Administration presents School Board with 2019-20 budget adjustment recommendations

At its Committee-of-the-Whole meeting on March 11, the South St. Paul (SSP) School Board heard and discussed the administration’s recommendations for redesigning the 2019-20 school year budget to better meet the academic, social-emotional and behavioral needs of SSP students.

New career pathway courses spark passion in students

This fall, through the TriDistrict collective efforts of the school districts of South St. Paul (SSPPS), Inver Grove Heights, and West St. Paul – Mendota Heights – Eagan, as well as business partners, Twin Cities Orthopedics and North American Trailer, two new high school courses were offered in the fields of healthcare and transportation. These year-long courses are redefining the high school experience for the TriDistrict students that are a part of these unique and immersive learning experiences. SSPPS recently talked with Tonya Reineke, mother of SSP senior Christopher, who participates in the transportation program. She noted that the experience has sparked a passion in her son that has helped him identify a career path for after high school.

School Board approves 2019-20 calendar

At its meeting on March 11, the South St. Paul (SSP) School Board approved the academic calendar for the 2019-20 school year. SSP students will start school this fall on Tuesday, Sept. 3 and the last day for students is slated to be Wednesday, June 3, 2020.

Mindfulness helps students manage their behavior so they can focus on learning

It seems to be everywhere. Magazine covers, news stories, health clubs - everyone seems to be touting the benefits of mindfulness. So when a group of South St. Paul Public Schools (SSPPS) teachers came together last summer to learn about ways to incorporate mindfulness and yoga into their classroom, some were skeptical, worried that it was just another fad. But, like the volumes of research that support mindfulness for everything from better health to increased productivity at work, many SSPPS teachers are finding success with the strategies and applications they learned at the “Mindfulness, Movement and Socio-Emotional Learning” workshop in August.

School Board approves second makeup day for students on Friday, April 19

At their meeting on Feb. 25, the South St. Paul School Board voted unanimously to approve another change to the 2018-19 school year calendar. The action shifts what was previously a parent-teacher conference day/professional day on Friday, April 19 to a student day.

Davis, Olson advance as Minnesota Teacher of the Year Semifinalists

South St. Paul Secondary math teachers Jessica Davis and Luke Olson advance as Minnesota Teacher of the Year Semifinalists. The panel will next review the semifinalists’ portfolios again and review semifinalist video submissions in late March, from which they will select about 10 finalists. The winner will be announced at a banquet on May 5 at the Saint Paul RiverCentre in St. Paul.

Research, training and relationships central to improving school climate

“All children come to school to learn,” said Connie Garling-Squire, director of early learning and equity. “But sometimes what they need to learn is not found in a textbook. The adults in the room need to be adept at understanding how students access learning and how they can help them with both content and behavior.” Garling-Squire, who has worked in SSPPS for over 30 years in various positions, notes that today’s world is chaotic and it is “our job as adults and educators to help build structures for students to help them be successful.” For the past two years, SSPPS has conducted staff trainings and launched initiatives focused on increasing the capacity of teachers and staff to better respond to individual student needs, which in turn helps reduce incidences of negative student behavior and disciplinary actions.