In the Know - May 26, 2023
May 26, 2023
Open enrollment period for health insurance benefits begins May 30
The open enrollment period for health insurance benefits is May 30-June 13 with the effective date of September 1, 2023. Open enrollment materials will be delivered to each employee’s building mailbox on Tuesday, May 30.
Starting May 31, the Insurance Department will hold informational meetings about open enrollment for health insurance in the Staff Development Center at the Anoka-Hennepin Educational Service Center (2727 N. Ferry Street, Anoka).
Open enrollment meetings:
- May 31 at 11:30 a.m.
- May 31 at 4:30 p.m.
- June 6 at 4:30 p.m.
- June 8 at 4:30 p.m.
A recorded meeting will be posted on the Insurance web page on the Staff Intranet for those unable to attend a meeting. Questions? Contact the Insurance Department at 763-506-1080.
For teaching staff: FlexPD returning for the 2023-24 school year
FlexPD will be offered for the 2023-24 school year. The theme of this year's professional learning is: engagement. Professional learning sessions will be aligned with the district's strategic priorities including Safe and Welcoming Environments and Increased Student Achievement. Licensed staff will be assigned or choose their sessions based on their assignment. Anyone with multiple roles will collaborate with their administrator to choose from the menu of options provided.
What is FlexPD? March 29, 2024 is a districtwide flexible professional development day. Licensed staff will work outside of their duty day on their professional learning for a total of 7 hours starting August 1. 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 will be emailed on May 30.
Summer jobs available
The district is seeking candidates interested in summer employment for the Extended School Year programs at both elementary and secondary levels, including special education paraeducators, child care staff, custodians, secretaries and more. View all summer positions and apply online.
Tips from labor relations and benefits: Avoid end of the year hazards
To help lower the risks:
- Have stepladders, dollies, push carts and other moving tools easily accessible.
- Remind staff not to stand on chairs, desks or tables.
- Limit the size of moving boxes.
- Ensure high-traffic areas are clear of obstacles.
Anoka-Hennepin and Allina Health present SupportingYoU podcast
Anoka-Hennepin and Allina Health partnered to provide district teachers and staff with a library of resources to support employee health and mental wellness.
SupportingYoU, an employee wellness podcast, has 34 episodes available now - featuring a range of topics from self-care fundamentals to the importance of gratitude.
Listen by visiting the website at ahschools.us/supportingyou.
2023 employee retirements
Congratulations to our Anoka-Hennepin staff retiring this year! Check back as we will update this list as additional event information becomes available. If you would like to share a retirement announcement, please email info@ahschools.us.
- May 31: Retirement gathering for Darla Heil (Dayton Elementary)
- June 5: Retirement gathering for Linette Aldrich and Melody Hoops (Sand Creek Elementary).
- June 24: Retirement gathering for Betty Mortensen and Laurie Kleyla (Oak View Middle School, 3:30-4:30 p.m.)
District recognized for excellence in music education
The Anoka-Hennepin School District has been recognized with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) for the ninth year. The honor recognizes a district’s outstanding commitment to music education.
Anoka-Hennepin was one of seven school districts in the state, and 830 nationally, to earn the award in 2023.
Dr. Josh Delich, associate superintendent of high schools; and Doug Schmitt, Schmitt Music, presented the award from NAMM to district music teachers Candace Cooper (Rum River Elementary) and Ryan Palmer (Coon Rapids High School) at the regular School Board meeting May 22. Cooper and Palmer accepted the award on behalf of the music teachers in the district alongside Interim Superintendent Dr. Kate Maguire and members of the school board.
NAMM is a non-profit organization that aims to advance participation in music-making for all ages by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs. The Best Communities for Music Education award recognizes outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students, and community leaders who have made music education part of a well-rounded education. Designations are made to districts demonstrating an exceptionally high commitment and access to music education.
28 district high school musicians earn All-State honors
Twenty eight high school musicians from Anoka-Hennepin were named to Minnesota Music Educators (MMEA) All-State ensembles for the 2022-23 school year.
MMEA’s All-State – considered the top program of its kind across the nation – develops high school musicians and school music programs. The All-State program supports secondary school music ensembles, MMEA members and members’ students.
Students in high school bands, choir and orchestras audition for an All-State spot in March and are then evaluated by judges on their overall musicianship and technique before final rosters are selected in April. A total of 573 students were selected for seven All-State groups. Visit the district website to view names of Anoka-Hennepin students named to all-state ensembles.
Hamilton Elementary community gathers for multicultural and fine arts night
Parents and guardians and family members of Hamilton Elementary School students showed up in large numbers for the multicultural and fine arts night at the school on the evening of May 25.
Students and guests participated in a variety of multicultural and fine arts activities throughout the school, including projects from different cultures around the world. The evening also included a fashion show with students and family members dressed in traditional clothing.
Guests also enjoyed a dinner featuring a menu of foods from different cultures.
Another highlight of the night included the entire student population in attendance singing We Are the World, which students have been practicing in music classes for weeks in preparation for the event.
View photos from the Hamilton Elementary multicultural and fine arts night.
Crooked Lake teacher Kerri Deile named KS95 Teacher of the Week
A teacher in Anoka-Hennepin for 17 years, Kerri Deile of Crooked Lake Elementary School, has been selected as KS95 Teacher of the Week. She accepted the award in front of her kindergarten classroom.
“I am honored to be recognized as a KS95 Teacher of the Week,” Deile said. “I will cherish the family’s words forever. My friend is well on his way to becoming a confident first grader who knows he can do hard things. Working at Crooked Lake, I am surrounded by an amazing team of colleagues who support me on a daily basis, and we make it our mission to build relationships with all of our students. One of our core beliefs is, ‘students don’t know care what we know, until they know we care.’”
Listen to Deile’s on-air interview with KS95.
Deile is the fourth KS95 Teacher of the Week from the district in the 2022-23 school year and was interviewed on the KS95 morning show.
2023 Graduation information
Anoka-Hennepin will hold graduation ceremonies for Andover, Blaine, Champlin Park and Coon Rapids high schools Sunday, June 4 at Maturi Pavilion on the University of Minnesota campus. Anoka High School will hold its graduation ceremony Monday, June 5, at Goodrich Field. Regional and Technical High School graduation ceremonies will be held at Anoka Technical College in Anoka.
Wednesday, May 31 - Anoka Technical College
- Anoka-Hennepin Regional High School - 7 p.m.
Thursday, June 1 - Anoka Technical College
- Anoka-Hennepin Technical High School - 6 p.m.
Sunday, June 4 - Maturi Pavilion
- Champlin Park High School - 10 a.m.
- Blaine High School - 1 p.m.
- Coon Rapids High School - 4 p.m.
- Andover High School - 7 p.m.
- Anoka High School - 7 p.m.
For more information about graduations, including links for live coverage, visit the district website.
In the news: Wallin Scholars in Blaine and Champlin Park showcased
North Metro TV in Blaine spoke with former Anoka-Hennepin Schools superintendent, Denny Carlson - who now serves on the Wallin Education Partners board of trustees, in addition to Blaine High School college and career counselor, Jill Wolfe; and two seniors, Alexandra “Lexi” Nwameme and Nicholas Reither.
CCX Media spoke with Champlin Park High School seniors Kaylee Rakow and Shaine Kilyun to learn what the Wallin Scholarships mean for them.
Anoka High School seniors showcase talent and creativity at STEAM Expo
Anoka High School (AHS) seniors in the Center for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) program showcased their capstone projects on May 18 when school staff, families and community members were invited to the school for the AHS STEAM Expo.
Forty-one projects were on display for demonstrations and explanations, and a short program in the auditorium spotlighted five of those projects. The program also featured three STEAM senior dancers and a presentation of awards and a scholarship. Other members of the STEAM program provided hands-on opportunities for visitors. A total of 45 seniors will be graduating with their STEAM Certification in June. View photos from the event. Read more about the projects on display.
Blaine High School CEMS program celebrates senior capstone projects
Seniors in the Center for Engineering, Mathematics and Science (CEMS) program at Blaine High School (BHS) presented their capstone projects on May 18.
The annual event celebrated a total of 119 students who were in 25 groups. The teams took turns on the auditorium stage to present their capstone projects to BHS staff, students, mentors from the community and families. The students then went to the cafeteria where projects were on display to allow them to demonstrate their prototypes and answer questions. Seniors were also honored with a CEMS medal. View photos from the event. Read more about the projects and the CEMS program.
Anoka-Hennepin celebrates 38 graduating seniors from the NWSISD Step-Up Mentorship Program
For 94 students across the Northwest Suburban Integration School District (NWSISD) consortium, graduation happened May 18, thus ending their tenure in the Step-Up Mentorship Program.
Of those 94 students, 38 were from Anoka-Hennepin’s five traditional high schools.
Additionally, LaKhil Garlington from Champlin Park High School was this year’s recipient of the $2,000 Possibility Scholarship. Read more about the NWSISD Step-up program.
Anoka-Hennepin School Board Treasurer Erin Heers-McArdle visits AMSA as guest presenter
Anoka-Hennepin School Board Treasurer Erin Heers-McArdle visited Advanced Science 8 classrooms at Anoka Middle School for the Arts Fred Moore Campus on May 12 to share her passion and knowledge of both the sciences and the arts.
Heers-McArdle is a fine art jeweler and metalsmith and spent her time talking with the students about what a jeweler needs to know when working with metal. She discussed the types of metals she uses, demonstrated the science behind what happens to metals when exposed to extreme temperatures and brought examples of her work to explain the metal shaping process.
“I use a lot of science in the art I do,” Heers-McArdle said. “I wanted to show the students how to incorporate the two things together and that there are different ways to make a living as an artist.” Read more and view photos from her visit to AMSA.
- Action of the School Board, May 22, 2023.
- James Tonn, former Sand Creek Elementary principal, has passed away.
- District to discontinue use of Screencastify August 1, 2023.
- Staff may subscribe to receive emergency text message alerts.
- Highway 10 update: Bridge removal over the Rum River begins May 30; Ferry Street to westbound Hwy 10 ramp closes in early June.
- UnitedHealthcare May engagement toolkit: Calming anxiety.
- Suicide Prevention Training available in the district's learning management system.
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