The Husky Bulletin 4/15/2025

4/15/2025

Principal Corner

Dear Oak View Families,

As we continue to grow as a school community, I wanted to highlight a process that can really help shape and guide our school for the next 5-10 years. The Minnesota School of Excellence program is a rigorous evaluation process that showcases dynamic schools across the state of Minnesota. It’s such a great way to help promote and market our amazing school. The process takes between 1-2 years and involves stakeholders from the school, caregivers and community. We have a significant boundary change happening in two years and I believe this is a golden opportunity to share the great work happening at Oak View. I met with our PTO and building leadership team and was given the green light to move forward. Our hope is to have a huge community celebration at the end of the process as we get recognized by MESPA as a Minnesota School of Excellence. Below is more information on the Minnesota School of Excellence program.

In partnership,

Principal Gibbs

What is the Minnesota School of Excellence program?

The Minnesota School of Excellence (MN SOE) program promotes excellence through a rigorous evaluation process that showcases dynamic schools of the 21st century.

The MN SOE program engages schools in purposeful conversations, leading to meaningful action. The program, supported by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) and the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), assesses six national standards for quality elementary and middle-level schools. These standards are based on the NAESP document Leading Learning Communities: Standards for What Principals Should Know and Be Able To Do in correlation with MESPA guidelines. The national standards were created in partnership with Collaborative Communications Group, with national research and development made possible by the LAB at Brown University, Principals Leadership Network, and funded by the Office of Education Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education.

The MN SOE program has grown from the 1984 work of the MESPA Task Force on Standards and Assessment. To continue reflecting current issues in education, the program was updated in 1992, 1998, 2005, 2010, and again in 2012. Also in 2010, the program was peer-reviewed by the University of MN Ed.PA doctoral students. The result is the current three-part MN SOE process that validates school communities dedicated to continual improvement. Through the program, elementary and middle-level school principals, staff, and school community members demonstrate, as a team, the desire to improve the quality of education by:

Completing a school community self-study (application Part 1).
Developing a plan to build on evident strengths and address areas needing improvement.
Assessing ongoing results from implementing the plan.

Excellence is a process. Everything done in an effective school community focuses on ensuring the learning of adults and students. The MN SOE program supports this focus by combining the findings of current research on effective schooling with the practical on-site experience of working principals and education staff. From its inception in 1986 through 2024, the MESPA MN SOE program has validated 239 Minnesota elementary and middle-level schools.

Six Minnesota School of Excellence standards

The Minnesota SOE program assesses six standards for quality elementary and middle-level school communities. Research has shown that if these six standards are evident in a school, best practices are being followed.

Learning-Centered: Balance management and leadership roles to lead schools in ways that place student and adult learning at the center.
Diverse Communities: Set high expectations and standards for the academic, social, emotional, and physical development of all students in an environment that acknowledges, fosters, and celebrates diversity.
21st Century Learners: Demand content and instruction that ensure student achievement.
Quality Instruction: Create a culture of continuous learning for adults, tied to student learning and other school goals.
Knowledge and Data: Manage knowledge and data to inform decisions and measure the progress of student, adult, and school performance.
Community Engagement: Actively engage the community to create shared responsibility for student performance and development.

Asynchronous Learning Day- April 21st

Just a reminder that Monday, April 21st, will be an asynchronous learning day. This means that students will stay at home and will be expected to complete assignments as designated by their classroom teacher.

Student devices will be sent home the day prior for students to use for asynchronous learning purposes only. Except Kindergarten students, they will be bringing packets home to complete and return on April 22nd.
Students who do not attempt the assignments or activities assigned by their teacher will be marked absent.

Here is a helpful link for logging into the students' device- https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xHOF6SJ67bgQdoXEHgeaj5bcCVyRt8v2hNoaKLAevBM/edit?usp=sharing

Please look for communication from your student's teacher on when their office hours will be.

Parent Drop Off & Pick Up Reminders

We appreciate your help in keeping our arrival and dismissal times safe and smooth:

Students may be dropped off starting at 9:20 AM.
Please do not park along the drop-off lane—if you need to come into the building, park in the lot and check in at the main office.
Afternoon pick-up begins at 3:55 PM. Have your pick-up numbers ready to show staff, and please continue to pull forward as cars leave to keep things moving efficiently.

2025-2026 Classroom Placements

Hello Oak View families,

It is that time of year again when we begin thinking about next year's classroom placement. A number of variables are taken into consideration in order to create a balanced classroom that will meet student needs. Please complete the optional form below by Friday, May 16th, if there is information that you would like to share regarding your child's classroom placement for next year.

We ask that you do not list individual teacher names, as we are unable to honor specific teacher requests.

Classroom placements will be finalized and available on ParentVUE at the end of August prior to Open House.

**Please fill out 1 form per child**

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Staff Appreciation Week

Staff appreciation week is coming up May 6th-May 9th. PTO has planned a MAGICAL week for the staff and need your help! Please click the link below see how you can help.