2013 01 January Communicator

January 2013

COMMUNICATOR New logo symbolizes district’s commitment to excellence for each and every student

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ith the new year underway, Wayzata Public Schools is excited to unveil a new logo that honors its rich past and represents is mission and vision for the future.

Just as other areas of the district are crafting and implementing innovative new initiatives that are in alignment with the new Strategic Plan, adopted in December 2011, district leadership felt it was time to update its visual identity.

“The new image is a visual reminder that our district is dynamic and moving forward with the changing times, that we are looking to a future that has no boundaries,” explained Superintendent Chace Anderson. “We are proud of our rich heritage here in Wayzata, but we are not standing still and resting on our laurels. Every day, we are working to nurture excellence and

The logo story

to support each and every student to thrive and excel in an ever-changing global society. This new, contemporary logo is a fresh reminder of that commitment.”

You can expect to see the new logo gradually integrated into all district communications over the next several months. For more information about the district logo, contact Amy Parnell, director of communications and community engagement at 763-745-5068.

The new Wayzata School District logo was designed to reflect the district’s commitment to excellence and supporting each and every student to thrive and excel in an ever-changing global society. The symbolism inherent in the various design elements is outlined below: Abstract Laurel Wreath: In classical literature, the laurel wreath is a symbol of love, honor and glory forever. Today, the laurel continues to be a symbol of athletic victory and academic achievement. The expression “looking to one’s laurels” encourages an individual or community to take inspiration from past achievements to conquer new frontiers.

Eight Leaves: The eight leaves on the laurel remind us that the district is deeply connected to and receives nourishment from each of the eight communities it serves. As a design concept, leaves are warm and friendly and suggest an organic, growing, nurturing environment.

Open-ended Circle: The open-ended circle symbolizes a welcoming and dynamic environment that is moving forward and changing with the times, all the while surrounding students, families and staff in the district and holding each and every student in its steady embrace.

The Classic Serif Face: The font is a classic serif face that echoes the font on the Wayzata high school building, another nod to the legacy of Wayzata excellence.

New Elementary Additions Underway

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ast spring, the Wayzata School Board approved additions to Greenwood, Oakwood and Sunset Hill Elementary Schools to meet the needs of our growing resident student population.

The following work has begun on the additions with completion scheduled in time for the 2013-2014 school year.

Greenwood Elementary The addition at Greenwood will consist of: four new classrooms, expansion of the cafeteria and a new gymnasium. CM Construction has been chosen as the contractor for this project. The School Board and City of Plymouth have approved the project and the contract is in place. The plan has been submitted to Bassett Creek and Elm Creek Watershed Districts and a building permit will be issued when approval has been received from the watershed district. The contractor has most of the water and sewer pipe in the ground and has switched over to the new pipe system. Excavation for footings began in January.

Oakwood Elementary The addition to Oakwood will consist of: three new classrooms, remodeling of five classrooms, a new media center and expansion of the cafeteria. Ebert Construction has been chosen as the contractor. The School Board and City of Plymouth have approved the project. Currently, the district is waiting for approval by the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District before a building permit will be issued. The water main for the building was rerouted during the winter break and new fire hydrants were installed as part of the project. The fiber optic line was also rerouted.

Work on additions at three of the district’s elementary schools has begun with plans waiting for approval by the associated watershed districts. Various utilities have been rerouted to accomodate the construction areas at each building.

Sunset Hill Elementary The addition at Sunset Hill will consist of: four new classrooms and expansion of the cafeteria. Kue Contractors has been chosen as the contractor for this project. The School Board and City of Plymouth have approved this project and the district is currently waiting

for the Bassett Creek Watershed District to approve the plans. A building permit will be issued once the plans are approved. The construction fencing and mobilization for the project is complete. Kue rerouted the water main for the building during the district’s winter break. Excavation for footings and foundation walls began in January.

2 2013 will be a busy year

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here did 2012 go? I am finding it hard to believe that 2013 is already here and wondering where half the school year has gone. It has been a busy school year so far and we are looking forward to many exciting initiatives to come in the new year.

This issue of the Communicator is full of updates of the progress we are making toward our goal of meeting the needs of each and every student as outlined in our strategic plan.

Community Engaged in Elementary Attendance Area Process Much of 2012 was focused on balancing our growing resident student enrollment with the space available in our schools. The process to study elementary attendance areas was the perfect example of what makes our district great. Over 800 parents and community members participated in one of three meetings to share their thoughts about various scenarios that were developed. Online feedback was also received and considered as scenarios continued to be refined prior to the School Board taking final action on December 10. Families affected by the attendance area changes have been personally notified and we look forward to welcoming students into their new schools next fall.

New Elementary Additions Underway/High School Addition Being Considered An important part of balancing student enrollment and the long-term district facilities plan is underway with additions being put on at Greenwood, Oakwood and Sunset Hill Elementary Schools. The additional classroom and instructional space will be done in time for the 2013-2014 school year when the elementary attendance area modifications also go into effect. More information about these additions can be found on the front page of the Communicator. We will also

be determining what action is needed to address our growing secondary student population. Enrollment is expected to grow by 500 students in the next seven years at Wayzata High School.

MyWay Launched in January The MyWay for Student Learning initiative launched in January with the first iPads being distributed to students in grades 6-8 on a 1:1 ratio and to students in grades K-2 on a 3:1 ratio. MyWay is the longterm effort in the Wayzata Public Schools to make sure that each and every student is prepared to thrive today and excel tomorrow in our ever-changing global society. Learn more about MyWay on page 7 of the Communicator.

New Logo Debuted…Updated Web Site Coming Soon We are excited to debut our new district logo on the front page of the Communicator! The new image is a visual reminder that we are proud of our rich history of excellence and that our district is dynamic and moving forward with the changing times. The new logo will be gradually integrated into all district communications over the next several months and will be featured on the newly updated district web site that will be debuted this spring.

School Safety is a Top Priority The tragic events in Newtown, Connecticut have caused us to take a closer look at what we are doing to keep our students and staff safe. Wayzata Public Schools has always placed a high priority on safety. The District has long-time relationships with the Wayzata and Plymouth Police Departments and we continue to work together closely with both departments to be proactive and prepared.

Starting in January, greeters will be positioned at the main door of each elementary school to monitor the

Superintendent’s Column

“This issue is full of updates of the progress we are making toward our goal of meeting the needs of each and every student as outlined in our strategic plan.”

— Chace Anderson, Superintendent

flow of visitors in and out of the school. The exception to this is Gleason Lake since they have a physical layout in place that channels visitors through the main office.

Greeters are also already in place at Central, East and West Middle Schools, and visitors are currently channeled through a secure main entrance at Wayzata High School.

As part of the current facilities planning, a full review of the district’s security and safety systems is in the process of being completed. Initiatives under consideration include: redesigning school entrances and traffic flow to limit access by channeling visitors directly into the main office, as well as investigating new security systems and additional safety training and support for school staff.

2013 Will be a Busy Year in the Wayzata Public Schools!

Watch for updates on our progress in upcoming issues of the Communicator.

Eighth grade honor choir students from all three district middle schools rehearsed and preformed alongside Wayzata High School choir students on January 10 in the 21st year of the district’s Middle School Choir Festival.

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WHS hosts eighth grade honor choir

ighth grade choir students from Central, East and West Middle Schools were invited to the high school to participate in a festival where they were paired with Wayzata High School choir students on January 10.

Middle and high school students enjoyed making connections with students from other buildings as they

rehearsed in a mass choir of 120 singers, conducted

by Jeff Dahl at WHS. Prior to the event, eighth grade students worked with their directors: Ben Henschel, Chris Larson and Mary-Lynn Rhodes to prepare the music. Now in its 21st year, the festival has been a Wayzata tradition since 1992.

3 Wayzata High School announces 2012 AP scholars

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ayzata High School has announced its 2012 AP scholars. Based on the results of AP exams taken during the 2011-12 school year, there were 33 National Scholars (an average score of at least 4 on all AP exams taken and scores of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams), 110 AP Scholars with Distinction (an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams), 50 AP Scholars with Honor (an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams) and 101 AP Scholars (a score of 3 or higher on three or more AP exams). The lists below include students who graduated from Wayzata High School in June 2012 because the AP tests were given during the 2011-12 school year.

The following students earned recognition for their scores: National Scholars Aneesha Ahluwalia, Alexander Aronovich, Iain Brooks, David Bye, Evan Chen, James Chen, Connie Dong, Nirupa Galagedera, Kevin Hansen, Naveen Jain, Jacob Kautzky, Kelly Knudsen, Avi Kumar, Jenny Lai, Xun Liu, Syshane Lu, Joseph Neary, Carlee Nelson, Apekshya Panda, Mahati Pidaparti, Ivan Poteryakhin, Carolin Qian, Keegan Radke, Rishi Sinha, Alexander Spencer, Catherin Sun, Frederick Sutton, Amy Xiong, Bojana Zecevic, William Zeng, Jeff Zhang, Ziwei Zhang, Roy Zhao Scholars with Distinction Aneesha Ahluwalia, Ishmam Ahmed, Ellis Andrews, Alexander Aronovich, Alexander Bahls, Kieran BallsBarker, Akhil Bhargava, Ayesha Bhatia, Ian Block, Jeffrey Braun, Iain Brooks, John Bruer, Katherine Bryson, David Bye, Evan Chen, James Chen, Silvia Choi, Danielle Coopersmith, Katie Cornille, Mitchel Croal, Bradley Dawson, Connie Dong, Jennifer Douty, Daniel Dvorak, Samantha Ezrilov, Christian Fagre, Fatima Fareed, Bruce

Forrest, Nirupa Galagedera, Christina Gu, Smita Gurram, Greta Hallberg, Emily Hannigan, Kevin Hanson, Maxwell Hanson, Andrew Harrison, Cosette Haugen, Elisabeth Hawthorne, Megan He, Alissa Heiring, Hannah Hwang, Timothy Isdahl, Naveen Jain, Anna Jeide, Elise Johnson, Summer Johnson, Haley Johnston, Jacob Kautzky, Ryan Kluck, Kelly Knudsen, Filip Kostanecki, Avi Kumar, Jenny Lai, Kyle Li, Kelvin Liu, Xun Liu, Alex Lo, Syshane Lu, Jack Mallaro, Samantha Meyer, Rachel Mohr, Faroz Mujir, Vikram Nagarajan, Partha Naidu, Priyanka Narayan, Joseph Neary, Carlee Nelson, Rebecca Nielsen, Katherine Pak, Lindsey Palasek, Apekshya Panda, Mahati Pidaparti, Yevgeniya Polukeyeva, Ivan Poteryakhin, Caroline Qian, Maxwell Radermacher, Keegan Radke, Arsalan Radmehr, Shraddha Raghavan, Diego Rayas, Abram Sanderson, Derek Schindelman, Kelly Schiro, Lauren Schmidt, Samantha Schmidt, Corey Schroer, Rishi Sinha, Ryan Skajewski, Meredith Smith, Alexander Spencer, Jack Sullivan, Catherine Sun, Lesley Sun, Frederick Sutton, Joshua Thorson, Ryan Tisthammer, Nathan Volkmann, Arthur Walther, Zachary Wilde, Matthew Wilson, Amy Wu, Amy Xiong, Karen Yu, Bojana Zecevic, Orien Zeng, William Zeng, Jeff Zhang, Ziwei Zhang, Roy Zhao, Sophia Zhou Scholars with Honor Morgan Alexander, Mark Berquist, Gordon Blake, Jayant Chaudhary, Mi Ri Choi, Benjamin Cote, Carol Coutinho, Maura Cullum, Hannah Devens, Kira Engebretson, Jenna Fantle, Elise Gehling, David Gerbuz, Aditi Goel, Katherine Haakana, Oliver He, Anna Hedlund, Stephanie Heiring, Taylor Houseman, Yu Iizuka, Nicole Illikainen, Casey Jedele, Laura Johnson, Jessica Kay, Garrett Knapp, Eric Knutson, Quinn Labowitch, Jason Lee, Kyle Louwagie, Houston MacIntyre, Gillian Mangan, Amy Namur, Nathan Parks, Daniel Piering, Griffin Rahm, Nicholas Reath, Evan Schnetzer, Jordan Sell, Soobin Song, Samuel Marquart,

Hettie Stern, Ann Sticha, Thomas Strommen, Emily Wen, Alexander Westby, Nathan Wong, Kuake Ye, Teresa Yuan, Anvita Singh Jenica Zhong Scholars Marie Adam, Allison Agre, Elise Bailey, Akash Batra, Gleb Belyaev, Julia Bevington, Vince Biaggio, Eric Birkholz, Kyle Blackley, Martin Branyon, Dustin Britton, Sarah Brooks, Will Cady, Bradley Carlson, Raju Chaduvula, Christopher Chao, Emily Chen, Chaitanya Chittineni, Catherine Christian, Caroline Close, Adam Cope, Anders Cornell, Briana Cullimore, Miles Death, Ejeb Dema, Mara Dougherty, Ayman Elmubark, Elsa Ericson, Ashley Fellows, Molly Fisher, Benjamin Francis, Alyssa Gause, Varshita Goduguchinta, Benjamin Gooley, Abigail Guidera, Kaitlin Hackett, Connor Hagen, Mara Halvorson, Carolyn Heal, Kaitlin Heidelberger, Matthew Hendrickson, Dustin Herbert, Jamie Hochmuth, Marcus Hoof, Jason Kabarowski, Doyeon Kim, John Kornaherns, Kerem Kose, Laura Krause, Alexandria Kristensen, Michael LaCanne, Eric Lacey, Megan Langer, Adam Lifland, Andrew Lindberg, Rebecca Liu, Kaitlin McCuskey, Ryan Mc Innis, Bridget McNiff, Abigail McQuillan, Jackson Moench, Nikhil Mogalapalli, Paolo Montenegro, Elizabeth Moy, Rishi Murugesan, Sibi Murugesan, Varun Murugesan, Austin Musliner, Asiyah Nathani, Courtney Oare, Atiya Oberoi, Rahul Parhi, Ashna Patel, Elise Path, Prakash Paul, Ana-Cristina Plansky, Alicia Poplett, Shreya Ramanujan, Elizabeth Reding, Garrett Rhodes, Ryan Ricker, Sara Rodriguez, Ruth Schaefer, Charles Scheitlin, Kallie Schmit, Anthony Secord, Scott Sippel, Meghna Sohoni, Pardis Stenoien, Summer Stewart, Evan Stuempfig, Kara Taft, Anne Thompson, Ashley Unekis, Daniel Woo, Andrew Wyffels, Zachary Yan, Allison Young, Daphne Yuan, Benjamin Zhang, Jacob Ziegler

Plymouth Creek Community Service Night planned

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The Wayzata High Schools Girls’ Soccer team won the 2012 State Championship in November by defeating White Bear Lake Area High School 2-0. This is the team’s third state championship in the past four years.

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WHS Girls’ Soccer wins state championship

he Wayzata High School Girls’ Soccer team won its second consecutive state championship on November 1 after defeating White Bear Lake Area High School by a score of 2-0.

This is the team’s third state championship in the past four years along with a state runner-up title in 2012. The team has won seven state championships

and earned state runner up five times.

Members of the team include seniors Mara Dougherty, Isabelle Anderson, Summer Johnson, Katie Schulz, Casey Jedele, Margaret Rocca, Madeline Eklin, Olivia Musser, Kylie Schwarz, Elizabeth Moy, Erika Grinde, Marika Kelly, Britta Hageness and Kiana Nickel; juniors Megan Geppert, Sophie Leininger, Hannah Sturtz

and Katie Yeager; sophomores Megan Schwarz, Julia Lettenberger and Erin Svensson; and freshman Ruby Stauber.

The team is coached by Head Coach Tony Peszneker, Assistant Coaches Becky Merkey and Stewart Jump and managed

by Student Managers Allison Dugan and Nicole Palsgrove.

lymouth Creek Elementary is hosting a Community Service Night on Tuesday, January 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. for families to participate in projects to make a difference for people in need.

The event is an opportunity for classmates, families, teachers and staff to participate in various projects that include the following: • Packing 1,000 lunches for Sharing and Caring Hands • Creating blankets for hospitalized newborn babies • Writing letters for troops overseas • Donating books to Reed Indeed • Donating blood The event is being organized by the PTA. Organizers have been collecting donations since January 7 to fund the event, which includes food items for the lunches that will be packed.

Each grade level is responsible for a different food item for the packed lunches. Monetary donations are also being accepted. Donations can be dropped of in the school’s lobby.

Mariel Kieval selected for MacPhail Center for Music String Quartet

Marie Kieval, a junior cellist at Wayzata High School, was selected for the 2012-13 MacPhail Center for Music String Quartet.

The quartet is coached by the Parker Quartet, the 2011 Grammy Award winners for Best Chamber Music Performance and one of the 2010-2011 McKnight Fellowship winners.

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Session I Only The College Search & Application Process - Advice for Parents Are you wondering how you can help your student in the college search process? Attend this session and learn the basics of conducting a good college search and, ultimately, making a wise college choice. Learn about the admission process, how admission decisions are made and hear an overview about financial aid and scholarships. Brian Peterson, Senior Associate Director of Admission, Hamline University

A Free Parenting Forum & Marketplace Saturday, February 2, 2013 Wayzata Central Middle School 305 Vicksburg Lane • • • • • • • • • • • Sponsored by Wayzata Community Education, Wayzata Schools’ PTAs/PTOs and PTSO, Wayzata Liaison Committee, Wayzata Communities in Collaboration Council and Wayzata Public Schools 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.

9:30 - 1p.m.

10 - 11a.m.

11:30 a.m. - 12:30p.m.

“The State of Wayzata Schools” — panel discussion and Q & A Dr. Chace Anderson, Superintendent of Wayzata Public Schools Jim Westrum, Executive Director of Business and Finance Dr. Jill Johnson, Executive Director of Teaching and Learning Amy Parnell, Director of Communications and Community Engagement Wade Phillips, Director of Technology Marketplace Open Session I Workshops and Speed Sessions Session II Workshops and Speed Sessions

Ready, Set . . . KINDERGARTEN!!

What does my child need to know before kindergarten? When should I start “working” on getting my child prepared? What about summer birthdays? Is preschool necessary? Renée has worked with Wayzata School District kindergarten teachers and knows what children need to be ready for kindergarten. Recommended for parents, teachers and caregivers of 3-5 year olds.

Renée Lach, School Readiness Manager, Wayzata Family Learning Center

Calm Your Chaos: How to Eliminate Paper Files Despite the recent trend of going paperless, you still encounter paper every day – bills, junk mail, magazines, children’s artwork and soccer schedules, receipts, etc. – and that doesn’t include what’s already in your filing cabinets! With simple systems and helpful tools, you will know where to put and find all papers!

Andrea Hayft, Household Management Specialist

New to the Parenting Forum New this year there will be eight abbreviated 15-minute information sessions called Speed Sessions offered in the media center. You can attend up to three Speed Sessions during the hour-long Sessions I or II. Or, you can choose from one of more than 10 “traditional” workshops that focus on a single topic. Virtual Neighborhoods: Operating Speed Sessions are designed to quickly provide information to families about a variety of district topics. Responsibly Online (Elementary Parents) More and more, our children are provided CEU (Continuing Education Units) information is available in the Marketplace. opportunities to use digital tools for learning, communicating, creating, gaming and much more.

Come learn how you can help keep them safe and Childcare Available operate responsibly in this virtual world.

Childcare is available for children ages 2 through 12 from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Central Middle David Zukor, Technology Specialist, Wayzata Public Schools School for a nominal fee of $3 per child or $6 maximum per family. Childcare reservations are required and will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Please call 763-745-5271 to make your reservation. On the day of the forum, please allow 10 minutes to register your child. Please call with cancellations so room can be made for others.

Interrupting the Anxiety Loop: Parenting Interventions that Support Calming and Marketplace Competence (Middle and High School Parents) The Marketplace has some exciting changes this year! In addition to being open for the entire Parenting Normal developmental experiences of adolescence Forum, Marketplace will now offer the opportunity to learn more about Wayzata Public Schools’ challenge middle and high school-aged kids activities and organizations. Stop by the “Culinary Café” to sample fresh, nutritious and tasty choices by demanding increasingly more sophisticated offered to your kids every day from Culinary Express. Take a stroll down the “Shoppes of WPS” and coping methods for managing stress and anxiety. check out a variety of district student groups and activities offering their items for purchase.

Successful management of stress builds selfconfidence whereas stress that overwhelms a teen’s capacity to cope can lower self-esteem and increase General Questions anxiety. This workshop will provide specific tools Call Karen Arkesteyn at 952-475-9348 for more information. Smart phone users can scan the code to that teach parents how to help teens identify and the right to view more information on the Community Education Website. “rally” the strengths and resources they need for healthy stress management. Judy Hoy, LICSW Wayzata Central Middle School is handicap accessible

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Wayzata Public Schools Parenting Forum & Marketplace Guide Session II Only

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Interrupting the Anxiety Loop: Parenting Interventions that Support Calming and Competence Stress and anxiety are unavoidable experiences that all children must learn to tolerate and effectively manage at each stage of their development. Sometimes it is difficult for parents to discern when stress is “normal” and when it may be overwhelming a child’s capacity to cope. This workshop will provide specific tools to help and how to determine when to seek professional help. Judy Hoy,

Virtual Neighborhoods: Operating Responsibly Online (Secondary Students) Our children are provided opportunities to use digital tools for learning, communicating, creating, gaming and much more. Come learn how you can help keep them safe and operate responsibly in this virtual world.

LICSW

Teen Dating Safety & Healthy Relationships Teenage and young adult dating violence is a big problem, affecting youth in every community across the nation. Learn the warning signs of abusive relationships and strategies to help prevent teen dating violence. Get the facts and important information about dating violence/safety and how to be a resource for your child. Judi Nelson, BSW, Sojourner Project

Calm Your Chaos: How to be More Efficient in Life and at Home No matter how busy you are, there are some areas of your life that don’t stop: appointments, incoming mail, meal planning, laundry and so on. With simple systems in place, you can have more time and more energy for what’s most important to you! Andrea Hayft, Household Management Specialist

David Zukor, Technology Specialist, Wayzata Public Schools

Session I & II Hooking Up is Not Just About Jumper Cables: Teen Sexuality & the New Dating Scene Join educators from myHealth for Teens and Young Adults for an open discussion about love, dating, sex and relationships in the 21st century, and learn how to guide and support teens as they navigate through these milestones.

This sharing of collective knowledge will help you identify your own family’s beliefs and values, as well as key messages around sexuality and the best ways to communicate them to your teen.

Nina Johnson, Community Education manager, myHealth for Teens and Young Adults

New Moms: How to Keep “You” While Navigating Motherhood Come learn about the common post-partum changes that new mothers encounter and how to face them head-on while keeping the essence of you.

Learn about typical postpartum body changes, potential new mom medical issues, normal postpartum blues, and when treatment may be indicated for depression. Our speaker is not only an OB-GYN, but a mom herself.

Dr. Sherry Paulson, North Clinic

Parenting, Marriage, and Stress....Oh My! Parenting styles are defined and playfully named after the four dog breeds: the kindly Golden Retriever, the attentive Border Collie, the relaxed Afghan, and the orderly German Shepherd. This model describes the private dilemma of parents who strive for happiness while unwittingly generating conflict, stress and marital discord. Paul Buckley, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

If Only They Had Come With a Manual Love & Logic is a way of working with children that puts parents and teachers back in control. It teaches children to be responsible and prepares young people to live in the real world with its many choices and consequences. Lynne Frederickson, Love and Logic Facilitator & Judy Anderson, Emerging Advantage

CPR & AED Training Participants will be trained on how and when to perform hands-only CPR and learn the use of an automated external defibrillator. These techniques increase survival chances for sufferers of a sudden cardiac arrest.

Russel Carlson, Plymouth Rotary Club

Managing Time and Organizational Skills for Kids Help your student stay organized and learn to manage their time to optimize learning. Ronda will introduce tips on how to teach children how to manage their time and develop time awareness. She will also talk about organizational skills for your child. Ronda Gjestvang, Wayzata Kindergarten teacher Boys and Girls are Different!

Boys and girls learn differently, communicate differently, and parents/ educators can benefit both for themselves and the child by learning a few tips.

Marcia Treno, Family Learning Center

Speed Sessions

1. District Welcome Center An overview of the services offered in the new District Welcome Center at CMS that provides information and assistance to families new to a school or the district.

2. Skyward & Family Access This web-based application is available 24/7 and is designed to provide parents and students with classroom and school district information.

3. MyWay for Student Learning Hear an overview of the new district initiative that provides iPads to students to optimize the personalized student learning experience.

4. Transition to Middle School A principal will share information on how middle school is structured to address the specific needs of young adolescents and how parents can engage in the process of transition from elementary to middle school.

• Caring for Kids Initiative • Hennepin County Library • Children’s Dental Services • Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners • LDA Minnesota • League of Women Voters • Plymouth Fire Department • Plymouth Police Department • Plymouth Park and Rec Department • Relate Counseling Center

5. Community Education Information on the wide variety of stimulating programs and classes available in the district for learners of all ages.

6. ECFE & Family Learning Center Learn about the outstanding parent education and support programs available to families with young children, as well as opportunities for creative time with your children.

7. What to get out of parent/teacher conferences Candid advice from an educator and a parent on how to get the most out of your teacher conferences from the elementary grades through high school.

8. Extra-Curricular Opportunities at WHS Find out the resources available to find the club, sport or activity that is right for your student.

Marketplace Participants

• Wayzata Communities in Collaboration Council • Wayzata Community Education and Adult Programing • Wayzata Family Learning Center • Wayzata LAC – Legislative Action Committee • Partners In Prevention • Wayzata School Board • Wayzata Special Education Advisory Council & Bead Crew • MyHealth – West Suburban Teen Clinic

• Wayzata Wishes • Ridgedale YMCA • CONECT • Culinary Express • Wayzata Spiritwear • Business Professionals of America - WHS • Huntington • Mathnasium • Que’ Tal Language Program

6 Sunset Hill Family Project Night

Families at Sunset Hill and volunteers in the Wayzata High School Youth Extending Services (YES) Club participated in Sunset Hill Elementary School’s Family Project Night on December 7.

7 MyWay for Student Learning began in January

In Brief

Board committee structure and appointments for 2013 approved At its first meeting of the year, the school board of Wayzata Public Schools elected board officers and approved the 2013 committee structure and appointments.

The board elected Sue Droegemueller to the position of board chair, Jay Hesby as vice chair, Susan Gaither as treasurer and John Moroz as clerk.

Standing committee appointments are as follows: Teaching and Learning: Linda Cohen (Chair), Carter Peterson an Susan Gaither Finance and Business/OPEB Trust: Susan Gaither (Chair), Carter Peterson and Cheryl Polzin Human Resources: Linda Cohen (Chair), Carter Peterson and John Moroz Stakeholder Relations: John Moroz (Chair), Linda Cohen and Cheryl Polzin Negotiation Teams: Teachers – Linda Cohen and Jay Hesby Home Base – Cheryl Polzin and Carter Peterson Superintendent’s Evaluation/ Compensation: Jay Hesby (Chair), Susan Gaither and Cheryl Polzin Facilities Development and Long-Range Planning: Carter Peterson (Chair), Susan Gaither and Cheryl Polzin Association of Metropolitan School Districts: Cheryl Polzin and Susan Gaither Citizens Financial Advisory Council: Susan Gaither and Carter Peterson Communities in Collaboration Council: Rotation of all board members Community Education Advisory Council: Carter Peterson, Susan Gaither, alternate District Liaison Committee: Rotation of all board members Intermediate District 287: Carter Peterson Legislative Action Committee: Cheryl Polzin, Sue Droegemueller, alternate Minnesota State High School League: Sue Droegemueller, Linda Cohen, alternate West Metro Education Program: Sue Droegemueller Minnesota School Board Association: Cheryl Polzin, Carter Peterson, alternate Caring For Kids Initiative: Cheryl Polzin Wayzata Clinic: Cheryl Polzin Partners in Prevention: Jay Hesby Q-Comp: Sue Droegemueller, Jay Hesby, alternate

WHS ninth grade fall KMO team takes first place

The 9th grade Knowledge Master Open (KMO) team was the top team in the nation for the fall competition.

They placed 1st out of 73 schools competing across the world.

Members of the ninth grade team are Drew Allen, Emma Baldry, Neha Bhatt, Michael Cai, Griffin Caryotakis, Rishav Dasgupta, Derek Feriancek, Griffin Folven, Andy Gabler, Cody Goedderz, Stewart Hagen, Wes Heal, Parker Hlavacek, Alex Honke, Cody Hou, Pooja Kandikonda, Ben Kautzky, Denis Kornberg, Mark Moses, Edward Mu, Lakshu Periakaruppan, Brielle Pizzala, Kevin Qian, Daniel Qu, Jennifer Radermacher, Gayathri Rao, Gowri Rao, Emily Short and Ryan Wang.

Students at all three district middle schools began receiving their iPads as part of the MyWay for Student Learning initiative in January. Pictured above, sixth grade students at Central Middle School work their way through the process of receiving and setting up their iPads as part of the check-out process. Staff members from the district attended each iPad distribution night to assist students and families with the set-up of each iPad. For more information about MyWay, visit the district website at www. wayzata.k12.mn.us/myway.

Bob Dai and Ishita Kamboj, sophomores at Wayzata High School, are teammates that won the finals of the Novice State Championship in Debate in December.

WHS Debate Team wins Novice and JV state tournaments

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ayzata High School Debate Team students won both the Novice and JV State Debate Tournaments held December 16.

The WHS teams defeated the Blake

School to win the finals of Novice State and defeated Minneapolis South to win the finals of JV State.

The Varsity team is preparing for the Varsity State Tournament as well as the

Berkeley Tournament in San Fransisco, California. This is a major national invitational tournament that will be held in February.

Family Project Night

Nonprofit Org. US Postage PAID Wayzata, MN Permit 43

The Communicator is published for residents and staff of Wayzata Public Schools. Contact Amy Parnell, director of communications and community engagement, at 763-745-5068 or Amy.Parnell@wayzata.k12.mn.us with questions or comments.

COMMUNICATOR

Wayzata Public Schools 210 County Road 101 N. P.O. Box 660 Wayzata, MN 55391-0060

January 2013

Families gathered December 7 at Sunset Hill Elementary for a Family Project night. Working with volunteer Wayzata High School Youth Extending Services (YES) Club members, students and their parents created various crafts projects. See page 6 for more photos.

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Oakwood International Night set January 24, 2013

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akwood Elementary School’s eighth annual International Night Celebration has been planned for Thursday, January 24, 2013, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

International Night is a unique opportunity to celebrate diversity and become familiar with traditions and customs throughout the world. More than 20 different countries will be represented as Oakwood families with an international heritage share displays and food from their countries.

Students experience different cultures at booths stationed around the school’s gym and have their “passport” stamped at each booth. Students are also encouraged to wear a national costume for the international parade.

The evening is open to all families with elementary-age children in Wayzata Public Schools and admission is free.

Employees of the Month Three employees have been recognized as Employees of the Month since the previous edition of the Communicator.

They are: • December 2012 — Susie Hatch, physical education teacher at Oakwood Elementary School.

• January 2013 — Mark Ludvigson, team teacher for ninth grade math at Wayzata High School.

• January 2013 — Dave Droegemueller, team teacher for ninth grade math at Wayzata High School.

Smart phone users can scan the code above to view more information on current and past employees of the month.

Young Scientist Roundtable planned February 5

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Young Scientist Roundtable will be held Tuesday, February 5, 2013, at 7 p.m. at Central Middle School. Dr. Bethanie J. Hills Stadler with the University of Minnesota will present “Magnetic Nanobots.”

Stadler is an associate professor with the electrical and computer engineering department at the University of

Minnesota.

Following the presentation at 8:10 to 8:40 p.m., a Teen Roundtable will be held where students will have the opportunity to ask in-depth questions.

The Young Scientist Roundtable is free for students in grades K - 12 and their families and no registration is required.

School Closings or Late Start Information

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f inclement weather forces Wayzata Public Schools to close, start late or dismiss early, one of the three following announcements will be made: 1. Two-hour late start: All K-12 schools will open two hours later than regular start times. Morning kindergarten classes will be cancelled. All Family Learning Center (FLC), Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE), Peppermint Fence, Care for Kids programs and community education’s morning classes and activities will be cancelled. Home Base programs will open two hours later than regular start times.

All after-school and evening classes and activities will meet as scheduled.

2. No school: All K-12 schools will be closed for the entire day. All FLC and ECFE classes, activities and athletics will be cancelled for the day. All community education after-school activities including Home Base programs will be cancelled. Evening community education and ECFE classes will also be cancelled.

3. Emergency early dismissal: All K-12 schools will close early and students will be sent home. If school is dismissed early, the buses will pick up students in the following order: • Dismissal #1 – Wayzata High School, Greenwood and

Oakwood Elementary Schools • Dismissal #2 (will begin about 55 minutes after dismissal #1) – Central, East and West Middle Schools, Holy Name, St. Bartholomew, Redeemer Lutheran and FAIR School shuttles • Dismissal #3 (will begin about 45 minutes after dismissal #2) – Birchview, Gleason Lake, Kimberly Lane, Plymouth Creek, Sunset Hill Elementary Schools and Blake-Highcroft FLC and ECFE classes and activities for the remainder of the day (afternoon and evening) will be cancelled. All community education after school and evening classes will also be cancelled for the balance of the day.

If possible, a decision to close or delay the start of school will be made by 5:30 a.m. School closing or late start announcements for Wayzata Public Schools will be on WCCO 830 AM radio; WCCO-TV, Channel 4; KSTPTV Channel 5; KMSP/FOX-TV, Channel 9; KARETV, Channel 11; and posted on the district’s website at www.wayzata.k12.mn.us. Phone calls and email and text messages using the district’s emergency notification system will also be made to all parents and staff members.