Luverne opens school year with continued focus on mental health

Staff encouraged to ‘know’ each and every student
Superintendent Craig Oftedahl addressed employees at Luverne Public Schools Monday morning in preparation for the 2022-2023 school year, opening on Sept. 6.
In his annual address to all staff members, Oftedahl encouraged them to make “Cardinal Connections.”
To illustrate his message, the names of the 1,200 students were typed on a sheet of paper and taped to the wall outside the performing arts center.
Each teacher, paraprofessional, custodian, cook, support staff and bus driver was asked to place a small sticker dot on each elementary, middle and high student they personally knew.
Staff were challenged to get to know those students who did not receive a dot by their name.
Oftedahl’s message to staff explained it is important that every child needs to be known by someone at school.
As a reminder to be a difference maker, a “Cardinal Connector,” the staff received T-shirts that say “Cardinal Connection” on the front and “Connect the Dots” on the back.
Supt. Oftedahl’s full speech is reprinted here:
One of the focus areas over the last couple of years across the country has been mental health.
We know that some students are struggling with mental health issues, as well as some of the adults that we deal with, and maybe some of you have struggles as well.
Last year we implemented Project 11 as one means of helping students.
I want to thank you for your efforts to implement that across our district to provide a form of mental wellness for all our students.
We likely never know the impact of this program, but if it helps one student, that is a victory. Keep up the great work surrounding this curriculum. Your efforts are making a difference.
Each of us — and most people say relationships —are important.
One of the keys is helping all people maintain a healthy self-esteem.
I agree that relationships are vital to our entire organization having success. How do you create relationships? By building a connection.
Maybe it’s sports or pets or family or 4-H or flowers or school-related items like art, math or music. If you connect in any way with students, they will have a trusted adult in this building. That may be all they need to foster some success.
Better yet, what happens if two connections are made or three or 33?
Get to know your students, find out about them. Ask probing questions to see that you can grab onto the probe some more.
The connection you make will improve student self-esteem, get them more involved in our school, improve their academic performance and help them be successful every day. When students feed good, they do better in school.
Let’s give every student something to look forward to every day.
This little 15-minute exercise of placing dots on a sheet of people had a purpose.
As you can visually see from some of these sheets — many of you indicated you have a relationship or a connection with these students. They have lots of dots of their sheet of people.
Most of the names have a range of few to many dots. Generally speaking, these students have made connections with staff here, and we likely don’t have much to worry about.
However, let’s look at some students that we need to spend some time on.
Not counting the kindergarten students, as they are just entering the building – and I know our teachers and staff will work hard on those students, we have students that need each of you to step up.
I am asking each of you to identify one or two students and work on making a connection. It may not be easy, but the benefits will be astronomical for the students.
The leaders in the building are going to be tasked with writing down the students in their respective buildings and checking to see what staff have connected with them.
Be a difference maker for our students, especially our students that need a “Cardinal Connection.”
… Let’s connect a lot of dots this year. Have a wonderful school year!