Backpack Online - May 13, 2024
On April 29, the district school social workers hosted an internship fair to recruit interns for the 2024-25 school year.
Why it matters: Anoka-Hennepin employs school social workers across the district to provide evidence-based emotional/behavioral interventions and mental health services to students as well as consultation to staff and administration.
School social workers help bridge connections between home, school, and community to support students’ success at school.
About the program: An important piece of that puzzle throughout the years has been the addition of the internship program. The program provides a dual benefit, helping college students complete hours for degree completion and also providing district students with more support.
Another benefit of the program is that interns become accustomed to working as a school social worker in Anoka-Hennepin and become candidates for full-time positions within the district. For next school year, five current interns have been hired as full-time school social workers.
Partnerships: The district has also established two partnerships that continue to provide internship opportunities, one within the Anoka-Hennepin Community Education Adventures Plus program and another with Augsburg University.
The input of parents and guardians is valuable in helping improve the district’s service to students and families. The Anoka-Hennepin School District would like parents’/guardians’ opinions on the schools your children attend.
To gather this information most cost-effectively, the district is administering a brief survey online. As always, all answers will remain confidential.
Surveys may be completed using the login code sent in a letter to all families with students enrolled in Anoka-Hennepin through U.S. Mail anytime between May 13 and June 14. A paper copy may be requested as needed by calling your child’s school. Paper surveys are available in English, Arabic, Hmong, Oromo, Somali, Spanish and Vietnamese. Paper surveys must be completed and returned to the school by June 14.
Please complete a survey for each school where your family has children enrolled. If a family has two children in the same school, base responses on the oldest child.
In addition, a random sample of parents/guardians of students at select elementary schools will be surveyed by telephone. The telephone survey is brief, generally taking between five and 10 minutes. All phone responses, again, are confidential.
Thank you in advance to the participants. Parent/guardian input is valuable in helping the district improve its service to students and families.
🎓Metro North Adult Basic Education (ABE) recently hosted a heartwarming graduation ceremony, marking a significant milestone for several adult learners who received their adult diplomas or GEDs. The event was attended by numerous family members and friends who came together to celebrate the remarkable achievements of these dedicated individuals.
The ceremony was a culmination of hard work, perseverance, and determination exhibited by the graduates throughout their academic journey. For many, obtaining an adult diploma or GED represents more than just an educational accomplishment; it signifies a gateway to new opportunities, personal growth, and enhanced prospects for the future.
Amidst cheers and applause, each graduate walked across the room to receive their well-deserved recognition. Special guests included Julie Jeppson, Anoka County Commissioner; Cory McIntyre, Anoka-Hennepin Schools Superintendent; School board members, Jeff Simon and Kacy Deschene; Michelle Trelstad, Executive Director of Community Education and Government Relations; and Tracy Knighton, Community Education Director.
The significance of the Metro North ABE graduation ceremony extends beyond the conferral of diplomas; it symbolizes the transformative power of education and the unwavering support of a community dedicated to uplifting individuals of any age towards success.
🤝 Leaders from the local faith community joined Anoka-Hennepin administrators and staff at the Educational Service Center (ESC) on May 10 to celebrate the district’s Faith Community Partnership (FCP). Visitors were welcomed by Superintendent Cory McIntyre and Director of Student Services Nate Manaen before a morning of activities led by the FCP Steering Committee.
The FCP: The Faith Community Partnership is a collaborative effort of the Anoka-Hennepin School District and faith-based organizations, connecting schools and communities.
Teamwork: The event provided an opportunity for Anoka-Hennepin to celebrate the incredible support it receives across the district from the faith community partners to help meet the needs of students. View photos from the FCP celebration.
Participants and organizers used the opportunity to connect and discuss ways to strengthen and build upon the support systems that have been put in place by the partnership.
📸 View photos from the 2023-24 Faith Community Partnership celebration.
🏅The Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) awarded Anoka-Hennepin Schools the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting (COE). The school district earned the Certificate of Excellence for its Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023.
Why it matters: ASBO International’s COE recognizes districts that have met the program’s high standards for financial reporting and transparency.
🔑 Consistency is key: This marks the 22nd straight year of earning the recognition.
Background: To be considered for the award, school districts must submit their Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for review by a team of financial professionals who provide feedback to improve future documents. Districts whose ACFR complies with all key program criteria are eligible for the award. Anoka-Hennepin Schools posts its ACFR annually on the district website with annual reports and evaluations.