In the Know - December 16, 2024
New District ID badges to be used for building access
🪪 All district employees recently received a new District identification badge. The new badges are equipped with key fob technology and will serve as your tool for building access.
Why it matters: These modern badges are part of the district’s ongoing commitment to enhancing school safety and security. To ensure a smooth transition, the district is implementing the new technology in a phased approach. Staff are encouraged to have their new identification badge and key fob for building access until all buildings are equipped with the new technology.
When buildings receive the new equipment, key fobs will no longer work for building access.
The new identification badges currently work at the following buildings:
- Educational Service Center, Blaine Early Childhood Center, Andover and Johnsville elementary schools, Coon Rapids, Oak View and Roosevelt middle schools, Champlin Park and Coon Rapids high schools, and the Compass program.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation as the new systems are installed districtwide.
If you did not receive a new identification badge, please contact staffbadges@ahschools.us.
Upcoming learning sessions for the Trusted Partner Scholarship Program at Saint Mary’s University
🎒 Anoka-Hennepin and Saint Mary’s University continue to partner with the Trusted Partner Scholarship Program providing special benefits for district employees and a spouse.
Saint Mary’s is hosting three information sessions in January about educational programs. To register for an information session, use the links below:
- Monday, Jan. 13 (4-4:45 p.m.) - M.A. in Special Education.
- Tuesday, Jan. 14 (4-4:45 p.m.) - M.A. in Education.
- Wednesday, Jan. 15 (4-4:45 p.m.) - Ed.D.
💻 Learn more about the Saint Mary's Trusted Partner Scholarship program on the Staff Intranet.
Action of the School Board - December 9, 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 December 9, 2024 meeting.
For agendas, meetings and minutes visit ahschools.us/schoolboard.
The Power of Quiet: It Takes All of Us
In a world buzzing with constant activity, the power of quiet is often overlooked. From the steady hum of notifications to the relentless pace of daily life, silence can seem like an elusive luxury. But quiet isn’t just a reprieve—it’s a force. It is where reflection happens, creativity is born, and meaningful connection takes root. And cultivating quiet isn’t a solitary task; it takes all of us to build a culture that values and protects it.
Quiet allows us to listen—to others, to ourselves, and to the world around us. When we embrace quiet, we make space for deeper understanding and empathy. It gives us the patience to hear a child’s hesitant words or a friend’s unspoken need. It allows us to think before we speak and act with intention. These small acts of attention and presence ripple outward, shaping communities where respect and mindfulness thrive.
But in a society that often glorifies busyness, fostering quiet is a collective effort. It means choosing to pause rather than push, to encourage rest as much as action, and to honor moments of silence instead of rushing to fill them. It means rethinking how we design our workplaces, schools, and homes, creating environments where quiet isn’t stifling but empowering.
The power of quiet doesn’t demand a world without noise. It asks for balance—a shared commitment to make space for the moments that matter. Together, we can rediscover the strength that lies in stillness and the beauty of simply being. After all, in the quiet, we find not only ourselves but also each other.
Here are a few examples:
- Use advantage of “Mindfulness” on your Smartwatch
- Take a minute to look out the window or at a favorite picture
- Set up space for a puzzle in your home or workspace and commit to completing 5-10 pieces per day
Acing Authorship: Sixth-grader publishes novel, inspired in his fourth-grade classroom
📝 As a fourth-grader at Sunrise Elementary School, Hayuu Seeroo spent time drafting stories in his fourth-grade English Language Arts (ELA) class. It was there that his dream to become an author was inspired - and became a reality this fall as he started sixth grade at Roosevelt Middle School in Blaine.
📘🔎 Seeroo’s book, “Agent Ace,” is now available in bookstores and online, but also in the Sunrise Elementary School library - where Hayuu’s family donated copies of the book.
Krista Cullen, his fourth-grade teacher, is now reading the story with her current class. “It’s an honor that Hayuu was inspired in my class, but his accomplishments are also a testament to all of his teachers and his family who have supported him in this journey,” Cullen said.
Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting celebrates Alley & Ave in Downtown Anoka
🎉 Anoka-Hennepin’s student-focused Alley & Ave retail boutique is now open in Historic Downtown Anoka, building employment skills for students and value for shoppers. The Anoka Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting December 5 to welcome the new store in time for holiday shopping.
🛍️ Alley & Ave is open to the public to shop home decor, gifts and furniture refurbished by students. The store provides hands-on experience for special education students who are part of the district’s work-based learning program, TEAM (Teaching Employability through Assessment and Manufacturing), a program designed for high school and transition-aged students to grow additional skills before seeking paid employment.
💻 Learn more about the new retail store and view photos from the ribbon cutting event.
Seasonal concerts at district middle and high schools
⛄ If you are looking for holiday entertainment, look no further than your school community. There are various music concerts at district middle and high schools in December and January.
🎤🎷🎻Those performing at a special location or requiring tickets include additional notes. All events take place at the stated school unless otherwise noted. 🔎 View a listing of upcoming music and other seasonal performances.
College in the Schools delivers $1,000,000 in college tuition credit for students
🎓 Increasing academic rigor with college-level courses for 381 high school students has resulted in 1,895 credits and associated value through participation in the University of Minnesota’s College in the Schools program (CIS) during the 2023-24 school year.
Why it matters: Students can get a money-saving running start into college by earning credit along with gaining exposure and rigor to challenging college coursework. Participation can help students make decisions about their post-secondary plans and how college can help them reach their goals.
💻 Visit the district website for more information about CIS.
School Board approves property tax levy with 1.20% reduction for 2025
The Anoka-Hennepin School Board approved a 1.20% reduction in the school portion of the property tax levy for 2025 following their annual truth-in-taxation public hearing at their Monday, Dec. 9 School Board meeting.
Go deeper: Similar to cities, counties and other taxing authorities, the School Board authorizes property tax levies annually at their December meeting. The levies, which amount to $138 million in 14 different categories, amount to a $1.7 million reduction for next year, or 1.2%.
💻 Read more and watch the Truth in Taxation presentation on the district website.
