La Crescent-Hokah Public Schools -

La Crescent - Hokah Public Schools - COVID 19 Update Learning Model Changes for Grades 5-12 May 6, 2021 Dear Parents and Students, This letter is to let you know that after taking a 14-day pause from in-person learning, we are planning to restart in-person learning next Tuesday, May 11th. While the spread of COVID-19 between our students has not stopped, it has slowed. It will be important for all students, families, and staff to follow safety protocols to minimize the spread and to allow us to stay open until the end of this school year. Our COVID-19 response team will continue to be in consultation with the MN Department of Health and Houston County Public Health to monitor COVID-19 spread and our ability to stay open. Elementary students will continue their current learning model of in-person learning, which is subject to change at any time. If a student is in the middle of quarantine, they must fulfill the quarantine before coming back to school. Please work with our school nurse if you have questions on quarantine expectations. Middle and high school students (5-12) will return to in-person learning starting Tuesday, May 11th. Wednesdays will be a distance learning for all students, grades 5 - 12. The Seniors’ last day of school is Friday, May 21st. All activities may resume practice on Monday, May 10th, after school. Competitions may resume on May 11th. It is important for families to know that if your child feels any symptoms of being unwell, please keep your child home and consider having a COVID test. It is important to continue to practice physical distancing, wearing masks, staying home if you feel ill, and avoiding large gatherings of any kind to help control the spread. Help us to allow for the school to be concluded in this way. If you have concerns about your child attending school in person for fear of getting COVID for the remainder of the school year, please contact your child’s grade level office to choose the option of doing distance learning. Nutrition Department Update: The Nutrition Department will be sending a new sign-up link to follow for meals for distance learning. Please watch for that email if you’d like to order meals. If you have any questions, you can contact any of the administrators below to help you find answers to your questions. Sincerely, Kevin Cardille - Superintendent Steve Smith - Secondary Principal Josh Mallicoat - Assistant Principal / Activities Director Jeff Copp - Elementary Principal Lauren Dodson - School Nurse/Covid Director Beth Theede - Community Education Director

Thank you, Teachers, for all that you do!

The La Crescent Concert choir is proud to announce that half of the entrees into solo/ensemble contest achieved a superior ranking. Four other entries received high excellent rankings. In this year of covid restrictions, it was wonderful to sing once again and achieve such great results. Pictured below are the participants. Front row: Leo Delong, Abbey Spagl, Stephanie Le Seure, Dusty Grattan Back row: Kinlee Grattan, Allison Stotts, Nadeen Hill, Lillian Picha, Marlie Heichel, Eli McCool, Hayden Stegen NOT PICURED Mya Colbert, Jayden Giertych

La Crescent - Hokah Public Schools - COVID 19 Update Learning Model Changes for Grades 5-12 April 26, 2021 Dear Parents and Students, This letter is to inform you that the spread of COVID-19 is continuing through the high school and now the middle school. As a result, all 5th-12th graders will go to distance learning effective tomorrow, Tuesday, April 27, through at least Monday, May 10. All activities K - 12 are also closed during this time period. Activities and events scheduled for tonight, April 26, will still take place. Our COVID-19 response team will continue to be in consultation with the MN Department of Health and Houston County Public Health to identify a date to return to in-person and/or hybrid learning. We are hopeful this total pause will help to stop the spread so that we can finish out the school year either in person or hybrid and also be able to complete the spring sports season. Elementary students will continue their current learning model of in-person learning, which is subject to change at any time. Middle and high school students (5-12) will continue in distance learning through May 10. What will happen on May 11 will be determined and will be shared by Friday, May 7. We urge all families, as well as community members, to practice physical distancing, wearing masks, staying home if you feel ill, and avoiding large gatherings of any kind to help control the spread. Nutrition Department Update: The Nutrition Department will be sending a new sign-up link to follow for meals for distance learning. Please watch for that email if you’d like to order meals. If you have any questions, you can contact any of the administrators below to help you find answers to your questions. Sincerely, Kevin Cardille - Superintendent Steve Smith - Secondary Principal Josh Mallicoat - Assistant Principal / Activities Director Jeff Copp - Elementary Principal Lauren Dodson - School Nurse/Covid Director Beth Theede - Community Education Director

Dear Parents and Students, This letter is to inform you of our current COVID-19 status in the school district. As of 9 AM this morning, we have 17 positive COVID-19 cases. All are in grades 9-12, and these cases have been identified in the last four days. We had six confirmed cases this morning, and none of those students were part of the group of students who were quarantined earlier this week due to exposure. At this time, we have no positive cases in the elementary and middle schools. We have been working closely with the Minnesota Department of Health and the School Board regarding what is happening in our area with COVID. We are the hot spot of the County right now and asked for their recommendation as to what to do next for the safety of our students. Their recommendation is to move to distance learning immediately for 14 days in high school. The expectation is that we will stop the spread and be able to bring back students for the last couple of weeks of school. If you have received quarantine instruction from Mrs. Dodson this week, please continue those instructions until May 6th. Elementary and middle school students will continue their current learning model, which is subject to change at any time. High school students (9-12) will change to distance learning starting tomorrow, Friday, April 23, and continue through May 6. Students will come back starting Friday, May 7; likely, we will have students come back in a hybrid model on that day. More information regarding that will come out during the pause. Advanced Placement tests will be rescheduled for those students after the distance learning period. High School MCA Science tests will be rescheduled after the distance learning period. Prom will be rescheduled for May 22nd at the Event Center, and more information will follow. All graduation plans remain in place as is for the May 30th ceremony at this time. All outdoor activities for grades 9-12 will be allowed to continue at this time for students not on quarantine; There will be no open gyms. Teams will be expected to follow safe social distancing guidelines, including wearing masks and not sharing equipment. 7th and 8th-grade activities will still take place as much as possible. Coaches will be communicating with their athletes directly about practices. Nutrition Department Update: The Nutrition Department will offer meals to all distance learners, including 9-12 grade students during the distance learning period. Students/families will have the option to order meals for daily pick up OR a 5-Day meal pack that can be picked up on Friday afternoon. The first 5-day meal pack pick-up will be April 30th. Please look for additional details in the upcoming meal order forms. If you are interested in ordering meals for next week (4/26-4/30), please follow this link to place your order: https://lacrosse.co1.qualtrics.com/.../SV_5gAsYunLI9TaQ2W If you have any questions, you can contact any of the administrators below to help you find answers to your questions. Sincerely, Kevin Cardille, Superintendent Steve Smith, Secondary Principal Josh Mallicoat, Assistant Principal / Activities Director Jeff Copp, Elementary Principal Lauren Dodson, School Nurse/Covid Director

Free Reading & Math Tutoring from Scholar Squad Let’s face it. COVID-19 has made everything challenging this year, especially learning. Reading Corps and Math Corps have launched a new initiative to help! Scholar Squad offers one-on-one, online tutoring for Minnesota students in PreK-8th grade, and it’s easy to get started. Visit ScholarSquad.org to request help for your child. A literacy or math coach will be in touch to set up a time to learn more about your child and conduct a short screening. If the screening shows your child could use extra help to boost their skills, you’ll be matched with a tutor who will provide one-on-one practice and support. Powered by AmeriCorps, tutoring is provided at no cost to families.

ISD 300 GARAGE SALE! 4/8/21 10AM-4PM & 4/9/21 8AM-2PM Elementary School Gym & Secondary School Media Center - or outside, weather permitting. Call 507-895-5051 for additional information. Follow this link to view items for sale: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/18bled3etjK2Mawtjk6jua0EVB_GA69KBlz7W8uvGTYA/edit?usp=sharing On Thursday and Friday, April 8 and 9, La Crescent - Hokah Public School District will have a garage sale of old or outdated school furniture, equipment, and supplies. An incomplete list of items can be found on the District website with prices for the items listed. More may be added up to and on the day of the sale. The sale will take place at both the Elementary site and the Secondary site. All sales will be cash only and items are sold as-is with no expected or implied guarantees.

La Crescent-Hokah School Board Selects Eric Martinez as next Superintendent The La Crescent-Hokah School Board is proud to announce that Mr. Eric Martinez has been selected as the district’s next superintendent effective July 1, 2021. Current Superintendent Kevin Cardille will be retiring on June 30, 2021. “We were pleased to work with the Minnesota School Board Association’s Superintendent Search Program, utilizing their expertise in recruitment that ultimately attracted 15 qualified candidates. Using input from staff, administration, and community members to guide our decision making, the Board interviewed five candidates and then narrowed the field to two candidates. Mr. Eric Martinez emerged as the best fit for our district,” said Board Chair Eric Morken. Chair Morken added, “There were several quotes from Mr. Martinez’s interviews that stood out to me. They included, ‘People don’t perform well if they do not feel safe,’ ‘We need the best version of you,’ and ‘How can we work together to get staff and students where we need and want them to be?’” Mr. Martinez has served as a high school social studies teacher, an assistant high school principal, and has most recently served as the 4th-12th grade principal for Waubun-Ogema-White Earth Community Schools from 2012 until present. Mr. Martinez notes, “I am incredibly excited for this opportunity to grow with the La Crescent-Hokah Lancers. Creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication are very important to me, and I am excited to learn about all of the opportunities for growth in the La Crescent-Hokah Public Schools. I look forward to serving in such a great community.” The La Crescent-Hokah Board of Education approved the contract for Mr. Martinez at the April 6, 2021 special meeting.

Prom - May 1st at the Event Center - Prom tickets are now on sale during lunch in the cafeteria - Tickets are $20 - Sign up for the Grand March when you buy your ticket!

Culinary Arts Class just finished an Electronic Meal project! Their task was to design a new, fun, healthy meal idea that families could make at home. Students made and perfected the recipes and then made a website for their meals. Each group's website included pictures of the meal, the recipe, nutrition information, prep/ cooking time, and a grocery list. Check them out by following the links below!! Website 1: https://sites.google.com/students.isd300.k12.mn.us/pineappple-pork-meal/home Website 2: https://sites.google.com/students.isd300.k12.mn.us/emeals-bynadeenpipermichaeland/home Website 3 https://sites.google.com/students.isd300.k12.mn.us/saladmealjordanwolter/home Website 4 https://sites.google.com/view/taylors-home-recipes/home

To look at items that will be for sale at next week's garage sale (April 8 10AM-4PM & April 9 8AM-2PM at both of our facilities) follow this link! https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/18bled3etjK2Mawtjk6jua0EVB_GA69KBlz7W8uvGTYA/edit?usp=sharing Some items are available to be purchased now. Just follow the link to place a bid!

Two finalists selected for La Crescent-Hokah superintendent position La Crescent, MN— The La Crescent-Hokah School Board has selected two finalists to return for a second interview for the school district’s superintendent position. The finalists are: ■ Eric Martinez, Principal, Waubun-Omega-White Earth School District, Waubun, MN ■ Mary Morem, Principal, Triton Public Schools, Dodge Center, MN The finalists were selected from a pool of fifteen applicants based on criteria established by the school board. Five applicants were interviewed last week. The school board has scheduled interviews for the finalists beginning at 5:00 pm, on March 30th, 2021. All interviews will be held via Zoom. Please contact Brittney Eyman at brittney.eyman@isd300.k12.mn.us for the Zoom link.

Six semi-finalists selected for La Crescent-Hokah Public School superintendent position. La Crescent, MN — The La Crescent-Hokah School Board has selected six semi-finalists to interview for the school district’s superintendent vacancy. The semi-finalists were chosen from a pool of 15 applicants and selected based on hiring criteria established by the School Board. The interviewees are: • Jeremy Frie • Mary Morem • Craig Mueller • Sarah Knudsen • Eric Martinez • Todd Felhofer The school board has scheduled interviews for the semi-finalists beginning at 5:00 pm on March 25, 2021 and continuing through March 26, 2021. All interviews will be held via Zoom. Please contact Brittney Eyman at brittney.eyman@isd300.k12.mn.us for the Zoom link.

Please contact the District Office for additional information at 507-895-5051.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day from Ms. Stumpf’s 1st grade class! We tried to trap Lucky but were unsuccessful and he left a giant mess in our classroom!!

On Monday, March 15, the top 9 students from the La Crescent-Hokah High School Math Team competed in the 37th annual State Math League Tournament. The day's events were all held virtually and included the Math Bowl (a fast paced competition of the top 10 math league students in the state of MN), individual events, and a team event. At the end of the competition, La Crescent students placed 6th out of the 11 teams in Class A! Congratulations on an incredible finish Mathletes!!

The robotics team moved into their new space on Saturday; they still have a lot of organizing to do but are excited about the new room!

Check out some of our student artwork! Great job, students!

The School Nutrition Department is continuing to offer the option to order school meals for virtual learning days only. Beginning Monday, March 15th, 5th-12th grade students will all be transitioned to in-person learning on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Wednesdays will continue to be a distance learning day from 8AM - Noon. Meals will be available at school for students on in-person learning days. You will have the option to order a 1-day meal pack for Wednesday. These meal packs will be given out on Tuesday at the end of the day (handout is from 2:50PM - 3:15PM at the Fine Arts Entrance). Meals may also be ordered for a daily pick-up from 1:00PM-2:00PM at the HS Dock for any student who has opted to remain distance learning for the duration of the school year. If you would like to place an order for the week of 3/15 - 3/19, please fill out this order form. https://lacrosse.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9Y9hCG0Qp8GLIF0 Orders must be submitted by NOON ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10th. A preorder is required! *Meal Pack Prices: FREE! COVID CASE IN HOUSEHOLD: If anyone in your household is ill, has been exposed to someone who has tested positive to COVID-19 and/or has tested positive themselves for COVID-19, please contact the School Nutrition Department to notify and receive further instruction regarding meals distribution. Thank you for helping keep the Nutrition Team safe during this time!

MS students and parents: Just a reminder that this Friday, 7th and 8th graders will not have classes as it will be a planning day for that staff. Grades 5 and 6 will run the regular schedule in the building that day. The next week all grades 5-8 will run regular schedules in the building on M,T,Th, and F. On Wednesday all grades will run a virtual schedule. See here. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hnKZIrSjGPBDDprJcT38LuxIlt4vUMxSII4oEH-fLaQ/edit Please be advised that there will be no hybrid schedules while we are now all in school. If you choose to remain a distance learner you do not have to do anything. If you are switching to distance learning please notify us by 3:00 pm today. We are looking forward to having everyone in the building and doing it safely! Thanks. Steve Smith 5-12 Principal