I’d like to formally welcome you all back to MTS Secondary for the 2021-2022 school year!
As you may have heard by now superintendent Brian Erlandson has left the district and Wendy Lorenz-Walraven and I will be taking on additional district wide responsibilities. To ensure that we are able to support students, families and staff, the MTCS Director of Equity and Diversity, Wendy Lorenz-Walraven will serve as Co-Principal of MTS Secondary for the 2021-2022 school year. Wendy’s leadership will help promote our mission of elevating student voice and creating platforms for parent and community inclusion in our school.
Despite the challenges of 2020 and the disjointed 2021 school year, I’m happy to report that MTS Secondary celebrated the graduation of 30 seniors on June 12, 2021! The work of these students with the support of their families in such trying times and under unprecedented circumstances is truly incredible.
As we head into a new school year there is much news to share and many questions to answer.
With the recent surge of the Delta variant, the health and safety of our students, families, and staff remains our top priority. MTS Secondary will follow the Covid plan adopted by the MTCS Board of Directors which mirrors recommendations of the CDC. This plan mandates face masks for all staff, students, and visitors and includes social distancing and frequent cleaning of work stations and classrooms. Look for future communication regarding the availability of Covid testing for staff and students and locations for vaccinations in the community.
The reconstruction and reimagination of our school on Lake St. and Minnehaha is nearing completion. The remodel is spectacular. There is natural light throughout the building, wide open hallways, brand new arts and music studios, and an expanded weight room to name just a few of the changes. Outside of the gym area, only two internal walls have remained in the same location. We have truly built a brand new school for your students.
Unfortunately, the construction will not be complete for the first day of school. As I write this, we are expecting the project to finish in early October with a move in date for staff and students in mid October. To start the school year, students (and families) will be able to choose their learning model.
We have classrooms and office space for our students and staff at our sister school, Banaadir Academy, located at 1201 Bryant Ave N. Students that choose an in person learning model will be provided transportation to and from school and will receive live instruction from MTS Secondary staff. Students will also be able to choose a distance learning model to start the year. Students that choose distance learning will log into virtual classrooms at mtssecondaryonline.org and join their classmates from their MTCS supplied personal chromebooks in the same way they did last school year. You will be contacted by an MTS Secondary staff member in the next few days to select the learning model for your student.
We will be conducting an open house on September 1st from 5:00-7:00 at MTS Elementary, located at 2526 27th Ave S. Mpls. 55406. You will have the opportunity to meet staff, get student schedules, have a BBQ dinner, and take a tour of the nearly complete MTS Secondary. We can’t wait to see you there. The 2021-2022 school year offers the promise of new beginnings and great opportunities for our students. We look forward to taking this journey with you.
Your co-principals,
Shawn (Mr. Fondow) and Wendy Lorenz-Walraven
