In the Know - August 12, 2024
It takes all of us to prepare for a great year
District principals, directors and administrators came together Wednesday, August 7 at Andover High School to connect, learn and prepare to welcome the rest of district staff and students back to school in the coming weeks. 📸 View photos from the event.
Superintendent Cory McIntyre revealed the theme for the 2024-25 school year: The Power of Purpose - It takes all of us. During his address, he reflected on the potential impact the district can have in its communities if all staff are on the same team. Through his speech and the guest speakers, district leaders were encouraged to remain focused on fostering positive relationships with students, families and staff in the upcoming year.
Why it matters: Keynote speaker Mark C. Perna is the author of “Answering Why - Unleashing passion, purpose and performance in younger generations,” a best-seller and winner of eight national book awards. Perna encouraged educators to consider how fostering connections with students in the upcoming year can inspire students to find their spark - or their own future purpose, while fueling their own passion in their employment and education.
The sky's the limit: Zach Crowe was welcomed as this year’s Alumni Spotlight. He graduated from BHS in 2017 following aviation career exploration in the Secondary Technical Education Program (STEP) and completing earlier grades at Johnsville Elementary and Roosevelt Middle School. Crowe now soars as a pilot for Delta Airlines, and spoke about the many positive impacts teachers in the district have had on him.
It takes all of us: All district staff will learn more about the Power of Purpose and how all staff members make a difference in our schools during welcome back workshops and the annual convocation.
A change in district HRA and FSA plan administration
Anoka-Hennepin will be transitioning to a new Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) plan administrator, OneBridge Benefits, Inc. (OneBridge) starting Sept. 1, 2024.
The district’s integrated HRA and retiree HRA currently with MidAmerica Administrative and Retirement Solutions (MidAmerica) will be transitioning to OneBridge. The FSA plan, which is currently being administered in-house will also be transitioning to OneBridge beginning with the new plan year. Retirees with a Special Pay Plan with MidAmerica will remain with MidAmerica.
The decision to transition the servicing and administration of the HRA and FSA plans was not an easy decision, but in an effort to improve service levels, contribution processing, claims administration, and customer service satisfaction, the decision was made to transition to OneBridge, which will greatly benefit employees and retirees. With the service track record OneBridge brings to the table, Anoka-Hennepin is confident this will be a smooth transition.
If you have any specific questions or concerns regarding this transition, please do not hesitate to reach out to the OneBridge Customer Care Team at 888-865-1628, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. as any one of their friendly representatives will be happy to assist you.
District transportation safety coordinator earns state award
Anoka-Hennepin Schools transportation safety coordinator Jeff Mueller has been named the 2024 Minnesota Association of Pupil Transportation (MAPT) Administrator of the Year.
🏆 About the award: The award is presented annually to an individual who exemplifies outstanding qualities that support and further the mission of MAPT. Mueller was recognized at the MAPT annual Train the Trainer seminar held July 22-24 in St. Cloud.
🚌 A lifetime of service: With over 40 years in the student transportation industry, Mueller has spent 25 years as the transportation safety coordinator for Anoka-Hennepin Schools. Mueller is responsible for providing safety and health leadership, communication, training and curriculum related to transportation safety districtwide and hires, retains and supervises over 300 employees including paraeducators, crossing guards and traffic control staff.
He also coordinates the annual School Bus Safety Poster Contest in the district, promoting school bus safety and allowing students to showcase their creativity and perspective with transportation safety.
Mueller has been involved with the Minnesota Train the Trainer seminars for 31 years serving as senior staff, past director, presenter and committee member and has also been a long-standing member of the Minnesota State School Bus Safety Road-e-o Committee serving as the co-director and director of the event.
A-HConnect URL change
The A-HConnect (the Lock & Key) URL has been changed. The new URL is https://ahconnect.ahschools.us/. If you have the old URL bookmarked, it will redirect to the new URL for a limited time. Be sure to update your bookmarks or documents with the new A-HConnect URL.
Back-to-school FOCUS
🔎 The first edition of the 2024-25 Back-to-School FOCUS e-newsletter was sent to all families on July 29 as a resource for families to prepare for the upcoming school year. A second back-to-school e-newsletter will be sent to all families on Aug. 19.
đź’» The e-newsletter includes dates for the upcoming school years, supply lists, verification forms and other important updates to help families prepare for the 2024-25 school year.
🎓Families of high school students received a special high school version of the Back to School FOCUS e-newsletter on Thursday, Aug. 8.
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.
The enrollment window for the 2024-25 school year begins Aug. 1, 2024.
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.
Anoka-Hennepin asks that all families complete an online application to provide additional school funding to support all students in the district. By filling out this application, your school can earn funding and you can save money.
Complete back-to-school verification, now
Families may now complete their student’s back-to-school verification online by logging into A-HConnect.
Why it matters: Verification ensures that each student’s school has confirmed emergency contact information and releases for the safety of each student.
Deadlines: It’s important that each family completes the verification process before the first day of school. Verification is easy to do online, on your own time, whenever it’s convenient.
- Even if families’ contact information has not changed, it’s important to log in to access a variety of other student information in the coming weeks, including class schedules and teacher assignments, attendance, school handbooks, progress reports and grades for middle and high school students.
- High school students will not be able to enroll in fall activities until the back to school verification process is complete.
Login details: Visit A-HConnect to complete your student’s back-to-school forms for the upcoming school year.
- Parents/guardians can access back-to-school forms by clicking the lock icon and “Login” at the top right corner of any district or school website.
- Then, select, "My Student Information."
- Next, choose “Online registration.”
- Select “Back-to-school annual verification.”
- View the tip sheet for directions.
If a family needs help finding their login/password, direct them to email 506help@ahschools.us or call 763-506-HELP for assistance.
Middle and high school families: Back-to-school verification also includes the option to enroll in an optional protection plan for district-issued Chromebooks, which are assigned to students in grades 6-12 to ensure access to technology systems that support classroom learning. Visit ahschools.us/techprotect to learn more.
Families may enroll in Tech Protect for district-issued Chromebooks July 1
Technology plays an important role in preparing students for life, and Chromebooks are utilized as a daily learning tool in Anoka-Hennepin middle and high school classrooms. Anoka-Hennepin students in grades 6-12 are assigned a Chromebook from the school district to ensure access to technology systems that support classroom learning.
Over 28,000 Chromebooks are distributed to students the first week of school. As careful as students and schools are, accidents do happen each year - and thousands of Chromebooks are returned at the end of the school year with damages.
Plan ahead: Families have the option to enroll in the Device Protection Plan beginning July 1. The Technology Protection Plan is optional; it is not required, however, by electing not to participate in the Protection Plan, families may be required to reimburse the school district for the replacement or repair of damaged Chromebooks assigned to their student/s. Damaged or broken screens may cost between $50 to $150 depending on parts needed; or the replacement cost for the entire device could be up to $410.
Families can opt-in to the Device Protection Plan by logging into A-HConnect, and selecting "My Student Information," and "Fees." Parents must select or decline coverage under the Device Protection Plan. View detailed information at ahschools.us/techprotect.
