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Find the districtwide resources you need to start the year
- Kickoff Week: Aug 26-30
- New Staff Orientation & Professional Development Week: Aug 19-22
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Kickoff Week: Aug 26-30
Kickoff Week: August 26 - 30
- About
- Kickoff Day Schedule
- Kickoff Week Building and Program Schedules
- District Van Training
- CPI Offerings August 26-29
About
SWMetro Kickoff week is designed to give district staff time to prepare for students to arrive the first week of September.
The week will start with a kickoff celebration for all staff members at Dean Lakes Education Center on Monday August 26. Staff will report to their worksites for the remainder of the week to conduct meetings, participate in trainings and prepare for students arrival.
Licensed Staff: Work Monday through Friday
Paraprofessionals: Work Monday through Wednesday
Kickoff Day Schedule
All district staff will gather at Dean Lakes Education Center from 7:30 - 3:00 to participate in the 2024-2025 kickoff celebration.
Staff will be welcomed by new Superintendent Dr. Jeff Horton, get inspired by New York Times best-selling author and teacher Matt Eicheldinger and receive important districtwide updates for the school year.
See the schedule below for more information.
| Time | Activity* |
|---|---|
| 7:30 - 8:00 | Registration and Networking |
| 8:00 - 9:00 | Superintendent & Leadership Team Welcome |
| 9:00 - 10:00 | Keynote Speaker: Matt Eicheldinger |
| 10:00 - 10:30 | Break |
| 10:30 - 11:00 | OSHA | Right to Know Training |
| 11:00 - 12:00 | Department Overview |
| 12:00 - 12:30 | Duty-Free Lunch Break - (staff should plan to bring a lunch) |
| 12:45 - 3:00 | Team Meetings @ DLEC |
| 3:00 - 3:30 | Union Meeting: Teachers - Optional |
| 3:00 - 3:30 | Union Meeting: Paraprofessionals - Optional |
| 3:00 - 3:30 | 403B Vendors - Optional |
*Kickoff is a required all staff event
*Elevate Staff: A supervisor will provide you with an altered kickoff schedule.
Kickoff Week Building and Program Schedules
District Van Training
SouthWest Metro has two district vehicles that can be used to transport students for a variety of educational activities. Staff utilizing district vehicles must be trained and vetted.
Speak with your supervisor if you think you need to register for this training.
Where: 401 Education Center
When: 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. (Some staff may need to be present longer for the behind the wheel portion of the training)
Bring: A valid MN driver's license
CPI Offerings August 26-29
SouthWest Metro is offering CPI training, a restrictive procedures training model implemented in a large number of districts across Minnesota. All SouthWest Metro special education staff must maintain up-to-date training in the CPI model.
Special education staff should work with their supervisors to identify the course they should register for.
SWMetro Staff can register for free using their SWMetro ELEYO account. Need Help with Eleyo?
CPI Refresher Course:
Staff that have previously completed a 12 hr initial CPI training must refresh there skills with this course yearly. Enroll in one of the 4 Hr CPI refresher courses using a link below.
Tuesday August 27
4 Hour CPI Refresher Course
Where: Dean Lakes Education Center (DLEC)
When: 11:30-3:30
Tuesday August 28
4 Hour CPI Refresher Course
Where: 401 Education Center (401)
When: 11:30-3:30
Wednesday August 28
4 Hour CPI Refresher Course
Where: River Valley Education Center (RVEC)
When: 8:00-12:00
Thursday August 29
4 Hour CPI Refresher Course
Where: Dean Lakes Education Center (DLEC)
When: 8:00-12:00
New Staff Orientation & Professional Development Week: Aug 19-22
New Staff Orientation & Professional Development Week: August 19 - 22
- About
- New Staff Schedule: Monday August 19
- New Staff Schedule: Tuesday August 20
- New Staff Schedule: Wednesday August 21
- CPI Registration: New & Returning Staff
- Other Professional Development Offerings Aug 19-22
About
New Staff Orientation Week is geared towards providing new SWMetro staff the support they need to begin the school year.
Who should attend?
New Staff Orientation is required for all new staff members (or staff that started in the middle of the 23-24 school year). There will also be several limited opportunities for returning staff to complete continuing education courses during the week.
Where:
Dean Lakes Education Center
4601 Dean Lakes Blvd
Shakopee, MN 55379
New Staff Schedule: Monday August 19
Day 1: New Staff Orientation:
Dean Lakes Education Center
Dress business casual for staff photos.
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:30 - 8:00 | Registration & Networking |
| 8:00 - 8:30 | Superintendent & Leadership Team Welcome |
| 8:30 - 9:00 | Website Tour |
| 9:00 - 9:30 | Utilizing District Resources |
| 9:30 - 10:00 | Break |
| 10:00 - 10:30 | Laptop Distribution |
| 10:30 - 11:00 | Technology Tools Intro |
| 11:00 - 12:30 | Meet with Mentors |
| 12:30 - 1:00 | Duty-Free Lunch Break (bring a lunch) |
| 1:00 - 1:30 | Human Resources Intro |
| 1:30 - 3:30 | Dept & Team Meetings |
New Staff Schedule: Tuesday August 20
Day 2: New Staff Orientation - Dean Lakes Education Center.
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:30 - 8:00 | Registration & Networking |
| 8:00 - 8:30 | Department & Program Meetings |
| 8:30 - 9:00 | Department & Program Meetings |
| 9:00 - 9:30 | Department & Program Meetings |
| 9:30 - 10:00 | Department & Program Meetings |
| 10:00 - 10:30 | Department & Program Meetings |
| 10:30 - 11:00 | Department & Program Meetings |
| 11:00 - 11:30 | Department & Program Meetings |
| 11:30 - 12:00 | Optional Meeting with Union Leadership |
| 12:00 - 12:30 | Duty-free Lunch |
| 1:00 - 3:30 | Program Meetings & Intro to CPI |
New Staff Schedule: Wednesday August 21
Day 3: New Staff Orientation - Dean Lakes Education Center
ONLY new special education staff that need CPI training attend day 3 of orientation.
Dress comfortably and wear closed toe shoes for physical components of training
Bring a bag lunch for Wednesday CPI session.
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:30 - 11:30 | CPI: Initial 12 Hr Training |
| 11:30 - 12:00 | Duty-Free Lunch Break |
| 12:00 - 3:30 | CPI: Initial 12 Hr Training |
CPI Registration: New & Returning Staff
SouthWest Metro is offering CPI training, a restrictive procedures training model implemented in a large number of districts across Minnesota. All SouthWest Metro special education staff must maintain up-to-date training in the CPI model.
Special education staff should work with their supervisors to identify the course they should register for.
SWMetro Staff can register for free using their SWMetro ELEYO account. Need Help with Eleyo?
New Staff to CPI:
Enroll in the initial 12 Hr CPI course using the link below.
Note: This will be the only initial 12 Hr CPI course offered before the start of the 24-25 school year.
Enroll Now: CPI Initial 12 Hr Course
CPI Refresher Course:
Staff that have previously completed a 12 hr initial CPI training must refresh there skills with this course yearly. Enroll in the 4 Hr CPI refresher course using the link below.
Note: More 4 Hr Refresher course options will be available during SWMetro's kickoff week: Aug 26-29
Other Professional Development Offerings Aug 19-22
SouthWest Metro is offering a CPR and a First Aid course the week of Aug 19-22.
See the chart below for registration links, dates and times.
| Course | Date | Times |
|---|---|---|
| CPR Training & Cert. | Wed, Aug 21 | 8:00-12:00 |
| First Aid Training & Cert. | Thurs, Aug 22 | 8:00-12:00 |
SWMetro Staff can register for free using their SWMetro ELEYO account. Need Help with Eleyo?
Back to School Resources
Back to School Resources
On-Demand Training Resources
New On-Demand Training Options
Launching August 26
Using Google Classroom, staff will be able to take micro courses on some of the district's most common trainings.
From Skyward to Infinite Campus, in-demand professional development options will be published throughout the course of the year. These offerings will enable staff to reference trainings at their convenience.