Crisis planning continues Crisis Response Team members from both the high school and elementary school received training from staff at MacNeil Environmental Thursday, Nov. 6. MacNeil is the company the district has contracted with to develop a crisis response manual. Roles and responsibilities were defined during the training. Additional details on what to consider in responding to a disaster or crisis was also provided. Getting a large group of people up-to-date on what is expected of them in an emergency situation is a big task. A great deal of thanks is extended to those who were present. Information gathered from the training will be used at the high school and elementary in coming days as we continue to prepare students and staff for safety practices in the schools. Parents can expect a letter outlining some of the things they should consider in the event of an emergency. New academic standards and senior credits As most of you are aware, the Minnesota legislature repealed the Profile of Learning last summer and has since replaced it with new Minnesota Academic Standards. Some of the new standards have been adopted and others are still being written. The class of 2008 is the first group of students that will be required to graduate under the new system. School districts will be in a time of transition until then. Curriculum leaders for the district are in the process of creating this transition plan for the classes of 2005-2008. So as not to disrupt the requirements for our current seniors, the expectation will be that all seniors pass the credits and standards present when they signed up for classes last spring. One change taking place, however, is that the standards will not be marked separately from grades given for the classes in which they are offered. Teachers will embed the standard work into the regular grading of their class material. That means that if a student passes a class with a standard in place, he or she has passed the standard. Parents of seniors should have received a note from Mr. Grommesh about the credits and standards required, and any classes or standards that their child may have not earned. Students who do not meet these requirements put themselves at risk of not graduating. If you have questions or concerns please, call Mr. Grom-mesh at (320) 398-7700 ext. 320. New resource officers and canine searches Kimball Public Schools and the Kimball Police Department have partnered to offer resource officers at the schools. Using money set aside for violence prevention, the district is paying for officers from the Kimball Police Department to be in the school for several hours a week. This service had previously been provided by the Stearns County Sheriff’s department, but with budget cuts and reconfiguring of deputy road time, those services are no longer available. Officer Brian Stiles and Chief Todd Rohloff have been present in the halls and the cafeteria. The program allows students to ask questions and get to know the officers. It also helps to provide a level of increased security in the buildings. Students and parents should be aware that, in an effort to help ensure that our school and grounds are free of illegal chemicals, random canine searches will take place both inside the building and through the parking lots. Community calendars available at high school The high school recently received a new bundle of the Kimball Community Calendars that T.A.G. put together and mailed this summer. If you missed the mailing or would like an additional copy, stop by the high school office. Weather-related closings Remember that all emergency closings, late starts and early dismissals are called into the Cub Line immediately after a decision to change the hours of operation is made. Call (320) 398-INFO. Calendar of events November 12. Late start – classes begin at 10:25 p.m. November 17. Girls’ basketball practices begin. November 24. Boys’ basketball and wrestling practices begin. December 8. T.A.G. meeting. December 13. Holiday Ball for grades 9-12. December 15, 7:30 p.m. Band and choir winter concert. January 13-14. Seventh-grade MCA testing. January 27. Tenth-grade writing BST. February 3-5. Eighth-grade BST test days. March 9. Tenth-grade MCA reading test. March 10. Eleventh-grade MCA math test. April 17. Prom (note date change). May 27, 7:30 p.m. Graduation ceremony.
