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Backpack Online - March 31, 2023
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March 31, 2023
Celebrating the 2023 Above & Beyond Awards recipients
At a ceremony held March 29, 13 outstanding district employees were honored as Anoka-Hennepin School District’s 2022-23 Above & Beyond Award recipients.
The recipients:
- Billie Davis-Fehr, Monroe Elementary, teacher, special education (ASD).
- Lana Johnson, Ramsey Elementary, teacher, grade 3.
- Rachel Jorgensen, Anoka High School, teacher, work based learning.
- Sarah Kisiah, Northdale Middle School, teacher, English, AVID support teacher.
- Dominic Krebsbach, Monroe Elementary, teacher, grade 4.
- Sarah Lindbo, Champlin-Brooklyn Park Academy, teacher, grade 2.
- Jennifer Peña, Blaine High School, licensed school nurse.
- John Peña, Coon Rapids High School, principal.
- Molly Schuster, Oxbow Creek Elementary, paraeducator, elementary.
- Jacob Southmayd, Dayton Elementary, teacher, special education (ABS).
- Minh Strusz, Hoover Elementary, principal.
- Bill Underwood, Educational Service Center, teaching and learning specialist, special education technology.
- Jacque Weidner, Lincoln Elementary, teacher, special education (SLD).
The 2023 Above & Beyond Awards ceremony was held at the Educational Service Center (ESC) in Anoka and was attended by 150 people. Watch a replay of the event.
Anoka-Hennepin recognizes that over 7,000 staff members across the district do amazing work each day in supporting the students, schools and the communities. This year, over 150 staff members were nominated for the honor. Read more about the 2023 recipients.
School Board approves twigScience as K-5 Science curriculum
The elementary Science curriculum study process concluded Monday, March 23, after the School Board unanimously approved twigScience as the preferred curriculum for K-5 Science to begin in the fall of 2023. The $2.6 million investment follows a competitive curriculum review process that includes public feedback and responses from students and staff who piloted the materials in Anoka-Hennepin classrooms over the past school year.
The change in curriculum was initiated due to the current curriculum, FOSS, no longer being available for purchase and a change in the Minnesota State Academic Standards for Science in 2019. twigScience aligns with the state education standards for Science and incorporates interactive and hands-on learning experiences. View a video from twigScience to see the curriculum in action.
The curriculum has been piloted this school year in grades K-3 Explorations and grade 3-5 classrooms.
Materials embed phenomena or problems across multiple lessons for students to use and build knowledge of science concepts.
Implementation will begin in the fall of 2023, and professional development will be provided to all district elementary school science teachers.
District Indian Education program to co-host powwow on April 1
Anoka-Hennepin’s Indian Education program will co-host a powwow with Elk River Area Schools, Fridley Public Schools, Roseville Area Schools and St. Michael-Albertville Schools Indian Education programs on Saturday, April 1 at Champlin Park High School.
The day-long event begins at 11 a.m. and is free and open to the public. Activities will include special exhibitions, Native vendors and breakout sessions. The Grand Entry is set for 1 p.m. and the event will conclude with a feast at 5 p.m.
Little Earth Singers will serve as the host drums while Hoka Hey, Bear Runner and Southern Boyz will perform as invite drums. Zach Red Bear will be the head male dancer and Holly Henning the head female dancer.
Annual elementary art fair runs March 28 through April 6
Anoka-Hennepin’s annual elementary art fair will be on display at Northtown Mall in Blaine now through April 6 during mall hours.
Art teachers across the district have selected works for display that can be viewed in the rotunda near Best Buy. Northtown Mall is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
The top 10% of artwork from throughout this school year was selected for display at the art fair, displaying work that exceeded the expectations of the project guidelines. Students whose artwork was selected received a letter and certificate and can see their work on display.
Education, employment and enlistment fair and financial aid session set for 4/22
Opportunity for families to explore options for students to pursue after high school
Career and college specialists from across the school district have collaborated to provide families with the opportunity to explore a variety of college, career and alternate pathways to pursue after school. The group will present the first “Education, Employment, and Enlistment Spring Spectacular” on Saturday, April 22 from 8:30-11 a.m. at Blaine High School (BHS).
The format will include a mix of scheduled 40-minute sessions on focused topics at either 8:30 or 9:15 a.m. The college and career fair opens at 10 a.m. Nearly 40 higher education institutions from the region, 30-plus employers, and multiple military branches will be in attendance.
Families can learn more about financial aid by attending a FAFSA and MN Dream Act help session at the event. The free financial aid session will feature professional assistance in completing the FAFSA or the MN Dream Act. A brief financial aid overview will run from 8:30-8:45 a.m., followed by time (8:45-10 a.m.) to work on filling out financial aid forms and asking questions.
School spotlight: Champlin Park High School
Champlin Park High School is a collaborative educational community focused on increased achievement for all. CPHS is proud to offer a wide range of post-secondary readiness programs for its students which include, Advanced Placement, Honors, International Baccalaureate, College Possible and AVID. Learn more about Champlin Park High School in the latest school spotlight video.
Parent Engage 360 Podcast Episode 31: Body image and eating disorders
The Parent Engage 360 Podcast is now available on more of your favorite podcasting platforms! Listen to the podcast on Podbean, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible, iHeartRadio or Samsung Podcasts.
There are many factors that may impact the way we feel about ourselves and the way we show up each day, and one of these factors that impact many, including students, is body image.
Adults and teens alike are presented with body image media on a daily basis through various forms of traditional and social media which can have a mental and physical impact on an individual. In this episode of the Parent Engage 360 Podcast, Liz Burgard, Anoka-Hennepin's parent involvement coordinator, hopes to connect parents and guardians with resources if they suspect their child may be experiencing body dysmorphia or even eating disorders.
The most common types parents might hear or think about are anorexia or bulimia. But there is so much more that can affect a person's life when it comes to eating disorders, and that can often be referred to as disordered eating, which may include restrictive eating, compulsive eating or irregular or inflexible eating patterns.
Burgard was joined by Dr. Heather Gallivan, clinical director at Melrose Center and Anoka-Hennepin licensed school nurse Jessica Patterson, to learn more about how parents can support their children if they are experiencing body dysmorphia and/or eating disorders and how schools can help connect families with support.
Champlin Park High School Unified Club hosts Polar Plunge
The Champlin Park High School Unified Club hosted a Polar Plunge fundraiser on March 30 to help raise money to support the program. The Unified Club at CPHS aims to create a school climate where students with disabilities feel welcome and routinely included in, and feel a part of, all activities, opportunities and functions. See some highlights from the event in a story by CCX News.
Additional district news
- Universal School Meals program to being in the fall of 2023.
- Action of the School Board, March 27, 2023.
- Parent Engage 360 Podcast Episode 31: Body image and eating disorders, disordered eating.
- 2023 graduation ceremonies for Andover, Blaine, Champlin Park and Coon Rapids high schools to be held on University of Minnesota campus - Maturi Pavilion.
- Ready for kindergarten? See how to prepare and register.
- New $225 substitute teacher rate at select sites and on Fridays now in effect through the end of the school year.
- Safety is our first priority in extreme weather.
- 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.