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Backpack Online - February 20, 2024
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February 20, 2024
Grad Spotlight
Champlin Park grad giving back to the community by empowering youth in the Brooklyns
She didn’t travel the path she thought she would, but 2009 Champlin Park High School (CPHS) graduate Chia Lee Xiong is where she is meant to be. After a stop at Three Rivers Park District doing community outreach work, Xiong is a data, evaluation and youth participatory action research coordinator at the Brooklyn Bridge Alliance for Youth (BBAY).
At BBAY she is part of a team that shares a vision of contributing to each young person thriving, particularly those who have been historically marginalized, by challenging inequities and creating conditions that build hope.
Born in California, Xiong’s family moved to Minnesota in the mid-1990s and she began school in Anoka-Hennepin in third grade at Evergreen Park Elementary. She then attended Jackson Middle School - A Specialty School for Math and Science where she developed a love for science after taking an elective health class.
District demographic projections; enrollment expected to remain steady
The district recently published demographic projections in an article in the Winter 2024 edition of the the FOCUS newsletter, detailing enrollment projections shared at the Anoka-Hennepin School Board meeting Nov. 27. The comprehensive study was conducted by Hazel Reinhardt, a consultant who served as the first demographer in the state of Minnesota.
Why it matters: The study was intended to provide district leaders with a comprehensive analysis of the current and future student population to best inform future planning and decision-making - with a focus on five-year projections out to the 2028-29 school year; and ten-year projections out to the 2032-33 school year. The study outlined the school board's commitment to proactive planning for the future. Read the full story.
Ten district student-athletes recognized for their work in sports and the arts
🏃 Ten Anoka-Hennepin student-athletes have been nominated for the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) Triple “A” Award for the 2023-24 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: Claire VanGheem and Finnian Dillinger.
- Anoka High School: Grace Morphew and Evan Freking
- Blaine High School: Angelina Drews and Nathan Taylor
- Champlin Park High School: Emily Whitehouse and Charlie Hibbs.
- Coon Rapids High School: Jaida Gray and Charles Schulte.
Winter sports and activities roundup
With the winter sports and activities season wrapping up, take a look at who’s heading to state, and how they fared when they performed and played. Updates are available from:
- ⛷️ Boys and girls alpine skiing.
- 🎿 Boys and girls nordic skiing.
- 💃 Dance.
- 🏒 Girls hockey.
Superintendent Cory McIntyre visits STEP for roundtable discussion
On Feb. 9, Anoka-Hennepin Superintendent Cory McIntyre facilitated a conversation with students at the Secondary Technical Education Program (STEP) for the fifth of several scheduled student roundtable discussions throughout the district.
Why it matters: The conversation with students attending STEP proved to be a little different than those at the traditional high schools. Students choose to attend courses at STEP, while also having experiences to draw upon from their home high schools.
What they're saying: The comments students shared included having the best teacher-to-student relationship they have ever had, feeling the expectations are higher because of a more focused learning environment, and that STEP has provided a space to discover who they are. 📸 View photos from the superintendent roundtable discussion at STEP.
The big picture: Superintendent McIntyre values student voice in the decision-making process and ensures the district provides a safe, welcoming, positive school environment.
The students had the opportunity to ask questions, which led to learning more about what a superintendent does, why the high school schedule starts earlier than the other levels and the hope for more career exploration programming at five traditional high schools.
🗞️ Read more about the Superintendent roundtable discussion at STEP.
Getting ready for school: Easy as 1-2-3!
Families can prepare children for preschool and kindergarten now if they are planning to start in the fall.
- Verify that your child meets the age requirements for school.
- Enroll online so we can save you a seat!
- Make a plan to attend information sessions and welcome events.
Third-graders cash in on economics basics
Students in Maya Keating’s third-grade classroom at Rum River Elementary School recently merged their math skills with creativity and concepts they learned in a recent economics unit in a pretend, hands-on experience she dubbed, “Market Days.” 🛒
💶 First, they had the opportunity to earn “money,” as a reward in class.
✂️ Then, they could use the “money” to buy supplies such as paper, string, glue, scissors and markers to make their “goods” from the “store” at Keating’s desk.
🔨 Next, they were challenged to create a product from the “goods” they purchased.
🎨 Lastly - students designed a sign to market their product - and interacted with classmates to “sell” products from their new businesses.
The big picture: “Students were able to learn about competition and scarcity, and how to be responsible with their money,” Keating explained. “The activity strengthened their knowledge of economics vocabulary that can be difficult to understand, and money - while also building upon their social skills with each other.”
Students prepared goods for "Market Days."
Students "purchased" items to create "goods" to sell.
Understanding money with hands-on learning activities.
Sampling school meals, studying family savings from Universal School Meals
School Board members sampled school meal items before a presentation from Child Nutrition director, Noah Atlas, at the School Board work session which took place Monday, Feb. 12 at the Gathering Place cafeteria located at the school district’s Educational Service Center in Anoka.
🍳What’s cooking: Samples included a southwest chicken salad and Philly beef sandwiches, orange chicken and rice, alfredo chicken pasta, bean and cheese pupusas, buffalo veggie nuggets, black bean burgers, turkey avocado wraps, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, along with assorted fruits and vegetables.
✅ Taste tests: Approximately ten new meal items are piloted at schools each year. Of those new meal items, usually, only three will stay on the menu long-term based on student interest.
👛 Atlas shared data from Anoka-Hennepin Schools related to Universal School Meals, a new state law providing breakfast and lunch to students at no cost to families, which went into effect this school year.
School Board director to serve on MSBA Board of Directors
Anoka-Hennepin School Board director Dr. Michelle Langenfeld was recently elected to the Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA) Board of Directors representing District 5.
Langenfeld was elected to fulfill the final year of the three-year term previously held by former board member Nicole Hayes. She will represent Anoka-Hennepin, St. Francis, Centennial, Spring Lake Park, Fridley and Columbia Heights school districts on the state-wide board.
The MSBA Board consists of 13 district directors and two officers.
Langenfeld was elected to the Anoka-Hennepin School Board in November 2023 and took an oath of office on Jan. 8, 2024. She represents District Five, which includes residents in Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, southern Coon Rapids and Fridley.
As a member of the board, Langenfeld serves on the following committees: Association of Metropolitan School Districts, Brooklyn Bridge Alliance for Youth, Minnesota State High School League board representative for Champlin Park High School, Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Committee, and Student Services Advisory Committee.
Health service program facilitator represents Minnesota at the national level
Anoka-Hennepin health service program facilitator Kathy Schulz was elected by her peers as the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) Director for the School Nurse Organization of Minnesota (SNOM).
🩺 Why it matters: As the NASN director, Schulz serves as a liaison between the state and national organizations and shares the work of both groups. She represents the state of Minnesota at the national level. She joins NASN in Washington, D.C. to meet with other state directors from around the country to advocate and lobby for legislative priorities surrounding school nurses.
Schulz began working in Anoka-Hennepin as a school nurse in 2003 and was hired as an infection control nurse in the fall of 2020 before transitioning to her current role in 2022.
🗣️ What they’re saying: “It’s an honor and a privilege to serve in this role,” Schulz said. “Because that means that they have trust and faith in me that I will advocate for them and do my job. I’m coming back [to Anoka-Hennepin] with the best practices and if we can get our nurses to utilize their skills and best practices, we can make a huge difference in the lives of students.”
📰 Learn more about Schulz and her role as Anoka-Hennepin’s health service program facilitator.
BHS student set to lead at the state level
🩺 From a young age, Elaine Phan knew she wanted a career where she would be able to help people in need. Currently, the Blaine High School junior is gaining valuable experience with both the school and state chapters of HOSA – Future Health Professionals, which will guide her closer to her professional goals.
Leadership role: Phan has taken her experience to the next level and is currently the president-elect of Minnesota HOSA. This year she is the mentee to the president and is in training to become leader of the state organization next school year.
“My entire HOSA experience has been an extremely introspective one,” Phan said. “I’ve learned about how I best communicate, lead others and learn from others. I never stop learning in HOSA.”
Sense of community: In the school chapter, she is the social media manager and has helped to build a positive reputation for the club at the school. Phan said she has loved the leadership and community aspect of HOSA and networking with professionals in the health industry.
“Knowing the community Minnesota HOSA has created, I feel excited, comfortable and supported in the transition as my future position as president.”
Looking to her future: After high school, Phan plans to study neuropsychology to help those struggling with their mental health. 🗞️ Read more about Phan and learn about HOSA.
Donors, sponsors give generously at the 2024 Northern Stars Celebration
🌟 The Anoka-Hennepin Educational Foundation’s (AHEF) annual Northern Stars Celebration on Saturday, Feb. 10 was a great success, with donors and sponsors giving an unprecedented $88,000 for the Anoka-Hennepin students, schools, and foundation.
“Once again, our sponsors and donors went all in and we can’t thank them enough,” said Lynn Montgomery, event chair and board secretary for the AHEF. “We have such deep and generous support from our community, from our sponsors and from within the district. As a grandparent of students in the district and as a volunteer, it’s very affirming.”
Read more about this year's AHEF Northern Stars Celebration.
Parent Education Series: Next Parent Engage 360 event set for Thursday, Feb. 29
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 second Parent Engage 360 event will be held on Thursday, Feb. 29 at 6:30 p.m. at the Champlin Park High School auditorium and will feature Beth Lovre, family peer educator with the National Alliance of Mental Illness Minnesota. The event, titled You’re the Expert: How to successfully advocate for your child, will provide parents/guardians with information and resources on how parents can be an advocate for their child in the doctor’s office, the mental health system and in public education settings.
Learn more about Parent Engage 360 events at ahschools.us/parentengage360.
What’s next:
- Thursday, Feb. 29: You’re the Expert: How to successfully advocate for your child
- Speaker: Beth Lovre, Family Peer Educator, National Alliance on Mental Illness Minnesota
- Location: Champlin Park High School, auditorium
- Time: 6:30-7:30 p.m.
- Register for this event (registration is not required, but helps with planning)
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.