April 19, 2013 -- Two District elementary schools are among 16 Minnesota schools identified as state-wide leaders for creating positive learning environments for students.

This week, the Minnesota Department of Education recognized Sunnyside Elementary School and Valentine Hills Elementary School as Sustaining Exemplar Schools. Using a program called Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS), the two schools were identified as leaders in establishing a comprehensive set of practices to support positive behavior, improve school climate and increase student achievement.

To establish a PBIS program, 80 percent of a school's teachers and staff need to agree to implement a more positive approach to discipline. Data from participating schools show clear evidence of the program's success, specifically in reduced number of behavioral incidents, fewer student suspensions and increased levels of student engagement.

"PBIS helps schools set clear expectations for students, teachers and families and to find new ways to address behavior issues," said Commissioner Brenda Cassellius.

In March, KSTP-Channel 5 produced a story on Valentine Hills and the school's PBIS efforts. Click below to watch.

April 18, 2013 -- Updated April 19: MnDOT now says closures will begin sometime in the middle of next week -- the week that begins with April 21. Beginning around April 22, major road closures and construction projects will significantly impact the most common routes to and from Mounds View High School. Construction is expected to continue through the fall. Before departing for Mounds View Public Schools, please keep in mind the following:

Avoid the interchange of County Rd 96/US Hwy 10/Old Hwy 10.

Plan ahead. Leave early. Expect delays. Be patient.

ALTERNATE ROUTES TO MOUNDS VIEW HIGH SCHOOL

As you plan for alternate routes, please note:

• The busiest arrival time is 6:55 - 7:05 a.m. as buses are arriving.
• Old Hwy 8 and County Rd E are especially congested during this arrival time.
• At the District's request, the Ramsey County Sherriff's Department plans to provide temporary traffic control at the four-way stop sign at County Rd E/Lake Johanna Blvd/Snelling Ave N., after school dismissal on weekdays.

FROM THE NORTH:
Route 1: I-694 west to Long Lake Rd Exit. Turn left onto Long Lake Rd (southbound) and follow 10^th St NW (eastbound). Continue on Lake Valentine Rd. to school on right.
Route 2: Take County Rd I or County Rd J westbound to I-35W south. Exit at County Rd 96 and turn right (westbound). Turn left at Old Hwy. 8 (southbound). Turn left at 10^th St NW (eastbound). Continue on Lake Valentine Rd. to school on right.

FROM THE EAST:
Route 1: I-694 west to Long Lake Rd Exit. Turn left onto Long Lake Rd. and follow 10^th St NW (eastbound). Continue on Lake Valentine Rd to school on right.
Route 2: Take Lexington Ave southbound to County Rd E. Turn right at County Rd E (westbound). Turn right at four-way way stop onto Snelling Ave N. Turn left at Lake Valentine Rd to school on left.

FROM THE SOUTH AND WEST: No alternative routes. No detours are expected.

THE PROJECT: Information and map provided by Minnesota Department of Transportation
A new interchange will carry Highway 10 above County Road 96. During the construction season, you'll need to detour on I-35W and I-694 to avoid the closure.

The eastbound Highway 10 bridge over I-35W will remain open for local access from County Road H during the first part of the construction. However the ramp from southbound I-35W to Highway 10 will close.

The westbound County Road 10 bridge will be open from northbound I-35W only during the 2013 construction season. Old Highway 10 (County Road 76) will close at the south junction with Lakeshore Place but local access will be maintained.

For more information on the Highway 10/County Road 96 Interchange construction, please visit http://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/hwy10ardenhills/index.html or call the project hotline at 1-877-206-0060 or send an e-mail to info@694NorthCentral.com.

For some time, Mounds View Public Schools has wanted to expand preparation efforts for kindergarten students. But the cost and the space available has previously prevented the most efficient and timely action possible. Until now.

In fall 2014, the District will introduce an optional, no-fee, all-day, every day kindergarten program. The program expansion is part of the District's comprehensive Pre-K - 14 initiative that includes The Equity Promise, which states that all students will be prepared for post-secondary success regardless of race, class or disability.

Background
Studies show there are significant benefits of full-day kindergarten, especially if the students' educational momentum can be sustained in succeeding years. Already, half of the District's kindergarten families participate in the fee-based, full-day Kindergarten Plus experience. Many districts around the metro now offer free, full-day programs.

Legislative support
Some level of state funding for all-day, every day kindergarten appears likely, as bi-partisan support for full-day kindergarten is strong. Regardless of the level of state funding ultimately provided, the School Board believes now is the time to make this program a reality.

Enrollment and facilities
As enrollment sits near 10,000 students, the District's elementary schools and kindergarten classes in particular are experiencing some stress points. As currently configured, the District is limited in how many students it can accommodate in the full-day Kindergarten Plus program.

Kindergarten Centers
Accommodating elementary enrollment growth utilizing existing facilities appears to be the most efficient solution. To find room for a full-day kindergarten program, and to relieve elementary schools, the District will open Kindergarten Centers at Snail Lake Education Center and at Pike Lake Education Center in fall 2014.

Specifically, kindergarten students from Island Lake and Turtle Lake will attend Snail Lake, while students from the attendance areas of Bel Air, Pinewood, Sunnyside and Valentine Hills will attend Pike Lake. To make room, educational programs currently housed at those two sites, including Bridges, Oak Grove schools, Adult Basic Education and the Area Learning Center, will move into leased spaces.

Next steps
To open kindergarten centers in fall 2014, planning will continue this spring and throughout the next school year.

Watch this website for upcoming details.

In the media
Mounds View schools approves free all-day kindergarten
St. Paul Pioneer Press, May 8, 2013

All-day kindergarten likely at Mounds View Schools, Shoreview Press, April 23, 2013

Read a column from Superintendent Dan Hoverman.

Why is Mounds View introducing all-day, every day kindergarten?
The District is committed to fulfilling The Equity Promise, which states that all students will be prepared for post-secondary success regardless of race, class or disability. Studies show there are significant benefits of full-day kindergarten offered at no fee to families, especially if the students' educational momentum can be sustained in succeeding years. Many districts around the metro now offer full-day programs.

When does the new program begin?
All-day, every day kindergarten will begin in fall 2014. This allows for more than a year of discussions, planning and preparation.

Can parents still choose a half-day experience for their students?
Yes, parents may opt out of the full day experience and have their student attend only half of the day. The full-day kindergarten program is optional, although it's expected that the vast majority of families will enroll in the no-fee, full-day program. Already, half of the District's kindergarten families participate in the fee-based, full-day Kindergarten Plus experience.

Will all kindergarten students go to kindergarten centers?
Yes. In fall 2014, kindergarten students from Island Lake Elementary School and Turtle Lake Elementary School will attend kindergarten centers at Snail Lake Education Center in Shoreview. Kindergarten students from the attendance areas of Bel Air Elementary School, Pinewood Elementary School, Sunnyside Elementary School and Valentine Hills Elementary School will attend kindergarten centers at Pike Lake Education Center in New Brighton.

How many students do we anticipate at each center?
Enrollment projections indicate that the District expects a total of 700 residents students entering kindergarten in fall 2014, with about 350 students at each kindergarten center.

What are the school start times?
Kindergarten center start times have not been determined yet. Transportation considerations are still in progress and will impact each kindergarten center's start and end times.

Will kindergartners associate/affiliate with their home school or with the larger kindergarten center serving another school or schools?
Both. Kindergartners will primarily associate with students within their home school's kindergarten center, however we anticipate some experiences that will bring together kindergartners all programs at the site.

How will schools address student transitions from kindergarten to first grade?
Student transitions between new buildings and grade levels is a primary focus of the Pre-K - 14 Roadmap.Kindergarten students and families will have an opportunity to meet grade 1 teachers at the end of the kindergarten year. We likely will be providing field trips to the home schools as well.

What is the role of the elementary school principal as it relates to kindergarten centers?
Kindergarten Centers will retain unique alignment with the home elementary school while embracing an opportunity of collaboration across sites given the common setting.Principals will have direct oversight of his or her program and will have an ongoing presence at both the Kindergarten Center and the home elementary school.

April 8, 2013 -- Mounds View Public Schools was honored for its outstanding commitment to music education recently when the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) recognized the District with the Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) designation. Mounds View Public Schools is one of only seven school districts in Minnesota to be honored with the award for demonstrating exceptional efforts toward maintaining music education as part of the core curriculum.

September 25, 2012 - Mounds View Public Schools is committed to preparing all students for opportunities of their choice after high school, whether they choose college, a trade school, technical college, the military or employment.

The District's "Roadmap to Post-Secondary Success," illustrates the pathway for preparing students for success after high school. This initiative was designed, in part, to address The Equity Promise which states that all students are prepared for post-secondary success regardless of race, class or disability.

As part of this Pre-K - 14 plan, a brochure was created to show the 10 Keys to Post-Secondary Success as well as the 12 Habits of Mind students can begin to practice as early as in elementary school.

To download the Roadmap chart itself, click here or on the image below.

Roadmap to Post-Secondary Success

• Look up homework assignments and find grades using the parent portal School View.
• Find teachers' web pages.
• Get directions.
• Look up calendars.
• View lunch menus.
• Get real-time news feeds.
• Call schools to report student absences.
• Contact teachers by phone or e-mail.

Mounds View Mobile gives you all the features and fun of a smartphone app, in less time than it takes to find, select and download an app from a store.

Adding an icon to your home screen
Once you've visited Mounds View Mobile, you will want to add an easy access icon to your smartphone's home screen and enjoy a quick path to our mobilized content - no matter what device you own. This offers quick launching with a single tap. Download easy instructions here.

Take a tour

February 14, 2013 -- Simone Haugen, a fifth-grade teacher at Turtle Lake Elementary School, has been named a semifinalist for 2013 Minnesota Teacher of the Year. She is among 39 semifinalists chosen from hundreds of nominations from across the state. Candidates include pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers from public and private schools.

In late March, 10 finalists will be chosen, and the Minnesota Teacher of the Year will be announced in early May. The Teacher of the Year program is sponsored by Education Minnesota.

Haugen is a National Board Certified Teacher who has taught at Turtle Lake for 13 years and at Snail Lake Elementary School for one year. She is among a group of teachers participating in a District-wide Professional Learning Community that incorporates flipped instructional practices in their classrooms, changing how face-to-face time is used. In December, Haugen was recognized as a 2012 TIES Exceptional Teacher for individualizing student instruction through her use of technology like Moodle and Google Apps for Education.

January 28, 2013 -- Sunnyside Elementary School has been named among the top 25 percent of Title I schools in the state, earning the Minnesota Department of Education's (MDE) designation of "Celebration School 2012." 

This year, the MDE selected approximately a third of the 146 applicant schools to receive the Celebration School designation. A Title I school is a school that receives supplemental Federal funding based on the percentage of students qualifying for the free or reduced price lunch program. Funding is used to assist in meeting students' educational goals.

"Celebration School" status is part of the state's new accountability system that uses a Multiple Measurements Rating (MMR) to evaluate schools' performance in proficiency, academic growth, achievement gap reduction and meeting targets for graduation rate projections. In announcing Sunnyside's award, the MDE noted this recognition is "a direct reflection of the gains your school has made and the tireless efforts you and your staff have directed toward improving outcomes for your students. It takes focus and commitment to put systems and strategies in place that yield the kind of results your school has shown."

In its application, Sunnyside reported it has increased core instructional time for all students in reading and math and has designed different tiers of intervention. Sunnyside also described three main initiatives throughout the school:

1. Developing personal learning plans, setting proficiency goals and delivering direct, targeted instruction.
2. Teaching and encouraging healthy behavior.
3. Connecting students, the school and the community.

To read the announcement from the Minnesota Department of Education, click here.
To read Sunnyside's "Celebration School" application, click here.

December 5, 2012 -- In a prestigious awards competition honoring innovation in Minnesota, Irondale High School has been named the top school winner for its Early College program. The 6th annual Local Government Innovation Awards selected Irondale among 34 other school entries from across the state. As the sole finalist representing the school category, Irondale now competes against two other finalists - a city and a county - for the chance to win a grant of $25,000 to continue innovating. To learn more about the competition and how to vote for Irondale online or via text in January, visit http://challenges.incommons.org/LGIA.

Sponsored in part by The Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs in partnership with InCommons, the awards recognize the creative ways counties, cities and schools are making Minnesota better and doing things differently.

Irondale is the first school in Minnesota to offer a comprehensive early college program allowing students in the academic middle the opportunity to earn a free two-year associate degree.

For personal insights about Early College, read Superintendent Dan Hoverman's column here.
Or click below to watch a new video produced for the awards competition.