Backpack Online - Jan. 27, 2023
Jan. 27, 2023
Kindness poster contest winners recognized at Jan. 23 School Board meeting
The 10 winners of the annual kindness poster contest were recognized for their award-winning artwork at the Anoka-Hennepin School Board meeting on Jan. 23. This year’s theme was “There is POWER in Kindness.”
The district invited students at all grade levels to submit their best artwork for the competition and the school-level winners advanced to the district-level judging. Nearly 150 posters were voted on by staff at the Educational Service Center on Nov. 10.
The 19th annual event supports a districtwide initiative to support safe and welcoming schools. Research has demonstrated kindness as one of the most significant contributors to a positive school climate.
Congratulations to this year’s winners and thank you to all participants for helping to share kindness all year long.
District students leverage technology to enhance driver education curriculum
Every day in Anoka-Hennepin, high school students are getting a head start on their behind-the-wheel education thanks to technology being utilized in driver education classes in all five high schools in the district.
Each school has eight virtual driving simulators installed in classrooms and anywhere from eight to 16 students are utilizing them during each hour of the school day. The simulators include a widescreen display, a steering wheel and foot pedals and offer a real-life experience of being behind the wheel of a vehicle. Learn more about how driving simulators are being used in classrooms in Anoka-Hennepin.
Parent Engage 360 Podcast Episode 30: Transportation safety and winter weather
Did you know that around 34,000 Anoka-Hennepin students ride a bus to and from school each day? The district transportation services department works closely with partners to safely transport students using approximately 380 vehicles traveling more than six million miles annually.
The district services more than 8,000 bus stops traveling to and from more than 60 school sites daily.
In the latest Parent Engage 360 Podcast episode, host Liz Burgard is joined by transportation director B.J. Ison and transportation safety coordinator Jeff Mueller to learn more about what goes into safely planning a school bus route, where bus stops are located and much more. In this episode you will also learn about the annual school bus safety poster contest and how students learn about bus safety throughout the school year.
District continues planning for 23-24 school yr; strategic priorities identified
Family survey results to inform action steps
Making improvements in a school system with over 50 sites and more than 7,000 staff members requires intentional planning and coordination. The Anoka-Hennepin School Board utilizes a continuous improvement cycle and strategic priorities framework as a system to bring necessary resources to schools, and evaluate and monitor programming for effectiveness.
At the School Board meeting Jan. 23, interim superintendent Dr. Kate Maguire provided an overview of the recommended strategic priorities and investments for the 2023-24 school year. View the recommendations approved by the School Board for next school year.
Each year, the School Board sets direction for the district through the development, implementation and monitoring of a set of strategic priorities tied to three broad priority areas for the district:
Safe and welcoming schools.
Increased student achievement.
Effective organizational support.
The Anoka-Hennepin School District works to identify strategic priorities on an annual basis. Priorities are drafted in November, and approved by the School Board in January. This time frame allows for proper time for planning actions and budget alignment to implement for the following school year. Parent/guardian surveys sent to families by email January 20 provide a forum for feedback, which is reviewed each spring by school district leaders, and inform action steps that the district will focus on when implementing the strategic priorities in the upcoming school year.
CPHS hosts recognition event honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
On Jan. 25, Champlin Park High School (CPHS) hosted an evening event to honor and celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with the motto of the event titled, Together we can be The Dream.
CPHS student achievement advisor (SAA) Ross Giles hosted the event and Jackson Middle School (JMS) SSA Dorborwulu Cooper was the guest vocalist and performed original music. Rashad Cohen, a global transformational speaker, was the guest speaker and his virtual message focused on character and finding a way to have an impact. The evening culminated with a showing of Paramount Pictures’, "SELMA." View photos from the recognition event.
The evening included a sock drive by the CPHS Black Student Union, with items donated to The HOPE Office of Anoka-Hennepin.
Putting ‘U’ in Community Education: Coach DePalma’s Story
At 85, one would think Coach John DePalma might be relaxing on the beach with his wife of 56 years or settling back into retirement, but believe it or not, this experienced coach is not ready to spend his golden years on the sidelines.
DePalma has been coaching in one way or another since he was a teenager. He runs his own quarterback clinic and coaches flag football, baseball and basketball for Anoka-Hennepin Community Education at Roosevelt Middle School in Blaine. A former marine captain and retired banker, Coach DePalma has a gift he keeps on giving.
Additional district news
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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.