In the Know - Top stories 2023
January 2, 2024
Highlighting the top stories of 2023
In this special holiday edition of In the Know, the district will be revisiting the top stories of 2023. As these stories demonstrate, 2023 was another exciting year for Anoka-Hennepin Schools.
The Power of Purpose
🏅 Inspired by the movie “Miracle,” the 2023-24 back-to-school video featured Superintendent Cory McIntyre motivating #AHSchools staff and introducing the theme for the school year - The Power of Purpose. Watch the 2023-24 back-to-school video.
Andover High School senior forward Ella Boerger named Ms. Hockey award winner
🏒 Last March, now Andover High School graduate Ella Boerger was named the 2023 Ms. Hockey Award winner, which is presented to the top female hockey player in the state, making her the second Husky in school history to earn the prestigious award.
In four years at Andover, Ella helped the Huskies to four consecutive state championship appearances, including state titles in 2020 and 2022. During that span, Andover went 107-7. Read more about Ella who now attends the University of St. Thomas where she is a member of the women’s hockey team.
STEP automotive program named Exemplary Secondary Program of the Year
🚗 The automotive program at the Anoka-Hennepin Secondary Technical Education Program (STEP) was recognized as the 2023 Exemplary Secondary Program of the Year by the Minnesota State Transportation Center of Excellence.
The award showcases secondary level transportation programs that serve as exemplary models of institutional support, instructional leadership and program-wide excellence. The automotive program is led by instructor Theron Busse, who is an experienced automotive teacher with a passion for empowering students with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in the automotive industry. Read more about the automotive program at STEP.
AHS senior publishes novel, shares story at AMSA to inspire seventh graders
📘 Braylan Allison's passion for reading inspired her to write her own novel, which was published when she was a freshman. Now a senior at Anoka High School, Braylan returned to the middle school class where the inspiration for "Lunar" began. Read more about Braylan.
Business leaders recognize Monroe Elementary with 2023 Minnesota’s Future Award
📖 Monroe Elementary School was recently recognized with the 2023 Minnesota’s Future Award from the Minnesota Business Partnership. Monroe was selected for the award for its commitment to transforming the way students are taught to read. Recent Minnesota Comprehensive Achievement (MCA) results demonstrate that Monroe is showing strong gains in literacy for key student cohorts. Current fourth grade students made an 18% jump in reading proficiency from 2022 to 2023 and current fifth-graders made a 25% improvement.
A big year for University Avenue Elementary
🚀 2023 was a big year for University Avenue Elementary School - Aerospace, Children’s Engineering and Science. Magnet Schools of America named the school a Top Elementary Magnet School in the United States for 2023 and UAE ACES was selected as a national Leader in Me Lighthouse School by FranklinCovey Education.
A new device at the JMS observatory opens more eyes to the universe
🔭 Ron Schmit has been delivering the universe to the eyes of students around Anoka-Hennepin since 2014 as the coordinator of the observatory located at Jackson Middle School - A Specialty School for Math and Science (JMS), and now, viewing the skies is accessible to more individuals because of a new device he helped create. Read more about the new relay scope which allows anyone in a wheelchair to view through the telescope.
Sandburg Regional High School brings school site back to historic downtown Anoka
🏫 On Tuesday, Sept. 5, school buses pulled up to the front of Sandburg Educational Center, the new home of Sandburg Regional High School, for the first time since 2010.
Sandburg Regional, which serves around 300 students from all around the district, moved to the Sandburg Educational Center last summer and made the name change to Sandburg Regional High School from Anoka-Hennepin Regional High School. The school adopted the nickname ‘Sabers,’ which was previously used by Sandburg Middle School. Read more about the move.
Artwork by Andover High School student featured in downtown Anoka mural
🎨 While taking classes at the Rum River Art Center in Anoka, Andover High School freshman Rachel Kroona was presented with a unique opportunity. She and around 10 other artists were commissioned to repaint the Main Street tunnel and after a year’s worth of work, the tunnel was completed with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 21. Read more about Kroona's artwork and find out where you can view it in downtown Anoka.
Imani Harris and Ashley Wongbi named Triple Threat on Hennepin students
🎭 Imani Harris from Coon Rapids High School and Ashley Wongbi from Anoka High School were selected as a Triple Threat on Hennepin students by the Hennepin Theatre Trust. To be named a Triple Threat, students must demonstrate exceptional skills in singing, acting, dancing and leadership. Last May, Triple Threat students participated in an intensive coaching, rehearsal and performance process in preparation for the June Spotlight Showcase at the historic State Theatre.
CPHS grad headed towards a career in cybersecurity
💻 Mya Benson, a 2023 CPHS graduate, took advantage of the International Baccalaureate career pathway program and set herself up for a potential career in cybersecurity. A self-described "techy," Benson could always see herself working in the tech industry, but it wasn’t until she completed a reflection project in her Personal and Professional Skills II class that she really saw it become a reality. Learn more about Mya's story.
Grant program brings more water bottle filling stations to schools
🌎 Next up in the top stories of 2023 thread shares about a sustainability project where district schools located in Anoka County have started to receive upgrades to drinking fountains with the installation of water bottle filling stations.
This project was made possible through the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Waste Wise program which is available to members in Anoka, Ramsey, Scott and Washington counties. Learn more about this project bringing more bottle filling stations to schools.
Coon Rapids Middle School student wins national school bus safety poster contest
🚌 This story highlights the artistic talents of Coon Rapids Middle School eighth-grader Avrie Siedschlag.
Avrie was named the winner of the 2022-23 National School Bus Safety Week Poster Contest by the National Association for Pupil Transportation. Learn more about this accomplishment and take a closer look at the winning poster.
Students start off a ‘good year’ cleaning up the Rum River
🛞 This past summer, students from Andover and Blaine high schools teamed up to to help a community in need. After learning used car tires were illegally dumped in the Rum River, students from both schools developed a plan to clean up the mess. Over 60 students removed over 200 tires using canoes, kayaks and a lot of determination.
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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.