Red Wing Public Schools ISD 256

Burnside art teacher Leah Harris poses with students whose self-portraits are ready to join the school's outdoor gallery.

Burnside Elementary students’ artwork is on full display all year, through permanent and temporary exhibitions. Right now, people don’t have to enter the building to see the latest showcase: Fence pickets have become canvases.

Leah Harris, a veteran art teacher of six years with Red Wing Public Schools and five elsewhere, is the mastermind behind the display. The artworks are self-portraits. This time, she had Burnside teachers represent themselves, too.

Who sparked your imagination to become an art teacher?

My elementary and high school art teachers always felt like family to me. They both definitely inspired me to want to be like them. I had a connection with them that I didn't have with other teachers because we were able to talk about more personal experiences through art.

How do you engage children and boost confidence?

I try to give the kids knowledge of techniques and elements of art and then I let them run with their own ideas. I try to give them endless opportunities to express their own ideas in their artwork.

If you could meet one educator or artist in history, who would it be?

I would love to meet Vincent Van Gogh. I just think it would be amazing to talk to him about his emotions behind his artwork.

What is your favorite thing about your job?

My favorite thing about my job is being able to get to know ALL of the students in the school. I love being able to help them express their interests and feelings through art, and seeing them progress over the years.

How do you spend your free time outside of school?

Outside of school I like to spend time with my husband, and two young children. I like to spend as much time as possible outside with them. We like to go camping in the summers and ice skating in the winters. I also like to make my own art. I have been working with glass and making different types of mosaics.

Student and staff portraits adorn both sides of the fence that separates the parent drop-off and bus parking areas at Burnside Elementary School.

Yesterday our Red Wing High School Black Student Union and Hispanic Students United clubs joined together for a field trip to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Current exhibits include “José María Velasco: A View of Mexico," featuring one of the Americas' greatest 19th-century landscape painters. Photography, sculpture, woodworking and abstract art also are in the spotlights.

CALENDAR

Wednesday-Friday, Nov. 26-28: No school.

Wednesday, Dec. 3: Club Day.

IMPORTANT LINKS AND INFORMATION

RWHS Student Newsletter Nov. 24-25

RWHS Office hours: 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays

Phone: 651-385-4700

Webpages: Red Wing High School and and Class of 2026

CALENDAR

Wednesday-Friday, Nov. 26-28: No school.

IMPORTANT LINKS AND INFORMATION

Webpages: Tower View and Class of 2026

Tower View Office hours: 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Phone: 651-388-8963

TWIN BLUFF MIDDLE SCHOOL CALENDAR

Tuesday, Nov. 25: Trimester 1 ends.

Wednesday-Friday, Nov. 26-28: No school.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND LINKS

Twin Bluff Newsletter: November

Office hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Phone: 651-385-4530

Twin Bluff webpage

"United We Sing, United in Song!" was the theme of the fourth-grade concerts this past week. The programs began with "United We Sing" by T. Jennings and concluded with "End Your Day With a Song" -- with eight other songs in between. Many tunes touched on positive attributes of character, mindfulness and thinking.

BURNSIDE CALENDAR

Tuesday, Nov. 25: Grade 2 to Minnesota Zoo.

Wednesday-Friday, Nov. 26-28: No school.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND LINKS

Burnside Newsletter: November

Student hours: 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Attendance: 651-385-4715 or: BESattendance@rwps.org

Phone: 651-385-4700

Kids Junction: 651-385-4709

Webpage: Burnside Elementary School

First graders had an amazing time at the Minnesota Children’s Museum. exploring, learning, and laughing with classmates. This opportunity was made possible through a grant from the Red Wing Public Schools Foundation. The RWPSF was established in 1995 to enhance the experience of Red Wing students and continues to do so because of generous donor support. To support the continuation of this and similar activities, please go to RedWingSchools.org.

SUNNYSIDE CALENDAR

Monday, Nov. 24: Kindergarten Grandparents' Day (Johnson, Marklevits, McDonnell, & Richardson).

Tuesday, Nov. 25: Kindergarten Grandparents' Day (Kelly, Plonsky, & Prigge).

Wednesday-Friday, Nov. 26-28: No school.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND LINKS

Sunnyside Newsletter: November.

Student hours: 7:45 a.m. to 2:20 p.m.

Attendance: 651-385-4580 or SESattendance@rwps.org

Phone: 651-385-4570

Kids Junction: 651-385-4587

Webpage: Sunnyside webpage

The 4s morning and afternoon class had fun reading "The 3 Little Pigs." They decorated the houses and then acted out the story.

COLVILL CALENDAR

Wednesday-Friday, Nov. 26-28: No school.

Thursday, Dec. 4: Early childhood screening by appointment. Call 651-385-8000.

Open gym, 5:30-7 p.m., registration required.

Friday, Dec. 5: Nurturing Nest, 10:30 a.m. to noon.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND LINKS

Office hours: 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Phone: 651-385-8000

Webpage: Colvill Family Center

Red Wing School Board members are one step closer to closing the financial books on fiscal year 2025 -- covering the 2024-2025 academic year. The annual RWPS Budget Publication Report 2025-2026 detailing figures for last year and the current status of the year is now available on the Finance & Operations webpage. (Or download the attachment below.)

Monday's meeting agenda includes a financial update as well as a Student & School Showcase and final approval of the new Policy 524.1: Responsible and Ethical Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence. The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24, in Red Wing High School room J110.

Find the full agenda on the BoardBook. The workshop is open to the public and will be live streamed.

The Thanksgiving break will run Wednesday-Friday, Nov. 26-28. Students will not have school those dates. All offices will be closed Thanksgiving Day and Friday. Hours on Wednesday will be:

District Office: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (regular hours)

Community Education: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (regular hours)

Twin Bluff Middle School: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Red Wing High School: 8 a.m. to noon.

Closed all three day:

• Burnside Elementary School
• Sunnyside Elementary School
• Colvill Family Center
• Tower View Alternative High School

We wish you a safe and enjoyable break.

DISTRICT CALENDAR

Monday, Nov. 24: School Board meeting, 5:30 p.m., Red Wing High School room J110.

Wednesday-Friday, Nov. 26-28: Thanksgiving break; no school.

IMPORTANT LINKS & INFORMATION:

District Office

2451 Eagle Ridge Drive

Red Wing, MN 55066

Office hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.

Phone: 651-385-4500

Website: www.rwps.org

UPCOMING YOUTH CLASSES

Tuesday, Nov. 25: Driver's Education Permit Test (Class D Knowledge Test).

Tuesday, Dec. 2: Crochet with a Buddy - Adult & Child Class.

Thursday, Dec 4: After School Floor Hockey, grades K-1.

Saturday, Dec. 6: Open Swim & Gym.

Friday, Dec 12: Transportation to Welch, ages 10+.

UPCOMING ADULT CLASSES

Thursday, Dec. 4: Watercolor Holiday Cards.

Friday, Dec. 5: Winter Wonderland Monster Cookies & Stuffed NYC Cookies Workshop!

IMPORTANT LINKS AND INFORMATION
Community Education webpage

Red Wing Community Education Facebook

Office hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.

Phone: 651-385-4565

Red Wing Public Schools strives to provide an innovating and meaningful educational experience that fosters curiosity; pursues and applies best practices; embraces diversity by respectfully engaging all students, families, and staff; and connects and partners with our community. We serve pre-K through grade 12.

Website: www.rwps.org
Location: 2451 Eagle Ridge Drive, Red Wing, MN, USA
Phone: (651) 385-4500