PTA Podcast

Notes from the Backpack features real conversations with real parents, experts and educators who offer real-life advice, ideas and strategies parents can use to help their children succeed in and out of school.

FAFSA Help
Since the 2021-22 FAFSA® form became available on October 1, 2020, completion rates among high school seniors are down 12% compared to the same time last year. Minnesota Goes to College host sites are uniquely poised to engage students in the FAFSA completion process. In partnership with Federal Student Aid, the American College Application Campaign invites school sites to join a webinar on understanding the 2020-21 FAFSA. February 10 at 1:00 p.m. (CST) or February 16 at 3:00 p.m. (CST) | Understanding the 2021-2022 FAFSA - Register here – space is limited. Learn about resources available on FSA’s digital platform at StudentAid.gov and the myStudentAid mobile app, discover new ways to engage students, and how to utilize FSA resources to increase FAFSA completion.

Tech Program

Calling all individuals and businesses to lend your support to young women in Minnesota to become our next, best technology talent.  The Minnesota Aspirations in Computing (MNAiC) program seeks sponsors, virtual mentors, summer internship providers, skill development partners, and volunteers for many other meaningful engagement opportunities.  More information can be found on their website.

 

COVID-19 Data
The Walz-Flanagan Administration has launched a public vaccine data dashboard to detail the progress of COVID-19 vaccine allocation, distribution and administration across Minnesota.

The dashboard provides a visual and user-friendly way to view key vaccination data for our state and is updated daily.

The Minnesota Department of Health's recently-updated COVID-19 testing recommendations focus primarily on young Minnesotans - especially those ages 12-25. The recommendations expand the category of people who should get tested to include students returning to school, youth sports, or extracurricular activities, among others.

Minnesota has an extensive statewide testing operation. Parents and guardians have several ways in which they can access no-barrier testing for their children outside of school. This includes more than 20 community testing sites, a mail-order at-home test program, and clinics and hospitals across the state. A reminder, tests remain no-cost to the individual but they are asked to provide their insurance information so the state can seek reimbursement from insurance companies.

Please share information about testing opportunities with families in your school communities. Learn more at mn.gov/covid19/testing.

If you have a specific need and would like help finding resources please feel free to contact the following staff, we would like to talk with you;

Joclyn Tiedt, Social Worker joclyn.tiedt@umissacademy.org  612-208-3854 
Elizabeth Sullivan, Social Worker elizebeth.sullivan@umissacademy.org  612-466-0446
Anna Walters, School Counselor anna.walters@umissacademy.org  612-888-2153