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Dear students and parents,

I would like to update you as to Humboldt’s direction in the short and long-term, and provide you with information for the upcoming school year.  As you know, Humboldt Junior High School was required to restructure as a result of not making Adequately Yearly Progress (AYP) as measured by the MCA-II exams.  Humboldt Senior High School also has not made AYP, but was at a different “stage” on the AYP continuum.  Humboldt Senior moved ahead on the AYP “stages” and restructured with Humboldt Junior, and will be re-opening as a 7-12^th grade combined Humboldt campus within the senior high building.  We will have an Environmental Studies/College and Career Prep focus infused throughout our curriculum.  The Humboldt Junior High building will not be used during the 2009-10 school year; all students will have classes in the senior high building.

One of the strengths of Humboldt is our size.  We’ll have grades 7-12 within the high school building, serving approximately 850 students.  Intentionally having approximately 130 students per grade level maintains a personal climate with all the benefits of a large school.  Humboldt will continue to have outstanding athletic, fine arts, and rigorous academic course offerings.  

As a result of parent, student, staff and community input, Humboldt chose to restructure with a combined Environmental Studies and College and Career Prep theme.  All Humboldt staff are receiving professional development (PD) this summer.  We have already conducted five days of PD focusing on the river and garden themes (see next paragraph for more details on the themes).  We will have five additional days this summer which will focus on infusing AVID (Advancement via Individual Determination) strategies across the curriculum, and additional environmental studies PD. 

When students return in the fall we will have a ‘new Humboldt’.  Approximately one-third of the staff will be new (a complete staffing list is at the end of this article), the building will look different on the inside and out, and the classes will use more inquiry-based instructional techniques.  Inquiry-based learning involves using hands-on, real world activities, and connecting these activities to their academics.  We also will have a different theme each quarter, and AVID strategies infused throughout the year.  The themes which students will review in depth each quarter are:  the river, energy and transportation, ecosystems and biomes, and gardens and agriculture.  Every student will also receive a three-inch three ring binder to assist with utilizing AVID organizational strategies.  My goal is for Humboldt to become an AVID National Demonstration Site.  Students who are utilizing AVID strategies are proven to have greater academic success. 

Students should bring $5 to purchase a school supply kit which will include:  binders (3 inch binder & mesh binder pocket), binder envelopes, poly folders, sheet protectors, comp book 3X3 self stick notes, eraser, pencil sharpener, pencils, highlighters, pens, planner/calendar.

Humboldt’s classes will utilize environmental studies themes and AVID strategies.  We will continue to offer a comprehensive selection of courses including a world class culinary arts program, an established fine arts program, the JROTC program, Advanced Placement classes, College In  the Schools programs, as well as a new agriculture program,. 

The 2009-10 school day begins at 7:30 AM on September 8, 2009.  School ends at 2:00 PM, buses depart at 2:07 PM.  Breakfast is served from 7:00-7:25 AM daily.  Breakfast is free to all students.  The full price of lunch is $2.00 and the reduced lunch cost is 40 cents.  Please complete a free/reduced lunch application prior to the start of school.  Applications were mailed in a district mailing or they are available on-line at http://www.sppscafe.org/Free_Reduced_Application.html   

We will have an Open House on September 3, 2009 from 3:30-6:30 PM. Students will receive their schedules, lunch PIN, and information on athletics, clubs, college access, and other student support programs, all while meeting some fellow students and staff members.  This is an informal event in which you will go table to table to receive information; there will not be a formal program.  Water and light snack are provided.

Humboldt will be opening our doors for our first annual “River Rendezvous” held October 10^th from 8-noon.  We’ll have the opportunity to showcase student work while showing off the new Humboldt.  We’re trying to reflect our new theme in the classroom and beyond.  Please come and see our changes and help us create traditions at the new Humboldt.

Parents are expected to access Parent Portal to receive up-to-date academic information at https://ereport.spps.org/campus/portal/stpaul.jsp .   Parents also are expected to engage and support their child’s schooling by attending parent conferences, parent nights, and extra-curricular events.  Parents may also volunteer with our Parent Teacher Organization and Site Council.  You are also welcome to volunteer in classrooms, the library, at athletic events, or in the main office.  Your support will make us even stronger.

Below are important dates for your reference:

Open House:  September 3^rd from 3:30-6:30 PM

First day of school:  September 8^th at 7:30 AM

Parent Teacher Organization Meeting:  September 14^th from 5:30-7:00 PM

Site Council Meeting:  September 21^st from 6:00-8:00 PM

Underclass Picture Day:  September 25^th

Early Release Day:  September 30^th at noon

Homecoming Week:  October 5^th – 9^th

River Rendezvous Festival:  October 10^th from 8:00 AM-noon

Parent Teacher Conferences:  October 13^th from 4:00-7:00 PM.

Teacher Convention, No School:  October 15^th and 16^th

Staff Development day, No School:  October 23^rd

Early Release Day:  November 4^th at noon

Staff Development day, no school:  November 13^th

Thanksgiving break:  November 26^th and 27^th

Early Release day:  December 2^nd at noon

Parent Teacher Conferences: December 17^th 4:00-7:00 PM

Winter Break/no school:  December 23^rd – January 3^rd

MLK Jr Day/No School:  January 18^th

End of 2^nd quarter:  January 28^th

Grade reporting day/No School:  January 29^th

President’s Day/No School:  February 15^th

Parent Teacher Conferences:  March 11^th 4:00-7:00 PM

Spring Break:  March 27^th – April 4^th

Staff Development day/No School:  April 9^th

Early Release Day:  April 28^th at noon

Parent Teacher Conferences:  May 13^th 4:00-7:00 PM

Memorial Day/No School:  May 31^st

Graduation:  Monday, June 7^th at 8:00 PM

Last Day of School:  June 11^th

Summer School Begins:  June 21^st

As a parent, I am aware you may have reservations about having your 7^th grade child going to school with a high school senior.  Again, this is where our size is our advantage; we are able to nurture our younger students as they grow into young adults, and create a ‘growing’ community.  We plan to have separate junior and senior high courses with the exceptions of world languages and music, where we will have skill based classes (i.e. beginning band, advanced band).  Transitions are difficult for students too, therefore remaining a part of the Humboldt family from grades 7-12 provides a stable nurturing foundation as our students mature through their formative years.  Thanks for trusting us.  You’ll be pleased with our results!

Finally, as you know we’ve had significant staff changes with our re-structuring; below is our new staff:

Assistant Principal:                                Gina Moore

Agriculture Teacher:                              Julie Ketterling

Career Resource Center Asst:               Colette Johnson-Gonzales

DH/H Teachers:                                   Vin Allia, Lisa Dembouski, Marcia Passi

Behavior Specialists:                              Melvin Baker, Deb Taipale

English Teachers:                                  Shoua Moua, Jennifer Schultz, Eric Swan

ELL Teachers:                                      Deb Armstrong, Jennifer Williams

ISS Asst:                                              Marjorie Hardy;

Math Teachers:                                     John Benda, Randy Benson, Anna Heikenen, Jenny Madden

Music, Choir/Piano Teacher:                  Barbara Lawrence-Windholtz

Music, Instrumental Teacher:                 Kari Howard

Nurse:                                                  Terri Lundquist

Phy ed/Health Teacher:                         Deb Hanson

Science Teachers:                                 Doug Humes, John LeCompte, Josh MacLachlan, Joni Nordberg, Nancy Orr

Social Studies Teachers:                        Melissa Chaffee, Colleen Hageman, Justin Hudalla

Social Worker:                                       Katie Vaudreuil

Spanish Teacher:                                   Michelle Monogue

Special Education Teachers:                   Lisa Carrigan, Jan Crumpton, Melissa Kubousek, Mary Moore

Technology Teachers:                            James Iliff, John Iverson

Title I/Community Liaison:                     Chris Fischer

Urban Teacher Ed Coor:                        Diane Driscoll, Joan Rourke.

Thank you for choosing to send your child to Humboldt!  If you have any questions please give me a call at 651.293.8600 ext. 1017 or ext. 1016 to set up a meeting.

Sincerely,

Mike Sodomka

Principal

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