January Minne Scoop

A note from Mr. Archer

**Welcome to January!**

As we approach the midpoint of the school year, I want to highlight the important work that the Minnehaha staff is doing to ensure our students are not just progressing, but thriving. There’s a lot happening, and I’m excited to share it with you.

On May 24, 2023, Governor Walz signed the READ Act into law, bringing significant change for schools across the state. This legislation sets a clear goal: every child will read at or above grade level every year, beginning in kindergarten. It also includes support for multilingual learners and students receiving special education services, replacing the previous "Read Well by Third Grade" law.

What does this mean for our school? Every teacher from Pre-K through 12th grade who teaches reading or provides academic intervention, along with administrators, must engage in comprehensive professional development. In Lake Superior schools, this training is known as LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling). It’s a two-year commitment equating to 12 graduate-level college credits. It provides educators with in-depth knowledge and tools that they can use with any reading program. This initiative will enhance our reading instruction for each and every student across all grade levels.

Additionally, school districts must implement a state-approved screening assessment to monitor student progress and identify those who need early intervention. As a result, Minnehaha staff are training in a new universal screener called Fastbridge. We are confident that the insights from this screener will be key in guiding our instruction and tracking our students’ academic journeys .

Our district is also embedding the Minnesota Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MnMTSS) framework. MTSS helps schools use assessment data to identify students needing targeted interventions. A dedicated team meets monthly to develop the processes for implementation.

Our staff is committed to mastering new systems and best practices to ensure that every student succeeds.

Finally, I'm excited to announce that we are completing our construction project! The final touches are being added in the last two classrooms, with just a few adjustments left. We will celebrate the renovation's completion soon. While we finalize the details, we will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house to showcase the improvements to our building.

Stay warm, and let’s make this school year a success!

January Teacher Spotlight~Darci Claflin~ 1st Grade Teacher!

I am a lifelong resident of Two Harbors. I live here with my husband, Luke, and our two children, Ryan and Calli. I graduated from Two Harbors High School, attended the University of Minnesota Duluth for my degree in Elementary Education, then obtained my Master’s degree in Education from St. Scholastica. I have worked in all three buildings within our district. In my spare time I love to read, play games (especially Cribbage), cook/bake, run, enjoy the sunshine (on a beach), travel, but most of all, I love to spend time with my family and friends.

Why did you choose teaching as a career?

I love to help people learn and be successful! It is so exciting to watch a person master new skills and become more confident in their abilities. I am passionate about reading and love sharing that passion with others. I enjoy helping people learn to read, find books that ignite their desire to read, and become more confident readers. It is a privilege to be a piece in another person’s learning journey.

What do you like about the Minnehaha?

I love the friendships that I have with staff members at the Minnehaha! I also love being able to teach at a school that I attended as a student and where I later did my student teaching. I really enjoy working with the students and making connections with them!