During the 2023-2024 school year, APS collaborated with Native American families in the community to form a unique committee dedicated to intentionally meeting the needs of Indigenous students. According to Minnesota statutes, a district with more than ten students identifying as American Indian must form an American Indian Education Parent Advisory Committee (AIEPAC.)

Districts with more than twenty American Indian students are eligible to apply for American Indian Education Aid from the state. Based on the state ethnicity definitions, Austin currently has over 50 North American Indian students and qualified for $56,000 in state aid in 2023-2024. This funding must directly support the academic, social, and cultural needs of American Indian students in six areas, which include:

1. Post-secondary preparation
2. Academic achievement
3. Ensuring curriculum is relevant to the needs, interests, and cultural heritage of American Indian students
4. Providing positive reinforcement of the self-image of American Indian students
5. Developing intercultural awareness among pupils, parents, and staff
6. Supplementing (not supplanting) state and federal programs

The American Indian Education Parent Advisory Committee (AIEPAC) is a volunteer committee of parents and community members. They have met extensively this year to develop a plan to meet the needs of American Indian students and provide feedback to the district and the school board about how APS can be increasingly responsive to the unique needs of indigenous students, especially in curating an inclusive curriculum, ensuring all students have a safe learning environment free of stereotypes and microaggressions, and promoting awareness of current issues impacting Native American families. For more information about AIEPAC, please visit our website.

Sincerely,

Dr. Joey Page, Superintendent

The AEA Academic Scholarship is created and funded by the teachers of Austin Public Schools. As your teachers, we recognize firsthand the profound impact that education can have on shaping futures, and we are excited to support you in this next step of the journey. This scholarship opportunity is open to ALL students graduating from Austin High School who have been accepted into AND plan on attending a post-secondary program (college, university, tech school, culinary, etc.) for Fall 2024. Click here for more information.

The Packer Profile directly results from feedback from students, staff, and family stakeholder groups during the 2021-22 strategic planning process. The Packer Profile identifies the community's shared aspirations for students and what it means to be a graduate of APS. It reflects what our students, staff, and families desire each day for our students and supports their preparation to become college, career, and life-ready.

Review:

• The Packer Profile "Why" Video
• The Packer Profile "The What" Video

What's Happened This Year?

At the beginning of the school year, AHS Freshman started engaging in newly created lessons surrounding the Packer Profile. Those lessons have focused on student interests inventory, career pathway exploration, meaningful learning experiences, and registering for classes based on their area of interest. In a recent survey taken by our Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior classes that asked them to identify a career pathway, it is clear that these lessons impact engagement.

Many students are unaware of the different career options open to them, and this lack of knowledge can make it challenging for them to stay motivated when they don't have a clear goal in mind. By understanding their strengths and areas of interest, students better understand the why, can see a clear path to a career of their choice, and are more engaged in the process.

What's New For Next Year?

Starting in the fall of 2024, we're launching a new seminar for 9th graders to support the Packer Profile. Below are some frequently asked questions to help you get familiar with these changes.

Why did APS add a 9th-grade Packer Profile Seminar?

• Minnesota Statute 120B.125 requires all students beginning no later than 9th grade to have access to a Personal Learning Plan. This plan should include academic scheduling, career exploration, career and employment-related skills, community partnerships, college access, post-secondary training, and experiential learning opportunities. Austin Public School's Packer Profile aligns with this new statute.
• The nationwide transition from eighth to ninth grade is academically and socially challenging for students. Research shows ninth-grade success is among the strongest predictors of students graduating on time. Further studies have shown that students on track at the end of their 9th-grade year are as much as four times more likely to graduate from high school than their off-track peers.

• The Packer Profile seminar class will assist students transition to high school by identifying personally relevant career interests and aptitudes and helping students and their families develop a plan for postsecondary education or employment.

What is the purpose of the 9th Grade Packer Profile Seminar?

The seminar is designed to support students beginning their high school careers. The seminar will focus on providing support in academic, social, and soft skills (Packer Core Values) needed to succeed in high school and beyond. Students will learn about organization, time management, self-advocacy, study skills and learning strategies, digital literacy, creating a four-year plan, and developing personal aptitudes and learning strengths. Students will also focus on career exploration and ways to serve within their community in addition to building their Packer Portfolio.

How many credits can a Freshmen student earn?

Students can earn seven credits during their Freshman year.

What classes are Freshmen required to take?

Freshmen are required to take Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, and 9th Grade Packer Profile Seminar.

Is the new Packer Profile Seminar a semester or full-year course?

The new seminar is a full-year course. Upon successful completion of the course, students will receive 1.0 elective credit on their transcript.

Do Freshmen need to take Health and Physical Education during their ninth-grade year?

No. Students must complete one semester of Health and two semesters of Physical Education before graduating. Students can take these classes at any time during their four years at AHS.

Can a Freshmen take both music and world language?

Yes. A student must take their five required classes and then can take music and a world language. This can be accomplished by students taking Health and Physical Education in grades 10-12.

If you have any questions, please email or call 507-460-1800.

The Minnesota Dream Act, the state's financial aid application for students with undocumented status, is now available for students to complete. College-bound students who plan to attend college or career school during the 2024-25 school year should complete the 2024-25 MN Dream Act. Like the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the application must be completed each academic year that the student is enrolled in college.

Students who complete the MN Dream Act are eligible for state-based financial aid, including the Minnesota State Grant and North Star Promise Scholarship, if they meet state residency requirements. Students can also receive in-state resident tuition rates and privately funded financial aid at Minnesota public colleges and universities.

It's time for another episode of #PackerCast! This month, we're talking to Southgate Elementary School Administrative Assistant Kellie Humphress. Check it out!

On Friday morning, the Southeast Minnesota Youth Orchestra (SEMYO) visited Austin High School to share this year's show, "Ports of Call". The show featured the world premiere of AHS student Blake Zimmerli's Alpenglow, which won this year's inaugural SEMYO Polaris Composition Prize. Congratulations!

Be sure to check out the performance at the link below!

Did you know Austin residents and staff can attend the Hormel Foundation Gifted and Talented Symposium for free? That's three full days of keynotes, learning, food, and fun, all for no cost. All the details are available here!

The Project Graduation celebration has been held annually since 1989. The event allows AHS, AOA, ALC, and Pacelli SENIORS to celebrate with each other in a safe and fun environment. This year's Project Grad will be held at Austin High School on May 31 following graduation. The event takes many volunteers on the night of the event and up to May 31.

Parents do not have to have a senior to be involved; volunteering time when students are in 9th-11th grade helps to ensure the celebration will continue when their children are seniors. Parents of seniors are welcome to help; they will see firsthand the fun experiences their seniors have with friends.

Ways to get involved include helping deliver donation request letters/donations, chairing an event/space at the party, or signing up to work a shift that night.

Next meeting dates:

• Wednesday, March 27
• Wednesday, April 24

All meetings are scheduled for 5:30 pm in the MacPhail Recital Hall. If you can't attend but want to be involved, please contact co-chairs: Monica Lillis (641-295-0045 (text or call) or Kathy Ewing.

• 8 common questions new parents ask about vitamin K
• Building resilience: 9 ways to tame anxiety
• Know your numbers: What is your heart rate?

Are you an alumnus of Austin Public Schools? If so, we'd love to hear from you! We're excited to hear about your accomplishments and are eager to share your successes and advice with our current students, families, and the Austin community.

All you need to do is take a minute to answer a few quick questions at https://www.austin.k12.mn.us/alumni-spotlight.

Thanks, and we look forward to hearing all your wonderful stories!

At Austin Public Schools, our mission is to inspire, empower, and accelerate every one of our learners, and we know that the only way for us to reach this goal is through the efforts of all our incredibly hard-working staff.

In this week’s Staff Spotlight, we’re highlighting IJ Holton Intermediate School Language Arts teacher Michelle Swank.

"Mrs. Swank shows a great level of care for her students and a passion for teaching. She ignites [students’] interest in reading with her thoughtful book suggestions."

Congratulations!

If you’d like to nominate an outstanding Austin Public Schools staff member for our weekly Staff Spotlight, please take a moment to fill out the form at https://www.austin.k12.mn.us/district-resources/staff-spotlight. It only takes a minute and can truly make someone’s day. Thanks!

• Helping students to learn and grow
• House education committee hears Walz policy bill that would bar book bans in Minnesota public schools, libraries
• Schools in one state might get big incentives to ban cellphones

APS offers a wide range of student activities, including competitive athletics, intramurals, academic clubs, fine arts, and performing arts. View schedules and learn more here.

The school district strongly encourages anyone interested to apply to join our teams. Reasonable accommodations are available to access job openings or apply for a job. Click here to learn more.

You can review previous issues here.