School Talk, Spring 2015

School Talk SPRING 2015

Teaching with technology How Mounds View is rebooting the traditional instructional model

ALSO INSIDE: NEW PRINCIPALS • STUDENT HONORS • EASY-ACCESS APP

Teaching with techn tudents deserve high quality S instruction that prepares them for success in a rapidly changing world.

That’s why the District launched a plan this school year that will increase student and staff access to technology and provides “anytime, anywhere” access to instructional support tools.

Driven by a commitment from the School Board, and guided by the District’s Equity Promise, District technology and curriculum staff began working with schools in 2014 to implement the first phase of a threeyear plan to increase access to handheld technology. The goal is to expand the support and tools available for teachers, and to increase the accessibility of those tools for students.

“It’s not about having the latest and greatest in technology,” says Karl Brown, technology director. “It’s about equipping our teachers with the tools they need to provide the best instruction possible, and making sure all students have equal access to the technology and resources available.”

This school year, 77 classroom sets of Chromebook laptops and carts were On the cover: Island Lake teacher Katie Greene shows fifth-grader Christopher Routhe how to use an Internet-based mapping program during Spanish class.

Rebooting the traditional

“ It’s not about having the latest and greatest in technology. It’s about equipping our teachers with the tools they need to provide the best instruction possible.”

– Karl Brown, Director of Technology Mounds View Public Schools introduced to schools. That translates to more than 3,900 Chromebooks available at elementary, middle and high schools. In addition, at least six classrooms at each school started providing a hand-held tech device to each student during class time.

According to Gretchen Zahn, curriculum coordinator, the benefits of these upgrades go far beyond the in-classroom availability of handheld Editors Rachel Gutierrez Colin Sokolowski

Designer Susan Abbott

Photographers Rachel Gutierrez Greg Helgeson Lifetouch

Superintendent Dan Hoverman

2015 School Board Bob Helgeson Amy Jones Greg Madsen Marre Jo Sager Jon Tynjala Jonathan Weinhagen Sandra Westerman

School Talk is published by Mounds View Public Schools, Independent School District 621.

Send correspondence to School Talk editor, 350 Highway 96 West, Shoreview, MN 55126, e-mail rachel.gutierrez@moundsviewschools.org or call 651-621-6012.

To learn more about District programs and events featured in this issue of School Talk in Spanish, Hmong or Somali, please call Angel Toro (Spanish) at 651-724-2854, Mee Yang (Hmong) at 651-724-0396 or Ali Ali (Somali) at 651-724-7482.

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technology. With the introduction of Chromebooks, students were given access to Google Classrooms, and teachers were added to online Professional Learning Communities.

Google Classroom helps create, assign and collect student classwork and homework paperlessly. Students can work on assignments in Google Docs and turn it in with a few clicks.

Zahn says “this electronic access has given staff a portal to connect with other teachers, and has provided an internet-based classroom extension for students.”

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During the 2014-2015 school year, 77 mobile carts, each stocked with 30-36 Google Chromebooks, were introduced at each school. Students use the Chromebooks during class and return the devices to the cart when class is over so the next group of students can use them. The devices stay at school, but each student’s Google login links to a digital classroom that can be accessed at anytime, from anywhere.

Before- and after-school access to technology is also available.

hnology

instructional model Expanding the availability of technology tools has also expanded the ways that teachers present, collect and distribute information.

In Katie Greene’s Spanish class, students walk through city streets in Spain without leaving their Island Lake Elementary classroom.

At elementary schools, students are now able to connect with people and places outside of the classroom.

Chromebooks allow virtual access to tools and programs. Because each student is logged onto their own device, the entire class can participate in the same program, at the same time, but have their own unique experience, at their own pace.

Teachers have seen an increase in engagement in the classes where handheld tech tools are being used, and parents are noticing the shift too.

Turtle Lake Elementary School Island Lake fifth-grader Elizabeth Gregory parent and District Board member (pictured) says Chromebooks have changed the Sandra Westerman says, “My way students work. “We can all be in the same son is excited to learn. He’s using program or on the same document at the same hand-held devices and digital tools time. It really helps with community building and for his lessons and he’s excited sharing ideas. Plus, it saves paper.” Gregory’s to be learning that way. School classmate Áine Johnson likes that she can “finish what was started in class from home.” should really be about learning to She also appreciates the ability to send emails to learn, and that’s what I’m seeing at her teacher from her Google Classroom account. home with my own child.”

Middle school parents appreciate being part of the day-to-day instructional process. According to Edgewood Middle School math teacher Karen Hummel, the flipped instructional model offers lessons and lectures in an electronic format that has proved to be beneficial for both students and parents.

Using her iPad or Chromebook, Hummel (pictured with sixth-grader Emily Zuniga) records her lessons so students can review them at their own pace and reference them electronically as needed. Parents also have access to the lessons. Hummel says some families use the lessons as a guide when helping their child with homework.

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High school classroom participation has increased where handheld technology is available. Teacher Justin Benolkin sees 100 percent participation in his Mounds View High School sociology class. He says participation increased with the introduction of the Chromebooks and Google Classroom because students could collectively respond via the electronic forum during class. All responses can be tracked, considered and made part of the class conversation but only those who want to share openly read and elaborate on their responses.

“It holds everyone accountable to classroom participation individually,” he says.

Technology at a glance • 100 percent of all full-sized instructional spaces (667 instructional spaces) are equipped with LCD projectors.

• 65 percent of all instructional spaces are equipped with SMART Boards.

• 3,900 Chromebooks are available District-wide in class sets, or smaller configurations in classrooms.

These help facilitate collaborative learning, flipped instruction, research, curricular applications, online formative assessments and more. Each school has at least six classroom sets of Chromebooks.

• Approximately 1,300 iPads and Android tablets are being used in sets of 1-20 for classroom use in schools throughout the District. Each school has at least four sets of tablets.

• iPods are available in some school media centers throughout the District.

• Windows-based laptops in sets ranging from 5-32 computers are available at all District schools.

Laptop carts are mobile and can be used by teachers and staff throughout each site on an as-needed basis.

In the 2014-2015 school year, the School Board committed to funding the technology plan with $850,000 from the general fund on an annual basis.

Ismaila Diop and Christine Hessini discuss topics as a group during class, but they are still required to submit their responses to Google Classroom so they can be tracked by the teacher.

The overall group results can be analyzed and used in future discussions as a class.

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Next steps All District elementary, middle and high schools will receive additional technology to support high quality instruction.

Gretchen Zahn says combining the traditional instructional model with increased access to technology and internet-based tools “helps reach students with different learning styles, builds skills in multitasking and prepares students for the real world in a variety of ways.” (The three-year plan to increase technology will expand this blended model and will make hand-held technology

available in all instructional spaces District-wide.)

By 2017, all instructional spaces will be equipped with interactive white boards, projectors, applications or other interactive technologies.

Grades K-2 will have combinations of tablets and Chromebooks available for student use and center-based learning.

All core-area classrooms grades 3-12 District-wide will have classroom sets of Chromebooks available for student use. Android tablets and iPads will continue to be available District-wide as needed for curricular areas.

SCHOOL BOARD 2014 – 15 School Board

Front row: Amy Jones, Jon Tynjala, Marre Jo Sager. Back row: Jonathan Weinhagen, Greg Madsen, Sandra Westerman, Bob Helgeson.

New Chair elected Every year during the annual Organization of the School Board, the Chair calls for nominations for Chair, Vice Chair, Clerk and Treasurer — after which the Board votes on the nominations. This year, Amy Jones was nominated and elected Chair, and Jon Tynjala was nominated and elected Vice Chair. In addition, the Board approved the election of Greg Madsen as Clerk and Bob Helgeson as Treasurer.

Early Childhood expansion affects future facilities plans As the District continues to focus on ways to enhance its early childhood program offerings, Mounds View Public Schools has been studying pre-school enhancement and expansion options. The District is considering ways in which services for four-year-olds could be expanded and the potential impact those options could have on District facilities and other support services. Depending on future actions taken, administrative staff currently housed in Snail Lake Education Center and in Pike Lake Education Center could relocate to make room for early childhood services. No School Board decisions have been made, and several options exist. Updates will continue to be discussed at future School Board meetings.

Planning ahead: Two years of school calendars now available Parents now have the next two years of school calendars available to review and plan around, after the School Board approved the 2016-2017 calendar. Previously in November 2014, the Board approved next year’s 20152016 calendar.

Each year, calendars are discussed with the Joint Policy Committee, which is comprised of teachers, principals, School Board members and District administrators who work together within state mandates to create the calendar.

Visit www.moundsviewschools.org to view both calendars.

Fiscal year audit report In November, representatives from the audit firm Malloy, Montague, Karnowski, Radosevich & Co., P.A. reviewed the 2013-2014 audited financial statements and supplemental reports. During the presentation to the Board, representatives commended the District for its excellence in financial reporting and issued the highest level of audit reporting an auditor can give an organization.

Reports are available on the Budgets & Finance page at www.moundsviewschools.org.

Standard and Poor’s upgrades bond rating Mounds View’s bond rating was upgraded from AA- to AA, putting the District in the upper 25 percent of school districts across the nation.

The rating report from Standard and Poor’s was part of the process to refinance approximately $30 million of general obligation bonds originally issued in 2012. That refinancing, approved by the School Board in January, resulted in more than $1.8 million in savings for District taxpayers.

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EDUCATION FOUNDATION Community support spotlight Bailiff gift funds scholarships The Mounds View Schools Education Foundation works in partnership with Mounds View Public Schools leadership to identify programs that require funding to advance District priorities and innovations that can reach students throughout the entire District.

Foundation’s gift supports new scholarships The Mounds View Schools Education Foundation recently made a lead gift of $50,000 in support of a new comprehensive Mounds View Public Schools scholarship program providing students with opportunities beyond high school.

The Equity Promise Scholarship program will recognize a broad range of eligible students who have experienced success in their high school years. Recipients will have demonstrated academic growth and sustained participation in a variety of activities — both inside and outside of the classroom.

In addition to the lead grant, the Foundation also received a long-term commitment from the William E. and Rose A. Bailiff Scholarship Fund, a local family who strongly believed in the importance of education.

William and Rose Bailiff both valued education and encouraged their three daughters and grandchildren to continue their education following their high school years. The Bailiff Scholarship Fund will provide seven scholarships to graduating seniors in the Mounds View School District.

“Norma Bailiff, William and Rose Bailiff’s daughter, wanted to honor her parents’ memory by establishing a scholarship fund that helped local students realize their dreams,” said Gail Gaylord, Norma Bailiff’s niece and executor of the fund. “We are excited to start a family legacy that encourages students to continue their education beyond high school. We hope these scholarships can lessen the financial burden for these students and assist them in becoming successful in their post-secondary phase of life.These students deserve to be recognized and rewarded for their hard work,” said Gaylord. To learn more about establishing memorial scholarships, contact mindy.handberg@moundsviewschools.org.

Noodles & Co. donates 100%

Each year, graduating seniors from the Area Learning Center, Irondale High School and Mounds View High School will have the opportunity to apply for an Equity Promise Scholarship. A majority of these one-time awards will be worth a minimum of $1,000 for a two-year college and $1,500 for a four-year college or university.

Scholarships will be awarded this spring. Applicants can learn more at www.moundsviewschoolsef.org.

Mounds View Schools Education Foundation was fortunate to be selected by Noodles & Company as the recipient of the 100% Benefit Day in December. Thanks to the community and supporters, the Arden Hills location had a record-breaking day with close to $6,500 in sales — all of which was donated to the Foundation.

Most importantly, these funds will help to support the Foundation’s work in enhancing learning opportunities for students throughout Mounds View Public Schools.

“The Foundation is pleased to support the District’s postsecondary efforts in preparing our students for success as they leave our buildings,” said Jim Ostlund, president of the Mounds View Schools Education Foundation Board of Trustees. “We believe our investments, from the kindergarten centers through the scholarship program, ensure we reach students throughout their academic careers,” said Ostlund.

With the opening of each new restaurant, Noodles and Company selects a nonprofit organization to receive 100% of all sales on a given day. According to Tom Powers, Noodles & Company Field Marketing Manager, “100% Benefit Days allows us to demonstrate our support and commitment to those communities in which we live and work.”

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Rock the School House

New Trustee appointments

More than 300 parents, District staff and community leaders attended the Mounds View Schools Education Foundation annual Rock the School House celebration on November 15 at Vadnais Heights Commons. More than $43,000 was raised in support of Mounds View Public Schools.

The Mounds View Schools Education Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of two new members to its Board of Trustees.

Mark your calendars for this year’s event on October 24, 2015, at Vadnais Heights Commons.

Jim DeMay is currently Director of State Government Relations in the Midwest for Pfizer, Inc. DeMay joined Pfizer after previously serving as Vice President for State Government Relations at U.S. Bank and Citigroup. He is an alumnus of Mounds View High School Class of 1983 where he was active in boys’ tennis, student government and Quiz Bowl.

DeMay holds a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an M.A. from Hamline University. He is presently an Adjunct Professor at the Graduate School of Business at Hamline University. He and his wife, Channing Riggs, have two children who attend Mounds View Public Schools.

Darin Johnson is the principal of Turtle Lake

Back row: Tom Snuggerud, Diane Snuggerud, Alison McGinnity and Carmen Bell. Front row: Maria Edwardson, Dave Edwardson, David Cline and Sharon Cline.

Elementary School. He began his career teaching at Snail Lake Elementary School nearly 18 years ago and then moved into administration, where for the past four years he has served as principal of Turtle Lake Elementary School. Darin has a deep under­standing of the value and importance of philanthropy as he recently helped facilitate a successful capital campaign at Turtle Lake. As an administrator, Darin will bring an important perspective to the Foundation. Darin resides with his wife and two sons in Oakdale.

Contributions to the Mounds View Schools Education Foundation have a meaningful and lasting impact on students at schools throughout the District. The Foundation’s most recent commitments to Mounds View Public Schools benefit students at all levels and aim to:

Reinforce the District’s commitment to a strong science curriculum The Foundation continued its support of the Physics and STEM Career Fairs at Irondale High School and Mounds View High School. In addition, the Foundation made a commitment to reinforcing strong science curriculum at all ages by providing financial aid to students attending multi-day retreats at Laurentian Environmental Center.

A gift of $100 affords one of our students the opportunity to study at Laurentian Environmental Center.

Provide resources for the new kindergarten centers

A gift of $500 provides a full shelf of books at each of our kindergarten centers.

The Foundation invested in Literacy Centers at Pike Lake Education Center and Snail Lake Education Center to ensure that each kindergarten center has books and materials available for all District kindergarten students.

Support the Equity Promise by providing scholarships

A gift of $1,000 funds one scholarship for a student attending a two-year program.

The Foundation made a lead gift in support of the Equity Promise Scholarship program, a new comprehensive District initiative that aligns with the goal of positioning all students for post-secondary success.

A gift of $1,500 funds one scholarship for a student attending a four-year program.

More The Foundation works in partnership with Mounds View Public Schools leadership to identify programs that require funding to advance priorities and innovations that reach every school in the District. Since 1987, the Mounds View Schools Education Foundation has contributed more than $1 million to District schools. The work of the Foundation is made possible through generous support received from community members, businesses and foundations. Learn more by visiting www.moundsviewschoolsef.org.

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AROUND THE DISTRICT Retirements prompt new principal hires for 2015-2016 In response to recent principal retirements, three familiar faces will join three District schools as principals next fall.

Sunnyside After 20 years as a principal with the District, Paul Good announced his decision this winter to retire as principal of Sunnyside Elementary School at the end of this school year. During his tenure, Sunnyside was named among the top 25 percent of Title I schools in the state, earning the Minnesota Department of Education’s designation of “Celebration School.”

In January, the District announced that Valentine Hills Elementary School principal Nathan Flansburg will join Sunnyside. Flansburg is currently in his eighth year as principal of Valentine Hills and has been in the District for 18 years with teaching roles at Chippewa Middle School, Island Lake Elementary School and Snail Lake Elementary School. He also served as the student services assistant at Turtle Lake Elementary School before joining Valentine Hills.

Valentine Hills Replacing Flansburg at Valentine Hills will be Lindsey Boumgarden, who taught for three years at Valentine Hills, and is currently serving as the program administrator for the kindergarten centers

located at Pike Lake Education Center. During her 13-year career as a teacher, she has held several teaching assignments in various grade levels including six years teaching in the Dominican Republic and Colombia. A new program administrator for the kindergarten center at Pike Lake will be named later this spring.

Chippewa Last fall, Mona Fadness announced her retirement as principal of Chippewa Middle School effective July 1. During her 30-year career as a middle school educator, Fadness served 18 years with Mounds View Public Schools – including six years at Chippewa and 12 years as principal of Highview Middle School. Throughout her career, she has mentored new staff members in middle level education philosophy and has facilitated the adoption of many innovative programs.

Following a search this spring, Rob Reetz was named principal of Chippewa, effective July 1. Reetz has served Mounds View Public Schools for seven years, including six years as an instructional strategies facilitator and special education teacher at Irondale High School. At Irondale, he played a key role in implementing Early College programming. Reetz currently is a professional learning specialist for the District and an adjunct instructor at Hamline University and St. Catherine University.

Translation assistance To learn more about District programs and events featured in this issue of School Talk in Spanish, Hmong or Somali, please call Angel Toro (Spanish) at 651-724-0396, Mee Yang (Hmong) at 651-7240396 or Ali Ali (Somali) at 651-724-7482.

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Yog xa paub ntau tshaj nov txog peb lub District cov program thiab kev sib sau ua ke ntawm peb cov tsev kawm ntawv thiab niam txiv nrog rau me nyuam kawm ntawv uas muaj nyob rau hauv tsab ntawv School Talk no, thov hu rau Mee Yang ntawm 651-724-0396.

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Para aprender mas sobre los programas del Distrito Escolar y de los eventos en esta edicion de School Talk, llame a Angel Toro al 651-724-0396.

Haddii aad dooneysid faahfaahin dheeraad ah oo ku saabsan barnaamijyada lugu soo qoro School Talk, ee ka baxa Iskuulada Moundsview, fadlan la soo xiriis Ali Ali: 651-724-7482.

Students work together to solve human rights issues Highview Middle School students raised more than $1,300 for various human rights issues during a Universal Declaration of Human Rights project assigned in eighth grade social studies classes.

A total of 60 groups of students spent time volunteering and working to raise awareness and funds for a number of organizations and issues.

Sunnyside students paint the walls Guided by artist-in-residence Shane Anderson, students worked together to create and paint a wall-sized mural at Sunnyside Elementary School this winter. The mural will be permanently displayed on the wall outside the school’s gym.

Griffin DeCoux and other Sunnyside kindergartners were bused from the kindergarten center to Sunnyside recently to help paint the mural. Fourth-graders partnered with the kindergartners to paint sections of the mural.

Lindsay Krohn, Maddie Nelson, Rachel Jester and Onika Abbot worked together to learn more about world hunger. This group volunteered at Feed My Starving Children and participated in We Day, an event that inspires students to raise awareness for local and global causes.

Students earn sweet reward Keeping the hallways neat and orderly has its rewards at Pinewood Elementary School. For first-graders in Christine Cyr’s class, the reward was throwing a pie in the face of Pinewood principal Allie Storti.

In December, recognition slips were used to recognize classrooms that maintained a neat and orderly hallway space. For accumulating the most recognition slips, Christine Cyr’s students won the honor of throwing a pie in Principal Storti’s face during an assembly.

STRIPES students hit the court Edgewood Middle School and Highview Middle School STRIPES students were given an opportunity to meet Timberwolves players, receive autographs and watch the players warm up when they attended a basketball game together in January.

STRIPES — Students Together Respecting the Importance and Purpose of Education in Schools — is a student support program that started in District high schools and has expanded to the middle schools.

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AROUND THE DISTRICT

Celebrating the season

Students enjoyed surprise visits from character-clad staff members and principals during

Kindergarten center program administrator Lindsey Boumgarden was greeted with giggles and stares as she welcomed students to Pike Lake Education Center dressed as a gorilla on Halloween. She also visited Pinewood Elementary School for the annual all-school Halloween parade.

Pinewood principal Allie Stortie, dressed in character to the theme “blast off to awesome,” led hundreds of first- through fifthgraders (dressed as characters) on a parade through the streets and neighborhoods surrounding Pinewood Elementary School.  Turtle Lake Elementary School kindergarten students pointed to their principal Darin Johnson when asked, “Where’s Waldo?” in October.

Students at Turtle Lake and at the kindergarten center enjoyed seeing their principal dressed in character.

Valentine Hills principal Nathan Flansburg and staff Lori Carlson, Karen Lundquist, Jill Spencer, Melanie Keillor, Mary Lawrence, Sheila Treise and Sara Lindsey entertained students when they showed up at school dressed as Star Wars characters. 

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HONORING ANNUAL TRADITIONS Annual holiday breakfast

The Edgewood Middle School Leos Club partnered with the Mounds View Lions Club to host the school’s annual Breakfast with Santa event. Santa’s helpers were made up of staff and students including Dakota Hochstatter, Jen Miller, Katrina Parlin and Shelly Wright.

Operation Joy The Ralph Reeder Food Shelf collected more than 3,000 gifts this holiday season during its annual Operation Joy Campaign that benefits Mounds View Public Schools families. Thanks to more than 70 community volunteers and donations from area churches, schools, businesses, clubs, individuals and Toys for Tots, 850 children (ages birth to 12th-grade) received gifts this year. Qualifying families who registered with the Food Shelf were invited to the Ralph Reeder Food Shelf toy shop in December to pick out gifts for each of their children.

Volunteers make ‘JA Day’ a success seasonal celebrations.

STARTING NEW TRADITIONS

In February, volunteers from Deluxe Corp., visited Island Lake K-5 classrooms to teach financial literacy and entrepreneurship lessons. In partnership with Junior Achievement (JA) of the Upper Midwest, Deluxe employees have been volunteering annually for “JA Day” at Island Lake Elementary to share the JA curriculum and help students make real-world connections to classroom learning.

More than 50 volunteers from Deluxe (employees and three family members) visited classrooms at Island Lake Elementary in February and Snail Lake Education Center in March.

Musical tour

The Irondale High School drama department reached out to elementary school students from Bel Air, Pinewood, Sunnyside and Valentine Hills for a Children’s Musical Tour. The eighth annual live musical performance offered elementary school students an opportunity to experience a live theatrical performance and offered an opportunity for younger students to perform with the high school group.

A holiday sing-a-long at Snail Lake Education Center in December gave parents and District staff an opportunity to celebrate the season with kindergarten students. Island Lake and Turtle Lake kindergartners led visitors in song and enjoyed a surprise visit from “Buddy,” the elf, also known as Island Lake Elementary School principal Todd Durand. Pictured with principal Todd Durand is Island Lake teacher Lynn Erickson and kindergartners Miranda Duden, Christopher Dennis, Gracie Muehlbach, Frank Carrigan, Paige Kmiecik, Kalin Hoffman, Carter Thompson and Owen Perkins.

From left to right (front row): Charisma Kramlinger, Anna Schroeder, Fernando Mendoza Garcia, Natalie Bahnemann, James Gleason, Louis Demonakos and Mystic Makepeace. From left to right (standing): Emily Dobbins, Riley Wenisch, Kaitlynn Dobbins, Eli Nelson, Kyle Doherty, Noah Mruz, Jake Brogdon, Ryan Nguyen, Vanessa Johnson, Sophie Paulsen. Top standing, left to right: Becca Donly, Connor Shimonek and Leah Danielson. Not pictured: student director Matthew Vanbruggen, assistant student director Ethan Lau, student set designer Sarah Wika, crew members Ben Lawonn, Mara Fanzen and Kendra Nelson.

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AROUND THE DISTRICT

Be the Hero.

Fight Hunger.

Support 300 food shelves across the state by contributing to the Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign.

gmcc.org/minnesotafoodshare

March is Minnesota FoodShare Month Minnesota FoodShare is a program of the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches.

Thank you to our corporate sponsors and to our March Campaign Honorary Chair, Andrew Zimmern, host of Bizzare Foods on the Travel Channel.

March is Minnesota FoodShare Month, the largest food drive in the state. FoodShare Month is led annually by Minnesota FoodShare to promote hunger awareness and engage communities in the fight against hunger and poverty. This year’s campaign, “Be the Hero. Fight Hunger,” challenges organizations and individuals to make a donation to help restock supplies at food shelves across Minnesota. In honor of FoodShare Month, many District schools are hosting food drives to replenish the shelves at the Ralph Reeder Food Shelf. A portion of all dollars and pounds received at the Ralph Reeder Food Shelf are matched by Minnesota FoodShare.

Here is how you can help: Make a cash, check or food donation to the Ralph Reeder Food Shelf, 2101 14th St. NW in New Brighton, between March 1 and April 6. Donations will qualify for a partial match through Minnesota FoodShare and the Feinstein Foundation.

The Ralph Reeder Food Shelf provides food and other resources to low income individuals and families living in the Mounds View Public Schools attendance area. In 2014, nearly 380,000 pounds of food were distributed to an estimated 16,000 residents. The success of the Food Shelf is largely dependent on community support, and the month of March is the perfect time to give. To learn more about the Ralph Reeder Food Shelf, please visit www.ralphreederfoodshelf.org or call 651-621-7450.

If you are in need of food, please call 651-621-7451.

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Pinewood hosts post-secondary series A four-part series on post-secondary success was launched at Pinewood Elementary School in January. The series is part of Pinewood’s Family Library Night program and is led by the District’s equity coordinator Marvin Sims and specialists from Edgewood Middle School and Irondale High School. Information about the Early College program at Irondale High School, access to tools and resources for college planning and an opportunity to hear from recent high school graduates and school deans, gave District parents and students an invitation to engage in a conversation about early planning for post-secondary success. The Uniting for Success series continues in March and April. For more information, contact Robin Howard at 651-621-7500.

Students earn international praise Students from Island Lake Elementary School were recognized for their impressive social skills after participating in an international conference presentation earlier this year. Fifth-graders Charlotte Diebert, Branson Gillette, Isabella Gourley, Sydney Koch, Josie Mackenthun, Miranda Nagel, Jennifer Page, Connor Pederson, Corrina Schell, Soleena Schwalm and Joseph Swallen contributed video interviews to a presentation that Stacy Nielsen, student services assistant at Island Lake, made at the Nurtured Heart Approach Global Summit in Arizona in January. Nielsen used the videotaped interviews to highlight what students learned during social skills instruction. The students received written feedback from the Global Summit audience recognizing their courage, poise and ability to articulate.

Progress towards the Promise This summer, School Talk will review the progress made towards meeting the District’s Equity Promise. In the meantime, a brief video illustrates the progress made by four Irondale High School students who participated in the innovative Early College program. Watch it at www.moundsviewschools.org.

WITH HONORS Irondale artists

Irondale High School students in Scott Krohn’s AP Studio Art class received honors for their work recently. Jakob Landry, Marion Gary and Nick Herlofsky were recognized

in the Minnesota Scholastic Art Award Competition. More than 2,900 works-of-art were submitted, and only about 30 percent were selected as award-winners.

Senior Jakob Landry won a Gold Key Award for his colored pencil piece titled Self Portrait.

Junior Marion Gary won a Gold Key for her charcoal and pastel titled Concentration (pictured). She also received Honorable Mention for her colored pencil piece titled A Trip to the Dentist.

Nick Herlofsky won a Silver Key for his digital drawing titled The Life of a Cartoonist (pictured).

He also received Honorable Mention for his digital drawing titled Snake vs. Frog.

International recognition for school-based enterprise Mounds View High School’s The Mustang Locker Room school store will be recognized at DECA’s International Career Development Conference this year for receiving Gold Level Certification. The Mustang Locker Room is a student-run spirit-wear and supplies store that is open daily on school days and also open during sporting events and parent information nights. Business advisor and DECA coordinator John Duffy oversees the daily operations of the schoolbased enterprise and uses it as a hands-on learning tool to teach customer service skills, financial documenting practices and business management. DECA students Clare Cavalier, Kelly Carlson and Katie Tschida work as managers for the store and led the

certification process. Mounds View was one of only 285 school-based enterprises in the country to achieve Gold Level Certification.

Junior class officers Ben Bodin, Blair Robichaud, Emily Heuring, Sophie Schroeder and Etisha Punia help run the Mustang Locker Room.

Irondale High School’s student-run store was recognized with Gold Level Certification last year. They will be re-certified this year and recognized as a Gold Level school-based enterprise at the DECA International Conference in Orlando in April.

Exceptional teachers Mounds View High School teacher Martha Rush and Irondale High School teacher Rebecca Young were recognized as TIES Exceptional Teachers at the TIES 2014 Education Technology Conference in December. They were among 95 teachers honored from 48 districts.

Teachers are chosen by their superintendents for the TIES Exceptional Teacher award, which recognizes teachers who model the best practices in their classroom and engage students in learning with technology.

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WITH HONORS All-Conference musicians

Mounds View hosted the 15th annual Suburban East Conference Music Festival in February. Schools from throughout the Conference participate in the concert, which showcases band, choir and orchestra students.

Many high school all-conference musicians participated in the concert.

Mounds View’s allconference band students are Kathryn Magnuson, Daniel Johnson, Charles Smith, Daniel Crist, Alex Jiang, Howard Simms and Alexander Zaic.

Choir students who received all-conference recognition are Yipeng Wang, Maya Rao, Sarah Yoon, Olivia Nemitz, Kayla Sear, Daniel Weinhagen, Jordan Besser and Alex Keske.

Mounds View orchestra all-conference students are Jack Wyttenbach, Tae Jun Park, Ouyang Xu, Ellen Brough, Ryan Lucas, Sarah Ingraham, Chandler Hong, June Park, Claire Chen, Andrew Kane, Sophie Gaschott, Gregory Amusu, Skye Gagnon and Samuel Olson.

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Irondale students who were named all-conference for band are Natalie Bahnemann, Tyler Ollanketo, Amani Christenson, Kathryn Grutkoski, Aaron Deisinger, Madeline Lawrence, Jacob Sinn and Michelle Koski.

All-conference Irondale orchestra students (pictured from left to right) are Rachel Skunes, Matthew Dehnbostel, Nick Gohman, Moses Park, Emily Wong, Libby Swanson, Brianna Dircks and Xena Tran.

All-conference Irondale choir students pictured from left to right (back row): Sam Frantz, Mark Frahm, Carl Peterson, Brett Burbank, (front row) Yeliz Toker, Brianne Bury, Kaiya Ruff, Rachel Torres, MaiLinh Nguyen and Chioma Ogbonnaya.

Service to Youth

Rotary club honors District employees The New Brighton Mounds View Rotary Club presented the Paul Harris Fellow Award to Lisa Baker for her outstanding service to the community through the District’s Ralph Reeder Food Shelf.

Eric Nelson, principal at Irondale High School, also received the award in recognition of his service to the community.

Gerry Tietz (on left), of the New Brighton Rotary, presented the award to both Nelson and Baker in February.

Irondale student Jack Marchiafava (far left) and Mounds View High School student Aleksander Westlund (far right) were named recipients of the Northeast Youth and Family Services 2015 Service to Youth Award. Mounds View Public Schools Board member Marre Jo Sager and Mounds View High School activities director Bob Madison also received the Service to Youth Award for demonstrating outstanding service and commitment to area youth.

Mounds View student named SkillsUSA state officer

Irondale math team among best in the state Irondale’s math team had its strongest performance in 10 years, finishing 12th in the state for the regular season. The team will compete at the state tournament in March. Scoring team members include seniors George Fisk and Kaitlin Maile, juniors Steven Truong and Angela Vu, sophomores Matt Barton, Kathryn Grutkoski and Tyler Ollanketo, and freshmen Ryan Nguyen and Sarah Chock. Team coaches are Irondale math teachers Kirsten Moreland and Rebecca Young.

Mounds View High School junior Kevin Ameyaw was elected as a state officer at large for SkillsUSA Minnesota. During the annual Delegate Assembly conference, Ameyaw was one of 14 high school and collegiate students elected to serve as a SkillsUSA state officer for the 20142015 school year. Both high school and collegiate state officers travel to events across the state, sharing the message of career and technical education and specifically the message of SkillsUSA. SkillsUSA Minnesota officers work together to develop engaging educational conferences for the thousands of student members statewide. Additionally, they visit business and industry representatives and legislative representatives. Through effective speaking and facilitating techniques, SkillsUSA Minnesota leaders communicate the message of career readiness.

National blog contest winner London Morse, a student in the District’s Career and Life Transition program, was recently named one of only four national winners in the TCF Financial Scholars Blog Contest.

As a contest winner, Morse received a $250 gift card from TCF Bank and his teacher Diana Schwark received a $500 gift card to put toward technology or any materials for the classroom.

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YOU’RE INVITED District Art Show and Mosaic fundraising

The inaugural season of community concerts continues this spring when Minnesota Orchestra trumpeter Charles Lazarus entertains at Mounds View High School on Sunday, April 19, at 2 p.m.

Lazarus is known for his distinctive blend of lounge/exotica and funk-fired jazz. His program, American Riffs, offers an exciting taste of iconic American music ranging from the roots of Jazz, spirituals, Sousa marches, Broadway, Pops hits, and much more. Music at Mounds View is a professional concert series that brings highcaliber, nationally recognized artists into our community for public performances at Mounds View High School. For ticket information, visit www.moundsviewschools.org.

Summer programs Mounds View Public Schools Community Education summer camps are available for students who will be entering grades K-12.

Register now for art, science, acting and athletics camps that run throughout the summer months.

New camps for this summer include a fourweek theater camp, mobile game development, Java coding, robotics, percussion camp and much more.

For a complete listing of summer academic programs and Community Education camps, visit www.moundsviewschools.org/summerprograms.

A Community Education camp guide can also be found on the youth programs page on the Community Education website at www.moundsviewschools.org.

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The artistic spirit and community service focus of Mounds View Public Schools students is highlighted in a large-scale mosaic art piece that is currently being displayed in District schools. More than 200 students and faculty contributed 6×6 art canvases that were combined to create the Feed Your Neighbor Mosaic. The Mosaic went on display at Mounds View

Adapted Athletics Anniversary Celebration Current and former players, coaches, parents, fans and supporters of RAMS Adapted Athletics are invited to a 25th Anniversary Celebration at Highview Middle School on April 13. The open house event will run from 6-8 p.m.

RAMS Adapted Athletics has given students grades 7-12 from Mounds View Public Schools and Roseville Schools an opportunity to participate in one of two divisions (PI and CI) in the team sports of indoor soccer, floor hockey and indoor softball. Minnesota adapted athletics remains the only state high school sponsored sports opportunities for students with disabilities in the United States. The Minnesota State High School League officially adopted the Minnesota Adapted Athletics Association as one of its conferences in 1992.

Annual Charitable Golf Tournament The seventh annual Charitable Golf Tournament to benefit REACH Academy will take place on June 8, 2015. The Tournament will take place at Oneka Ridge Golf Course in White Bear Lake with a noon shotgun start. Cost is $99 per person.To register, contact Roger Thompson at 651-621-7903.

REACH Academy REACH Academy, formerly known as Oak Grove High School, offers a special education program for approximately 60 students in grades 9-12 from Mounds View Public Schools and several surrounding districts.

Students who attend require services for severe emotional and behavioral disorders.

All proceeds support REACH Academy’s programs.

event High School in February and will travel to schools throughout the District until it makes its final appearance at the District Art Show. Opening night for the District Art Show is April 28 at Irondale High School. The public is invited to attend from 6 - 8 p.m.

Purchase a 6×6 student-made art canvas for $15 by visiting www.moundsviewschools.org or by scanning the code here. All proceeds will benefit the Ralph Reeder Food Shelf.

Teacher performance to provide student scholarship funds The Chalkboard Capers variety show is presented annually by teachers and District staff to raise money for student scholarships given to graduating seniors from Irondale High School, Mounds View High School, REACH Academy, Area Learning Center and Adult Basic Education.

Each scholarship award is for $621. The number of scholarships awarded depends on the financial success of the show. This year’s event is slated for April 8-11.

For more information and to order tickets, visit www.moundsviewschools.org.

Plan your stay at Laurentian Environmental Center Planning a family reunion or group event? Consider Laurentian Environmental Center (LEC) in Britt, Minn. The Center can accommodate small and large groups year-round with 160 beds, five large classroom buildings, a lodge and a dining facility that seats 175. LEC offers access to hundreds of acres of wilderness with trout streams and diverse wildlife habitat. The environmental center’s property includes access to a 100-acre pristine lake and hiking/ski trails that connect with the Big Aspen hiking and ski trails.

LEC maintains a 12-station Challenge Course, a 32-foot outdoor climbing wall, a dogsled yard and trails, an archery range, canoes and rowboats, a sauna, an outdoor campfire theater and a large playing field. The on-site dining facility serves healthy, home-cooked meals from menus developed by a dietician. Call 1-888-749-1288 or visit www.laurentiancenter.org for more information.

Summer Camps YOUTH HUNTING CAMP Laurentian will host Forkhorn hunting camps June – August.

Visit www.laurentiancenter.org for more information.

SENIOR CAMP Summer camp isn’t just for kids! Adults 50 and older are invited to participate in the “senior camp” experience at Laurentian Environmental Center September 8-13. A mix of indoor and outdoor activities include hiking, archery, canoeing, crafts, nature tours and more. Singles and couples are welcome. Call 1-888-749-1288 for details and early registration discounts.

Track and Field Clinic The Irondale boys’ and girls’ track and field teams will be hosting the 10th annual GoKnightGo track and field clinic for kids in grades 3-6 on Saturday, May 16, from 9-11 a.m. The clinic will be held at Irondale’s Wendt Stadium and will include instruction from Knights athletes on the long jump, triple jump, high jump, shot put, relays, sprints, hurdles and starts. The cost is $10 per participant with a $20 family cap. A t-shirt, ribbon and light lunch is included in the cost.

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HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS UPDATE

IRONDALE Athletic scholarships Peter Lyngdal signed a Division II tennis scholarship with Hillsdale College in Michigan.

Triple A recognition

Rachael Norton signed a Division II soccer scholarship to attend Bemidji State University.

Nordic skiers compete at state tournament Both the girls’ and boys’ Nordic ski teams qualified and participated in the state tournament this season.

Jack Marchiafava and Meghan Pieper were named Triple A award winners at Irondale High School.

The Triple A award is sponsored by the Minnesota State High School League and recognizes students’ accomplishments in Academics, Arts and Athletics.

Marchiafava was also recognized as the Triple A winner in Region 5AA among 16 schools that were involved in this award.

For the most up-to-date news, visit the Activities and Athletics website at www.moundsviewschools.org/irondale.

Find the Irondale Knights on Twitter @GoIrondale Track co-curricular activities on your mobile devices. Search GO IRONDALE in the app store.

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Boys’ section team members from left to right are Tim Axberg, Josh Tillman, Michael Burgoyne, Spenser Brown, McEwan Rodefeld, Corey Momsen and Joey Jankowski.

Girls’ section racers from from left to right (front row) are Hanna Boleman, Liz Axberg, (back row) Becky Glader, Michelle Meyer, Lilianne Tapper, Mary Heinks and Claire DuBois.

MOUNDS VIEW Crystal Hanson finished 10th on bars at the state gymnastics meet.

Skiers qualify for state competition Alpine Skier Juliana Damberg and Nordic skiers Jack Christianson and Mark Ousdigian qualified for state.

Tanner Day, Karl Keeler, Sam McGinnity and Jack Graham qualified for state in wrestling.

Athletic scholarships

Alec Abercrombie

Maya Loewen

Wyatt Meyer

Veronica Rasmussen

On February 4, four student-athletes committed to NCAA National Letters of Intent. Alec Abercrombie (baseball) signed with North Dakota State University; Maya Loewen (swimming) signed with New Mexico State University; Wyatt Meyer (baseball) signed with Dakota County Tech; Veronica Rasmussen (track) signed with the University of Minnesota.

The Mounds View Viewettes dance team qualified for state and competed at the February 13 state competition.

Tanner Day

Karl Keeler

Sam McGinnity Jack Graham

Triple A recognition Peter Goggin and Claire Chen were named Triple A award winners at Mounds View High School. The Triple A award is sponsored by the Minnesota State High School League and recognizes student accomplishments in Academics, Arts and Athletics.

For the most up-to-date news, visit the Activities and Athletics website at www.moundsviewschools.org/moundsview.

Jacky Volkert and Ryan Kaczynski both reached the 1,000 point milestone in basketball this season. Kaczynski was also elected to the Coaches Association All-Star Game. Volkert was named Mounds View High School’s Athena Award winner.

Find the Mounds View Mustangs on Twitter @GoMVMustangs Track co-curricular activities on your mobile devices. Search GO MUSTANGS in the app store.

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