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Superintendent encourages teaching staff to give out 'LUV Notes'

Lead Summary
By
Mavis Fodness

In keeping with his school year initiative, “Be Great,” Luverne Public School Superintendent Craig Oftedahl is challenging his teaching staff to write “LUV Notes.”
Oftedahl unveiled his idea Thursday night, Oct. 8, to board members as he passed each one of them a white envelope. Inside was a white thank you card that read “Luverne Cardinals” and the mascot image. Inside he included a personal message.
His newest initiative began Oct. 12.
“I will be challenging the teaching staff to write a minimum of one LUV Note a week,” Oftedahl said.
The purpose of the note is for the teaching staff to recognize individuals who are doing positive things in the classrooms, hallways, on the buses, in the lunchroom, in the office or anywhere within the school. The thank you note can be given to a fellow teacher, student, secretary, custodian, food service worker, bus driver or volunteer.
“We get caught up in our ‘own world’ and don’t always recognize the talents and gifts of others,” Oftedahl said. “I believe we can build a school culture and climate that is more positive, more team-oriented, more respectful and just plain ‘great.’”
During a mid-August staff in-service, Oftedahl gave each staff member a red-and-white T-shirt with “Cardinal Pride” written on the front and “Be Great” on the back.
At the time, Oftedahl said the T-shirts “send a message to everyone that we are all in this together and we all want what is best for the kids.”
Posters reading “Be Great” were posted in various hallways within the school.
Oftedahl said construction of the Luv Notes is from repurposed materials. With about 100 on the teaching staff, Oftedahl is hoping he will have to have more of the notes printed by the graphic arts department in about two months.
“The act of writing the note is important. It means you not only noticed them doing something great, but you took the time to write it out,” he said.
Oftedahl developed the idea of the LUV Notes from the city of Luverne’s slogan “Love the Life.”

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