In the Know - Sept. 15, 2023
September 15, 2023
First week of preschool and kindergarten
To ensure all kindergarten students and families had the opportunity to get off to a strong start, schools conducted "Welcome Week" activities Sept. 5-8. On Monday, Sept. 11, schools had full kindergarten classrooms for the first time in the 2023-24 school year. View photos from kindergarten classes at Sand Creek Elementary School.
Some of the littlest learners in Anoka-Hennepin Schools enjoyed their first day of preschool this week. It was especially exciting to welcome students to the newest location in Blaine. The building at 13001 Central Avenue was purchased in 2022 and was renovated to offer additional early learning services to residents on the east end of the school district. Students in the three-year-old preschool class spent much of their first day adjusting to their new setting and learning how to interact with others. In addition to preschool, The Blaine Early Childhood Center will offer ECFE classes and accommodate other early learning programs. View photos from the first day.
A kindergarten student at Sand Creek Elementary raising his hand.
🏒 JERSEY ORDER: The Power of Purpose
Everyone is part of the Anoka-Hennepin Schools team and we all play a role in making a difference for students each and every day. Now, staff members can sport The Power of Purpose team gear themselves!
Due to popular demand, the Communication and Public Relations department has opened an online store through SchoolPay. Orders may be placed through noon on Monday, September 25.
Apparel options include the traditional Power of Purpose hockey jersey, a hooded sweatshirt, a long-sleeve t-shirt and a short-sleeve t-shirt.
- Prices include last name personalization, however, the name on the front of the jersey is a lot more important than the name on the back!
- All jerseys will be assigned the number 11 - as it is the number that the state assigned to the school district when it was consolidated in 1952.
Learn more and place an order for your own team gear by visiting ahschools.us/PowerofPurposeTeamGear. Let’s go for the gold!
Traffic: Plan ahead for trips to the ESC
Plan ahead for possible travel delays due to ongoing road construction on the Highway 10 Anoka project when visiting the Anoka-Hennepin Schools Education Service Center (2727 N. Ferry St.reet) or other schools in Anoka. (click on the photo on the left to enlarge the map).
Additional road closures will impact travel through the fall. Employees and visitors to the Anoka-Hennepin Educational Services Center (ESC) should plan accordingly as routes could be modified by a detour during this time.
Follow posted detours or view the detour map, by visiting visit the Highway 10 Anoka project website.
Fobs: Use them to enter the ESC
Employees who have Fobs can access the entrance to their school site and the ESC when visiting for business. At the ESC, Anoka-Hennepin staff member fobs unlock doors 1 and 7 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to access the building when attending staff development sessions or reporting to work. Staff members who do not have fobs should enter through Door 1, which is on the west side of the building.
If you visit or report to the ESC and your fob is not working at the staff entrances, please stop by the reception desk in the Staff Development Center for assistance with resetting your access fob. If your fob is lost, you must report it to Colleen Wawers at 763-506-1219 or colleen.wawers@ahschools.us to ensure the safety of school district facilities.
Flu shot clinics offered this fall for staff, families
Anoka-Hennepin Schools, with support from the district’s employee wellness program, Where Wellness Matters, will offer flu shots at several schools and sites Sept. 25-Oct. 12.
Get registered:
- Employees are required to schedule appointments to attend and complete an immunization screening questionnaire when registering (photo of UnitedHealthcare insurance card required).
- Members of an Anoka-Hennepin UnitedHealthcare health insurance plan may receive the flu shot without a co-payment at one of the available sites.
- Employees that are not covered by an Anoka-Hennepin health care plan may receive a flu shot for payment, which may be paid at the clinic site via cash or check.
Family members can attend the clinics:
- Employee family members age 7 and above, who are enrolled in district plans, may receive the flu shot at any of the clinic dates.
- Family members ages 3 to 6 years old will have the opportunity to receive the shot on family designated dates only.
September is National Suicide Awareness Prevention Month
September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. As a community we can increase awareness, identify risk factors early, and provide collaborative support. When someone is struggling with their mental health, there is hope and help.
Schools provide a system of support for students including caring adults including teachers, school social workers, school counselors, school psychologists, student achievement advisors, school nurses and others to support the mental health needs of students.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues or thoughts of hurting themselves, get help immediately.
See these resources for how to access help:
- Help is also available 24 hours a day by calling or texting the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or on the Crisis Text Line by texting MN to 741741.
- Mobile crisis services (phone and/ or in-person support)
- For Anoka County Mobile Crisis Response Service, call 763-755-3801. The call is free. Available 24 hours/day, 7 days/week.
- For Hennepin County Mobile Crisis, 24 hours/day, 7 days/week, call
- Children (up to 18): 612-348-2233
- Adults (18+): 612-596-1223
If there is an immediate mental health crisis where someone’s safety is at risk, call 911 and ask for an officer trained in mental health.
Resources for staff
Anoka-Hennepin cares about the mental health of their employees. It’s okay not to be okay and there are many ways to get the help you/ a colleague needs.
Below are key things to remember when helping a friend or colleague who is struggling with their mental health:
- If someone has confided in you they are thinking about self-harm or suicide, don’t leave them alone. Stay with them until you can access help for them.
- Ask who their support people are and whether you can help them make a call to someone to ask for help.
- Consider utilizing one of the county mobile crisis teams for help if there is immediate risk
- Remind your friend/ colleague about the Optum® Employee Assistance Program.
Anoka-Hennepin’s employee assistance program by Optum is free of cost for all district employees. Staff can call the completely confidential service at 1-866-374-6061 any time of day or night, seven days a week, to speak with an Optum employee assistance program specialist.
The program offers access to:
- Five counseling sessions per year, with 100 percent of costs covered.
- Legal and mediation service assistance.
- Financial advisor support.
- Childcare referral support as well as support for elderly parents.
- Community resources like support groups.
- Help with dependency issues.
- Education resources and career counseling.
For more information, view the employee assistance program brochure.
Complications with Rally® being resolved
Since the start of the new insurance year on Sept. 1, some complications with the Rally® app, the wellness program for employees utilizing UnitedHealthcare (UHC) benefits, have arised.
The issues, which include logging in, and redemption and use of rewards, have been brought to UHC and are in the process of being resolved.
If employees are having problems with the Rally app, please call 844-334-4944 or 877-818-5826.
Read more about redeeming last year’s rewards before they expire or learn how to get started.
School Spotlight: Roosevelt Middle School
"I just love being here. It’s a safe environment and I know every time I come here I’m going to learn new things." - Lucas Shuman, RMS student
Learn more about Roosevelt Middle School in the latest School Spotlight video.
Upcoming informational sessions for the Grow Your Own Program
Anoka-Hennepin Schools has partnered with local colleges and universities through the Grow Your Own Program.
District staff or community members that do not currently hold a teaching license have the opportunity to receive tuition assistance, one-on-one advising support throughout the program, support between college staff and employer and connection with a mentor teacher.
The Grow Your Own grant is funded by the Minnesota Department of Education. For more information on the program, visit ahschools.us/growyourown.
Upcoming informational sessions:
Bethel University
- Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 5:30-6:30 p.m.
- Virtual: Zoom meeting link
- Audience: Anyone interested in a bachelor's or master's in special education degree and licensure.
University of Minnesota
- Wednesday, Oct. 11 at 5:30-6:30 p.m.
- Virtual: Zoom meeting link
- Audience: Anyone interested in earning their master's in K-6 Elementary (with Reading Corps) and master's in K-12 ESL.
Be the Nice Kid: Jefferson Elementary students learn about the impact of kindness
Chants of “BE THE NICE KID” could be heard through the halls of Jefferson Elementary School Sept. 14, as Bryan Skavnak, the founder of the organization Be the Nice Kid, entertained and educated students on how to spread kindness through being nice. View photos from the visit.
Skavnak connected with students through stories of both successes and failures, as his messages touched on:
Sometimes it takes bravery to be kind.
It is ok to make mistakes.
We can be nice even though we are different.
We all can choose to be the nice kid.
Set a good example of how to be nice.
And more.
Blaine High School senior named National Merit Scholarship semifinalist
Mujaddid Khan, a senior at Blaine High School - Center for Engineering, Mathematics and Science, has been named a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist, and is now in the running to earn one of the 7,140 scholarships of up to $2,500 for college.
Khan joins more than 16,000 semifinalists nationally who have the opportunity to become National Merit Scholars. Finalists will be announced in February, then National Merit Scholarship winners of 2024 will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July. Read more about the honor.
Get involved: Join a district committee
Anoka-Hennepin values parent involvement in education and is committed to offering resources to meet the changing needs of parents and families. The district invites parents/guardians and community members to participate on committees as a meaningful way to get involved with the district.
The district is coordinating an annual committee application process for committees in need of new members as a strategy to increase awareness of opportunities and participation from community members and parents.
There are currently nine committees districtwide and five are in need of more members. The Community Curriculum Advisory Council (CCAC), Early Childhood Family Education Parent Advisory Council (PAC), Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC), Student Services Advisory Council (SSAC) and the Parent Advisory Committee for Racial and Ethnic Equity are all seeking new members.
Coon Rapids High School introduces 2023 Hall of Fame class
Coon Rapids High School (CRHS) will induct its fifth Hall of Fame class featuring three former standout students and one longtime coach and administrator.
CRHS will recognize this year’s Hall of Fame inductees in a ceremony on Friday, Sept. 29. Inductees will be honored at a ceremony with friends and family in the CRHS cafeteria at 5 p.m. before being recognized prior to the Cardinals football game against Anoka High School. Kickoff for Friday’s game is set for 7 p.m.
Meet the newest members of the Coon Rapids High School Hall of Fame: Semhar Araia, Dan Dehnicke, Lonnie Dupre and Logan Shore. Read more about the CRHS 2023 Hall of Fame class.
Anoka High School announces 2023 Hall of Fame class
Anoka High School (AHS) has announced its sixth Anoka Tornadoes Hall of Fame class. The 2023 class celebrates the accomplishments of Jill Junglin Burcum (1986), Mary Jablonski (1970), Todd Manthey (1984), Arch Pease (1925) and Jill (Boo) Wolfe (2001).
The 2023 class will be honored Oct. 6 with a community meet and greet reception from 5:15-6:20 p.m. at the Tavern 201 in downtown Anoka. Following the meet and greet, honorees will head to Goodrich Field where they will be introduced before the football game as Anoka hosts Centennial High School in the annual Pumpkin Bowl. Honorees will then be recognized on the field at halftime where they will receive a plaque and take a picture as the Anoka Tornadoes Hall of Fame Class of 2023.
Read more about the Anoka Tornadoes 2023 Hall of Fame class.
- District to host hiring event for non-teaching positions Oct. 12 at Anoka High School.
- AHEF Mini-Grant applications now open for 2023-24 school year.
- Minnesota Wild to hold Educator Appreciation Night on Oct. 19.
- Three-part Appreciation of Diversity workshop series for staff to begin Oct. 28.
- Staff may subscribe to receive emergency text message alerts.
- Redeem your Rally® rewards before they expire.
- SupportingYoU an employee wellness podcast, has 34 episodes available.
- Suicide Prevention Training available in the district's learning management system.
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This e-newsletter is published by Anoka-Hennepin Schools. It's sent to all Anoka-Hennepin staff on a weekly basis during the school year, excluding breaks (and periodically during the summer). Questions, comments or concerns about In the Know e-newsletter? Contact us.