XPERIENCE
SPRING LAKE PARK SCHOOLS
SUMMER 2025
CLASS OF 2025
We celebrate these students in our Panther community and wish them well as they pursue future plans
FUTURE BITES: THE NEXT GREAT AMERICAN FOOD
Seventh graders seek “investors” for their creative food products and bring enthusiasm to interdisciplinary projects
THE PROJECT IS THE LEARNING
Elementary students are making connections between subjects and it’s good for learning
SPRING ATHLETICS AND ACTIVITIES HIGHLIGHTS
Students wrapped up another successful spring season
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FEATURES SUMMER 2025
CLASS OF 2025
The future is bright for Spring Lake Park High School’s Class of 2025! These students have been an important part of our Panther community and we’re cheering them on as they pursue further education, a career or trade, take a role with the military or do something else altogether. Read about their future plans, favorite experiences, accomplishments and what makes them Panther Proud online.
THE PROJECT IS THE LEARNING
Some fourth graders are considering this question: How do challenges and changes impact my thoughts, actions and feelings? They’ll answer the question through their project work in English Language Arts, math, humanities and more as they are led on a journey from Mount Everest to their own life experiences. The idea behind project-based learning is that the project is the learning. Read more online.
FUTURE BITES: THE NEXT GREAT AMERICAN FOOD
Seventh graders stand in front of poster boards and screens pitching a group of visiting parents, teachers, and other students. They are looking for investors in their products – the next great American food. This is the culmination of their interdisciplinary projects. The products are colorful, clever and kid-friendly. What’s most impressive, though, is seeing and hearing the demonstration of learning outcomes come to life with such energy and enthusiasm. Read more online.
SPRING ATHLETICS AND ACTIVITIES HIGHLIGHTS
Sam Kretzschmar placed 1st at the Math state tournament. Opportunities in Emergency Care (OEC) teams placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd at the state tournament and will attend the HOSA International Leadership Conference in Nashville. The boys’ volleyball team, 18 track and field athletes and boys golfer, Chase Birdwell, rocked state. See all the results online.
#SLPPantherProud
FOLLOW US
Get frequent updates by following our 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.
It’s always a special day when the senior class is gifted their yard signs thanks to the support of the Panther Foundation! A show of school pride and celebrating end of the school year accomplishments!
The Spring Lake Park High School Class of 2025 held its commencement ceremony at 3M Arena at Mariucci on June 4. Congrats to all students on this journey and what comes next!
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Next up: retirement! Each honoree at the annual event received their commemorative school bell award recognizing their service and commitment to the students of SLP.
An SLP favorite tradition is 4th Grade Track & Field Day. All elementaries join together at Panther Stadium for a day of fun in the sun before they reunite at Westwood as fifth graders next school year.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY
LIVE ON 65: 2025-2026 SEASON
SPRINGLAKEPARKSCHOOLS.ORG/LIVEON65
It’s an entertaining and diverse line-up for the next season of Live on 65! Presale tickets are available now so you can buy for all the shows early and save. Visit online or call 763-600-5050.
• Monday, October 27, 2025 | 7 p.m. M5 - The Mexican Brass
• Sunday, December 7, 2025 | 4 p.m. After Hours Big Band
• Thursday, March 19, 2026 | 7 p.m. Joyann Parker
• Monday, May 11, 2026 | 7 p.m. The Suits BY
THE NUMBERS
491 CLASS OF 2025 GRADUATES
LOCAL SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT
Spring Lake Park High School seniors were awarded more than $87,000 in scholarships thanks to the support of many individuals and organizations in our community. Financially assisting our graduates makes it possible for them to pursue further education and builds a strong workforce and community. If you’d like to become a scholarship donor, please contact Spring Lake Park High School’s Counseling Office at 763-600-5130.
“START YOUR ENGINES”
FREE OUTDOOR COMMUNITY EVENT
PANTHERFOUNDATION.ORG/EVENTS/START-YOUR-ENGINES
Saturday, September 13, 2025
| Event is in Spring Lake Park High School’s Parking Lot Everyone is invited to this family-friendly community event featuring a variety of exhibits with engines – think big trucks, automobiles and recreational vehicles. Lunch from featured food trucks is available for purchase. We are accepting charitable bike donations for “Bike4Kids” at this event. A big thank you to the Panther Foundation and SLP Community Education for their co-sponsorship of this event. “Start Your Engines” is for all ages, free to attend, and no registration is required - just show up and enjoy the kick-off to the 2025-2026 school year!
To our community:
The highlight of each school year is celebrating a sea of blue-gowned graduates as they walk across the Commencement stage. It is so fun to see the excitement of our graduates and their families. The Class of 2025 is the largest and most accomplished class to graduate from Spring Lake Park High School.
In this issue of SLP Experience , many members of the graduating class shared their memorable experiences and plans for what comes next. Many talked about how they benefited from learning that was engaging, relevant and applicable to their lives in and out of school. This focus on designing engaging, relevant learning is work we’ve undertaken not just at our high school, but at all grade levels.
I hope you’ll take a few minutes to explore some great examples of interdisciplinary learning across our district in this issue. When learning connects the dots for students between subject areas it becomes real, and students engage differently and gain skills they need to be ready for their futures.
K WORTH OF SCHOLARSHIPS
491 STUDENTS GRADUATED IN THE CLASS OF 2025 991,650 MEALS SERVED THIS SCHOOL YEAR $87,550 GIVEN IN SCHOLARSHIPS SUPPORT BY OUR COMMUNITY TO GRADUATING SENIORS
50+ OFFERINGS FOR YOUTH SUMMER CAMPS, CLINICS AND ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES WILL PROVIDE FUN LEARNING ALL SUMMER LONG
LUNCHO GALATA
SPRING LAKE PARK HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE
As we chart off into the next chapter of our lives, however that chapter may look for you, I encourage you to try focusing on the now. Instead of repeating, “I can’t wait to,” think about what you’re grateful for. Think about what you’ll miss 1,460 days from now... because these are the days we’ll wish we could return to. Congratulations, Class of 2025!
Our teachers work hard to create relevant, engaging student work and learning experiences, leading to graduates who not only have a diploma but are prepared for their future because they have been engaged with meaningful learning. I can’t think of anything better for our community and our world. This is what school in SLP is all about – designing learning that meets student interests, addresses their needs, and prepares them for their next steps within and beyond the walls of our schools.
Behind the scenes, we’re also continuing to understand the short- and long-term picture for our schools now that the legislative session has concluded. In the spring, I shared some of our financial realities. You can find that issue at SpringLakeParkSchools.org/Experience . This summer, we’re looking at what we need to make sure each student is future ready. We’ll have more to share in the fall.
Until then, we’re counting down the days to the start of the 2025-2026 school year. Enjoy the summer.
Jeff Ronneberg, Ed.D Superintendent Spring Lake Park Schools
SCHOOL BOARD
Tony Easter, Chairperson
Amy Hennen, Vice-Chairperson
Marilynn Forsberg, Clerk
Sam Villella, Treasurer
Kelly McClellan, Director
Allie Schmidt, Director
Melody Skelly, Parliamentarian
At Spring Lake Park Schools, we serve more than 6,200 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.
