’re students without disabilities. Despite not in school anymore, the spring school closure, at least one playing games online pair of buddies continue to connect gives us so many things virtually — even into this summer. we can do,” says Drew. Several times a week, Will Skundberg “One day we can be and Drew Lindgren simultaneously building a house or log onto multi-player video games roller coasters, and like Minecraft and Fortnite to navigate the next day we can a shared 3D world together. As they go out and attack play, the two friends also connect monsters together. using FaceTime to give each other tips, Will is one of the most encouragement or just to chat. kind-hearted kids I Will, a freshman with autism talk to at school. I’ve spectrum disorder, misses school and is never seen him mad or thrilled to stay in touch with his “best upset. He teaches me buddy.” Drew, a junior football player a lot, especially to not and team captain, appreciates having get worked up about “Drew is nice,” says Will. “I have fun with him, and he a shared connection to Minecraft with things.” teaches me things.” 4 Speaking their language Imagine being new to the country, not That was the new terrain one Bel for kindergartner Angel who attends speaking English and having to navigate Air Elementary School family had to Pike Lake Education Center. She also distance learning during a pandemic. navigate last spring. Fortunately for would often deliver essential school them, they had English Learner teacher supplies for the students and helped Rebecca Hildreth for support. them get access to food when needed. A former “Kenya Teacher of the “Without the parents’ cooperation, Year,” Rebecca shared a common there was no way distance learning language of Swahili with the family of would be successful,” she admits. five who had spent time in a Kenyan “I witnessed parents wanting their refugee camp. Because the parents had children to succeed, sitting alongside little exposure to technology, Rebecca their children and learning with them.” spent dozens of hours with the family, Rebecca’s work with this family is delivering Chromebooks, setting up a only one example of her efforts. At Bel reliable wi-fi hot spot and exchanging Air, she supports a variety of cultures photos of logins on an app. Besides including Somali, Spanish, Hmong, helping the fourth-grade twins Bella Nigerian, Liberian and Tibetan and Chad, she even posted work online students. Known as an advocate, leader and liaison, Rebecca’s cultural perspectives enhance her empathy for Rebecca Hildreth visits Gloria and her children Bella, Chad and Angel.