May 25, 2016 Vol. 1, Issue 15

Seventh Grader Writes Lyrics to Song for West Junior High Choir to Perform The art of songwriting is something that many people attempt, but only a talented few can really master. For Shakopee West Junior High seventh grader Nicole Sly, songwriting is a relatively new hobby, but one she can already claim success in. Challenged by her music teachers – Mrs. Katie Irvin and Mr. Gary Butler – Sly wrote lyrics to a song titled “Music is the Key”. Within a matter of months, the lyrics were not only set to music by a senior college student, but the song was then performed by the West Junior High Seventh Grade Choir on May 23rd. “During first semester I chose an elective class called Drop the Beat. We had an assignment to write a rap song and I was one of the first people to finish the song,” Sly said. “Mrs. Irvin told me that there was an opportunity to showcase my work if I was interested in writing a song for the choir. I told her I would give it a try. I wrote the first draft and then Mr. Butler and I worked on revising it.” Butler used his connections at St. Olaf College in Northfield to arrange for a senior composition major named Philip Biedenbender to put Sly’s song to music. “I’ve wanted to do this project for years, but I had never found the right student,” Butler said. “I explained the project to Philip and he was very excited to have this kind of experience where he could get experience writing for this age level.” Sly and Butler did some work on the song before Winter Break and then came back in January and put Story Continued on Page 2

Top: Nicole Sly and Mr. Gary Butler. Bottom: Sly outside of West Junior High.

 

 

Sly Writes “Music is the Key” Continued From Page 1 in a significant amount of work on the project before sending the song to Biedenbender in late January. “The number one thing about Nicole that I was most impressed with was her ability to look at what she had done and then go back and revise,” Butler said. “I’d give her some suggestions and she’d come back in a day or two and she’d have a new version and we went through that process over and over again. That kind of stick-to-itiveness is much more typical of a college age student. This is a first for me in my 33 years of teaching – it’s quite remarkable.” Sly says her passion for music started in fourth grade during music class with Mrs. Linda Ellison at Eagle Creek Elementary. “I remember playing the recorder in fourth grade and we had to put together a little composition. Mrs. Ellison told me she thought what I came up with was really good and I ended up performing that piece at the end of the year talent show.” Sly joined band in fifth grade and has played the flute in band ever since. “Like every teenager, I love music a lot. I listen to it every day,” Sly said. “With music, I feel like it’s a time for me to relax and just think about life in general. It just helps me sort out everything. It’s just a happy place for me. With this songwriting project, I’m happy to see something that I worked so hard on come to life.”

 “Music is the Key” Lyrics

Come with me to the magic behind the world, You and me, and ev’ryone you call free. Just open your mind. Such a wonderful find. Like a sweet mother’s lullaby, Just listen and be harmonized. Stuck to me; it’s real to me. It’s always there for me. It’s stuck to me; it’s real to me. It’s always there for me. What will I do? Music is the key. The world creates so much pressure, So many rules and expectations. But music is my refresher, My only pow’r and motivation. That sound, such an elevating rune. So enticing, so uplifting, I just swoon and go to the moon. It’s so comforting, so gifting. Music is a magical thing. It can change ev’rything. It’s the power of my soul, The only thing I have in control. Sometimes people can’t always hear it, But it’s still the key to our spirit. It’s all around the world. Ev’rything you see and hear. In ev’ry country to be heard, In ev’ry culture to be learned. Music can only make me stronger, Remind me who I want to be, Make me feel diff’rent, Yet I’m still me. I once was helpless, Not any longer! It comes to me like no other thing. It’s a mem’ry that rings for me to sing. I only need to hear it once, Then all of the sudden, it just comes. It’s stuck to me; it’s real to me. It’s always there for me. It’s stuck to me; it’s real to me. It’s always there for me. What will I do? Music is the key. Music is the key. Music is the key.

 

 

Jyoti Sinha Hired as Special Services Supervisor Jyoti Sinha has been hired as a Special Services Supervisor in the district, replacing Heidi Nistler who was recently named Early Childhood Supervisor. Jyoti was first hired in Shakopee in 2007. She has worked as a Social Worker and Special Services Facilitator at Eagle Creek Elementary and a Social Worker at Tokata Learning Center and Central Family Center. She is also a Non-violent Crisis Intervention (NVCI) trainer for the district. Jyoti completed her undergraduate and postgraduate work in India and has since earned her K-12 Principal License from Hamline University. She is currently working on her Special Education Directors License from Hamline.

“I am excited to be given the opportunity to continue to serve Shakopee Public Schools in a leadership role,” Sinha said. “I’m looking forward to collaborating with a great team of educators to serve students with special needs in our district and empower staff and parents to make a difference in our students’ lives.

Today is Last Day to Buy Tickets For June 3 Recognition and Retiree Celebration

Today, Wednesday, May 25 is the last day that district staff can purchase tickets for the Rock Star Recognition and Retiree Celebration on June 3 at Canterbury Park. Tickets can be purchased at your school’s office or from Cindy Gregory in the District Office. Adults are $12 and children 12 and under are $5. We will be recognizing a number of Staff of the Year honorees, our retirees, as well as our five Minnesota Department of Education Teacher of the Year Candidates. The event will begin at 3:30 p.m. A dinner buffet will be available from 4-6 p.m. The celebration program will start at 4:45 p.m. Live racing begins at 6:30 p.m.

 

 

Two Tweets Not on … By Dave Orlowsky

Teaching is challenging, rewarding, frustrating, enjoyable, difficult, fun, exciting, intense, a calling, active, creative, inspiring, nurturing, persevering, compassionating, encompassing, and at times…exhausting! Enjoy the summer J Thanks for an excellent year!

Stepping Stones Preschool Registration Underway

Registration is now underway for Stepping Stones Preschool for the fall of 2016. Half day and full day programming is available for children that are three or four years old as of September 1, 2016. Parents can choose between two, three and five day options. Wrap-around childcare is also available from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., before and after a child’s preschool class. Registration takes place at the Welcome Center at the District Office (1200 Town Square), while all programming takes place at Central Family Center in downtown Shakopee (505 Holmes Street South). More information about registering for Stepping Stones Preschool is available online at shakopee.k12.mn.us/Page/7331. Questions can be directed to Kathy Savage at 952-496-5013 or ksavage@shakopee.k12.mn.us.

Pearson Students Raise Money to Plant Flowers Two students on the Explorer Team at Pearson Sixth Grade Center recently sold granola bars during lunch to raise money to purchase flowers. The students then recruited a larger group of students to help with the planting of the flowers. The students were motivated by their love for nature and wanted to help brighten up the Pearson garden in front of the building.

 

 

Track & Field Day at Red Oak Elementary

Pearson Students Visit Bookstore on Field Trip Pearson Sixth Grade Center students in Mrs. Saine’s class recently took a field trip to the Wild Rumpus, an independent bookstore in Minneapolis to get a jumpstart on their summer reading.

 

 

West Holds MCA Madness Championship Assembly

West Junior High recently held its MCA Madness Championship Assembly on May 20. The assembly was a culminating event after weeks of pool play and a bracketed tournament between 7th and 8th grade advisory groups. The tournament involves answering MCA test style questions and then competing in some sort of game. The championship round between Tera Schneider’s advisory group and Matt Erdman’s advisory group involved students making baskets in the gym after correctly answering questions. In the end, it was Mrs. Schenider’s group that came out victorious!

 

 

The River Valley YMCA provides Before and After Care for children

who attend Shakopee 720 Elementary schools.

50% OFF REGULAR BEFORE AND AFTER CARE:As part of our committed partnership, the YMCA is offering district

employees 50% off the regular before and after care school fees.

BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL AGE CARELimited spots available - Register earlyRegister online at ymcamn.orgParent Handbook - This indispensable guide for parents includes important

information about our Before and After School Age Care program. The Parent

Handbook is available online at ymcamn.org or by calling

612-230-9622 for a copy.

3-session Minimum - You must register your child for at least 3 sessions

per week. You may combine Before and After Care sessions to meet the

minimum. Parents can manage their days of use up to Monday one week

prior to the week of service by going online.

Add Sessions- Parents may go online to add sessions for an additional

session up to Monday one week prior to the week of service. After that time,

the fee for adding sessions is $2 per session and must be registered through

our Customer Service Center.

Any permanent change to your schedule, requires written notice to the

Customer Service Center by Monday, 1 week prior to week of service.

Questions or Concerns- please contact the Customer Service Center at

612-230-9622 or ymcamn.org/custhelp

One session = one before-school time period or after-school time

period. A 3-session minimum is required. The 3-session minimum

can be reached by combining a.m. and/or p.m. sessions.

There is a $50 registration fee, however the Y will waive this fee

for any registrations received on or before September 12, 2016.

You must pay the registration fee at the time of registration.

Speak to your site director to have your fee applied to your bal-

ance if registering by September 12, 2016

EMPLOYEE SPECIAL RATE REGISTRATIONRegister online at ymcamn.org

It is the employee’s responsibility to get approval and register for the

employee discount rate. The YMCA will not back date payments of regular

care. Employees should register online. Employees requesting the discount

rate must contact the site director at their location with documentation of

their employment for approval.

Hours for Y School Age Care: Before School Care: 6:15 a.m. – School Start

After School Care: School End – 6:15 p.m.

Registration for Regular Y School Age Care is available online.

DROP-IN CAREThe Y will also provide ISD 720 staff a Drop-in Care option. Registration

information must be on file with the YMCA in advance. To use Drop-in Care, a parent or guardian signature is required at the time of drop off and

pick up at the site. Please leave time to fill out paperwork at the time of drop off. Drop-in care rate is $11.50 per session. Payment must be made

at the time of use.

Hours and Cost for Drop-in Care: Before School Care: 6:15 a.m. – School Start: $11.50

After School Care: School End – 6:15 p.m.: $11.50

Payment due day of care.

SCHOOL RELEASE DAYS AND HOLIDAY CARE School Release Day program is also available during the

school year. Separate registration is required.

This program is at the full rate.

Hours for School Release Day and Holiday Care:6:15 a.m. - 6:15 p.m.

LEARN GROW THRIVE

SCHOOL AGE CARE SPECIAL OFFER

16-SAC06_ISD720

ISD 720 DISTRICT EMPLOYEES

For Grades K – 5

YMCA BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE

2016-17

 

 

Volunteers Sought for June 4 Event Event organizers are looking for volunteers to help at the Celebration of Children Run on Saturday, June 4. Volunteers will help with road safety during the 10k run. Volunteers will be asked to check in at Sun Path Elementary at 7:30 a.m. and will be done by 9 a.m. Contact Jennifer Fernholz at 952-496-5996 or jfernhol@shakopee.k12.mn.us if you are interested.

 

 

 

 

May is Better Speech & Hearing Month