TODAY 623

A newsletter about Roseville Area Schools

FALL 2018

Construction is Underway!

Community members of all ages braved the unseasonably cold weather to run a 6.23-kilometer loop on November 10. Afterward, everyone warmed up in the Roseville Area High School cafeteria with apple crisp and hot apple cider. The annual event raises money for Roseville Community Education youth scholarships.

623 Walk/Run Honors Community

Tradition

If you’ve been in the Roseville Area High School vicinity, you know that our construction plans have transitioned into action. You can see major soil preparation along the east side of the RAHS property line as well as just to the northeast of the school building where the tennis courts were located. And while the RAHS projects are the largest, we also have marked or will be marking the start of construction at Little Canada Elementary, Edgerton Elementary, Central Park Elementary, and Brimhall Elementary by mid-December.

In addition to groundbreaking ceremonies to mark the beginning of construction at each building, we will be hosting open houses for our community members once projects are complete. We hope you will take the opportunity to join us at an upcoming event.

Please turn to pages 12-15 of this 623 Today to view updates on projects currently underway. We are so excited and truly thankful for what all of these projects mean for our students, our staff, and our community. Thank you!

Aldo SicoliSuperintendent

On October 24, Roseville Area High School (RAHS) students participated in the official groundbreaking to mark the start of construction at RAHS.

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Adult Learning Center, PreK Partner to Enhance Parent/Child Learning The students at the Roseville Adult Learning Center who also have children enrolled in Pre-K meet every Friday afternoon at Fairview Community Center to provide skill-building opportunities for young children. The class also enhances parenting skills and literacy development for all members of the family.

Students Practice Observation Skills through Leaf IdentificationFifth grade students in Cheryl Biebighauser’s classroom at Emmet D. Williams Elementary used leaf and needle identification booklets and a whole pile of leaves to practice using their observation skills. After they identified their leaves and looked for unique properties, students made leaf rubbings using a variety of mediums and paper types.

Central Park Installs Little Free Library Thanks to a grant, Central Park Elementary was able to install a Little Free Library in front of the school. Building Engineer Cory Steffensen helped dig the hole, make sure everything was level, and actually put the library together. “I am very excited for this addition to our school,” says Library Media Specialist Shawna Traver. “I hope that it brings reading enjoyment to not only students and staff here at Central Park, but also to our Central Park neighborhood and community.”

Little Canada Welcomes Twins Legend Tony OlivaFormer Twins baseball player Tony Oliva visited 6th grade students in Little Canada’s Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program. Oliva spoke about his childhood in Cuba, the importance of education, and much more. “The attitude you bring every day to school is the best thing you can do,” Oliva said.

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Chess Club Underway at Harambee, Little CanadaChess Club has started again at Harambee Elementary and Little Canada Elementary! According to Margaret Grafenstein, a Little Canada staff member and parent who started the program in 2016, 38 students are building on their existing knowledge of the game. “Chess Club is for students in kindergarten through 6th grade and it’s amazing to see the different ages working together,” Grafenstein says.

RAHS Students Named Commended ScholarsRoseville Area High School honored five students who were named Commended Scholars by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Of the approximately 1.5 million high school students who take the PSAT each year, only 3.3% are named Commended Scholars. Pictured with RAHS Principal Chris Hester (left to right) are Erik Rauer, Daniel Kool, and Peter Weiblen. Not pictured are Anna Tostengard and John Wolf.

Brimhall Welcomes Author Dean RobbinsIn early November, Brimhall Elementary hosted author Dean Robbins. Students in kindergarten through 3rd grade heard about Robbins’ new nonfiction book “Margaret and the Moon: How Margaret Hamilton Saved the First Lunar Landing.” Students also learned about being an author and the process of writing a non-fiction book. According to Brimhall Media Specialist Anna Zbacnik, “It was a fun and fabulous visit!”

Lions Club Donates Dictionaries & ThesaurusesWe love our community! Members of the Roseville Lions Club of Minnesota stopped by Parkview Center School to drop off dictionaries for every 3rd grade student and thesauruses for every 5th grade student.

Students Gain Hands-on Engineering ExperienceWorking with representatives from The Works Museum, 4th grade students at Central Park Elementary School had hands-on engineering experience in learning how flowing power can be manipulated for a purpose. During the engineering design process, students learned about circuitry, electromagnets, and motors as they constructed a multispeed fan.

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Parkview Students Sign Up for Cube ClubTwenty students have registered for Rubik’s Cube Club at Parkview Center School. According to Kristin Wiley, a teacher at Parkview who advises the group, a company from the United Kingdom sent stickers and cubes for the club to use. “We’re using their online training system as well as students coaching other students through the steps because Rubik’s Cube is very difficult,” says Wiley.

Parkview Debuts New School Forest AmphitheaterThanks to a major grant obtained through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources as well as work on behalf of the Conservation Corps, Parkview Center School has a new outdoor classroom to serve its students. The amphitheater seats at least 30 students and is equipped with accessible seating and an accessible trail to be

completed later this fall. This classroom will be utilized by all of the Parkview teachers to provide diverse learning experiences addressing core curriculum. It will especially enhance its E-STEM program. Last year the School Forest was utilized over 100 times!

Parkview First Graders Celebrate Published WritingFirst grade students in Katie Leseman’s class at Parkview Center School celebrated their published works of narrative writing. The students invited in special guests and had the opportunity to share their written works as well as read other books during the special time.

District Students Celebrate Unity DayFalcon Heights Elementary, Edgerton Elementary, and others celebrated Unity Day and students were encouraged to wear orange. At Falcon Heights, student leaders tied orange ribbons around the trees in front of the school, made signs, and presented in each classroom about the importance of Unity Day. All students received an orange Yay Unity! wrist band to wear.

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Community Volunteers Dedicate Time to RAMS Three volunteers from Prince of Peace Lutheran Church spent time over the

October school break with Roseville Area Middle School Social Worker Bo Vue and Vue’s son, Alex, painting one of the school’s conference rooms. The volunteers—Jennifer Duncan, Lauren Duncan, and Hannah Banaszak—also organized the resources for a “mini” food shelf with all of the food and resources donated by Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. “We are thrilled to have

this supportive partnership with Prince of Peace Lutheran Church,” says RAMS Associate Principal Becky Sutten. “They did excellent work.”

RAHS Students Compete in State Cross Country, TennisCongratulations to four RAHS students who competed at the state level in tennis and cross country. RAHS 9th grade student Nikki Ridenour qualified for the individual state tennis tournament after placing second in the section. In cross country, Eleanor Long (grade 10), Naomi Nickel (grade 10), Acer Iverson (grade 12), and Joe Lee (grade 10) competed in the state cross country meet. A HUGE congrats to Iverson, who won the Class AA race!

RAMS Students Show Proper Archery FormAll RAMS students take a two-week unit in archery. According to RAMS physical education teacher Paula Buie, these 8th graders are showing very good archery form — straddling the line, good anchor point on the face for aim, and elbow up in back. “The learning curve in archery is so high because many students have never done it,” says Buie. “It’s exciting when they start hitting the target and bullseye.”

RAMS Math Academy Students Design & Print 3D CreaturesMath Academy 7 students at Roseville Area Middle School designed and 3D printed their own little creatures following specific guidelines such as adding at least one eye, mouth, and appendage. According to Teri Sue

Hitchcock, math teacher and IDEA Lab coordinator, the students “learned how to use the design tools for 3D printing as well as learning valuable measurement skills and the difference between millimeters and inches.”

RAMS Students Participate in Courage RetreatAll 7th grade students at Roseville Area Middle School participated in a Courage Retreat hosted by Youth Frontiers. While interacting with amazing Roseville Area High School role models and leaders, students were inspired to follow their hearts instead of the crowd, use courage, and make responsible decisions despite their fears.

Little Canada Students Say Thank You to Cardigan RidgeCardigan Ridge Senior Living gave Little Canada Elementary School a generous donation that was used to purchase teacher supplies, school supplies, warm winter gear, and more. “Our partnership has included bringing residents and students together to build community and connections,” says School Social Worker Tina Hogberg.

RAHS Students Attend Performance of “Hamilton”A number of RAHS juniors had the opportunity to view a matinee performance of the musical “Hamilton” at the Orpheum Theatre as part of the “Edu-Ham” program. As part of the grant that funded the trip, junior classes had to

complete a specific curriculum prior to the performance. Students Lilly Stuart and Naomi Adeniyi-Akins were selected to perform their group project on the stage of the Orpheum on the Hamilton set for the 2,500 students in attendance for the matinee performance.

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RAHS Police Explorers Compete at State LevelIn October, 11 current and former RAHS students who are participating in the Roseville Police Explorers program traveled to the Fond Du Lac Tribal and Community College near Duluth to compete against other police explorer groups from across the state in a variety of scenarios. The events included crime scene search, hostage negotiation, traffic stops, field first aid, search and arrest, white collar crime, and domestic crisis.

RAHS Teams Give Back to the CommunityRoseville Area High School’s sideline cheerleaders participated in a community service activity that is part of a larger effort by the RAHS Activities Department to encourage students to give back. According to Activities Director Reed Hornung, the Activities Department has three “wildly important” goals this year – 3.0+ GPA, 90% retention (don’t quit!), and 350 hours of community service across all teams. “In our Activities Department, we want students to work hard in the classroom, give back to their community, and to never give up,” explains Hornung. “If our students live these three things, we are a successful department.”

RAHS Hosts College FairThe Minnesota Association of Counselors of Color (MnACC) College Fair took place at RAHS in October. MnACC is a collaborative, non-profit organization that promotes educational opportunities for students of color in Minnesota. MnACC member institutions include 2-year and 4-year institutions from Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. All students in grades 10-12 had the opportunity to meet with more than 55 colleges.

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Ueland, Cave Named Section 4AAA Coaches of the YearCongratulations to Roseville Area High School head varsity volleyball coach Greg Ueland and head varsity girls soccer coach James Cave for being named Section 4AAA Coaches of the Year in their respective sports! Both coaches were given the honor by their coaching peers. (Photos courtesy of Tony Schreck)

Dollar General Grant Funds Effort to Expand Range of BooksParkview Center School was named the recipient of a Dollar General Literacy Foundation grant for the second consecutive year. The Dollar General funds were combined with grants from the Roseville Area Schools Foundation and the Parkview PTSA to provide students with access to a wider range of books that

represent racial, cultural, language, religious, and socio-economic diversity as well as showing physical and developmental disabilities in a positive light. “We sought books that better reflected our population and ways for students to access quality literature online at home and at school,” explains teacher Jenny Eckman, who was instrumental in the grant application process.

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation funds were specifically used to purchase an additional iPad per classroom. Dollar General and PTSA money was used to purchase books from a publisher specializing in diverse books while the RAS Foundation funding paid for headphones and a One More Story subscription. The headphones allowed teachers to create listening stations during literacy block at school where students could listen and read along to the One More Story books without disrupting the classroom.

“We wanted to create a literacy experience where all of our students could see themselves reflected along with the chance to see into the lives of others,” says Eckman. “This mirrors and windows analogy illustrates a critical objective we have for our 1st graders.”

Try Our Toy Lending LibraryThe Early Childhood Toy Lending Library is like having new toys every week! Open to all individuals, families, and childcare providers. Free membership! You can check out:

• Slides, riding toys, infant, toddler and preschool toys• Puzzles, games • Children’s books & parenting magazines/books

Register online at isd623.org/ECFE

Brimhall Media Specialist in Search of Diverse BooksBrimhall Library Media Specialist Anna Zbacnik was recently featured in an October 22, 2018 School Library Journal article titled, “Can Diverse Books Save Us? In a Divided World, Librarians are on a Mission.” The article was about librarian efforts to create diverse collections for their students. “I am wanting more diverse books that represent the students at my school. I especially have been wanting books about my Somali Muslim students,” explains Zbacnik. “Currently, many of the books I can find for my Muslim students feature characters with lighter skin and from other areas.”

Recently, a publisher contacted Zbacnik and is sending her some advanced copies of a new series they are publishing about a 2nd grade Somali American boy. They also let her know of a few other new titles about kids who are Muslim. “I am very excited about these new books and I am hoping for more books that represent all of our students,” says Zbacnik.

AVID

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What is AVID?AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination. The AVID Program aims to help students boost their grades and prepare for college. AVID acts as an elective class where students learn organization, get help with rigorous classes, and learn more about college. AVID students take Honors and college credit bearing classes with support from teachers and university and community tutors to make the courses manageable.

AVID 10th Graders Tour University of Wisconsin-La CrosseAs part of a joint trip with AVID students from Stillwater High School, AVID students in 10th grade visited UW-La Crosse in late October. Students toured the campus and met with financial aid and admissions representatives.

Theater Partnership Inspires Student ReviewsRoseville Area High School AVID has a partnership with Hennepin Theatre Trust for a program called “Critical Review in the Classroom.” Through this partnership, Hennepin Theatre Trust provided tickets for 30 AVID students to attend “Beautiful” in October. As part of attending the show, students wrote critical reviews of the show.

University of Minnesota Welcomes AVID StudentsSixty AVID students went to Experience MN at the University of Minnesota. Students toured the campus, visited academic departments, and learned about multicultural programs on campus.

AVID Students Attend National College FairAVID students in 11th and 12th grade went to the National College Fair at the Minneapolis Convention Center in October.

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Safety Safety and Security Team MembersThe district’s Safety and Security Team has representation from across the district’s schools and programs to ensure as many perspectives as possible.• Jenny Loeck, Director of Secondary

Education• Shari Thompson, Director of Business

Services• Karen Schaub, Director of Community

Education• Mitch Edwards, Counselor, RAHS• Todd Lieser, Buildings and Grounds

Supervisor• Tina Clasen, Technology Supervisor• Carrie Ardito, Communications

Supervisor• Officer Crystal Jones, SRO, RAHS• Officer Wayne Ruffcorn, SRO, RAMS• Becky Berkas, Principal, Central Park• Garin Bogenholm, Principal, Little

Canada • Joe Bue, Associate Principal, RAMS• Naida Grussing-Neitzel, Associate

Principal, RAHS• Chris Hester, Principal, RAHS• Jacob Mack, Secretary, Edgerton• Jessica Prenzlow-Morgan, Elementary

Teacher• Ann DePaolis-Jones, School Nurse• Mechelle Allen, Administrative Support

District Introduces Safety and Security TeamAs part of an overall effort to centralize and strengthen the district’s safety and security efforts across all programs and schools, Roseville Area Schools re-established a safety and security team. With representatives from across the district in roles that would directly impact security efforts, the group has been meeting on a regular basis to discuss best practices on national and local levels, assist in implementing best practices within our school district, and communicate efforts to staff, students, parents, families, and the community.

Safety & Security vs. Emergency ResponseWhile the district’s Safety & Security Team will provide centralized oversight and guidance to school and program security efforts, each building will still maintain an Emergency Response Team. These teams prepare students and staff for a potential emergency as well as leadership in the event of an emergency. According to Campus Safety magazine, “Emergency response teams…provide districts with a set plan to activate in the critical first minutes after an emergency begins. If done correctly, the teams can give everyone a specific function with clearly defined priorities that make it that much easier to flip the switch into crisis response mode.”

District Receives Grant Funds to Address Brimhall SecurityThe Minnesota Department of Education offered $25 million in school safety grants. The MDE received a total of 1,187 grant applications totaling more than $255.5 million in requests. Each building request for security-related funding had to be submitted separately so Roseville Area Schools submitted nine applications totaling more than $2 million in requests. With only 123 buildings receiving funding across the state, our district is fortunate to have been awarded $156,792 to address safety and security at Brimhall Elementary School. According to Shari Thompson, the district’s business manager, this will enable the district to shift funds originally earmarked for Brimhall to improving security at other buildings in the school district.

Drills Prepare Students, Staff for EmergenciesMinnesota law requires that all school districts and charter schools establish emergency response plans. The plan should include policy and procedures for prevention/mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. The law requires plans be developed cooperatively with all appropriate school stakeholders. Every school is our school district has an emergency plan on file, which is reviewed and updated every year. According to the Minnesota Department of Education, school emergency plans must include five school lock-down drills, five school fire drills, and one tornado drill per school year.

Partnering with Roseville Police and Ramsey County Sheriff’s DepartmentRoseville Area Schools actively engages in partnerships with both the Roseville Police Department and the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department. Through these relationships, the district and its schools are better equipped to prevent, investigate, and respond to potential security issues. In addition, the schools, staff members, and students build a familiarity and trust with law enforcement.

At Roseville Area High School (RAHS), for example, the RAHS school liaison officer spends every school day in the building interacting with students and problem solving with staff. “As a full-time member of this school community, I am truly invested in the success of these students, the safety of this building, and the relationships that I am able to build through my various roles and responsibilities,” explains Roseville Police Department Officer Crystal Jones.

Source: National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO)

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FoundationSeniors

Senior Program Creates Veterans Wall of HonorThe Roseville Area Senior Program (RASP) has created a Veterans Wall of Honor recognizing Roseville area veterans and veteran family members of RASP participants and staff. The display is open to the public through the month of November, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Participants of RASP and staff will have their photos of loved ones on display, and the Roseville Historical Society has provided several photos of veterans from the Roseville area. “We are proud to have this opportunity to put the focus on our veterans and show our appreciation,” says Norm Kunselman, coordinator of RASP.

Partnership Supports Transportation of Bhutanese EldersThe Bhutanese Community Organization and Roseville Area Senior Program (RASP) are partnering to provide rides for Bhutanese elders in the Roseville community. Every Wednesday morning, the RASP shuttle bus picks up eight Bhutanese elders at their residences, and takes them to Rose Hill Alliance Church for Citizenship classes and English as a Second Language classes. This partnership began in January, and has now expanded to include monthly roundtrip rides to the Keystone Food Shelf in Roseville. “We are very happy to partner with the Roseville Area Senior Program, the support we are getting is really appreciated,” states Puspa Bhandari, coordinator for the Bhutanese Community Organization. “Your help means a lot to our seniors, so they can attend ESL and citizenship classes.”

Community Members Invited to Holiday Open HouseThe Roseville Area Senior Program (RASP) will be hosting the annual Holiday Open House, Monday, December 10, 12 - 3 p.m., in the RASP Lounge. There will be cake, hot apple cider, coffee, and tea, and several prizes to win. The prizes are donated by local businesses. Everyone is invited. Come for ten minutes or stay for two hours. You need not be present to win a prize.

Metro Dining Club Card Sales Support Senior ProgramThe Senior Program is selling Metro Dining Club (MDC) cards. Each box contains 166 cards to popular restaurants in the north and northeast suburbs and Minneapolis/St. Paul. Each restaurant offers a card so two people dining can receive the second meal free each month for a full year. Proceeds assist in funding Roseville Meals on Wheels, RASP transportation, and educational programming and services for older adults. For more information about purchasing cards, please call 651-604-3520.

Roseville Area Senior Program

serves older adults throughout Roseville, Little Canada, Falcon Heights, Lauderdale, and parts

of Maplewood, Shoreview, and Arden Hills.

Nutrition

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FoundationCommunity Members Show Their Support for Roseville Area SchoolsNearly 200 community members attended the Roseville Area Schools Foundation (RASF) annual fundraising luncheon. Keynote Speaker Joe Schmit, who is a KSTP sportscaster, author and motivational speaker, inspired attendees to make an impact on others. While donations are still coming in, the event has already raised more than $25,000. Thank you!

All contributions to RASF are invested right back in Roseville Area Schools. In 2017-2018, the Foundation awarded more than $100,000 in grants including:• Nearly $60,000 in teacher grants• $25,000 for the IDEA Lab at Roseville Area

Middle School (RAMS) • A special $20,000 grant to fund ACT testing

for 11th grade students due to an unexpected withdrawal of state funding in 2017

To learn more about RASF or make a donation, go to rosevilleareaschoolsfoundation.org/donate.

Schools Pilot Effort to Reduce TrashThree Roseville elementary schools — Brimhall, Harambee, and Little Canada — are part of a district pilot program funded by a $100,000 Ramsey County Public Entity Innovation Grant (PEIG) aimed at reducing trash produced by government organizations. As part of the effort, the schools replaced their disposable mealware with reusable plastic trays and flatware. In addition, students started using new post-meal sort tables. Custodians, teachers, and students alike have begun to rethink their classroom waste and make use of their brand new sorting bins. “Bravo for the schools’ environmental stewardship and fast adjustment to the new, sustainable system,” says Angela Richey, supervisor of Roseville Nutrition Services. “Thank you for being pioneers within our district!”

District Expands Harvest of the Month OfferingsWe are excited to continue our partnership with The Good Acre and expand our Harvest of the Month offerings! In addition to last year’s recipes of herb roasted zucchini & summer squash, parmesan roasted broccoli, cinnamon roasted sweet potatoes, coleslaw, baked Yukon Gold potatoes, fennel-roasted carrots, and maple sage delicata squash, we are thrilled to introduce kohlrabi, colored cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, beets, watermelon radishes, spaghetti squash, parsnips, and rainbow carrots.

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FacilitiesLITTLE CANADA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

ROSEVILLE AREA HIGH SCHOOL

Little Canada Celebrates Groundbreaking, Starts ConstructionIn September, students, staff, community members, and local elected officials celebrated the Little Canada Elementary ground-breaking. Representatives from every grade within the school donned hardhats and vests and used gold shovels to participate in the ceremonial first dig. Now construction is underway with the addition of classrooms on the school’s south side to accommodate growing enrollment.

Site preparation for the new Roseville Area High School science addition on the southeast corner of the building. The preparation includes the installation of underground storm water storage.

Site preparation for the new RAHS tennis courts on the northeast corner of the school site as well as the track and field facilities (jumping and throwing events) on the east site of the school site.

This aerial view of the full RAHS site was taken on October 30, 2018 from the east side of the school site.

November 2018Construction starts

November 2018-June 2019Construction on building site and additions

June-August 2019Renovation of building interior

PROJECT TIMELINE

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FacilitiesEDGERTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

November 2017 Bond Commitments• Adding classrooms for capacity• Adding classroom for dedicated Friendship Connection

room• Renovating Special Education areas to align with needs• Renovating media center including computer lab• Renovating and expanding cafeteria space to

accommodate student capacity• Improving security at school entrance Edgerton students donned winter coats to help with their

school’s groundbreaking ceremony on November 13.

November 2018Construction starts

November 2018-June 2019Construction on building site and additions

June-August 2019Renovation of building interior

RENOVATE SPACE FORFRIENDSHIP CONNECTIONAND OFFICE

PROJECT TIMELINE

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FacilitiesBRIMHALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

November 2017 Bond Commitments• Adding classrooms to accommodate enrollment growth (enabling

Friendship Connection to reclaim classroom space)• Renovating Special Education areas to align with student needs• Renovating media center including computer lab• Renovating art classroom• Revising traffic patterns and parking lot to improve pedestrian and

vehicular safety• Improving security at school entrance

Brimhall Groundbreaking

CeremonyMonday, November 26

2:30 p.m.

PROJECT TIMELINE

November 2018: Construction starts

November 2018-June 2019: Construction on building site and additions

June-August 2019: Renovation of building interior

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FacilitiesCENTRAL PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

November 2017 Bond Commitments• Adding classrooms (including one for Early Childhood)• Adding a dedicated Friendship Connection room• Renovating Special Education areas to align with needs• Renovating media center • Renovating STEM Lab • Building new secure building entrance including office

modifications• Upgrading/improving two softball fields

Central Park Groundbreaking

CeremonyMonday, December 10

2:30 p.m.

PROJECT TIMELINE

November 2018: Construction starts

November 2018-June 2019: Construction on building site and additions

June-August 2019: Renovation of building interior

T DAY Quality Teaching and Learning for All...Equity in All We Do

623

Roseville Area SchoolsIndependent School District 6231251 County Road B2 WestRoseville, MN 55113-3299

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