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Backpack Online - November 22, 2023
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November 22, 2023
Seasonal concerts at district middle and high schools
If you are looking for local holiday entertainment, look no further than your school community. There are a variety of music concerts going on at district middle and high schools in December and January.
Art bridges language barriers at Anoka Middle School for the Arts
🎨 Visitors from the Walker Art Center visited students in the English Language (EL) program at Anoka Middle School for the Arts (AMSA) Nov. 20-21 thanks to a grant designed to increase off-site programming while serving students and schools from underserved backgrounds. Activities engaged students beyond language, incorporating creativity and expression using modeling clay. 📸 View photos from the visit.
Why it matters: AMSA Curriculum Integration Coordinator Jolanda Dranchak said the EL program was chosen for the grant because “Art is a bridge that connects cultures and offers a unique avenue for vocabulary acquisition and practical engagement.”
The big picture: The primary goal of the English Learners (EL) program is to help students use U.S. academic English, understand the culture of U.S. schools, and be successful learners.
There are EL teachers at each school in the district and at AMSA there are about 90 students in the program, 60 at Fred Moore and another 30 at Washington. At Fred Moore, Micolette Paul, who has been teaching EL in the district for 18 years, said the Walker Art Center experience helps connect the EL students with the rest of the school population.
High school students participate in DECA/BPA New York experience
🗽 A group of 19 students from the Coon Rapids and Anoka high school DECA programs and the Blaine High School Business Professionals of America (BPA) program traveled to New York City to participate in the New York DECA/BPA Experience.
Students experienced corporate presentations and seminars from executives and managers from Nintendo, Wells Fargo Investments, Google, Blackstone, Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, and the New York Stock Exchange.
🗣️ What they’re saying: “The business tours in New York solidified my choice of going into business as a career. Every business we went to made me want to ask so many questions. I left New York with a strong desire to work for an organization like the ones we visited.” - CRHS senior Anna Kelley.
“Going to Blackstone in New York was a transformative experience, where I had the privilege of meeting David Obwaya, a BHS alumni. Witnessing his journey from Blaine High School to his current position is a testament to the power of determination and the doors that open when passion meets opportunity.” - BHS senior Dorcas Aroloye.
“The New York Stock Exchange is perhaps the coolest thing I’ve ever seen, and Madison Square Garden is massive, and their story is amazing!” - AHS senior Joe Keane.
The New York experience: Students also had the opportunity to visit many cultural and historic landmarks, including the 9/11 Memorial.
📊 DECA is a student organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. BPA is for students pursuing careers in business management, information technology, finance, accounting and office administration.
Opportunity for high school students
District to host Education, Employment, and Enlistment Palooza on Dec. 9 at Andover High School
Anoka-Hennepin career and college specialists from the district’s high schools have once again collaborated to host the Second Annual Education, Employment, and Enlistment Palooza on Saturday, Dec. 9 from 8:30-11 a.m. at Andover High School.
What to expect: The event will highlight a variety of college, career and post-high school planning options for all high school students and families. The format will include a mix of scheduled 40-minute sessions on focused topics.
Students and parents/guardians have the opportunity to sit in on sessions including nine different topics. The first sessions will be held from 8:30-9:10 a.m. with the second session to follow from 9:15-9:55 a.m. The fair will be open from 10-11 a.m. View the complete schedule.
Topics include:
- Pay Less for College.
- Labor Trends.
- How do I figure out what I want to do for a career?
- Trades and Apprenticeships.
- Military pathways panel.
- Lowering the costs of college while in high school.
- Why STEP might be a great option.
- Creative Careers.
- Recent grad student panel.
Plan your future: The college and career fair will feature 37 employers/apprenticeship representatives and over 40 colleges/universities and military recruiters. Anoka-Ramsey Community College, Anoka Technical College, Bemidji State University, Grand Canyon University, University of Wisconsin-River Falls, and University of Wisconsin-Stout will all be offering students the option to apply and receive an admissions decision on the day of the event.
Providing accurate information regarding contract negotiations
The Anoka-Hennepin School District appreciates the important role that teachers serve in supporting students both during the school day and as part of extracurricular activities and events. Recent media reports have shared that teachers at some school sites are participating in a work to rule approach called “walkout wednesday” during the pending contract negotiations.
- What that means: At the end of the work day each Wednesday during the school week, some teachers are gathering together and walking out of the building in unison at the end of their contracted 7 hour and 40 minute duty day. Teachers continue to report to work as expected and the school day operates as usual.
Go deeper: It is the goal to improve terms and conditions for all employees while working within tight budget parameters that maintain financial and operational stability for the district.
💻 View the negotiations webpage at ahschools.us/negotiations to view the status of current contract negotiations with nine open bargaining groups in Anoka-Hennepin Schools.
Putting the 'U' in Community Education: The Storytellers
It didn’t take long for three Champlin Park High School juniors to realize they’ve got a volunteer gig that keeps on giving.
“They’re all great! They are interesting people,” said 16-year-old Maia Ark. “They have really cool stories.”
Once a month, Ark, Brynn Schmidt, and Emilia Nguyen meet at Saint Therese Senior Living Community in Brooklyn Park to listen to stories from several residents who are part of an on-site Oxbow Lake Storyteller group. Members of the group write and share personal stories. The girls then take the handwritten notes home to type before adding them to a categorized collection.
“We made a table of contents,” said Schmidt. “We organized them by person and then wrote all the names of the stories in order by how they are laid out in the book.”
Not only are the girls helping preserve memories from another generation, but they are also getting first-person accounts of what it was like to live in a different time. Saint Therese residents have shared stories about Pearl Harbor and JFK’s assassination, as well as stories about working on a farm, marriage, and family.
The girls say it’s a win-win for everyone. “I think they just like having someone, our generation, hearing their stories,” said Nguyen.
Share your love of learning this holiday season: Black Friday deal through Community Education
Share your love of learning this holiday season. Gift certificates may be purchased for yourself or for someone else. Anoka-Hennepin Community Education is offering its traditional Black Friday gift certificate promotion, which may be used for Adult Learning classes. The gift certificate promotion is available now through November 27, some exclusions apply.
Get details and purchase on the Anoka-Hennepin Community Education website.
Parent Education series
District to host three Parent Engage 360 events in 2023-24
Join parents and guardians from the Anoka-Hennepin Schools community for information and resources to support the needs of students today.
The big picture: Anoka-Hennepin is hosting three Parent Engage 360 community and parent education events during the 2023-24 school year. These events aim to provide resources for parents and guardians to support their students and others in the community. Topics range from mental health, chemical health, internet safety, and more. Parent Engage 360 forum events are offered both in-person and in virtual formats and are free and open to the public.
What to expect: The first Parent Engage 360 event will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the Coon Rapids High School auditorium and will feature author and co-founder of TILL360 Joe Beckman. Over the last 20 years, Beckman has spoken all over the world with one mission, to reclaim human connection.
Beckman is an engaging and dynamic speaker who combines humor, authenticity, heart, and soul that will help attendees find self-worth, resilience, confidence, joy, and human connection. Beckman is the author of Just Look Up: Five Life-Saving Phrases Every Kid Human Needs to Hear. Attendees at this event have the chance to win one of four free copies of Beckman’s book.
Register for this event (registration is not required, but helps with planning).
☃️ Winter decor on display during Say it Again extended hours on Nov. 29
Say it Again is a store that sells home decor, furniture and gifts refurbished by special education students practicing on-the-job skills through an Anoka-Hennepin Schools work-based learning program called Teaching Employability through Assessment and Manufacturing (TEAM).
The store in Andover (13735 Round Lake Blvd. NW) will have extended hours on Wednesday, Nov. 29 until 6 p.m. Everything in the store is 30% off. Regular store hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
2023-24 fall sports and activities round-up
With the fall sports and activities season wrapping up, here’s a look at who’s heading to state, and how they fared when they performed and played. Also included is information about post-season awards gathered by student-athletes and coaches.
🏈 Football
The MSHSL Football State Tournament was held over three weekends starting on Nov. 9 and culminating in the Prep Bowl Nov. 24-25.
The Andover High School football team saw its historic season come to an end in the state semifinals. The Huskies and Chanhassen High School combined for 100 points in a back-and-forth affair at U.S. Bank Stadium on Nov. 18 that would need overtime to decide a winner.
Chanhassen earned a 54-46 overtime win over Andover to advance to the state championship.
Andover finishes the season with a record of 10-2, and its longest playoff run in school history ending in the state semifinals. This marked Andover’s seventh state tournament appearance in school history with the last trip coming in 2021.
⚽️ Adapted soccer
The MSHSL PI Adapted Soccer State Tournament was held Nov. 17-18 at Stillwater High School.
The Anoka-Hennepin Mustangs earned the No. 7 seed in this year’s tournament and were making the program’s 19th consecutive state tournament appearance.
The Mustangs lost their tournament opener 12-3 to No. 2 seed Minneapolis South before seeing their season come to an end in a 9-2 loss to Park Center in the consolation bracket.
Robbinsdale/Hopkins/MoundWest defeated Minneapolis South 4-1 in the state championship game.
🏊♀️ Girls Swimming and Diving
The MSHSL Class AA Girls Swimming and Diving State Meet was Nov. 16-18 at the Jean F. Freeman Aquatic Center on the campus of the University of Minnesota. Below is a list of student-athletes that made finals and placed at the state meet.
Anoka High School
- Ally Diehl placed 12th in the 100 yard butterfly and was 16th in the 200 yard individual medley.
- The 400 yard freestyle relay team of Diehl, Abi Johnson, Sydney DeRung and Nora Sloth placed 13th.
- AHS totaled 14 points to place 26th.
Blaine High School
- Kalli Stark was sixth in the 50 yard freestyle to earn All-State honors. She placed tied for 12th in the 100 yard freestyle.
- The 200 yard medley relay team of Gabby Busch, Sydney Edwards, Nevaeh Miller and Stark placed 14th.
- The 400 yard freestyle relay team of Miller, Kate Pennoyer, Lana Ryan and Stark placed 16th.
- BHS totaled 25.5 points to place 21st.
Champlin Park High School
- Sophie Norsted placed ninth in the 100 yard backstroke and was 11th in the 100 yard butterfly.
- CPHS totaled 15 points to place 25th.
Looking for gift ideas? Student-built items up for auction
Student-built shed
Student-build outdoor table
Student-built chicken coop
Students in Anoka-Hennepin have built sheds, outdoor tables and a chicken coop, which are now all open for bidding. The sale of these student-built items covers the cost of materials and supports future hands-on learning opportunities.
🧰 Three student-built lean-to sheds
- Built by the Exploring Construction class at Champlin Park High School.
- Bidding starts at $500 and the auction ends Dec. 5.
- Shed #1 auction.
- Shed #2 auction.
- Shed #3 auction.
🔨 Four student-built outdoor tables with seating
- Made by students at Blaine High School out of exterior grade brown treated lumber.
- Bidding starts at $275 and the auction ends Dec. 6.
- Outdoor table #1 auction.
- Outdoor table #2 auction.
- Outdoor table #3 auction.
- Outdoor table #4 auction.
🐓 Student-built luxury chicken coop
- Built by work experience students in the Anoka-Hennepin Work Experience Program.
- Bidding starts at $500 and the auction ends Dec. 4
- Chicken coop auction.
Additional district news
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This e-newsletter is published by Anoka-Hennepin Schools. It's sent to Anoka-Hennepin families and community members who subscribe on a weekly basis during the school year, excluding breaks (and periodically during the summer). Questions, comments or concerns about the Backpack Online e-newsletter? Contact us.