Definition of Homelessness

"20 Minute Topics"

Defining Homelessness

Mandatory Meetings

The following times and dates are required meetings to discuss in detail the definition of Homelessness and what this looks like in our school district.  Please make the appropriate plans to attend your building meeting on this critical issue. 

Sept. 4 - Freeman Davis Elementary - 3:30 - Library

Sept. 5 - Upper Elementary - 7:45 - Mrs. Bachman's room

Sept. 5 - Middle School - 3:30 - Mrs. Lamont's room

Sept 6  - High School - 7:45 - HS Library

Thank you in advance for attending the meeting. 

Sincerely,

Tim L. Frederick

Superintendent

Mobridge-Pollock Schools

Para Professionals and School Climate

Resiliency

"Resiliency can be defined as the capability to spring back, rebound, successfully adapt in the face of adversity, and develop social and academic competence despite exposure to severe stress... or simply the stress of today's world."

Paras,

We will be meeting again on Thursday morning to discuss school climate and specifically what we can do to enhance student accountability as students move us towards a positive school climate.  

"20 Minute Topic"

School Climate

Library

7:30 a.m.

Thanks,

Tim Frederick

Superintendent

Mobridge-Pollock Schools

Internal Soft Code Black Drill

Educators,

I want to invite you to a "20 Minute Topic" session on Monday, December 10th to discuss our latest internal code black drill.  It is absolutely necessary that we take time to review the drill and discuss concerns that you may have from the standpoint of communication and placement of the students.  The meeting will take place in the High School Library from 7:30-7:50 a.m.  

Sincerely, 

Tim Frederick

Superintendent

Mobridge-Pollock Schools

Para Professionals - Establishing School Climate

"I've come to a frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It's my personal approach that creates the climate. It's my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child's life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or dehumanized. 

Haim Ginott


Paras,

I want to invite all of you to a short "20 Minute Topic" discussion on the extremely important role that each one of you has in our great school system.  It is important that we work together as we embrace the words above in teaching the great minds of our children today.  Please join me for a conversation as we discuss strategies and practices that we can implement as we engage all students in learning.

"20 Minute Topic"
High School Conference Rm
7:30-7:50 AM
November 15, 2018

Sincerely,

Tim L. Frederick
Superintendent
Mobridge-Pollock Schools

New Teacher "20 Minute Topic"

We will be having our first "20 Minute Topic" discussion on August 28th at 7:30 am.   I would like to have all of our new teachers and teachers that have been teaching in the district for two years attend this meeting.  We will have an open discussion on some key strategies to consider implementing as a first year teacher.  If you would like to attend this meeting as a mentor teacher, it would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks,


Tim Frederick
Superintendent
Mobridge-Pollock Schools

Learning More About Tax Reform & 529 Plan

I will be hosting a "20 Minute Topic" in which we will discuss the benefits and the downfalls of the proposed 529 Tax Reform plan as it pertains towards education and specifically public education as we know it today.  I would encourage all of you to attend one of the meetings that I will be hosting. 


Meeting Dates, Times, & Location

November 13, 2017           7:30am                    Supt. Office

November 13, 2017           7:15pm                     Board Meeting/Library

November 14, 2017           7:30am                     Supt. Office

November 15, 2017           3:30pm                     Supt. Office

Coffee Time Discussion

We will be having a "20 Minute Topic" on Friday morning at 7:30 to discuss a number of topics in education.  We will spend some time discussing the school website, ASBSD legislative platform, future professional development, and any other topics that you want to discuss.  Looking forward to seeing you on Friday morning. 

We will meet in my office. 

Thanks,

Tim Frederick
Superintendent
Mobridge-Pollock Schools

Website Development

We would like to invite you to attend a "20 Minute Topic" discussion on the development of the new school website.  Our goal is to have the website up and functioning in December.  We have many decisions to make as we go forward with developing a web design that will illustrate all the great programs that our school and community offer our students.  Please find a time to attend one of the scheduled meetings below or feel free to contact me if you would like to learn more about the new school website.


Topic:         Website Development        Website Development      Website Development
Audience:   MP Educators                    Public                                Public/School Board
Location:    Supt. Office                        Supt. Office                       Board Room
Time:          7:30am                               5:15pm                              7:15pm
Date:          10/10/17                             10/09/17                            10/09/17

Health Insurance - Updates & Resources

Please plan on attending a "20 Minute Topic"  discussion where I will share new information and resources with you as we move forward in becoming self - insured (health insurance).  We have many decisions that we will need to make as an organization in the coming weeks as it pertains towards health care insurance options.  You, as an individual, will have decisions that you will need to make in the coming months as you enroll in one of the plan offerings.

March 29, 2017

7:25 a.m. 

HS Conference Room

March 30, 2017

7:25 a.m.

HS Conference Room

April 4, 2017

7:25 a.m.

Freeman Davis Elementary

Location TBA 

"20 Minute Topic"

Mobridge-Pollock Classified Staff 

March 9, 2017

7:40 a.m.

MS/HS Library

Please come to the "20 Minute Topic" discussion that will take place in the MS/HS Library on  March 9th for classified employees.  We will be discussing next years school calendar and any other topics that you would like to share.  I will bring a calendar that will be a starting point for discussion.  The calendar will have information embedded in it that has been shared at the previous meetings.  Please bring any new ideas that you would like to share about the school calendar.  

A High School Discussion

"20 Minute Topic"

Mobridge-Pollock Upper Elementary 

February 22, 2017

7:40 a.m.

Mr. Hettick's Classroom

Please come to the "20 Minute Topic" discussion that will take place in Mr. Hettick's classroom on February 22nd.  We will be discussing next years school calendar, the summer projects,  and any other topics that you would like to discuss.  I will bring a calendar that will be a starting point for discussion.  It will be a carbon copy of the 16-17 calendar as far as the days that we are in and out of session.  

MP Upper Elementary School Calendar Discussion

"20 Minute Topic"

Mobridge-Pollock Upper Elementary 

February 16, 2017

7:40 a.m.

Mrs. Brewer's Classroom

Please come to the "20 Minute Topic" discussion that will take place at Upper Elementary on February 16th.  We will be discussing next years school calendar, the MS renovation project, and any other topics that you would like to discuss.  I will bring a calendar that will be a starting point for discussion.  It will be a carbon copy of the 16-17 calendar as far as the days that we are in and out of session.  

Freeman Davis "20 Minute Topic"

"20 Minute Topic"

Freeman Davis Elementary 

February 8, 2017

7:40 a.m.

Freeman Davis Library

Please come to the "20 Minute Topic" discussion that will take place at FD on February 8th.  We will be discussing next years school calendar, the HVAC system at FD, and any other topics that you would like to discuss.  I will bring a calendar that will be a starting point for discussion.  It will be a carbon copy of the 16-17 calendar as far as the days that we are in and out of session.  

Sources of Strength

I want to invite you, the teachers, in helping in the process of identifying students for a peer leadership position within the Sources of Strength.  We will be nominating students from various  types of cliques and groups who have influence and sway with their peers in and out of school.  We are not looking for the student who may be the most popular, we are instead looking for students who are able to represent the entire student body. 


Teachers, please come to our next "20 Minute Topic" so that you can help us in identifying students that will help leading social change within our school. 

"20 Minute Topic"

January 12, 2017

7:30AM- HS Conference Room

Value and Importance of Human Connection

I would like to invite you to attend a "20 Minute Topic" where we will begin to discuss and create a Comprehensive Behavioral Health Model.

While you were busy connecting with parents during PTC's, I was hosting a meeting with parents discussing the importance of developing a CBHM.  The parents offered a tremendous amount of input in what their expectations are of the behavior of students, parents, and educators in the classrooms and shared spaces.

During this meeting, we were very specific in describing the expectations that we want to see and hear when our students are in the community, school, or at home.   With this, we have started the process of developing common language and positive actions that will be part of the CBHM.

Please put it on your calendar to attend one of the meetings where we will discuss and develop the CBHM for the Mobridge-Pollock School District.

                                       "20 Minute Topic"                          "20 Minute Topic"                        
                                            Meeting #1                                    Meeting #2                                    
                                     HS Conference Rm.                        HS Conference Rm.                      
                                      October 12, 2016                             October 19, 2016        
                                              7:30am                                           7:30am  


Sincerely,


Tim Frederick
Superintendent
Mobridge-Pollock School District

American Education Week

 

Educators,

As we go about this week celebrating American Education Week, I want to personally thank all of you for your contribution in educating all of the students in our school system.  Individually, each and every one of you have a specific task that needs to be done well for our organization to be successful.  With your willingness to do whatever is necessary, we have developed a school system that meets all standards in education.  With your determination to improve upon your discipline, we are beginning to exceed standards in education. 

 

I want to challenge each of you to recognize the greatness of all the fine people that make up this great pool of people that help in building our great school system.  Teachers, board members, parents, support staff, administrators, community members and most certainly, the student, all play a crucial role in developing an educational system that is successful.  As we all know, higher levels of success can only be attained and sustained as we move forward, together, in showing appreciation and understanding for all stakeholders who strive to meet common goals.    

 

Again, I want to thank each of you for fulfilling your important role in the education of our students. 

 

Sincerely,

 

Tim L. Frederick

Superintendent

Mobridge-Pollock School District

Adjusting Lessons on "Basis of Assessment"

During our "20 Minute Topic" discussion earlier this week, we focused the conversation on what we want students to learn.  Throughout this discussion, I had the opportunity to listen to educators share their opinions on specifics that must be met in their classrooms. As they tried to determine what should be taught in the classrooms, I realized that the conversation had shifted to how we can get students engaged in learning.  They quickly agreed that one must be able to connect first and build relationships in order for students to feel comfortable with learning. 

 As I listened to their conversation, I started to think about what happens in a classroom when we lose students that we have developed relationships with.  What causes the student to become totally disengaged in the learning process?  Whatever it is, is this why students plateau and even begin to fall to the bottom after 15-25 minutes into the lesson? 

 During our next "20 Minute Topic" discussion, we will take time to discuss the importance of delving into how we assess learning in our classrooms.  Is our practice of assessment in the classroom the culprit in losing students?  Are we observing students showing more concern about finishing an assignment versus showing an understanding of learning? 

Please join our team of teachers on November 10th in the high school conference room or November 11th at Freeman Davis in the library area to discuss this important topic. The discussion will run from 7:30-7:50.

 
Tim Frederick
Superintendent
Mobridge-Pollock School District

Answering 3 Crucial Questions

We will kick off the 2015-2016 "20 Minute Topics" conversations on November 2nd at 7:30 a.m., in the HS Conference Rm.    I am very excited about our first conversation piece.  The focus of the conversation will be on collaboration and how we can grow our Professional Learning Community by answering 3 crucial questions that will help us in developing conversations with other educators on topics that are meaningful. 


To wet your appetite a little, I would like you to think about the following questions:


1. What do we want each student to learn?


2. How will we know when each student has learned it?


3.  How will we respond when a student experiences success and difficulty in learning? 


As we go about answering the questions above, we will talk about how we can work together in developing opportunities that will allow all of us to increase our capacity to learn. 


Sincerely,


Tim Frederick
Superintendent

Lifting the Lid to Knowledge (LLK)

In trying to reach out to all staff members and members of our community, I will be scheduling topics to discuss throughout the year that relate to education.  If you have a topic that you would like me to consider hosting a discussion on, please feel free to contact me and I most certainly will consider scheduling a meeting. 

The meetings will last a total of twenty minutes.  The meetings will take place in the morning from 7:30-7:50.  If we get to the end of the twenty minutes and we need more time, we will simply schedule another twenty minutes at a later date.

"20 Minute Topics"

November 6, 2014         Supts Office        PP-Instruction-Communicating with Students (Part 1)     (MP Staff Members)

November 11, 2014       Supts Office        Customized Teaching & Learning (Part 1)                          (MP Staff Members)

November 13, 2014       Supts Office        PP-Instruction-Communicating with Students (Part 2)     (MP Staff Members)

November 14, 2014       Supts Office        Is it time for a change? Comparing ACT Scores with GPA  (MP Staff Member)
December 9, 2014         Supts Office        High School Teacher Technology Usage Survey Results  ( MP HS Staff)
January 7, 2015             Supts Office        Shared Leadership-Understanding our Responsibilities     ( MP Staff )
February 24, 2015         Supts. Office       First Year Teacher Discussion (Improving the Mentor/Mentee Program)
March 3, 2015               Supts. Office       Special Education Overview                                                     (MP Staff)