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Backpack Online - March 4, 2024
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March 4, 2024
Announcing recipients of 2023-24 Above & Beyond Awards
🎉 Fifteen outstanding district employees have been selected to receive the Anoka-Hennepin School District’s 2023-24 Above & Beyond Award, a program to recognize outstanding employees for innovation, creativity, caring and commitment.
The recipients are:
- Marta Biegler, Jackson Middle School, special education teacher (DCD and PI) and case manager.
- Melyssa Carlson, Educational Service Center, technology, technology facilitator.
- Cory Davis, Champlin Park High School, physical education teacher and coach.
- Amanda Eilertson, Champlin Park High School, academic intervention teacher.
- Lori De Jong, Lincoln Elementary, school office supervisor.
- Sheila Joslin, Oxbow Creek Elementary, school office supervisor.
- Mindy Meyers, Waapishki Kiisis Ikwe, Educational Service Center, American Indian Education Program Coordinator.
- Bich Lieu Nguyen, Educational Service Center, technology, instructional technology facilitator.
- Corinna Nunnery, Oxbow Creek Elementary, Adventures Plus, site coordinator.
- Ray Richardson, Educational Service Center, buildings and grounds, maintenance manager.
- Denise Schnabel, Evergreen Park Elementary, principal.
- Hannah Schrempp, Oak View Middle School, secondary reading teacher.
- Julia Stock, Brookside Elementary, teacher, grade 2.
- Penny Walsh, Riverview Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE), parent and family educator.
- Coral-Lyn Wyman, Champlin Park High School, assistant principal.
The 2024 Above & Beyond Awards ceremony to honor these 15 exceptional employees will take place Wednesday, April 3 at the Educational Service Center (ESC).
The Above & Beyond Awards involve students, staff, parents and community members in recognizing and rewarding Anoka-Hennepin employees. Over 150 staff members were nominated for the 2024 awards, the 27th year of a recognition program in the school district’s history.
The Anoka-Hennepin Educational Foundation (AHEF) and Anoka-Hennepin Schools sponsor the Above & Beyond Awards program jointly.
The “Book-a-teers” from Roosevelt Middle School win 2024 Battle of the Books
📚 A team from Roosevelt Middle School proudly held the Battle of the Books traveling trophy Feb. 29 at the Anoka-Hennepin Educational Service Center, as the annual competition challenges middle school students to prove their knowledge and understanding of literature.
📖 How it works: Teams of students first compete within their middle school community, with the winners advancing to a district-level Battle of the Books competition. The annual competition promotes reading and comprehension of literature in a fun and engaging format. A total of 19 teams representing all six middle schools battled to prove they learned key concepts from 25 books chosen for this year’s competition.
🏆 The champions: The winning team, who chose the name of “Book-a-teers,” was Hazel Schmitt, Sydney Schlichting and Siena Zaiser from Roosevelt Middle School. The Battle of the Books coordinator at RMS is Jodi Blair, a sixth grade teacher. 📸 View photos from the competition on Feb. 29.
"This competition was really fun and I made some friendships along the way,” Schmitt said. “It made me read a lot more books than usual."
Students earning top gains honored at Academic Growth Award event
What does it feel like to be one of the top five percent for increased academic achievement in your school? Students and families answered that question at the second and final Academic Growth Award recognition event held Wednesday, Feb. 28 at Blaine High School.
🌟More “wins” for students: Schools have traditionally recognized the high honors in academics, athletics and artistic accomplishments of students. The Anoka-Hennepin School Board developed the Academic Growth Award program to celebrate additional “wins” for students in the areas of math, reading and language acquisition.
📏 Measuring progress with data: The district found ways to gather data using the existing tests such as the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP), Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA), CogAT and ACCESS tests. Growth was measured by comparing performance on two of the same assessments in any of the three examined areas.
📚3,000 successful stories: Approximately 3,000 students meet the criteria each year, receiving a certificate at the school level. The top students from each school are recognized in person by the School Board and district leaders at the Academic Growth Award recognition events.
“Working with district administrators to study academic data, the School Board is using this platform to honor the determination of students that made significant academic growth over the course of a school year,” said Dr. Mary Wolverton, associate superintendent of elementary schools.
The event on Feb. 28 recognized students identified at Blaine and Coon Rapids-area elementary and middle schools, and Compass programs.
📺 Watch the archived live stream of the event Feb. 28. (40 minutes)
📸 View photos from the Feb. 28 event.
Superintendent McIntyre visits CPHS for roundtable discussion
On Feb. 23, Anoka-Hennepin Superintendent Cory McIntyre visited Champlin Park High School (CPHS) for a conversation with students for the sixth of several scheduled student roundtable discussions throughout the district.
Why it matters: Superintendent McIntyre values student voice in the decision-making process and ensures the district provides a safe, welcoming, positive school environment. During the hour-long sessions, McIntyre and other school district administrators aim to gather student perspectives on the high school experience.
What they’re saying: “Having the leaders in our school building gives me hope,” said Paul Hodari Scott, II. “It gives me so much excitement that we can share our story and make a difference in our school. The superintendent isn’t someone you get to talk to every day, it’s just a chance to make a difference and I love chances.”
The big picture: Students shared their favorite classes at CPHS and discussed their thoughts on what classes they would recommend all students take during high school. CPHS students also shared how they were proud of their school’s diversity and felt that students accept one another’s differences.
🗞️ Read more about the Superintendent roundtable discussion at CPHS.
📸 View photos from the Superintendent roundtable discussion at CPHS.
Contract approved: School Board approves new two-year contract with AHEM
AHS students ‘rise’ to the occasion, explore careers and shadow Lincoln teachers
Anoka High School (AHS) students interested in education careers were able to envision themselves pursuing their future aspirations as part of their school day on Wednesday, Feb. 28, when they visited Lincoln Elementary School for the Arts to shadow teachers - an opportunity provided through the Educator’s Rising program.
🙌 Why it matters: Educators Rising is a program that introduces students to the teaching profession and allows them to gain a realistic understanding of the nature of the profession and the roles of educators in various areas of expertise. The program advisor at AHS, Katie Hale, explained, “It’s such a great resource for students to be able to discover if education is for them.”
⭕ A full circle experience: Mahogany Mechelke, an AHS sophomore who hopes to one day be an elementary school teacher, had the unique opportunity to shadow teacher Hailey Skinner, a 2015 grad of AHS. Skinner first explored her interest in teaching by participating in a child development class at AHS as a student herself. Skinner is currently in her second year teaching first grade at Lincoln Elementary, following her experience teaching preschool at the school, in addition to Riverview Early Childhood Center.
🫶 Not only teaching: Another AHS sophomore, Cedar Kilby, spent the afternoon in a music classroom - focused on exploring how psychology fits in a school setting. Kilby enjoys participating in after-school opportunities to support students at school. “We have helped with a book drive, write cards for kids in hospitals and help with activities at other schools.”
📰 Read the full story.
📸 See photos from the Educators Rising visit at Lincoln Elementary.
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:
- 🤼 Wrestling.
- 🏊♂️ Boys swimming and diving.
- 🏒 Girls hockey.
- 🤸♀️ Gymnastics.
Coon Rapids High School musicians perform at annual music educators conference
🎵 The Coon Rapids High School - Center for Biomedical Sciences and Engineering (CRHS) music department received high honor on Saturday, Feb. 17 with multiple ensembles performing at the annual Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA) annual Midwinter Clinic at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
CRHS was selected to perform its annual Traditions Concert, which included the Concert Choir, Bel Canto, Raven Street Project, Concert Orchestra, Cardinal Strings, Wind Ensemble and Jazz 1. To be considered for the clinic, schools must submit recordings of performances from the last two school years and be selected by an MMEA panel of educators.
Anoka-Hennepin students jam at annual Middle School Jazz Festival
🎶 For around 20 years, middle school students in Anoka-Hennepin have gathered for a mid-year concert full of talented musicians and a festive evening at the Middle School Jazz Festival.
🎷 Get in the groove: On Feb. 29, a full house of parents/guardians and family members clapped and sang along as students from all six middle schools in Anoka-Hennepin displayed their talents.
Each jazz band performed three songs during the festival and the night concluded with teachers from all six schools joining on the stage for a surprise staff performance, which was a hit with the audience, especially the middle schoolers.
What they’re saying: “It takes a lot of dedication from our students to be in a jazz band,” said Lora Ukaegbu, band director at Anoka Middle School for the Arts, Washington. “Students spend extra time rehearsing and performing in extra concerts and it shows in our band classes too, the extra dedication.”
“It is a nice offshoot from band,” said Sabrina Olson, band director and music competition teacher at AMSA, Fred Moore. “Jazz music is more technically challenging, the rhythms are more technically challenging and the key signatures that students read in. There are so many different parts to jazz music, including improvisation.”
🗞️ Read more about the Middle School Jazz Festival.
📸 View photos from the Middle School Jazz Festival performances.
Parent Engage 360: Watch the latest presentation
Event recap: You’re the Expert: How to Successfully Advocate for your Child
Anoka-Hennepin hosted parents/guardians and community members in-person and online Feb. 29 for the second of three events in the Parent Engage 360 series this school year.
In case you missed it: Beth Lovre, a family peer educator with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Minnesota, was the keynote speaker on Thursday, Feb. 29 at the Champlin Park High School Auditorium. Lovre provided parents/guardians with information and resources on how to advocate for their children in the doctor’s office, the mental health system and in public education settings.
🎥 Watch a replay of the event.
Learn more about Parent Engage 360: Parent Engage 360 events aim to provide resources to parents and guardians to support their students and others in the community. Anoka-Hennepin Schools realize the importance of parent engagement in maximizing student success.
What’s next: The final Parent Engage 360 event is set for Monday, April 1 at Andover High School and will feature Claire Weiss, youth programs coordinator with myHealth for Teens and Young Adults and Anoka-Hennepin chemical health prevention specialists Josh VanHeuveln and Abigail Rice for a discussion on tobacco and vaping prevention.
To learn more and register to attend this event, please visit ahschools.us/parentengage360.
Tune in for more: For more resources, tune in to the award-winning Parent Engage 360 Podcast which is available on Podbean, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music/Audible, Spotify, iHeartRadio and Samsung Podcasts.
In the news: CCX features collaboration between CP orchestra, English class
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.
If your family has a younger sibling or if you know a neighbor interested in starting school this fall, use or share the following steps so we can keep you informed of important welcome events and information.
- 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.
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