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XPERIENCE SPRING LAKE PARK SCHOOLS

FALL 2025 CREATING CONNECTIONS What may look like fun and games is an intentional approach to creating classrooms of learners that support each other

CHALLENGING FOR GROWTH Academic growth is a hope and dream of parents and teachers share how they challenge each student for growth

MECHATRONICS In a new course, students are discovering how mechanical, electrical and digital systems help machines move, think and perform

ELECTION RESULTS Voters approved an increase to Spring Lake Park Schools’ operating levy; four incumbent school board members reelected

SpringLakeParkSchools.org/Experience

SO MANY REASONS TO BE

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Spring Lake Park Schools accounts on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Flickr social media channels! Here’s just a few highlights to show what the community has been engaging with recently.

FEATURE STORIES FALL 2025

Panther Mentors volunteered to help new high schoolers start the year strong. Incoming 9th graders and other new students spent time getting oriented to the building, learning expectations and meeting new classmates.

CREATING CONNECTIONS

“Red Light, Green Light” might look and sound like a silly game – all that laughter and energy, but it is so much more. Students get comfortable, connect with peers and get ready to learn. Across Spring Lake Park Schools, staff know these connections are too important to leave to chance. Learn more about the silly and not so silly ways students and staff build a community of learners who support one another. Read more online.

CHALLENGING FOR GROWTH

“Challenged academically,” “learning aligned what they need,” “support when struggling” – these are all phrases parents have used when sharing what they most want for their children in school. How do these hopes and dreams come to life in the classroom? How do our educators think about these topics and deliver? We connected with several teachers across schools and grade levels to find out how they challenge students to support their growth. Read more online.

MECHATRONICS

Students are exploring modern manufacturing in the latest course to join Spring Lake Park High School’s Career and College Pathways – Introduction to Mechatronics (How Machines Work). Through hands-on projects, students are discovering how mechanical, electrical and digital systems work together to make machines move, think and perform. Students experiment, tinker and create in a cutting-edge lab as they gain practical experience and skills. Read more online.

The letter “O” is for “Oso” (bear) in Spanish! Woodcrest Spanish Immersion kindergarteners combined learning about letters, animals and donned lab coats to perform a gummy bear science experiment.

ELECTION RESULTS

On November 4, 2025, voters approved an operating levy referendum for Spring Lake Park Schools with 66 percent voter support. It’s the first levy increase since 2002. The levy dollars will help maintain current academic programs and support, teachers and staff, and safe, secure facilities. Funds will also help support career exploration and college credit opportunities at the high school.

A peek into Westwood’s Curriculum Night! Families got the chance to visit classrooms to discover what students are exploring this year. They also built community through service projects like painting empathy rocks to spread positivity. Putting the “pep” in this year’s Homecoming Pep Fest! Unmatched energy, school spirit and laughs as the community celebrated all the festivities. From dress-up theme days to school assemblies, it was a fun Homecoming week across all schools!

Four incumbent school board members were also reelected to a new term of service. Sam Villella, Melody Skelly, Kelly McClellan and Marilynn Forsberg will begin their new terms in January. Read more online.

SOCIAL MEDIA SLP Experience is a print and electronic publication produced several times each year that offers a look into life at Spring Lake Park Schools across school buildings and grade levels. This school experience is defined by knowing each child by name, strength, interest and need in order to foster personalized learning experiences that develop academic and life skills and prepare students for their unique futures.

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YouTube

Flickr

SUPERINTENDENT’S MESSAGE

OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY MARK YOUR CALENDAR: THE PANTHER FOUNDATION’S PANTHERS FOR A PURPOSE

ENJOY A LOCAL, LIVE SHOW SpringLakeParkSchools.org/TicketOffice Whether you’re looking for a night out, a chance to see world-class talent or an opportunity to cheer on our amazing students, we’ve got a show for you.

“ COMMUNITY SUPPORT ”

SpringLakeParkSchools.org/GiveBack Week of Giving: February 22-28, 2026 Participate in an online silent auction, dine-to-donate opportunities at local restaurants and Panther Pride activities all week long!

Party: Saturday, February 28, 2026 (tickets on sale Jan. 5) Join us at Bunker Hills Event Center in Coon Rapids. Guests will enjoy a Live Auction, Giving Moment Program and live musical entertainment by Good for Gary – a favorite cover band of the Twin Cities!

ENGAGE WITH COMMUNITY EDUCATION SpringLakeParkSchools.org/CE-Register Now is a great time to explore interests, discover passions and learn a new skill. We offer a variety of programs for youth, adults and families. With everything from fitness to art, these affordable classes help connect participants with others who share similar interests as they learn new skills. Register and browse classes online.

48 PERCENT OF GRADUATES IN THE MOST RECENT CLASS EARNED MORE THAN ONE SEMESTER’S WORTH OF COLLEGE CREDIT IN HIGH SCHOOL

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Meet our 2025-2026 student school board representatives:

MICKEY TRAN JUNIOR

I’ve been openly proud of our student body ever since elementary school. In my thirteen years in this district, I’ve seen how we always have each other’s backs and continuously show our Panther Pride.

MIA SWINARSKI SENIOR

From our clubs and sports teams to school events like the homecoming game and pep fest, there is a place here for everyone.

In this issue of SLP Experience, as we do in every issue, we share stories and outcomes of our collective efforts. Learn more about how we are intentionally building school community and connection. Find out how teachers think about and challenge students for growth at all grade levels, and take a peek into one of our newest Career and College Pathways courses – Mechatronics.

Please know this: We will continue to be the best partners to our community that we can. Being excellent stewards of our shared resources is a point of pride and an ongoing commitment. We know our collective stewardship has never been more important to sustain the schools we need to ensure our young people are ready for their future. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to Spring Lake Park Schools, our staff and students, and the future we are creating together! P.S. Do check out the election results story and the video that shares thanks from across the Jeff Ronneberg, Ed.D district. No one says it Superintendent better than our kids. Spring Lake Park Schools

SCHOOL BOARD Tony Easter, Chairperson

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OF GRADUATES EARNED MORE THAN ONE SEMESTER’S WORTH OF COLLEGE CREDIT

92 PERCENT OF GRADUATES IN THE MOST RECENT CLASS TOOK AT LEAST ONE COURSE IN OUR CAREER AND COLLEGE PATHWAYS

48%

51 COURSES AT SPRING LAKE PARK HIGH SCHOOL OFFER COLLEGE CREDIT

G H T

92%

OF GRADUATES TOOK AT LEAST ONE PATHWAYS COURSE

E N T S P OT LI

COURSES OFFER COLLEGE CREDIT

VOTER APPROVAL OF OPERATING LEVY

66%

This operating levy will provide the funds to help us maintain the programs, services and teams we’ve built and the safe, secure buildings we learn in each day. We, the staff and students of Spring Lake Park Schools, are fortunate to be supported by this community. We can’t do what we do without you!

Our students – our young people – are at the center of all we do. We couldn’t create and share these stories of our student experience without community support. That’s always been true and is especially true today. We’re thrilled to be able to continue our efforts without any disruption thanks to our community’s vote and with the reelection of four incumbent school board members.

BY THE NUMBERS 66 PERCENT OF VOTERS IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION APPROVED THE SCHOOL OPERATING LEVY

To our community: As this issue of SLP Experience goes to print, we have just learned the outcome of this fall’s election. Critical funding for our schools was on the ballot in the form of an operating levy referendum question. The question was approved with overwhelming support from voters! This is great news for our schools and for our near-term future.

Amy Hennen, V ice - Chairperson Melody Skelly, Clerk Sam V illella, Treasurer Marilynn Forsberg, Direc tor Kelly McClellan, Parliamentarian Allie Schmidt, Direc tor

ABOUT US

At Spring Lake Park Schools, we serve more than 6,100 students from Blaine, Fridley, Spring Lake Park and surrounding communities. Our students are engaged in personalized learning experiences as they discover who they are as learners.

XPERIENCE DISTRICT SERVICES CENTER

FALL 2025

Independent School District No. 16 1415 81st Ave NE Spring Lake Park, MN 55432

SpringLakeParkSchools.org

COME VISIT: “NEW FAMILY” INFORMATION EVENTS Families new to SLP are invited to tour and learn more about early childhood programs, preschool and kindergarten. All events begin at 5:30 p.m. • Tuesday, January 27, 2026 – Northpoint Elementary • Thursday, January 29, 2026 – Centerview Elementary • Tuesday, February 3, 2026 – Woodcrest Spanish Immersion • Thursday, February 5, 2026 – Park Terrace Elementary

WANT TO CATCH UP ONLINE? View the archive of past issues from this school year and read full stories online at

SpringLakeParkSchools.org/Experience

GET TO KNOW SLP IN 1, 2, 3

HELLO, LITTLE LEARNERS!

CATCH A SHOW THIS SEASON

ENROLL NOW FOR 2026-2027

SpringLakeParkSchools.org/Kinder

SpringLakeParkSchools.org/TicketOffice

SpringLakeParkSchools.org/Enroll

Have a little learner at home? Come visit during informational events in January and February. Families new to Spring Lake Park Schools are invited to tour and learn more about early childhood programs, preschool and kindergarten. RSVP online.

Award-winning student-run theater and a world-class performance series are right here in the North Metro. “Live on 65” is set to welcome acts for live entertainment. Students are gearing up for classic spring musicals – The Sound of Music and Little Shop of Horrors. Reserve tickets online.

Personalized learning experiences. Preparation for the future. An intentional approach to valuing each student and creating a sense of belonging. These are just a few reasons to become a Panther. Enrollment is now open for all grades.