Personalizing education

Talking about our reputation
When parents think of Mounds View Public Schools, what key quality comes to mind first? For what are we best known? This month, nearly 1,000 visitors logged into the District's chatroom to read comments to this question, while 281 people participated in an online survey. Major findings include:

* Parents believe quality teachers, safe schools and a caring/respectful environment are among the most important characteristics a school district should offer.

* For those characteristics, parents listed performance satisfaction rates of 89% for the District's teachers, 94% for providing safe schools and 86% for creating caring/respectful schools.

* Parents listed quality teachers, academic excellence and academic opportunities as the top three reasons their families are attending Mounds View Public Schools.

District administrators and School Board members have reviewed the information which will help inform future communications and marketing efforts. To download a copy of the survey summary results, visit here. To review the chatroom comments, visit www.moundsviewschools.org/chat.asp and find the archived "District reputation" link on the right.


Play ball
After eight years of off-site games, the Mounds View High School baseball team now enjoys the home field advantage. On April 25, the Mustangs will dedicate their new on-campus field shortly before a 1 p.m. game against the Irondale Knights. The new baseball field features a demountable outfield fence. Capital dollars, which by law cannot be used for classroom funding, supported a majority of the $170,000 facility. Boosters are fundraising to cover other improvements. Until now, the Mustangs were the only baseball team in the metro without a home field. The baseball field is the final realization from a series of recommendations made by a 2002 athletic facilities task force.


SEEing savings
The District has avoided more than $200,000 in energy costs since joining the Schools for Energy Efficiency (SEE) program this school year. Monitoring of energy use at 14 District sites began in July, and energy analysis reports for the first and second quarters show $200,163 in energy savings from July 2008 to December 2008. This cost avoidance reflects a 13 percent reduction in energy use during the first six months of monitoring. Savings were measured by comparing energy used in the months of July through December of 2007 to energy used in July through December of 2008. For details, please visit the News page at www.moundsviewschools.org. 



Week of the Young
In celebration of the Week of the Young Child (April 19 - 25), the District recognizes young children, their parents and teachers and all of those who make a difference in young children's lives. Early Childhood Family Education offers a variety of tips parents can use to encourage their children's emotional development at home, as well as a list of inexpensive family friendly places where children have opportunities to cooperate and solve problems through play. To download this resource for early emotional development visit here.


Spring musicals
Mounds View High School's Drama Club will present Disney's Beauty and the Beast beginning April 23. Performances will take place in the school's auditorium on April 23 (7:30 p.m.), April 24 (7:30 p.m.), April 25 (2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.), May 1 (7:30 p.m.) and May 2 (2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.). In-Person ticket sales start April 17th at Mounds View High School in the Commons Area from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. M,W,F and at the door one hour prior to each performance ($8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors). To order tickets, please visit www.moundsviewschools.org/moundsview/athletics-activities/drama/Tickets.pdf.
 
Irondale High School's Drama Club will present The Man Who Came to Dinner beginning April 30. Performances will take place in the school's auditorium on April 30, May 1 and May 2 at 7 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door ($9 for adults and $6 for students and seniors).


District Art Show & Empty Bowls Dinner
You and your family are invited to two great events at Irondale High School on Monday, April 27.

The Empty Bowls Community Dinner is scheduled for 5-7 p.m. in the school's cafeteria. Dinner will include soup, bread, water and coffee for $5. Handmade ceramic bowls will also be sold for $5. All proceeds will go to a hunger-relief organization.

The Mounds View Public Schools Art Show Reception will take place from 5:30-8 p.m. in Irondale's front lobby. The show will feature more than 200 student artworks as well as face painting, live music and lots of fun. The show will run until Sunday, May 3.

Editor's note: Summer Programs
There is still time to register your student for the 2009 Super Summer program. Preview this year's offerings and download registration information by visiting the District's News page at www.moundsviewschools.org. To preview the District's Community Education Programs, click here.