At Minnesota Transitions Charter School, December is a time to focus on the gifts of our students and schools. There are amazing and wonderful things happening in the schools all across our District. As we move toward the returning light, along with a restorative winter break—we want to share some highlights of 2022’s gifts.

MTCS District

At the district level, we launched a new school year with Executive Director, Shawn Fondow leading our schools with enthusiasm and a strong vision.  With bold leadership, a new strategic plan, and a newly elected Board of Directors as of this October with 4 new members, MTCS has a new and energized outlook for the future.

If you haven’t listened already, check out the new MTCS podcast: You Matter Here, recorded in the MTS podcast studio with podcast host, Wendy Lorenz-Walraven, editing master, Andrea Miller. The first episode features Michael Durchslag from P.E.A.S.E. Academy, with a frank, important conversation about the recovery work happening at P.E.A.S.E. and Michael’s passion for its mission and its students.

You Matter Herecan be heard wherever you listen to podcasts, and will feature conversations with staff, students, parents and the community surrounding the issues we are committed to at MTCS—from all around the District.

During the next week we will share good news and important developments from each of our schools.

P.E.A.S.E. Academy

P.E.A.S.E. Academy supports young people working in recovery and sobriety in so many important ways throughout the year, and holidays can be stressful for a lot of people, especially young people in their early recovery from substance use.

To help students at P.E.A.S.E. Academy get geared up for the holiday season, the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, they host “Recovery Revival.”  The school shifts its daily schedule, having all our academic classes in the morning.  In the afternoon, P.E.A.S.E. invites 3-4 recovery speakers from the community to come in and share their experience, strength, and hope with our students.

This annual event is organized by the school’s Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC), who invites people from the recovery community to share and answer questions.  The idea is to revitalize students’ commitment to their recovery going into the holidays, allow them to connect with others, and potentially get phone numbers.  P.E.A.S.E. invites the other MN Recovery High Schools to be a part of this too.  White Bear Lake and St. Cloud joined us.

P.E.A.S.E. also holds a similar event the Thursday before Spring Vacation, which we call “Recovery Renewal.”