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Backpack Online - June 2, 2023
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June 2, 2023
2022-23 Anoka-Hennepin graduation season begins
Anoka-Hennepin Regional High School graduates celebrate with diplomas
Proud family and friends celebrated the accomplishments of the 37 newest Anoka-Hennepin Regional High School (AHRHS) graduates in a ceremony held at Anoka Technical College on Wednesday, May 31.
The commencement ceremony featured opportunities for student leadership. Graduating seniors AJ Anderson and Rachel Godfrey were featured speakers. School Board members Nicole Hayes, Jeff Simon and Kacy Deschene, joined associate superintendent for secondary schools, Dr. Josh Delich, in congratulating the students on their accomplishments.
Located in Coon Rapids and serving the entire district, AHRHS provides a smaller high school setting and personalized instruction to guide students toward graduation.
View photos from the event and view the ceremony on QCTV - Quad Cities Community Television in the cities of Andover, Anoka, Champlin, and Ramsey or online at www.youtube.com/qctv.
Diplomas earned, 111 honored at Anoka-Hennepin Technical High School graduation
The Anoka-Hennepin Technical High School (AHTHS) commencement signals a significant accomplishment for the 111 graduates, offering high school degree completion and a platform to launch into postsecondary education opportunities and career goals.
AHTHS, located on the campus of Anoka Technical College, guides students who did not graduate with their peers to diploma completion while also introducing pathways to post-secondary options. The school location, with convenient access to college programs, PSEO options and experienced staff, provides a seamless transition for students from high school to postsecondary opportunities.
In addition to earning diplomas, 17 graduates also earned an accumulated 110 total college credits.
Student speakers at the ceremony included Urie Youboty and Dayna Francis.
School Board members Erin Heers-McArdle and Kacy Deschene joined Interim Superintendent Dr. Kate Maguire and Associate Superintendent for High Schools, Dr. Josh Delich, in congratulating the students on their accomplishments.
Anoka-Hennepin Technical High School was recognized nationally for innovation and excellence with a Magna Award from the National School Boards Association in 2016. Watch a replay of this year's graduation ceremony. View a series of photos from the event.
Bridges and Pathways programs celebrate graduates with ceremonies
On May 31, the Pathways program honored 48 graduates at the program's building in Coon Rapids. Then on June 1, the Bridges program recognized 32 graduates at the Educational Service Center in Anoka.
Anoka-Hennepin is committed to providing special education services to students with disabilities who have not yet met the requirements for a diploma through their Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals to the age of 21. Both the Pathways and Bridges programs provide students with special needs who have completed high school, have not yet taken their diploma and have transition needs, benefit from a setting that is specifically designed to prepare them for working and living in the community.
Live coverage for upcoming high school graduation ceremonies
Anoka-Hennepin will hold graduation ceremonies for Andover, Blaine, Champlin Park and Coon Rapids high schools Sunday, June 4 at Maturi Pavilion on the University of Minnesota campus. Anoka High School will hold its graduation ceremony Monday, June 5, at Goodrich Field. Regional and Technical High School graduation ceremonies will be held at Anoka Technical College in Anoka.
Sunday, June 4 - Maturi Pavilion
- Champlin Park High School - 10 a.m. - Watch live.
- Blaine High School - 1 p.m. - Watch live.
- Coon Rapids High School - 4 p.m. - Watch live.
- Andover High School - 7 p.m. - Watch live.
- Anoka High School - 7 p.m. - Watch live.
For more information about graduations, including links for live coverage, visit the district website.
Two district seniors named Triple Threat students by Hennepin Theatre Trust
Anoka High School senior Ashley Wongbi and Coon Rapids High School senior Imani Harris named Triple Threat students
Anoka and Coon Rapids high school seniors Ashley Wongbi and Imani Harris were selected as Triple Threat on Hennepin students by the Hennepin Theatre Trust. The pair have earned a spot following an extensive auditioning process where they submitted singing and dancing performances and an essay about how they have made the school better before being selected for a live audition.
To be named a Triple Threat, students must demonstrate exceptional skills in singing, acting, dancing and leadership. Starting May 30, Triple Threat students participate in an intensive coaching, rehearsal and performance process in preparation for Spotlight Showcase, an event celebrating the best of Minnesota high school theater. More than 1,600 students will participate in the awards and recognition event at the historic State Theatre on June 12 and June 13.
District to close Monday, June 19, 2023 in observance of Juneteenth holiday
Anoka-Hennepin Schools will be closed on Monday, June 19, 2023, in observance of the Juneteenth state holiday. School or district-sponsored summer, after-school and evening activities, including Adventures Plus school-age child care, will be canceled. Families enrolled in summer programs previously scheduled will be notified of any potential refunds, credits or rescheduling plans.
The decision follows legislation passed into law by the Minnesota Legislature in late May during the most recent legislative session.
Summer Food Service Program
District participation in the Summer Food Service Program makes meals available to children at select school sites
The Anoka-Hennepin School District will participate in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), which provides meals to all children 18 and under, free of charge.
Meals will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis, at 14 sites across the district. The program will start Thursday, June 15 at most sites. Meal availability and serving times vary from site to site and are subject to change. Review a list of sites and meal times for more information.
Meals will be served inside school buildings. Parents accompanying their children may purchase a meal. Adult breakfast is $3.00 and lunch is $5.00. Exact change is required, and no checks will be taken.
The SFSP was created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to ensure that children could continue to receive nutritious meals during summer break, when they may not have access to school breakfast or lunch.
For more information, please contact Anoka-Hennepin child nutrition at 763-506-1240 or staff.CnpEnrollment@ahschools.us.
Five district teams represent Minnesota at Destination Imagination Global Finals
Northdale Middle School team places third
Anoka-Hennepin sent five teams to the Destination Imagination Global Finals in Kansas City, Mo. May 20-23 competing against teams from all over the world, including China, India, Canada, Pakistan, Qatar, Turkey, Australia, Brazil, Guatemala, as well as teams from all over the United States.
Teams at each level represented the very best in the world, sharing their best solution to this year’s challenges in Engineering, Science, Fine Arts, Improvisation, and Community Service.
Northdale Middle School team Struck by Creativity members Garrett Bower, Weston Finco, Gratia Foxx, Aiden LaPage and Gabby Fournier placed third in the world in the Community Service Challenge High Stakes. Struck by Creativity also recorded the highest score of all middle school level teams in the Instant Challenge. Read more about the teams representing Anoka-Hennepin at this year's Destination Imagination Global Finals.
Students share learning and leading from 2022-23 at Ramsey Leadership Day
On May 25, Ramsey Elementary School invited families and community members to its annual Ramsey Leadership Day, which provides students the opportunity to showcase the learning done in 2022-23.
Ramsey Elementary participates in the Leader in Me program. The annual school event offers the students a chance to display their leadership skills through interactive and engaging projects and activities. The day also allowed students to sign up to showcase a talent (musical, dancing, gymnastics) in the main entrance while families entered the building. View photos from Ramsey Leadership Day. Read more about the annual event.
University Avenue Elementary - Aerospace, Children's Engineering and Science piloted the Leader in Me program for Anoka-Hennepin in 2018-19 and also conducted a leadership day on May 25.
District elementary students explore advanced writing skills on college campus
“The conference allows students to envision themselves as authors and foster their love and interest in writing for future learning opportunities,” explained Chad Libby, Anoka-Hennepin Teaching and Learning Specialist for Elementary Talent Development. Libby coordinated students attending the conference with chaperone teachers from each of the district’s 26 elementary schools.
Students were able to choose from and participate in a variety of breakout sessions to learn new strategies, ideas and skills to become better writers. Sessions focused on a range of topics, including developing characters, turning stories into song or poetry, transforming personal narrative into fiction, bringing scenes to life, crafting surprise, burying treasure in a story, fantasy and science-fiction, making comics, conquering fear and basing writing off of a true story. Read the full story.
Chromebooks available to most high schoolers this summer; Tech Protect details
Beginning in the fall of 2023, students will be responsible for the same Chromebook for their secondary school careers - creating a culture of care with electronic devices. Anoka-Hennepin Schools coordinates with Google software updates, which are supported and updated with security and feature enhancements for the life of the device.
In preparation, the Anoka-Hennepin Schools technology team has a distribution and turn-in plan at each school level. Watch for specific news and details about the coordination of turn-in and distribution from your school:
Middle school: Students will turn in their devices at the end of the 2022-23 school year, and will receive a Chromebook in the fall at the back to school open houses.
High school: Chromebooks will be available for most high school students to keep and use over the summer months.
Students in 10th grade at Blaine, Champlin Park and Coon Rapids high schools will need to return devices for the summer, and all 12th grade students will return Chromebooks to their schools.
Tech support over the summer months is limited, but in the event that your device is lost or damaged, please contact the main office at your child’s school for assistance as soon as possible. It’s important to address any damages as soon as possible to ensure your device is ready for learning in the fall.
If you are moving schools or to another district, please return your device to your school. Contact the main office to return the device.
If parents decide to opt out of summer use, they must return the device with the charger before school ends for the school year.
To protect your device over the summer months, or at the start of the 2023-24 school year, families have the option to enroll in the Device Protection Plan now. Visit ahschools.us/techprotect for details.
2022-23 spring sports and activities round-up
With the spring sports and activities season wrapping up, here’s a look at who’s heading to state, and how they fared when they performed and played. Also included is information about post-season awards gathered by student-athletes and coaches.
Adapted Softball
The Minnesota State High School League Adapted Softball State Tournament physical impairment (PI) division will be held June 2-3 at Chanhassen High School.
The Anoka-Hennepin Mustangs qualified for the adapted softball state tournament in the PI division and earned the No. 2 seed. The Mustangs open play on Friday, June 2, taking on No. 3 seed Minneapolis South at 6:30 p.m.
The winner between Anoka-Hennepin and Minneapolis South will play the Dakota United Hawks in the semifinals at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 3. View the complete bracket for the state tournament on the MSHSL website.
Middle school track and field teams compete in district meet
Hundreds of athletes took to the field at Andover High School on Thursday, May 25, 2023, for the district-wide middle school track meet. Teams from all six of Anoka-Hennepin’s middle schools competed in track and field events while friends and family cheered them on.
The spring middle school sport continues to be a favorite with more than 500 kids participating in track and field this year. In addition to multiple running events, athletes also competed in the long jump, shot put and high jump.
Middle school track and field is coordinated by Anoka-Hennepin Community Education. Organizing such an event is a feat in itself and wouldn’t have been possible without the help of amazing staff, coaches and more than 80 volunteers.
Project Power participants sing at Minnesota Twins game
The sun was out and the Minnesota Twins were hot as they took on the Toronto Blue Jays at Target Field on Saturday, May 27.
The 9-7 win was just icing on the cake for participants in Project Power, an Anoka-Hennepin Community Education program that provides learning opportunities and activities for adults with special needs. The group was not only at the Minneapolis stadium to catch some baseball, but they were also there to perform during the seventh inning stretch.
Sporting matching Project Power t-shirts, participants went down to the field to sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” in front of thousands of Twins fans. The group was also featured on the jumbotron.
Read the full story on the Anoka-Hennepin Community Education website.
Additional District News
- Action of the School Board, May 22, 2023.
- Live coverage and facility information for upcoming high school graduation ceremonies.
- Parent Attitude and Satisfaction Survey available online until June 16.
- Device Protection Plan available for families with students assigned district Chromebooks.
- 2022-23 spring sports and activities round-up.
- Parent Engage 360 Podcast Episode 32 Part 2: A districtwide approach to school safety.
- School Board votes to amend 2022-23 school year calendar.
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This e-newsletter is published by Anoka-Hennepin Schools. It's sent to Anoka-Hennepin families and community members who subscribe on a weekly basis during the school year, excluding breaks (and periodically during the summer). Questions, comments or concerns about the Backpack Online e-newsletter? Contact us.