Weekly Newsletter
March 8, 2024
Dear families,
This week was a very busy one, as we focused on efforts within the district as well as more broadly on behalf of Duluth.
For the 2024 Duluth and St. Louis County Days this week, a group of teacher leaders, school board members and administrators joined together at the capitol as we advocated with our lawmakers for additional school funding in a variety of areas. The Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce, with whom I serve as a board member, did a great job of advocacy. While there, we advocated with our lawmakers regarding many of the things that we are also seeking through our May 14th referendum, such as updating our technology and curriculum and Career and Technical Education.
Today, I also had the opportunity to read to our students for I Love Reading Day at Laura MacArthur Elementary and then assisted in a class with a guest teacher. While helping a first grade friend named Emma, she drew a picture and asked me to give it to my mother. It was perfect, because I will be heading to northern Michigan tonight to celebrate my mom’s 80th birthday! Thanks for making her day a little more special.
Spending time in the community advocating for our students, staff and families can be fulfilling, but nothing fills your heart more than working with our amazing students. I hope that each of you enjoys the weekend as our weather begins to get even warmer. And don’t forget to change your clocks!
With appreciation and gratitude,
John Magas
Superintendent
The “AEOP Veterans Appreciation Challenge,” a collaboration between the Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) and Future Engineers, announced the 20 finalists with the top 3D pin designs on Thursday. Among those finalists was Duluth East senior Caleb Hassebrock for his pin design called "Honoring Heroes."
This is what Caleb wrote about the pin he submitted:
"This patch was designed with the intent of thanking our veterans. I started off with the basic design and decided to make it the shape of a badge. The badge represents a shield for defending our country and the people within it. I chose a flag background to symbolize our independence and freedom that the heroes of America have fought for. The plane symbolizes the Air Force for protecting the night skies while America sleeps peacefully. The tank symbolizes the Army for their service protecting the land of the free. The ship symbolizes the Navy with their service of protecting our nation's waters. This 'Honoring Heroes' patch is my heartfelt thank you to our veterans. It’s a small tribute to those who selflessly served our country, ensuring its honor and safety. Thank you for your service and sacrifices for this country"
Students from grades four through 12 across the nation showcased their ingenuity and engineering ability by crafting 3D pins to express gratitude to U.S. military veterans. Previously the “We ♥ Veterans Pin Design Challenge,” this program encourages students to express their creativity and build their 3D design skills.
The top 10 finalists in each grade-level category, fourth-eighth and ninth-12th, will get their designs 3D printed, glued to pin backs, and handed out to veterans who visit the National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio, for the annual Memorial Day event. Finalists will also receive five prints of their design and a $100 gift card toward a professional 3D print. You can view the full submission gallery here.
There will be one winner from each grade band; the two national winners will be announced on April 3. The challenge winners will earn a trip for two to Columbus, OH, to attend a special event on Memorial Day at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum. Each winner will also receive a 3D printer donated to the U.S. school, library, or organization of their choice.
Congratulations and good luck Caleb!
March is MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH across the nation. During this month the music studio and cafeteria will be visited by local musicians performing for our students, bringing their wealth of knowledge in practicing and performing music.
Music is such an important part of the educational process. We study math (time signatures, division of beats), science (pitch, vibration), language arts (lyrical content and interpretation), and expressing who we are and what we feel. Music can have a positive effect on self-esteem, social skills, auditory processing, cognitive ability, fine motor skills, linguistic understanding, and so much more. Please share music with your student.
Talk about songs that move you, performances you have seen. Take them to music events, watch musicals and live performances, encourage them to play an instrument, join a chorus, or start a band!
If you would like to share your love of music with students at Congdon, either in the classroom or in the cafeteria, please contact Mr. G at kenneth.garland@isd709.org
Greetings,
With the end of DNA’s first competition at the Double DECCer event held at the DECC in Duluth, Minnesota, they would like to thank all of their supporters. In the Lake Superior Regional, they placed 21st out of the 55 teams attending, were the first pick of Alliance 5, made it to the semifinals, and won the Innovation in Control Award.
The Innovation in Control Award, “Celebrates an innovative control system or application of control components – electrical, mechanical or software – to provide unique machine functions.” This was the first award the team ever won back in 2015 at the LSR regional. You can check out their trophy cabinet near the FabLab in Denfeld High School, which now has fifteen awards from the twelve years they have been a team.
We are very excited to begin the 2024 build season! In order to keep up with our progress, make sure to check out our social media sites.
- Facebook: Denfeld Nation Automation 4009
- Website: https://denfeldrobotics4009.org/
- Instagram: @dna4009
Thank you again for your support this year!
Boys and girls youth lacrosse registration is now open for the 2024 season.
Want to learn more about the program and lacrosse? Visit www.dwylax.com or follow the program on Instagram at @DWYLAX or Facebook at www.facebook.com/DWYLAX
Get registered with Duluth Adult Education and we will connect you with YES DULUTH to see if you are eligible for their program that pays you to study!
We also offer supports in the following areas:
- Childcare
- Bus passes
- Chromebook checkout
- Computer skill development
Register at dae.isd709.org
