In the Know - September 22, 2023
September 22, 2023
LAST CHANCE: Order #AHSchools team apparel by noon on Monday, Sept. 25
Due to popular demand, the Communication and Public Relations department has opened an online store through SchoolPay for Anoka-Hennepin team members to purchase The Power of Purpose team apparel.
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.
🏒 How to order: Visit https://schoolpay.com/link/powerofpurpose.
👕 View shirt options and size charts: ahschools.us/powerofpurposeteamgear.
Stay alert for details about Flex PD
Flexible Professional Development opportunities (also known as Flex PD) will be available to staff again in the 2023-24 school year - with a themed focus on engagement. Professional learning sessions will be aligned with the district’s strategic priorities. All licensed E-12 staff will be assigned or choose their sessions based on their role. Anyone with multiple roles should collaborate with their administrator to choose from the menu of options.
Why it matters: March 29, 2024 is a district-wide flexible professional development day. Licensed staff will work outside of their duty day on their professional learning to gain relevant and just in time skills for a total of 7 hours starting September 25. Flex PD does not apply to ABE staff due to student contact schedules and staff professional development schedules. Some staff may have completed their hours over the summer. If licensed staff complete the training prior to March 22, they will earn a flex day and do not need to report to work on March 29.
Registration information is forthcoming via email on Monday, Sept 25.
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.
Employees are required to schedule appointments to attend and complete an immunization screening questionnaire when registering (photo of UnitedHealthcare insurance card required).
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.
Annual “Putt-ing” Kids First golf tournament another success
The 64th Annual Anoka-Hennepin Educational Foundation (AHEF) “Putt-ing” Kids First golf tournament, presented by United Healthcare and First Student, raised a record $35,000 for district students.
The tournament featured 156 golfers on 36 teams, and 54 sponsors at Green Haven Golf Course in Anoka on Sept. 9 for the best-ball scramble tournament.
“Our golfers and sponsors come to have fun and show their support for our students, schools and foundation,” said Tess DeGeest, executive director of the AHEF.
🗓️ Next year’s event is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024.
AHEF Mini-Grant applications now open for 2023-24 school year
The Anoka-Hennepin Educational Foundation (AHEF) has opened the second round of grants for the 2023-24 school year. This is the fall mini-grant application for funds up to $500 for immediate classroom or school needs.
“It is because of our generous donors, that these funds are available to teachers and staff to benefit students,” said Tess DeGeest, executive director of the AHEF. “Donors make this possible because they care about kids, and they care about education.”
Applications close on Monday, Oct. 2, with funds available later that month, for implementation in the 2023-24 school year. Visit the AHEF website at ahef.us to apply.
Questions about the grant process should be directed to Tess DeGeest at 763-506-1107 or via email at theresa.degeest@ahschools.us.
Superintendent Cory McIntyre connects, reflects on shared purpose with retirees
The Anoka-Hennepin Retired Staff Association (AHRSA) has been gathering district retirees since 1977 when the group was formed - to provide an opportunity to connect with each other and hear about the happenings in the schools.
Supt. Cory McIntyre visited with approximately 65 members of AHRSA on Tuesday, Sept. 19 to share “11” fun facts about what’s new this school year, his background, why he wanted to return to the district, and the theme that staff are focused on this year.
“The Power of Purpose” theme resonated with members in attendance, recalling why they dedicated their careers to the field of education and how schools and students made an impact on them. Keith Huso, a retired job coach and paraeducator shared, “I feel blessed by the connections that I was able to make with students during my time in the school district. Those students brought such light and joy to my day.”
Each meeting also provides an opportunity to contribute to a local cause; this month: The Dictionary Project, a collaboration with the local Lions and Rotary Clubs, which provides a resource dictionary for every third-grade student in Anoka-Hennepin Schools. Anyone who has served in Anoka-Hennepin Schools and who will receive pensions from either TRA or PERA is welcome to join and attend.
📷 View photos from the Sept. 19 event.
Optional opportunity for employees with a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA)
Benefit eligible Anoka-Hennepin employees who have a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) now have an option to choose one of three variable investment options in addition to the current fixed rate annuity. Employees with an HRA should have received an email this week from U.S. BENCOR/MidAmerica.
No action is required for employees not interested in this opportunity.
The email included: Understanding the HRA, understanding the new variable investment options, instructions on how to diversify investments, understanding an account balance, links to the Allocation Investment Options Information Sheet and a Step-by-step Investment Management Guide.
❓ Questions related to employee HRA contributions, including the amount and timing, contact the Anoka-Hennepin Insurance Department at 763-506-1080.
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 four are in need of more members. The 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.
The Class of 2024 marks the start of senior year with “Senior Sunrise”
A growing tradition at high schools in Anoka-Hennepin is students marking the beginning and the end of their senior year with sunrise and sunset events. During the first week of the 2023-24 school year, seniors gathered at the athletic stadiums - blankets in tow - to watch the sun rise on their final year at their school.
These events provide students with the opportunity to connect, build community and celebrate their last year of high school together. Before seniors walk across the stage at graduation, on the final week of the year for seniors, they will once again gather at the stadium as the sun sets on senior year.
“The event unites us, and gives a symbol of how this is us starting our final year together," said Blaine High School senior Olivia Corr. “It’s special to bring all the seniors together into one place so early in the morning and see them all bonding over the sun, or the lack thereof in this case.”
📷 View photos: Andover HS | Blaine HS | Champlin Park HS | Coon Rapids HS
Famous musical duo pulls strings, invites Champlin Park High School musicians to set the stage for their show at the Orpheum
Five Champlin Park High School (CPHS) students shared the stage at the Orpheum in Minneapolis with The Piano Guys, an internationally known musical duo famous for their YouTube channel, which blends classical and popular music and films in whimsical locations around the world.
Violinists Garrison Finke, Andres Johnson, Hmai Fanai, Westin Zubert and Maia Ark rehearsed with two students from Parnassus Preparatory School for one week before the event, but only met with the Piano Guys for a 10-minute sound check the night of the show. Students performed on stage for the song Beethoven’s Secrets, which is about the power of great music to reach across distance and time and connect one generation to another.
“It was a great experience of what a professional gig is really like,” said Levi Comstock, orchestra director at CPHS.
Coon Rapids Middle School student wins national school bus safety poster contest
Avrie Siedschlag, now a seventh grade student at Coon Rapids Middle School (CRMS), was named the winner of the 2022-23 National School Bus Safety Week Poster Contest, the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) announced Sept. 18.
Siedschlag completed the winning poster as a sixth grade student last school year. She was also named the winner of the Anoka-Hennepin poster contest and the 2023 Minnesota School Bus Safety Poster Contest.
Students start off a ‘good year’ cleaning up the Rum River
Students at Andover and Blaine high schools recently teamed up to help a community in need. After learning used car tires were being illegally dumped in the Rum River, students from both schools developed a plan to clean up the mess.
Bob Ameli, environmental science teacher at Andover High School, and Larry Osmek, science teacher at Blaine High School, enlisted over 60 students to help clean up the area and properly dispose of the tires.
After scouting the area this summer, Ameli figured there were around 75 tires needing to be removed, but once they got to work, they learned it was so much more. “All totaled, we removed well over 200 tires from the river using canoes and a lot of determination,” Ameli said. “The students were very enthusiastic about making such a tangible difference.”
📷 View photos of students cleaning up the Rum River.
School Board meeting set for Monday, September 25
The Anoka-Hennepin School Board will convene for its regularly scheduled meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, September 25 at the Sandburg Education Center, located at 1902 Second Ave. in Anoka.
Agenda items include:
- Appointment of election judges resolution.
- Morris Leatherman community survey results.
- Mental health supports update.
- Preliminary tax certification for taxes payable 2024.
- First read - Policy 506.0 District Student Discipline policy.
- First read - Policy 413.0 Harassment, Violence and Discrimination policy.
💻 📺 Watch the meeting live online, or on local television. Also, watch for the summary of meeting details in the Action of the School Board publication later next week.
Changes to School Board meeting video streams, meeting minutes
Beginning October 2023, viewers will notice some changes to the format of Anoka-Hennepin School Board meetings when streaming them online and viewing meeting agendas and minutes. The school district has tested using YouTube for video streaming the past few meetings, and will begin using a new meeting software, BoardBook, for organizing School Board documents.
📂📄 Community members can still access the meeting materials the same way they are familiar with, by visiting the district website at ahschools.us/schoolboard.
- Staff may subscribe to receive emergency text message alerts.
- Three-part Appreciation of Diversity workshop series for staff to begin Oct. 28.
- Highway 10 construction update.
- Minnesota Wild to hold Educator Appreciation Night on Oct. 19.
- 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.