In the Know - October 6, 2023
October 6, 2023
Cybersecurity training for staff
As cybersecurity continues to be a growing concern for school districts nationwide, the Anoka-Hennepin technology and information department is launching cybersecurity training in conjunction with Cybersecurity Month for staff.
💻 District technology partnered with Infosec IQ, a cybersecurity training company, to conduct research last year. They concluded that 28% of Anoka-Hennepin staff clicked on links in test phishing emails (no sensitive data was collected during this test). Reducing our phishing email fail rate to zero is our goal with this training plan.
👨💻 Results from our recent phishing campaign indicate that we need your help to fortify our data security defenses and protect staff and student data. In partnership with Infosec IQ and in conjunction with Cyber Security Month, Anoka-Hennepin is launching a training course. The awareness plan includes:
- Security training course starting Oct. 9.
- Additional phishing simulations starting in December.
Cybersecurity is everyone’s responsibility and with these additional steps, technology hopes to educate our staff on the need to keep our data safe and secure.
Next week, all district employees will receive an email from AH Cybersecurity Notifications (CyberSecurity@ahschools.us) with the subject line “Start Your Security Awareness Training.” This is not spam. Included in this email is a required training course consisting of three short videos with two activities to complete. Please take the time this month to review and complete the training to improve your cybersecurity knowledge to protect yourself both at home and at work. Please complete the training by November 30, 2023.
In December, the district will continue to simulate phishing emails to determine how well staff are improving at identifying the conditions of an email designed to encourage unsafe behaviors. If staff interact with phishing emails, additional training may be recommended.
Please continue to read the weekly “In the Know” staff e-newsletter for updates on upcoming cybersecurity initiatives.
Wellness champions promote health and wellness at each building
Did you know that each building has a wellness champion to promote health and wellness at your site? In addition to monthly wellness emails, each wellness champion can apply for a $750 mini grant to be used toward wellness initiatives in their building.
The wellness grant application for 2023-24 opens later this month with a deadline of March 8.
Examples of approved activities used by wellness grant money:
👟 Challenges: Walking/step, water intake, healthy habit, puzzles, yard games, medallion hunt.
🥦 Healthy food demonstrations or cook-offs.
🧘♀️ Fitness or yoga class with a trainer.
💧 Water filtration system and filters.
☕️ Coffee and conversation with a coffee truck.
To find out who the wellness champion is at your building or to get more involved, check with your volunteer services coordinator, who is also involved with the wellness initiative and can be a resource for staff.
Questions about wellness champions, the wellness grant or the wellness committee, contact wellness@ahschools.us.
AHEF to raffle Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers tickets
🏈 The Anoka-Hennepin Educational Foundation (AHEF) is selling raffle tickets for a chance to win one of two pairs of tickets to the Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers game on Sunday, Dec. 31 at 7:20 p.m. at U.S. Bank Stadium. Proceeds will benefit Anoka-Hennepin students, schools and the foundation.
🎟️ The winning tickets will be drawn on Friday, Dec. 1 at 1 p.m. at the AHEF office at the Educational Service Center in Anoka (you do NOT need to be present to win). Raffle tickets are $20 and can be purchased using check or cash only at the AHEF office.
For more information, please contact Tess DeGeest at 763-506-1105 or at theresa.degeest@ahschools.us.
World renowned drummer Massamba Diop shares his talent with district students
Massamba Diop is a master of the tama, a talking drum from Senegal, West Africa, known for its ability to replicate the sounds of human speech. Diop was in residency with the Champlin Park High School (CPHS) World Drumming class Oct. 2-6 and also shared his passion with two district elementary schools.
To bring the experience to the community, the CPHS World Drumming class will perform with the Heart and Soul Drum Academy on Friday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. in the CPHS auditorium. Tickets will be available at the door for $5 per person.
During his residency in Anoka-Hennepin, Diop has shared his talents and engaged elementary students at Evergreen Park Elementary - STEM School of Innovation in Brooklyn Center and Wilson Elementary School in Anoka.
📸 View photos from the experience at Wilson Elementary.
Diop’s music can be heard throughout the soundtrack of the major motion picture Black Panther, a Marvel Studios film. This opportunity was made available thanks to a partnership between CPHS music instructor Steve Lyons and the Heart and Soul Drum Academy.
Sunrise classroom addition now in operation
An eight classroom addition at Sunrise Elementary School in eastern Blaine is up and operating and serving the needs of kindergarten students while providing space for additional enrollment growth.
Why it matters: Anoka-Hennepin voters approved the construction of Sunrise Elementary in Blaine with the Fit for the Future referendum in 2017. Unanticipated enrollment growth in the attendance area led to boundary adjustments and a 200 student addition, increasing building operating capacity to 1,200 students. The addition allows all Sunrise students to return to Sunrise following a one-year, temporary boundary adjustment for kindergarten students.
Two kindergarten classrooms have moved into the new classrooms where the addition has extended the kindergarten wing of the school. View photos of the new addition.
🌅 Learn more about Sunrise Elementary at ahschools.us/sunrise.
Coon Rapids High School welcomes four new Hall of Fame members
Coon Rapids High School (CRHS) welcomed its fifth Hall of Fame class in school history on Sept. 29. The 2023 Hall of Fame class featured three former standout students and one longtime coach and administrator.
Semhar Araia, Dan Dehnicke, Lonnie Dupre and Logan Shore were recognized in a ceremony and on-field introduction prior to the football game against Anoka at Cardinal Stadium.
To nominate someone for the CRHS Hall of Fame, visit ahschools.us/crhshof. It is anticipated that the Hall of Fame induction will be an annual event, a process that will be dictated by nominations each year. Learn more about this year's CRHS Hall of Fame class.
Blaine High School BPA Coats for Kids drive underway
Members of the Business Professionals of America (BPA) chapter at Blaine High School (BHS) are conducting its 30th annual Coats for Kids drive, which runs until Oct. 21. Students, staff, and community residents are invited to drop off new or used coats of all sizes at BHS throughout the school day at the main entrance.
Last year BHS exceeded expectations and collected more than 800 coats for the cause. In the previous 29 years, Blaine BPA has collected close to 14,000 coats for children. This year the organization has a goal of collecting 600 coats.
Coats for Kids was founded in 1986 to ensure that local community children in need would have access to warm coats each winter. Since then, they have collected and donated more than 463,500 coats to help keep children warm. The donated coats are cleaned by Pilgrim Dry Cleaners, and distributed out to local charities, churches and schools.
Clean out those closets or go shopping for those in need and drop off coats at BHS before Oct. 21. Community members looking to arrange a drop off can contact Holly Boisjolie, BPA Advisor, at 763-506-6540 or holly.boisjolie@ahschools.us.
Community works together to make Andover Elementary PTO event a success
Each year, the Andover Elementary School parent-teacher organization hosts a large community event that serves as its main fundraiser. Students seek donations and then walk laps around the school’s track. Families are encouraged to walk too.
There’s also a huge inflatable obstacle course, commemorative key chains with special paw charms to hand out, awards to be given, photos to be taken, in addition to music, food trucks and fun.
To help with the volunteer need, team members from the Minnesota Blue Ox Junior A’ hockey club out of Coon Rapids made a quick breakaway and came through in a pinch. The hockey players didn’t just hang out in the neutral zone, they got right in on the action — passing out charms and cheering students on as they crossed the finish line.
District to host hiring event for non-teaching positions Oct. 12 at Anoka High School
The Anoka-Hennepin School District will host an in-person hiring event for non-teaching positions Thursday, Oct. 12 from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at Anoka High School. The hiring event will take place in the main commons area of the school located at 3939 Seventh Ave. N in Anoka (Enter Door 1).
Anoka-Hennepin Schools is a great place to live and work. Our communities work together to provide residents with safe and friendly neighborhoods, high-quality schools, a wide range of business and economic opportunities, beautiful parks and abundant recreational activities.
Join us to learn about employment opportunities and have a same-day, on-site interview for various positions. Participants are strongly encouraged to begin filling out applications ahead of time at ahschools.us/jobs and come prepared to interview with hiring managers.
📢 What we offer: Eligible employees may enroll in a comprehensive benefits package.
- Health, hospitalization, dental insurance.
- Life and supplemental life insurance benefits.
- Long-term disability plan.
- Opportunities to participate in flexible benefits plans such as health savings and dependent/child care savings accounts.
- Professional development opportunities.
Everyone plays a role in student achievement; help your community succeed by applying today!
Visit ahschools.us/jobs or call 763-506-JOBS for more information.
Calling all artists: Submit artwork for the annual kindness poster contest
As a part of October’s National Bullying Prevention campaign, Anoka-Hennepin is excited to participate in the 19th annual kindness poster contest.
🎨 The district invites students at all grade levels to submit their best artwork for the competition. Each elementary and middle school will select one winning poster for each grade level, K-8, and each high school will select one winning poster from grades 9-12 to advance to the district-level judging contest.
This year’s kindness poster contest theme is Make Kindness your Purpose, and those words must be on the poster. All participants will help create and spread kindness messages in their schools through this competition.
- Action of the School Board, September 25, 2023.
- Parent Engage 360 Podcast Episode 36: Parent involvement in schools.
- 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.
- Young Scientist Roundtable events in Anoka free for all Anoka-Hennepin families.
- Redeem your Rally® rewards before they expire.
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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.