Cyclone Chronicles
Sixth graders at Anoka Middle School for the Arts have been connecting their arts experiences with social studies for the past two weeks, working with local ceramics artist, Elizabeth Coleman, on a project that will leave its mark on the school for years to come.
Coleman, who has a passion for creating murals, guided more than 250 students in the Ceramics and Sculpture course in creating tiles based on a Minnesota icon drawing they completed in Minnesota Studies, a social studies class that focuses on Minnesota history. AMSA ceramics teacher Terra Houltberg said the plan is to select a number of the student’s titles to create a mural in a grid formation that would be a permanent installation at the school.
View photos of students working on their ceramic tiles.
“The most rewarding thing about being here is seeing the students engage with and focus on that 5x5 inch world that they are creating,” Coleman said. “They lose what is going on in their day and look calm while working.”
Sixth graders Violet Sullivan and Jazmyn Krzmarzick chose to feature their favorite Minnesota sports teams and are working on the tiles that celebrate the Twins and the Wild, respectively.
“I like doing this project because I get to leave my mark at the school,” Krzmarzick said.
Registration for the 2024-2025 school year is right around the corner!
Current 6th and 7th graders:
All registration materials are live on our Website
January 4: All 6th and 7th graders will receive information/forms during Connections
January 10th (7th-8th grade): All signed registration forms are due to ELA teachers
January 10th (6th-7th Grade): All signed registration forms are due to Science teachers
January 11th: Current 7th graders will fill out online forms during ELA
January 11th: Current 6th graders will fill out online forms during Science
Current 8th graders:
December 15: Course Selection will go out to AMSA students and families from AHS
January 3:
Registration Video shown to 8th graders in Science class
January 4:
Curriculum Exploration Event at AHS, 3:00 - 6:00pm. All 8th grade students and families are invited to attend
Online registration window opens
Online registration info will be emailed to all AMSA students and parents from AHS
January 12: Deadline (midnight) for online course registration input
If any current 8th graders are interested in attending one of the High School Magnet Programs:
Anoka High School (Center for Science, Technology Engineering, Arts, and Math - STEAM)
Blaine High School (Center for Engineering, Math, and Science - CEMS)
Champlin Park High School (International Baccalaureate - IB)
Coon Rapids High School (Center for Biomedical Sciences and Engineering - Biomed)
The lottery deadline is Sunday, December 31st. Application
AMSA Destiny Library
Destiny "How-to" link:
Digital Library
NEW!
MackinVia Tutorial https://youtu.be/CA-F-novlbI
Alone by Megan E. Freeman
Alone follows 12-year-old Maddie, who gets abandoned by some twist of fate when her entire town is mysteriously evacuated. Left alone with no human in sight, she bonds with a Rottweiler named George. Soon after, they lose power and then water, and Maddie has to fend for herself using a variety of creative means and the town resources at her disposal, including an empty library, grocery store, and neighbors’ homes.
Maddie is alone for months and has to safeguard herself from wild animals, terrible weather, and dangerous intruders, on top of the fear and loneliness of being all by herself. This novel-in-verse is a story of survival that leaves readers to wonder what they might do in her shoes.
Available in AMSA libraries as well as on MackinVia!
The AMSA Winter Book Fair will be held in the Washington campus library January 10-16, including during conference evenings. Scholastic eWallet is a digital payment system. Instructions for setting up an eWallet for your student can be found in this link.
Want to be the first to know about school events & opportunities?
Both Campuses
Filling out your forms does not commit you to volunteering, it only puts you on the
list to receive event information.
Unmasking Cultures in Latin America Day
Fred Moore Campus
Thursday, January 4th 10:30 AM - 2:15 PM
Act as a Gallery Attendant during Latin Culture Day.
Both Campuses
Thursday, January 11th & Tuesday, January 16th
Please consider food donations to our staff on this very busy day.
Science 6 Lab Donation Request
Washington Campus
Runs through January 10th
Science 6 students are learning about the moon's phases
and is requesting donations for their upcoming lab.
Fred Moore Campus
Tuesday, January 9th & Wednesday, January 10th
6:30-8:30 PM
Help supervise dancers, escort dancers to the stage, usher or
supervise the camera during recording.
FMC - Media Center
Tuesday, January 9th 8:25 - someone wins (noon)
Greeting/Checking in spellers, handing out participation certificates to spellers during
rounds, handing out snacks at break.
Washington Campus
Wednesday, January 11- Friday, January 12th & Tuesday, January 16th
Mornings 7:45 - 8:45 AM
Assist students and run the cash register.
Both Campuses
Come when it’s convenient for you before February 29th
Volunteers are needed to hang student art in the hallways.
This is a great opportunity for PSEO students seeking volunteer hours!
Art Department Donation Request
Washington Campus
The Art Department is seeking ice cream buckets with lids for their classroom. These buckets will be used to keep clay projects from drying out.
Washington Campus
Trimester 2 - ends November March 8th
Do you have extra school supplies laying around your house? The SPED Department is requesting school supply donations.
Washington Campus
MN Studies are hoping to collect 600 brown paper grocery bags for an upcoming project.
Fred Moore Campus - Cafeteria
Wednesdays starting November 1st and runs until May 29th from 3:05-5:00 PM
Take attendance, hand out snacks, oversee light cleanup.
Volunteers are welcome to run games if interested.
This is a great opportunity for high school students seeking
volunteer hours after school.
Anoka High School
Saturday, February 10th
The Fair consists of students in grades K-12 presenting the findings of their research and experimentation to the public. With well over 2,000 students involved, this Fair is the largest of its kind in the entire State.
In order for this Fair to work, we need community members to be volunteers and/or
judges at the Fair. Prospective judges do not need science or math backgrounds. We provide training for all of the judges. We are looking for responsible adults who are willing to give something back to the community. Your job as a judge is to talk with students about their projects and give them feedback.
Parent Engage 360 forum events are offered both in-person and in virtual formats and are free and open to the public.
Interested in Volunteering or Donating?
Fill out your paperwork now so you will be ready if you decide to volunteer. Go directly to the volunteer forms by following this link to the volunteer forms or contact Volunteer Services for further assistance. When you sign up you will be sent weekly event opportunities.
Interpreter Services available upon request for volunteers.
For this service, please contact Volunteer Services three days prior to volunteering.
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FREE training being offered this year for PTO, Booster club and Nonprofit leadership
Educational Service Center, 2727 N. Ferry Street Anoka, MN 55303 - Erling D
Register for this free training below
In-person Math Plus or Challenge Reading Training Registration
Arrin LaFreniere
Anoka Middle School for the Arts
Volunteer Services Coordinator
(763)506-5153
This e-newsletter is published by Anoka Middle School for the Arts, supported by the Anoka-Hennepin communication and public relations department. Questions, comment or concerns about the school e-newsletter? Contact us.