Backpack Online - Jan. 13, 2023
Jan.13, 2023
District third grade students receive free dictionaries from community partners
Each year, the Anoka-Hennepin Educational Foundation (AHEF) along with community partners Anoka, Coon Rapids and the Blaine/Ham Lake Rotary Clubs, the Ramsey and Dayton Lions Clubs, and Connexus Energy, donate dictionaries to every third grade student in the district.
For more than 20 years, these organizations have provided roughly 2-4,000 dictionaries per school year to students across the district. The dictionary also includes an encyclopedia, braille and American Sign Language alphabets, as well as the longest English word and other fun features for students to discover.
On Dec. 16, Anoka-Hennepin School Board Director Kacy Deschene joined Coon Rapids Mayor Jerry Koch and Coon Rapids Rotary Club member Alan Hamel to distribute dictionaries to third grade students at Mississippi Elementary School.
View photos from the dictionary give away on Dec. 16 at Mississippi Elementary.
School Board holds annual organizational meeting
The Anoka-Hennepin School Board held its first meeting of 2023, Monday, Jan. 9. The agenda for the first School Board meeting of the year serves as an organizational meeting, where the board selects officers and receives appointments for committee assignments along with conducting annual business functions.
The organization of the Anoka-Hennepin School Board did not change following this year’s meeting. Marci Anderson (District Two) will continue to serve as chair and Nicole Hayes (District Five) as vice chair. Erin Heers-McArdle (District One) will continue to serve as treasurer and Jeff Simon (District Six) as clerk. During the meeting, the School Board also approved a listing of planned meetings and work sessions through July 8, 2024.
To watch a replay of the meeting online, or catch up with details of School Board meetings in the Action of the School Board publication, visit ahschools.us/schoolboard.
District to host hiring event for operational positions Jan. 18
Attendees can participate in same-day, on-site interviews
The Anoka-Hennepin School District will host an in-person hiring event for operational positions Wednesday, Jan. 18 from 2-6 p.m. in the Erling Johnson Rooms A and B at the Educational Service Center (ESC), located at 2727 N Ferry St. in Anoka (enter Door 7).
Join us to learn more about employment opportunities and have a same-day, on-site interview for the positions listed below. Participants are strongly encouraged to begin filling out an application ahead of time at ahschools.us/jobs and come prepared to interview with hiring managers.
Preparing for the 2023-24 school year
Families have many choices today for their student’s education. Students enrolled in Anoka-Hennepin Schools are assigned to attend school based on their home address, and students transitioning to middle or high school have already received a placement letter via postal mail. A reminder email was sent this week.
If a family is planning to send a child to kindergarten next school year, or if a family is interested in exploring alternate school options for the 2023-24 school year, now is the time to learn more. Information sessions and open houses for specialty/magnet schools are scheduled now through February, and elementary schools will offer kindergarten registration events beginning in March through April, varying at each school.
If you have more questions about enrollment, visit ahschools.us/enroll, call Anoka-Hennepin Schools Application and Connection Services department at 763-506-1030 or email enrollmentoptions@ahschools.us.
Testing opportunities for students to earn world language special recognitions
Anoka-Hennepin students in grades 10-12 with a mastery of world languages can use that knowledge to earn special recognitions – World Language Proficiency Certificates or Bilingual/Multilingual Seals.
Additionally, college credit can be awarded to these students who attend or transfer to Minnesota State Colleges and Universities and select other post-secondary institutions within three years of graduation from Anoka-Hennepin.
Spring testing dates are March 28 and/or March 30. The registration deadline is Friday, March 24 at 3 p.m. Cost is $30 per assessment, or $10 if the student receives free or reduced-price lunch.
To learn more about this opportunity, see the languages currently available, and register to take an exam, visit ahschools.us/bilingualseal.
Ten district student-athletes nominated for MSHSL Triple “A” Award
Ten Anoka-Hennepin student-athletes have been nominated for the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) Triple “A” Award for the 2022-23 school year.
Each year, the MSHSL honors student-athletes who excel in Academics (3.0 GPA or better), Athletics (at least one MSHSL-sponsored athletic activity) and Arts (MSHSL-sponsored debate, one-act play, speech, visual arts, and instrumental or vocal music). The award is given to one senior female and one senior male in the state.
Anoka, Blaine, Champlin Park and Coon Rapids high schools represent Region 5AA while Andover High School is in Region 7AA for the MSHSL Triple “A” Award.
Each school in the state can nominate one senior female and one senior male student for consideration. Triple “A” Award recipients are selected through a multi-level process involving member schools of the league, the league’s administrative regions, and a special committee of educators, business leaders, and members from the fine arts and athletics communities.
The Anoka-Hennepin nominees for the Triple “A” Award are:
- Andover High School: Chloe Voss and Andrew Haglund.
- Anoka High School: Layla Alm and Danny Ness.
- Blaine High School: Shalom Sulungaine and Bradyn Nordeen.
- Champlin Park High School: Gabby Wahl and Cody Cramer.
- Coon Rapids High School: Kennedy Martinson and Nate Larson.
AMSA 8th graders experience Latin American cultures through cross-curricular day
On Jan. 6, eighth graders at Anoka Middle School for the Arts (AMSA) immersed themselves in Latin culture with the school’s annual cross-curricular event - Unmasking the Cultures of Latin America Day.
AMSA has its own collection of Latin American masks, which was turned into an exhibition in the media center. The exhibition collection was expanded thanks to the resources from the Northwest Suburban Integration School District multicultural library and generous contributions from AMSA staff members. Students did a scavenger hunt to learn more about the masks and other Latin American artifacts and instruments.
To learn about the different styles of Latin music, the students were invited to watch a show by Salsa del Soul, a Twin Cities-based group performing various styles of dance music from the Spanish-speaking regions of the Caribbean.
Other classes also participated in Latin American-related activities: math classes explored the Mayan number system, ELA classes designed masks that depicted personal symbols of significance to students, and science classes examined the volcanoes in the region. View photos from the day.
Generous donations make grant opportunities available for district projects
The Anoka-Hennepin Educational Foundation (AHEF) has opened the first round of grants for the 2023-24 school year. Grant awards typically range between $200 and $7,000 depending on the scope and depth of the proposed project.
Grant awards further the mission of the AHEF, which is to cultivate equitable and innovative experiences for students in the Anoka-Hennepin Schools. AHEF does not typically fund capital expenses, alternative seating, furniture, or staff development, which are core responsibilities of the district. “It is because of our generous donors, that these funds are available to teachers and staff to benefit students,” said Tess DeGeest, Executive Director of the AHEF. “Donors make this possible because they care about kids, and they care about education.”
All grant recipients commit to submitting a report on the impact of the grant-funded project along with photos, videos and/or testimonials of the grant’s impact on students. "We are especially interested in seeding innovative projects and those that address the equity gap for our students. We also recognize that mental health and wellbeing continues to be a primary concern for our students and welcome grants to address these needs," said DeGeest. Applications close on March 31, 2023. Questions about the grant process should be directed to Tess DeGeest at 763-506-1107 or via email at Theresa.degeest@ahschools.us. Read more about the benefits of AHEF grants.
Tickets still available for annual AHEF Northern Stars Celebration
Every year, the Anoka-Hennepin Educational Foundation (AHEF) hosts a fun, lively party called the Northern Stars Celebration, to celebrate the excellence that is our Anoka-Hennepin students, schools and Foundation. Tickets are still available for this year's event. Register today for the Northern Stars Celebration as a limited number of tickets remain.
This year's Northern Stars Celebration is set for 5:30 to 10 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 11, at the Bunker Hills Event Center in Coon Rapids. The evening includes a social hour, silent and live auctions, games, dinner, a special appeal, and entertainment. Get your tickets now. For more information, please contact Tess DeGeest, executive director of the AHEF, at 763-506-1107.
School Board votes to amend 2022-23 school year calendar
The last day of school for elementary students will now be Wednesday, June 7, while secondary students will have their last day Thursday, June 8
The School Board approved a change to the district calendar at its December 12 meeting, converting June 8 to a non-student contact day at the elementary level. There will be no change to the schedule at the secondary level. The last day of school for elementary school students will be Wednesday, June 7, while the last day of school for secondary students will remain Thursday, June 8.
This change will allow elementary staff additional time to prepare for transitions that will occur from the current school year to the next, including the closing of Franklin Elementary School and boundary changes across the district.
Additional district news
- Parent Engage 360 Podcast Episode 29: Stay Above the Line - promoting sportsmanship and positive fan behavior.
- New $225 substitute teacher rate at select sites and on Fridays now in effect through the end of the school year.
- Winter weather information.
- In-district transfer deadline for specialty schools is Jan. 15.
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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.