Backpack Online - Feb. 17, 2023
Feb. 17, 2023
Four district seniors named National Merit Scholarship finalists
All four of Anoka-Hennepin’s seniors who were named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists in September have advanced to be named finalists for one of the 7,250 scholarships of up to $2,500 for college.
The students: Andover High School senior Eleanor Fredine; Blaine High School senior Adhithya Anandaraj; Champlin Park High School senior Maura Wahl; Coon Rapids High School senior Jesse Co.
About 16,000 students nationally were named National Merit semifinalists. The four Anoka-Hennepin students now join approximately 15,000 students as finalists. Beginning in March and continuing to mid-June, finalists will be awarded a Merit Scholarship of three types: National Merit $2,500 Scholarships, Corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards or a College-sponsored Merit Scholarship award.
To be considered for a National Merit scholarship, students had to score in the top 1 percent in the state on the Preliminary SAT test, which was administered when the students were juniors. Approximately 1.5 million high school students take the test each year.
Champlin Park High School senior named Triple ‘A’ Award finalist
Champlin Park High School (CPHS) senior Gabby Wahl has been named one of 32 finalists statewide for the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) Triple ‘A’ Award.
Wahl will represent the district, CPHS and Region 5AA as a finalist.
Two award finalists from each region (one boy and one girl) are invited to a recognition banquet in March and league officials will announce four statewide Triple ‘A’ Award winners. All 32 finalists will also participate in an on-court ceremony during the Class AA championship game of the boys basketball state tournament. The statewide award winners — a girl and a boy from Class A and Class AA schools — will also receive a four-year $1,000 scholarship.
Each year, the MSHSL honors student-athletes who excel in Academics (3.0 GPA or better), Athletics (at least one MSHSL-sponsored athletic activity) and Arts (MSHSL-sponsored debate, one-act play, speech, visual arts, and instrumental or vocal music). The award is given to one senior female and one senior male in the state.
Each school in the state can nominate one senior female and one senior male student for consideration. Triple “A” Award recipients are selected through a multi-level process involving member schools of the league, the league’s administrative regions, and a special committee of educators, business leaders, and members from the fine arts and athletics communities.
CRHS DECA once again recognized for outstanding school-based enterprise
The Coon Rapids High School (CRHS) DECA program has once again been recognized for its school-based enterprise (SBE), the Cardinal Image, achieving Gold Certification for the 2022-23 school year.
CRHS DECA members will be recognized during the organization’s annual International Career Development Conference which will be held April 22-25 in Orlando, Fla.
The CRHS DECA members who contributed to the certification were senior students and operations managers, Madi Froslie, Edward Tabla, Josiah Ashworth, with the assistance of DECA chapter advisor Blake Bodenburg. The SBE at CRHS has operated for 50 years.
Working in the Cardinal Image, students learn time management and responsibility while gaining practical learning experiences that reinforce classroom instruction, enhance 21st-century skill development and prepare students for college and careers.
Champlin Park High School Unified basketball team preps for state tournament
The Champlin Park High School (CPHS) Unified basketball team is set to make its return to the Unified basketball state tournament on Wednesday, Feb. 22 at the Target Center in Minneapolis.
The Rebels, who began competing in Unified sports during the 2021-22 school year, are making their second straight appearance in the state tournament. CPHS opens play in the state tournament at 1 p.m. with a second game to follow at either 2 or 3 p.m. depending on the result of game one.
The Unified club at CPHS aims to create a school climate where students with disabilities feel welcome and routinely included in, and feel a part of, all activities, opportunities and functions.
2022-23 winter sports and activities roundup
With the winter sports and activities season wrapping up, here’s a look at who’s heading to state, and how they fared when they performed and played. Also included is information about post-season awards gathered by student-athletes and coaches.
Reading brings Dayton Elementary school community together
With the goal of building a community of readers, Dayton Elementary School has organized a One School, One Book program, which is a month-long, school-wide shared reading event.
Thanks to a grant from the Anoka-Hennepin Educational Foundation (AHEF) and funding from the Dayton Elementary Parent Teacher Organization, the school has provided a book titled Crenshaw, to every family and staff member to read together during February, which is “I Love to Read” month. Kindergarten teacher Ann Katorosz and fourth grade teacher Christine Saksa led a group of teachers and staff to make the program happen. Learn more about the school-wide reading event at Dayton.
Anoka Middle School for the Arts receives award for student magazine
The Storm, a student magazine at Anoka Middle School for the Arts (AMSA), has been selected to receive the rank of Superior in the 2022 National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Recognizing Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines (REALM) program.
This year, schools in 42 states and five countries nominated 262 student magazines. Magazines from middle school, high school, and higher education were welcomed for the 2022 contest.
The Storm is a journal composed of AMSA students’ original writing and artwork completed independently or as class assignments in any subject area. Students are encouraged to submit their work, and staff members are encouraged to nominate student work. The process begins in February with a collection of student submissions and ends with the unveiling of the journal and student readings during the Arts Fest in May. Learn more about this recognition.
Putting 'U' in Community Education: Skateboard Artists
Professional artist Mark Rivard is inspiring students one skateboard at a time. Rivard has taken his talents to the classroom — teaching art sessions for Anoka-Hennepin Community Education and speaking at schools across the state.
After graduating from Champlin Park High School in 2000, Rivard focused on extreme action sports like skateboarding, snowboarding and skiing. He moved to Colorado until a skiing accident ended his career. Although he enjoyed art classes in school, he never really thought of it as a profession until he decided to try something new. Check out the Putting "U" in Community Education video series.
Anoka-Hennepin in the news
Winter in the BWCA 101: Long-running class at Anoka High School grows wilderness lovers
Anoka High School students and staff were featured in the Star Tribune, as a group used the school grounds to prepare for a camping trip later this month in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The students are in an Outdoor Adventures class where they are educated on essential survival skills. The camping trip is a long-standing tradition for the class at AHS. Read more from the linked article below (subscription may be required).
Anoka High School girls hockey goalie makes 89 saves in one game
Anoka High School girls hockey goalie Gretchen Paaverud made 89 saves in a marathon 2-1 six-overtime loss to Blaine High School Feb. 9, but what's even more impressive is that she was even on the ice in the first place. Last summer she was diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis. Learn more about Gretchen's story from the KARE 11.
Additional district news
- 2023 graduation ceremonies for Andover, Blaine, Champlin Park and Coon Rapids high schools to be held on University of Minnesota campus - Maturi Pavilion.
- As conferences for Trimester 2 get underway, listen back to the Parent Engage 360 Podcast Episode 27: How to prepare for parent/teacher conferences.
- New $225 substitute teacher rate at select sites and on Fridays now in effect through the end of the school year.
- Winter weather information.
- School Board votes to amend 2022-23 school year calendar.
- Bid now: Student-built ice house for auction until March 2.
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This e-newsletter is published by Anoka-Hennepin Schools. It's sent to Anoka-Hennepin families and community members who subscribe on a weekly basis during the school year, excluding breaks (and periodically during the summer). Questions, comments or concerns about the Backpack Online e-newsletter? Contact us.