FAMILY HANDBOOK 2017-18 Back-to-School Information and Resources CONTENTS SUPERINTENDENT’S MESSAGE 4| Family Information Welcome to the 2017-18 school year! 6| Health and Wellness Communications I am excited to join you as the new superintendents and welcome you 8| to a new school year. Following a very busy summer of construction, 10| Food & Nutrition students and staff at seven district sites will return to new learning and activity spaces. These spaces support new curriculum and 12| Family Involvement refined programming geared toward creating personalized learning experiences for all students. This work represents significant 14| Calendar advancement of the Next Generation of Edina Public Schools strategic plan – and the work continues as construction at the remaining sites is already underway or in final planning stages. 16| Early Release/Late Start To help you prepare for the year, we provide this annual Family Handbook full of important information. Community Education 17| Please read about immunization requirements, financial assistance resources and important district Educational Benefits policies. Also look for information on district services and programs, communications, ways for you to be 18| involved, and other information that can be a resource for you throughout the year. 21| Student Info Release I have enjoyed my first days as the district’s new superintendent and look forward to meeting many more 22| Health Insurance families in the coming days and weeks. Together we will work to ensure a productive and inspiring school year for all students and their success in years to come. 23| Immunizations Warmest regards, Salaan diirran, Saludos calurosos, John W. Schultz, Ph.D., Superintendent BACK TO SCHOOL [email protected] SCHOOL STARTS SEPT. 5/6 Classroom assignments and bus route information will be available STUDENT RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES HANDBOOK on the parent portal at 8 a.m. on the A safe, secure and welcoming learning environment is essential to helping our students be successful following days: learners. EPS has developed comprehensive policies and procedures that define student rights and responsibilities and ensure a positive learning environment. These expectations are outlined in the Aug. 16 - Valley View Middle School Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook, which includes information regarding: Aug. 21 - All elementary schools Aug. 24 - South View Middle School • Attendance • Homework Aug. 31 - Edina High School • Technology Use • Student Discipline policy • Field Trips and Travel • Bus Rider responsibilities Please check district and school websites for more information. • Grading and Reporting • And more The full Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook is available online at edinaschools.org/students. Wednesday, August 16 Families may also request a copy from their school office. School staff will review the handbook with Get Connected Day, Valley View students at the beginning of the school year, while parents/guardians are also asked to review the Thursday, August 24 handbook with their child(ren) at home. Get Connected Day, South View Please check parent and student resource pages of the district website for a translated version of the Friday, August 25 Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook. Open House, Highlands Tuesday, August 29 Fadlan fiiri bogga waalidka Gr. 9 & 10 Get Connected Day, EHS iyo khayraadka ardayga Wednesday, August 30 bogga internetka ee degmada BACK TO SCHOOL Gr. 11 & 12 Get Connected Day, EHS turjumaada buuga Xuquuqda iyo CHECKLIST Mas’uuliyadaha Ardayga. Thursday, August 31 o Be sure EPS has your current Open House: Concord, Cornelia, family contact information Countryside, Creek Valley, Por favor revise las páginas de o Check your child’s lunch account Normandale recursos de los estudiantes del in FeePay sitio del distrito para una versión o Confirm your child’s immunization information is up to date Tuesday, September 5, 2017 traducida del Instructivo de los First Day of School: Grades 1-12 o Attend your school’s Open House Derechos y Responsabilidades de or Get Connected Day Wednesday, September 6, 2017 los Estudiantes. First Day of School: Kindergarten, and Early Learning Center The mission of Edina Public Schools, working in partnership with the family and the community, is to educate all individuals to be responsible, lifelong learners who possess the skills, knowledge, creativity, sense of self- worth, and ethical values necessary to thrive in a rapidly changing, culturally diverse, global society. EQUITY TEAM CONNECTS FAMILIES WITH SCHOOL Edina Public Schools believes every student should have equal access to educational opportunities. And we know that parent and family involvement with school contributes to student success. As the diversity of our schools and community grows, we give attention to the unique needs of students and families of diverse backgrounds, cultures and languages to ensure they have equal access to information and opportunities to engage at their student’s school and in the district overall. The district’s equity team includes an Equity and Inclusion Specialist who works to promote and sustain an environment of inclusion district-wide. Three Cultural Liaisons focus on engaging and supporting students and families of Spanish-speaking, Somali and South Asian cultures. The equity team works closely with staff and administration, providing training and insight into issues of racial and cultural diversity and inclusion. The district also provides translation and interpretation services to meet families’ language needs at school and with district-related programs or communications. More information and resources about translation and interpretation, visit the district website at edinaschools.org/equity Abdul Abdullahi Blanca Díaz de Leon Albert McGee Priya Rao Somali Cultural Liaison Spanish-speaking Cultural Liaison Equity & Inclusion Specialist South Asian Cultural Liaison [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 952-848-4051. 952-848-4052 952-848-4215 952-848-7327 TRANSLATION, INTERPRETATION SERVICES AVAILABLE The 2017-18 Family Handbook is available in Spanish and Somali on the district website at edinaschools.org/familyhandbook. Buugga Qoyska 2017-18 waxaa lagu heli karaa af Isbaanish / Soomaali barta Internetka ee waxbarashadda degmada edinaschools.org/familyhandbook El manual para la familia 2017-2018 está disponible en español en la página de internet del distrito en edinaschools.org/familyhandbook. If you would like language assistance with a message you have received; an interpreter for a school meeting, conference or phone call; or want to know more about the district’s translation and interpretation services, please contact our Student Enrollment Center at: [email protected] or 952-848-4585. 3 FAMILY INFORMATION BACK-TO-SCHOOL INFORMATION EMPLOYEE BACKGROUND CHECKS Over the next several weeks you will receive additional In accordance with Minnesota State Statutes, all information on specific schools, programs and services, applicants who have been offered a position with the including individual school information. school district must complete a criminal background Classroom assignments and bus route information will be check as part of the process for determining employment. available on the parent portal at 8 a.m. on the following days: The district may also elect to do background checks Aug. 16, Valley View Middle School; Aug. 23, all elementary schools; Aug. 24, South View Middle School; Aug. 31, Edina of volunteers, independent contractors and student High School. Please check district and school websites for employees in the district. Questions about employee more information. background checks can be directed to Gwen Jackson, director of human resources and operations, at 952-848- HEALTH PROMOTION & CARE 4946 or [email protected] Health services are provided for students during the instructional day at each school site. Students (early ONLINE ACCEPTABLE USE education through grade 12) are required to be in Through the Internet, students have access to a world compliance with the Minnesota School Immunization of online resources and learning experiences. Parents/ Law (see page 23). Some students may require guardians must provide approval for their child(ren) to prescription and non-prescription medication during the access Internet resources at school, and students must school day. Medication may only be administered by agree to follow the district’s Acceptable Use Policy (District a licensed school nurse or trained school personnel. Policy 634). Consent forms are required for families with For more important health information, visit www. students new to the district and for those with students edinashools.org/healthservices entering grades 3, 6 and 10. The form is available online MEDICAL, HEALTH & ACCIDENT at edinaschools.org/parents and at edinaschools.org/ The district does not purchase medical, health or accident students, click on Student Rights and Responsibilities. insurance for students. If a student has an accident, becomes ill, or is injured while at school or participating in DIGITAL PARENTING RESOURCES district-sponsored activities, families will need to access We understand that parenting in a digital age can be their own insurance plans to cover any associated costs overwhelming. EPS provides numerous resources (e.g. medical care, emergency transportation). The district to