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Backpack Online - May 26, 2023
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May 26, 2023
District recognized for excellence in music education
The Anoka-Hennepin School District has been recognized with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) for the ninth year. The honor recognizes a district’s outstanding commitment to music education.
Anoka-Hennepin was one of seven school districts in the state, and 830 nationally, to earn the award in 2023.
Dr. Josh Delich, associate superintendent of high schools; and Doug Schmitt, Schmitt Music, presented the award from NAMM to district music teachers Candace Cooper (Rum River Elementary) and Ryan Palmer (Coon Rapids High School) at the regular School Board meeting May 22. Cooper and Palmer accepted the award on behalf of the music teachers in the district alongside Interim Superintendent Dr. Kate Maguire and members of the school board.
NAMM is a non-profit organization that aims to advance participation in music-making for all ages by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs. The Best Communities for Music Education award recognizes outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students, and community leaders who have made music education part of a well-rounded education. Designations are made to districts demonstrating an exceptionally high commitment and access to music education.
To be considered for the award, NAMM conducts an extensive review process to evaluate districts on a variety of factors - both in and outside the schools - from funding levels, participation, access to instruction, and minutes of instruction per grade level, to musical activities in and around the community.
28 district high school musicians earn All-State honors
Twenty-eight high school musicians from Anoka-Hennepin were named to Minnesota Music Educators (MMEA) All-State ensembles for the 2022-23 school year.
MMEA’s All-State – considered the top program of its kind across the nation – develops high school musicians and school music programs. The All-State program supports secondary school music ensembles, MMEA members and members’ students.
Students in high school bands, choir and orchestras audition for an All-State spot in March and are then evaluated by judges on their overall musicianship and technique before final rosters are selected in April. A total of 573 students were selected for seven All-State groups. Visit the district website to view names of Anoka-Hennepin students named to all-state ensembles.
Chromebooks available to most high school students over the summer months
Make a plan to protect your device
Beginning in the fall of 2023, students will be responsible for the same Chromebook for their secondary school careers - creating a culture of care with electronic devices. Anoka-Hennepin Schools coordinates with Google software updates, which are supported and updated with security and feature enhancements for the life of the device.
In preparation, the Anoka-Hennepin Schools technology team has a distribution and turn-in plan at each school level. Watch for specific news and details about the coordination of turn-in and distribution from your school:
Middle school: Students will turn in their devices at the end of the 2022-23 school year, and will receive a Chromebook in the fall at the back to school open houses.
High school: Chromebooks will be available for most high school students to keep and use over the summer months.
Students in 10th grade at Blaine, Champlin Park and Coon Rapids high schools will need to return devices for the summer, and all 12th grade students will return Chromebooks to their schools.
Tech support over the summer months is limited, but in the event that your device is lost or damaged, please contact the main office at your child’s school for assistance as soon as possible. It’s important to address any damages as soon as possible to ensure your device is ready for learning in the fall.
If you are moving schools or to another district, please return your device to your school. Contact the main office to return the device.
If parents decide to opt out of summer use, they must return the device with the charger before school ends for the school year.
To protect your device over the summer months, or at the start of the 2023-24 school year, families have the option to enroll in the Device Protection Plan now. Visit ahschools.us/techprotect to learn more.
Hamilton Elementary community gathers for multicultural and fine arts night
Parents and guardians and family members of Hamilton Elementary School students showed up in large numbers for the multicultural and fine arts night at the school on the evening of May 25.
Students and guests participated in a variety of multicultural and fine arts activities throughout the school, including projects from different cultures around the world. The evening also included a fashion show with students and family members dressed in traditional clothing.
Guests also enjoyed a dinner featuring a menu of foods from different cultures.
Another highlight of the night included the entire student population in attendance singing We Are the World, which students have been practicing in music classes for weeks in preparation for the event.
View photos from the Hamilton Elementary multicultural and fine arts night.
Crooked Lake teacher Kerri Deile named KS95 Teacher of the Week
A teacher in Anoka-Hennepin for 17 years, Kerri Deile of Crooked Lake Elementary School, has been selected as KS95 Teacher of the Week. She accepted the award in front of her kindergarten classroom.
“I am honored to be recognized as a KS95 Teacher of the Week,” Deile said. “I will cherish the family’s words forever. My friend is well on his way to becoming a confident first grader who knows he can do hard things. Working at Crooked Lake, I am surrounded by an amazing team of colleagues who support me on a daily basis, and we make it our mission to build relationships with all of our students. One of our core beliefs is, ‘students don’t know care what we know, until they know we care.’”
Listen to Deile’s on-air interview with KS95.
Deile is the fourth KS95 Teacher of the Week from the district in the 2022-23 school year and was interviewed on the KS95 morning show.
Anoka High School seniors showcase talent and creativity at STEAM Expo
Anoka High School (AHS) seniors in the Center for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) program showcased their capstone projects on May 18 when school staff, families and community members were invited to the school for the AHS STEAM Expo.
Forty-one projects were on display for demonstrations and explanations, and a short program in the auditorium spotlighted five of those projects. The program also featured three STEAM senior dancers and a presentation of awards and a scholarship. Other members of the STEAM program provided hands-on opportunities for visitors. A total of 45 seniors will be graduating with their STEAM Certification in June. View photos from the event. Read more about the projects on display.
Blaine High School CEMS program celebrates senior capstone projects
Seniors in the Center for Engineering, Mathematics and Science (CEMS) program at Blaine High School (BHS) presented their capstone projects on May 18.
The annual event celebrated a total of 119 students who were in 25 groups. The teams took turns on the auditorium stage to present their capstone projects to BHS staff, students, mentors from the community and families. The students then went to the cafeteria where projects were on display to allow them to demonstrate their prototypes and answer questions. Seniors were also honored with a CEMS medal. View photos from the event. Read more about the projects and the CEMS program.
Anoka-Hennepin celebrates 38 seniors from the NWSISD Step-Up Mentorship Program
For 94 students across the Northwest Suburban Integration School District (NWSISD) consortium, graduation happened May 18, thus ending their tenure in the Step-Up Mentorship Program.
Of those 94 students, 38 were from Anoka-Hennepin’s five traditional high schools.
Additionally, LaKhil Garlington from Champlin Park High School was this year’s recipient of the $2,000 Possibility Scholarship. Read more about the NWSISD Step-up program.
Summer jobs available
The district is seeking candidates interested in summer employment for the Extended School Year programs at both elementary and secondary levels, including special education paraeducators, child care staff, custodians, secretaries and more. View all summer positions and apply online.
School Board Treasurer Erin Heers-McArdle visits AMSA as guest presenter
Anoka-Hennepin School Board Treasurer Erin Heers-McArdle visited Advanced Science 8 classrooms at Anoka Middle School for the Arts Fred Moore Campus on May 12 to share her passion and knowledge of both the sciences and the arts.
Heers-McArdle is a fine art jeweler and metalsmith and spent her time talking with the students about what a jeweler needs to know when working with metal. She discussed the types of metals she uses, demonstrated the science behind what happens to metals when exposed to extreme temperatures and brought examples of her work to explain the metal shaping process.
“I use a lot of science in the art I do,” Heers-McArdle said. “I wanted to show the students how to incorporate the two things together and that there are different ways to make a living as an artist.” Read more and view photos from her visit to AMSA.
Student-built picnic tables up for auction
Students in the Blaine High School (BHS) Exploring Construction class have constructed two picnic tables, which are now open for bidding. The starting bid is set to $300 to cover the cost of lumber and to support future hands-on learning opportunities.
The six-foot picnic tables are made out of brown treated lumber and exterior deck screws. Act now! The auctions are scheduled to close June 9:
In the news: Wallin Scholars in Blaine, Champlin Park high schools showcased
A total of 29 students from Anoka-Hennepin Schools were named Wallin Scholars, a competitive scholarship that provides up to $16,000 over four years in support of higher education pursuits. Scholars also receive advice and support from Wallin Education Partners. Cable television stations in Blaine and Champlin Park visited the two high schools recently to learn more.
CCX Media spoke with Champlin Park High School seniors Kaylee Rakow and Shaine Kilyun to learn what the Wallin Scholarships mean for them.
North Metro TV in Blaine spoke with former Anoka-Hennepin Schools superintendent, Denny Carlson - who now serves on the Wallin Education Partners board of trustees, in addition to Blaine High School college and career counselor, Jill Wolfe; and two seniors, Alexandra “Lexi” Nwameme and Nicholas Reither.
Additional District News
- Action of the School Board, May 22, 2023.
- Live coverage and facility information for upcoming high school graduation ceremonies.
- Parent Attitude and Satisfaction Survey available online until June 16.
- Device Protection Plan available for families with students assigned district Chromebooks.
- 2022-23 spring sports and activities round-up.
- Parent Engage 360 Podcast Episode 32 Part 2: A districtwide approach to school safety.
- School Board votes to amend 2022-23 school year calendar.
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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.