FOCUS - September 2024
By the numbers
Anoka-Hennepin welcomed back around 38,000 students starting September 3 as the 2024-25 school year began with excitement and busy school buildings in the 13 communities that make up the school district.
Adding it up:
- 🍎 Anoka-Hennepin Schools feeds 70% of the nearly 37,000 students daily, including an average of 10,760 breakfast meals per day and almost 27,000 lunches daily.
- 🚌 Vehicles, including buses and vans, travel over 35,000 miles per day, or 6 million miles annually transporting students to and from school.
Read more about district operations on the district website.
District high schools use online ticketing for athletics and activities events
New this school year, Anoka-Hennepin Schools has partnered with GoFan for mobile ticketing for athletic events at all five traditional high schools (Andover, Anoka, Blaine, Champlin Park and Coon Rapids). Fans can purchase tickets online through their respective school’s GoFan page, the GoFan App or by presenting a card or mobile payment option at the ticket gate. All major credit cards are accepted, along with Apple Pay.
You can make a difference. Work at Anoka-Hennepin Schools!
Anoka-Hennepin Schools is a great place to live, learn and work. Our community relies on the skills and talents of people to learn and grow, and our staff make a difference at our schools and for our students each and every day.
It's more than just free meals! Apply for educational benefits for the 2024-25 school year
All Anoka-Hennepin families are encouraged to apply for the educational benefits program for the 2024-25 school year. A new application must be submitted each school year.
Although school meals are still free, your family may still qualify for other educational benefits. If your family needs access to educational benefits available to your student, an application can be completed by visiting ahschools.us/freereduced.
Representation needed on district Special Education Advisory Council
A broad range of parent/guardian representation is needed at Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) meetings for the upcoming school year from families with students in all age levels - including early childhood, elementary, middle school, high school, and transition-aged students - with a full continuum of student disabilities.
- What it is: SEAC (pronounced “seek”) is a council comprised of parents/guardians of students in the district who receive Special Education services.
- Why it matters: The intent of SEAC is to advise the school district on parent involvement, current issues, program development and established department priorities. The council serves as a resource and as an advisory council for special education programs in the district.
Action of the School Board - August 26, 2024
Action of the School Board provides brief summaries of Anoka-Hennepin School Board meetings. View the latest Action of the School Board from the August 26, 2024 meeting.
For agendas, meetings and minutes visit ahschools.us/schoolboard.
Teaming up for positivity at high school athletic events and activities
📣 Student leaders from Andover, Anoka, Blaine, Champlin Park and Coon Rapids high schools gathered at Andover High School Thursday, Aug. 29 for “Bleacher Captain” training in preparation for the upcoming sports and activities season. The training covers sportsmanship and positive spectator behavior and expectations.
📰 Read more about the Bleacher Captain training.
Multilingual Learner Family Night supports school connections
This year, Anoka Hennepin's student services department will host Multilingual Learner Family Nights at the Welcome Center (11224 Crooked Lake Blvd., Coon Rapids) to welcome and support families in the district.
During the first event on Aug. 13, district staff supported multilingual families navigating the school system and provided resources to help a successful transition and start the school year.
District middle schools welcome incoming sixth-grade students, create sense of belonging
Anoka-Hennepin middle schools hosted WEB Day Aug. 21 to help ease the transition to a new school for sixth grader students making their next step in their academic journey.
WEB stands for Where Everybody Belongs, which is a national mentoring program that typically works with sixth graders at the school. Each school has teachers who serve as WEB Advisors and eighth grade students who volunteer as WEB Leaders, which provides opportunities for leadership and mentoring within the school community.
District adds boys' volleyball as a sanctioned high school league co-curricular activity
All five traditional Anoka-Hennepin high schools (Andover, Anoka, Blaine, Champlin Park and Coon Rapids) will now offer boys volleyball as a sanctioned Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) co-curricular activity. The School Board approved the recommendation at the regular meeting on Aug. 26.
🏐 Learn more about the addition of boys volleyball in Anoka-Hennepin.
Two Rivers Transition Program at Franklin opens doors for first class of students
Staff are settling in at Two Rivers Transition Program at Franklin, which welcomed its first class of students this week. The new program is a merger of two special education transition programs in the district, Bridges and Pathways, which were formerly located at leased spaces in Andover and Coon Rapids.
Utilizing the space at Franklin preserves the history of the district, as the oldest school facility in the Anoka-Hennepin School District, open 151 years prior to closing upon completion of the 2022-23 school year. Re-purposing provides the district with budget, resource and staff efficiencies with the merging of the two programs.
Learn how the program serves the community and honors the history in downtown Anoka.
Register for fall youth classes and activities
As a new school year begins, don’t forget about opportunities for youth after school and in the evening! Anoka-Hennepin Community Education hosts a wide variety of classes, clubs, recreational activities, and events to enhance your child's academic and social experiences. Classes and activities through Anoka-Hennepin Community Ed offer students a chance to try something new, have fun and make new friends!
