Spring 2024 Raider Voice

FROM THE DISTRICT Strategic Plan Goals in Action

Navigating Our Strategic Journey

Roseville Area Schools’ Strategic Plan (see page 3) is a dynamic roadmap that guides student-centered initiatives throughout our schools and programs. The five goals and their accompanying key strategies aren’t abstract concepts; they serve as tangible, actionable opportunities to keep us focused on the crucial task of nurturing our students and equipping them for success in their careers and further education.

Approaching the conclusion of the 2023-2024 academic year, I’m proud of the considerable strides we’ve taken toward our objectives. At the same time, I’m acutely aware of the work that still lies ahead. I am confident our dedicated staff members are up to the task. I look forward to sharing with you – our community – compelling example sof Roseville Area Schools’ unwavering dedication to fostering Excellence, Innovation & Equity in All We Do!

In Partnership, Dr. Jenny Loeck

Superintendent

Our learners contribute to an equitable, caring society.

Our graduates are prepared to achieve their goals and aspirations.

Roseville Area Schools’ 4-year graduation rate increased from 85.2% in 2022 to 89.6% in 2023. The district continues to outperform the statewide average of 83.3%.

In February, Roseville Area High School (RAHS) students Anica Barze and Alise Barze organized “Black Girl Magic Day,” a district-wide celebration of the accomplishments and achievements of black girls and women.

We are a culturally responsive, inclusive, anti-racist district. RAHS was honored to host MPR journalist Angela Davis and her North Star Journey Live program, which was exploring ethnic studies courses in Minnesota schools. RAHS educators (Amy Westland, Marlee Mfalingundi, and James Dawolo) and students (Madisen Lo and Evelyn Savor) participated on panels.

The community is united behind meeting student needs.

Superintendent Jenny Loeck is partnering with Do Good Roseville founder Kathy Ramundt to lead the Community Advisory Council, a group designed to build relationships and partnerships between the community and the school district.

We are financially secure.

Roseville Area Schools’ unassigned fund balance – essentially the school district’s savings account – rose from $3.3 million (or 2.88% of total expenses) in 2021-2022 to $9.2 million (or 7.53%) in 2022-2023.

On the Cover: What a magical day at Central Park Elementary! Students in grades K-2 were treated to a performance by Kalpulli Huitzillin, a local danza group dedicated to preserving Indigenous Mexica culture through dance. Students not only enjoyed the performance but learned some moves themselves!

MISSION

Excellence, Innovation & Equity in All We Do

Excellence, Innovation & Equity in All We Do

Each learner experiences a sense of belonging and a joy of learning, is inspired and prepared to reach their potential, and contributes to our communities.

EQUITY VISION VISION

Roseville Area Schools is committed to ensuring an equitable and respectful learning environment for every student, family, and staff member regardless of race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, ability, home or first language, religion, national origin, age, and physical appearance.

GOALS & KEY STRATEGIES

Our graduates are prepared to achieve their goals and aspirations.

• Ensure students are college- and career-ready

• Deliver a challenging, joyful, and safe learning environment

• Deliver innovative, effective practices and systems

Our learners contribute to an equitable, caring society.

• Cultivate student engagement and joy in learning

• Support learner resiliency (student social and emotional learning and mental health)

• Amplify student leadership and voice in decision-making

• Prepare learners to be racially and socially responsive

We are a culturally responsive, inclusive, anti-racist district.

• Ensure educator commitment to anti-racist practices

• Hire and retain a diverse workforce

• Develop equitable leaders

• Develop a culturally responsive evaluation system

• Build a culture of belonging where all feel welcome, included, and safe

The community is united behind meeting student needs.

• Partner with families and the community to support student success

• Build a culture of belonging

We are financially secure.

• Cultivate and maintain community trust

• Secure and allocate financial resources to support the district’s mission and vision

Thanks to a generous donation from the Parkview PTSA, Parkview Center School is partnering with You’re Not Alone, a non-profit organization that offers an inschool therapy dog program.

“Student groups use this time of their day to find calm through the amazing gift that animals can offer humans,” says Sarah Buxton, the school psychologist at Parkview.

On World Down Syndrome Day, Roseville Area Schools staff and students donned colorful and mismatched socks to show their love and support. In school, at work, on a walk, or at home, it was a fun way to spread joy and awareness.

FROM THE

Parkview Center School students Ronan Keel (trumpet), Anders Lenhart (percussion), and Spencer Gan (clarinet) participated in the Minnesota Band Directors Association (MBDA) All State 6-8 Honor Band at Edina High School. All State Honor Band is an auditionbased group and acceptance into the group represents a significant musical achievement!

Students in grades 4-6 at Harambee Elementary School worked with guest artist Dr. Timothy Berry from the VocalEssence WITNESS program. Students learned to drum and stick pound in the vibrant Gullah Geechee tradition. They then attended the Young People’s Concert at Orchestra Hall, which was directed by Melanie DeMore.

Roseville Area High School sophomore Alyzabeth Hiler placed 3rd at the Minnesota State High School League Girls Wrestling State Tournament. Congratulations to Alyzabeth for her hard work, dedication, and state tournament success!

Members of the League of Women Voters Roseville Area visited senior government classes at Roseville Area High School, including Ira Sanders’ class. Marcia Cheney, the group’s youth engagement coordinator, said the purpose of the visit was to let students know about “the importance of voting, ways to amplify their vote, and ways they can vote.”

NEWSROOM

The Roseville Area High School Speech Team competed in the 4AA Section Speech Tournament with three members advancing to the state tournament. Heading to state are Logan Dam and Maya Hamilton, who placed 2nd in Duo Interpretation, and Amaija Carlson, who is the Section Champion in Discussion.

The Minnesota Department of Education hosted a Say Yes! to School Meals Photo Contest with the School Lunch Honorable Mention Award going to Roseville Area Schools’ tray of Bison Nachos, Wild Rice Pilaf, and a traditional Three Sisters Salad. The meal was a collaborative effort to celebrate Native American Heritage Month.

Fairview Alternative High School hosted a number of fun activities both inside and outside of the FAHS classrooms to honor Alternative Education Week! “Alternative Education Week is a way to celebrate making the choice to attend an alternative high school in order to keep working towards graduation,” says FAHS Principal Laura Freer.

Brimhall Elementary School’s school social worker Michael Stanefski wanted to reduce conflicts emerging during recess soccer. So he grabbed a referee jersey, a whistle, and secured funds from the PTA to purchase practice jerseys. Now anyone can play, Stanefski referees, and the numbers are growing!

Several students in grades 3 and 4 at Little Canada Elementary School have been helping Associate Principal Jodi Seifert clean up the playground during their recess time. What started out as something Mrs. Seifert planned to do one day, has grown into several groups of students helping to keep the playground clean and showing pride in the Little Canada community.

4th graders in Amelia Gronfor’s class and 1st graders in Jenny Eckman’s class at Parkview Center School are reading buddies! Recently the 4th graders shared their own fiction stories of survival in a harsh habitat. In turn, 1st graders shared their non-fiction animal reports and showed their buddies some of the interesting books they’ve been reading as they gathered information.

As part of Little Canada Elementary’s staff recognition system, staff who are selected for being *SUPER AWESOME* each week are able to pick staff theme days. It is a great way to have some fun, celebrate being AWESOME, build community, and get creative. Check out a photo from Music Theme day!

Central Park Elementary School hosted a Family Engineering Night in collaboration with The Works Museum. From “sound sandwiches” to rubber band fliers, catapults to electric circuits, students had a blast exploring hands-on STEM activities at every station!

FROM THE

Roseville Area School Board Director Rose Chu was selected to be part of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)’s Champions in Education. According to ASCD, these successful mid-career leaders in the education field are invited to come together and advance the work to which they so passionately dedicate their careers.

Emmet D. Williams Elementary’s 6th graders collaborated on roller coaster designs, fostering creativity in their engineering curriculum. Teacher Cameron Radke emphasized inventive elements like loops and ladders to prolong marble transit time. Students incur a “cost” for materials with efficiency earning extra points.

A wonderful group of community members gathered at the Ramsey County LibraryRoseville to write personalized cards of encouragement for Central Park Elementary students preparing for MCA testing. This group – called Friends of Central Park Elementary – is a spinoff of the fabulous people at Do Good Roseville.

Huge CONGRATULATIONS to 15 RAHS students who qualified for the USA Powerlifting High School Nationals! Cortez Berry, Murphy Bloor, Josie Dingee, Maia Halvorson, Addie Hansen, Gretchen Holm, Ingrid Holm, Owen King, Ivy Manshack, Tanner Pearson, Max Reichert-Boyd, Evelyn Sagor, Selah Sedlacek, Dash Title, and Greta Wright represented RAHS.

NEWSROOM

Representatives from Roseville Area Schools attended the 2024 Howard University Education Fair in Washington, D.C. It was a wonderful opportunity for our school district to meet current and soon-to-be educators from the nation’s top Historical Black College & University (HBCU).

During I Love to Read month, Emmet D. Williams Elementary students and staff enjoyed a “llama” theme. Each week a mystery reader read a llama book and there were red llama tickets for raffles and prizes. The school had a goal of reading 500,000 minutes and if the goal was met a staff member would “kiss a llama.” No word on who kissed the llama but the students read a total of 633,036 minutes!

RAMS hosted a video shoot in which English Language Development (ELD) teachers Alonso Jaque-Pino and Kelly Grucelski taught lessons for multilingual learners. The videos, which will be used for a professional development program, focused on how to use translanguaging where students use both English and their home language to make meaning out of texts they read.

Eight Roseville students are shining bright after qualifying for the DECA State Career Development Conference and Competition held in Minneapolis. Congratulations to Andrew Barnes and Mina Dang, who not only made it to the finals but also secured their spots in the prestigious International Career Development Conference competition.

A heartwarming partnership between a 4th grade class at Little Canada Elementary and Cardigan Ridge Senior Living has flourished throughout this school year. In March, in honor of I Love to Read Month, the residents visited the students at school, cementing a pen pal bond forged through letters, stories, and artwork.

Across the district, students and staff mark milestones creatively. Kindergarten classes revel in 100 days of school with various activities centered on the number 100. At Edgerton Elementary, 1st grade students celebrated 120 days this year (because counting to 120 is a 1st grade goal) with a bunch of fun activities. So fun!

Congratulations to the Parkview Center School Math Club Team, which won 1st place at the 54th Annual St. Cloud State Math Competition! The team members – Ronan Keel, Andrew Dong, Jacob Dong, Happy Zhang, Elijah Klaetsch, Rosa Rogers, and Lucas De Filippo Vannucci were among 660 other math students in grades 7-8 from across the state.

Students in Brimhall Elementary’s Communication/Interaction Disorder (CID) program created this artwork as they worked on gluing, small motor skills, colors, and same/different. “The students are so excited their artwork is in the hall for everyone to see!” said Brimhall CID paraprofessional Brenda White.

FROM THE

Four Roseville Area High School students – Jessica Chernyy, Naleya Jordan, Malia Tombaga (shown), and Rowan Sanders – were selected to exhibit their work at the Landmark Center as a part of the Emerging Young Artists (EYA) Juried Exhibition show through COMPAS. EYA is a COMPAS initiative to recognize the excellence and nurture the talent of young visual artists.

Roseville Area High School (RAHS) Speech hosted more than 500 talented students from 32 schools at the annual Rosebowl Speech Tournament! From current events, emotional journeys, and poetry to humor and social justice, more than 2,200 powerful stories were shared throughout the day.

Student athletes from the University of Minnesota visited Falcon Heights Elementary and other district schools as part of the Big 10 Impact Reading Initiative. According to Falcon Heights Principal Beth Behnke, “The students were enthralled! They asked the athletes questions like, ‘What are you studying? What do you like about college?’”

Central Park Elementary School’s Student Council embarked on a service field trip to support Every Meal! According to Berri Reiser, the school’s PLC lead teacher, 24 amazing kids packed and boxed a whopping 1,236 bags of food, providing a total of 4,738 meals for families in need.

NEWSROOM

RAHS hosted the prestigious Minnesota Orchestra for a special concert during school hours, welcoming music students and peers from other classes. “The Minnesota Orchestra is one of the premier orchestras in the country,” shared Ian McKnight, a RAHS band instructor. “We were thrilled to give our students the opportunity to see them live.”

Roseville Area High School teacher

Anne Barnes has been recognized with a BestPrep Educator of Excellence Award! BestPrep is a Minnesota-based nonprofit organization that provides programs to build students’ business, career, and financial literacy skills. The Educator of Excellence Award recognizes the top 2% of BestPrep educators.

Roseville Area Schools’ American Indian Education Department partnered with multiple metro school districts to provide an educational powwow experience at Champlin Park High School. Participants celebrated Native American culture through hoop dancing, Anishinaabe drumming, Bagese (an Ojibwe dice game), Mexica dance performances, and much more!

Emmet D. Williams Elementary students in grades 1 & 3 delved into the art of maple syrup making under the guidance of community member Amy Perkins. Students worked with adult volunteers and student helpers to have a hands-on experience in making this tasty treat!

At Edgerton Elementary, a student planning committee emerged to organize a May community event. Guided by instructional coach Sheila McCormick, they convene weekly for a “lunch bunch,” crafting thoughtful plans. Recognizing diverse perspectives, they actively invite other students to ensure inclusivity and comprehensive decision-making.

A group of Roseville Area Middle School students who participate in the Comunidad Latinx student group had a unique field trip experience when they toured Allianz Field, home of Minnesota United FC. According to Silvia Vasquez, a social studies teacher at RAMS, the students explored the world of professional soccer and behindthe-scenes stadium operations.

School Nurses: Ensuring Student Health

and Welfare

Licensed school nurses play key roles (and wear many, many hats) in ensuring the health and welfare of our students. They oversee health screenings and maintain meticulous records, vital for early detection of health issues impacting academic performance. Moreover, they collaborate closely with staff to tailor support for individual student needs, bridging communication between home, school, and healthcare providers to ensure comprehensive care.

Beyond their duties, they act as valuable resources, providing referrals and engaging with the community to promote overall well-being. In essence, school nurses are instrumental in fostering a healthy and nurturing environment where every student can thrive academically and personally.

Alaina Bohl, RN, BSN, PHN, Licensed School Nurse

Falcon Heights Elementary Lead District Nurse & Float

Kelly Feneis, MN, RN, PHN, Licensed School Nurse Roseville Area High School

Joan Tighe, BSN, Licensed School Nurse

Roseville Area Middle School Roseville Area High School

Angela Bykowski, RN, PHN, Licensed School Nurse Brimhall Elementary

Ayan Hassan, RN Aŋpétu Téča Education Center (FAHS, ECSE, Pre-K) & Float

Elle Watson, BSN, RN, PHN, Licensed School Nurse Edgerton Elementary

Alexa Cramer, RN, PHN, BSN, Licensed School Nurse Little Canada Elementary Parkview Center School

Britt Johnson, RN, MN, PHN, Licensed School Nurse Emmet D. Williams Elementary

Lisa Buck, BSN, PHN, Licensed School Nurse Central Park Elementary

Tammy Fritze, RN, PHN, Licensed School Nurse Parkview Center School

Tona Vulcan, RN, School Nurse Harambee Elementary

SERVICES

Lindsay Calzadillas, Health Assistant

Edgerton Elementary

LuAnne Huseth, Health Assistant

Emmet D. Williams Elementary

Kathy Casey, Health Assistant Little Canada Elementary

Ann Johnson, Health Assistant Central Park Elementary

Quayle, Health Assistant

Aŋpétu Téča Education Center (FAHS, ECSE, Pre-K)

Katie Skarda, Health Assistant Parkview Center School

Yajaira Gonzalez Gurrola, Health Assistant Roseville Area High School

Stine (chriStine) Morton, Health Assistant Brimhall Elementary

Health Assistants: Supporting Student Well-Being

Under the guidance of the school nurses, health assistants fulfill crucial responsibilities within school health offices. They provide routine first aid and administer prescribed medications, ensuring students receive necessary care. In instances of illness or injury, they promptly notify parents, maintaining open communication.

Additionally, they collaborate closely with the school nurse, seeking guidance in emergencies, conducting physical assessments, and addressing non-routine health issues that arise throughout the school day.

Tiffany Irving, Health Assistant Roseville Area Middle School

Angie McCoy, Health Assistant Falcon Heights Elementary School

Paul Ojambo, Health Assistant Harambee Elementary

Jodi Riechert, Health Assistant Edgerton Elementary

Luann

& FINANCE BUSINESS

General Fund 101: The Basics

In the Winter 2024 issue of the Raider Voice, we presented an overview of district funding – where district funds come from and how those funds are spent. In this issue, we are drilling down into the “spending” aspect of the district’s general fund. The pie chart illustrates what portion of the total 2023-2024 general fund is allocated to each budget area.

Regular Instruction

Elementary and secondary classroom instruction including social studies, language arts, math, science, music, physical education, and art

$48,625,267 (38.0% of total)

Vocational Ed Instruction

Courses that develop knowledge, skills, and behavioral characteristics for students seeking career exploration and employability

$2,114,627 (1.7% of total)

Special Ed Instruction

Services for students of any age who, because of atypical characteristics, have been identified as requiring, or who would benefit from, differentiated educational programs

$28,496,671 (22.3% of total)

District Support Services

Payroll, business office, purchasing, communications, human resources, technology information systems, student accounting, central enrollment, and census office

$4,260,155 (3.3% of total)

Administration School board, superintendent’s office, principals’ offices, administrators in the Office of Educational Equity

$5,819,214 (4.6% of total)

Other

Sites & Buildings

The acquisition, operation, maintenance, and repair of all physical plant, facilities, and grounds of the school district

$11,177,689 (8.7% of total)

Fiscal and fixed cost activities including post employment benefits, insurance, and other non-recurring items

$515,000 (0.4% of total)

Instructional Support Services

Includes activities for assisting teachers with the content and process of providing learning experiences for students in grades kindergarten through grade 12. These services included general instructional support, curriculum development, media centers, and professional development

$10,635,461 (8.3% of total)

Student Support Services

All other services provided to students that do not qualify as instructional services including, counseling and guidance services, school security, drug abuse prevention, health/nursing, psychological and mental health services, social workers, and student transportation

$16,178,136 (12.7% of total)

NUTRITION SERVICES

A Year with Universal Free Meals

New Program Helps Families Purchase

Groceries During the Summer

Summer EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) is a new program to help families buy food for their school-age children during the summer. Families will get $120 for each eligible child to buy groceries during the summer. Children who get Summer EBT can still participate in other summer meal programs. Receiving Summer EBT will not affect children or families’ immigration status.

How does Summer EBT work in Roseville Area Schools?

Summer EBT will be loaded onto an EBT card and mailed to your home. If eligible, you can use Summer EBT benefits to buy food like fruits, vegetables, meat, whole grains, and dairy at grocery stores, farmers markets, and other places that accept EBT benefits. Summer EBT is a convenient way for you to help your children thrive.

For more information and to apply, scan this QR code with your phone’s camera.

• Students are allowed to have one breakfast and one lunch each day at no cost. Additional meals and individual milks can be purchased. Money can be added to a student’s account by sending cash or check to a student’s school or setting up an account online at LINQConnect.com.

• The number of students who ate school-provided breakfast increased by 35% and lunch by 25%. What does that mean? Most importantly, it means more students showing up for class with full bellies and ready to learn!

• Additional revenue is going back into the program with staffing increases, staff training, continuing local purchasing, and long-overdue equipment updates.

Taste Tests at Emmet D. Williams Elementary

What’s On Our Tray?

Students at Emmet D. Williams Elementary School took part in the Nutrition Services menu planning process in April. Students provided feedback for an authentic Argentinian beef empanada made in the Twin Cities. Due to the enthusiastic voting results, the empanada will make its way to a permanent place on our menus next fall!

A recent Minnesota Thursday featured Philly Steak Sandwich (Rancher’s Legacy, Vadnais Heights, MN) topped with queso fresco cheese (CannonBelles Creamery, Cannon Falls, MN) and herb roasted potatoes (Hugh’s Gardens LLC, Halstad, MN).

Minnesota Thursday is a twice monthly menu day featuring local foods and highlighting some of the great items our local farmers, ranchers, and makers grow, raise, and produce!

Did you know students watch a video the morning of each Minnesota Thursday to get to know the people behind their food or how their food got to their tray that day? Find out more on our YouTube channel.

We’re Hiring!

Nutrition Services is always hiring for the team’s on-call sub list. Join the team and become a part of the mission to nourish Roseville Area Schools students. All employees are trained in basic food safety, food preparation, and serving techniques. No food service experience required!

COMMUNITY EDUCATION

Community Education By the Numbers

Did you know that Roseville Community Education...

• received 1,370 Youth Enrichment camp registrations during the 2023-2024 school year?

• provides 10 levels of swim lessons for youth and adults?

• served 27,505 meals through Meals on Wheels in 2023 (5,444 more meals than in 2022!)?

• received 4,358 Adult Enrichment class registrations for the 20232024 school year?

• led Targeted Services theater classes for 110 elementary students during the 2023-2024 school year?

Make a Splash with Swimming & Water Exercise

Spend Your Summer with Community Ed

We’re offering experiences all summer long, for people of all ages! Join us for the Community Education Extravaganza on Monday, August 12, 2024 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Aŋpétu Téča Education Center. Sign up for summer youth camps and field trips or adult enrichment classes, too! Call 651-604-3770 or visit isd623.ce.eleyo. com to explore opportunities.

Join us in the pool at Aŋpétu Téča Education Center! We offer five different adult water exercise classes throughout the week of varying intensity. Register for an entire class or one drop-in session to try out a class. We also offer swim lessons, open swim, and lap swim. Swimming engages your full body to promote heart and lung health, endurance, and muscle strength. To register, call 651-604-3770 or visit isd623.ce.eleyo.com.

Jigsaw Enthusiasts

Compete in Raider Puzzle Palooza

Roseville Community Education’s 2nd annual Raider Puzzle Palooza was a hit! This year, 35 teams of all ages raced to finish the same 500-piece jigsaw puzzle. The 1st place team in the adult competition category took just 31 minutes and 35 seconds to complete their puzzle! Participants also brought in gently used puzzles for a puzzle swap table, which promoted sustainability and provided a lot of fun, secondhand puzzles for families to take home.

Check Out Opportunities for Older Adults

The Roseville Area Senior Program offers groups, activities, and support for older adults throughout the year! Join a bridge group, attend a free Morning Talks class, participate in the caregiver support group, get seen by a nurse at our foot care clinic, and more. To learn more, call 651-604-3520, email rasp@isd623.org, or visit our website isd623.org/rasp.

EARLY CHILDHOOD

Fun-filled Opportunities for Young Children

Registration for Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) classes is open for summer 2024! These engaging classes are designed for children ages 0 to 5 and their caregivers. Sign up for classes such as:

• Dino Delight (ages 1.5-5 years)

• Little Artists (ages 0-2.5 years)

• Buddies and Bluey (ages 0-5 years)

• You and Me Baby (ages 0-9 months)

We’ll also be offering FREE Drop In & Play classes and outdoor Park & Play classes throughout the summer where you can enjoy parent and child activities, get to know our Early Childhood team, discover resources, and socialize with other families.

To learn more, visit isd623.org/ECFE or call 651-487-4378.

Registration is Open for 2024-2025 Pre-K

View registration materials and class options at isd623.org/PreK. Pre-K is for children who are ages 3 or 4 by September 1, 2024. Early Childhood Screening is required for participation in Pre-K. To schedule a screening appointment for your child, call 651-487-4378 ext. 2 or email ecfe@isd623.org.

For More Information about ECFE, Screening & Pre-K ECFE and Screening: 651-487-4378 • Pre-K: 651-604-3578 communityed.isd623.org/early-childhood

LEARNING CENTER

FREE Summer Opportunities at the Adult Learning Center

The Roseville Adult Learning Center has 5-week summer classes for adults! We can help you learn English, earn certifications, advance your career, or earn an adult diploma. There is NO COST to join. We want to help you meet your goals! Call 651-604-3553 or visit isd623.org/ralc to get started.

For More Information about the Adult Learning Center 651-604-3553 alc-info@isd623.org isd623.org/ralc

Preparing Adults for Careers in the Trades

The Roseville Adult Learning Center offers an Apprentice and Manufacturing Ready program in partnership with the Karen Organization of Minnesota! This program prepares adults in our community for an apprenticeship in the trades at no cost. Participants receive overviews of carpentry, masonry, electrical systems, welding, and more as they network and explore possible careers.

Roseville Area Schools

Independent School District 623

1251 West County Rd. B2 W. Roseville, MN 55113-3299

CONGRATULATIONS!

CONGRATULATIONS to Sue Collins, a 6th grade teacher at Edgerton Elementary School, who was named one of 11 FINALISTS for Minnesota Teacher of the Year! “Ms. Collins is exceptionally committed to excellence in education. Her impact on students, colleagues, and the broader community is immeasurable,” says Edgerton Principal Maura Weyandt. The 2024 Minnesota Teacher of the Year will be announced on May 5.

Congratulations to Roseville Area High School senior Ataa-Adjetey Mensah, who was named the Minnesota State High School League’s Triple A Award winner from Region 4AA! Ataa maintains a 4.0 GPA, competes in football, basketball, and track & field, and is musically talented as a percussionist and composer.

There are so many, many reasons to celebrate our students and staff in Roseville Area Schools. In addition to these wonderful examples, there are many more throughout this issue of The Raider Voice.

Roseville Area High School is proud to announce that senior Benjamin Lee has been named a National Merit Finalist! As a National Merit Finalist, Benjamin is among the top students in the nation based on outstanding performance on the PSAT/ NMSQT, academic record, extracurricular activities, leadership abilities, and endorsements from high school officials.

Congratulations to Roseville Area High School junior Alise Barze, who was named a 2024 Minnesota State High School League ExCEL award winner! The ExCEL Award – Excellence in Community, Education, and Leadership – recognizes Minnesota high school juniors who are active in school activities, leaders in their schools, and who demonstrate a strong commitment to community service.

Joe Churchich, the band director at Parkview Center School, was awarded Schmitt Music’s Band Educator of the Year for 2024! Out of 125 nominations across six states, Churchich’s dedication, passion, and excellence stood out among his peers, according to Schmitt Music.

Congratulations to Ruby Eskin, Roseville Area High School’s 2024 Athena Award Winner! The Athena Award is awarded annually to an outstanding female high school senior student-athlete. During her years at RAHS, Ruby has excelled as a three-sport athlete and is also an active member of the RAHS school community.