In the Know - Feb. 10, 2023
Feb. 10, 2023
In case you missed it (ICYMI): Feb. 3, 2023 - In the Know staff e-newsletter
Due to a technical issue with the district's mass notification system, some staff members may not have received the Feb. 3 edition of In the Know in their email inbox. As always, archived versions of In the Know can be viewed on the staff intranet website.
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 providing health and wellness tips, each wellness champion can apply for a $750 mini grant to be used toward wellness initiatives in their building. To find out who the wellness champion is at your building or to get more involved, check with your building administration.
The wellness grant application for 2022-23 is March 10.
Here are some examples of how schools in the district are using wellness funds for this year:
- Oxbow Creek Elementary School is in its third year of the “Best Week Ever,” to promote staff bonding and increase morale in the building through team challenges.
- Northdale Middle School has made wellness a focus throughout the school year with activities daily, weekly and monthly, such as a daily hydration station with fresh fruit, healthy baking challenges, and offering coffee and tea stations once a month.
- Champlin Park High School has been approved to install two water filtration systems in the staff lounge.
Send questions about wellness champions, the wellness grant or the district wellness committee to wellness@ahschools.us.
Matt Brain is now serving as director of employee services
Matt Brain is now serving as director of employee services, removing the interim title, effective immediately.
Brain brings 10 years of Anoka-Hennepin experience to the position. He began service as a classroom teacher at Evergreen Park Elementary, and then served as an Administrative Intern at Wilson Elementary. He returned to Evergreen Park as assistant principal for two years and had served as Champlin-Brooklyn Park Academy principal for the past five years.
Brain holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education and teaching from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Master of Education Educational Administration and Supervision from the University of Wisconsin-Superior and Educational Specialist Degree from Concordia University - St. Paul.
The employee services department serves the needs of the over 7,000 Anoka-Hennepin employees, including point-of-entry support for more than 1,100 new employees each year. The department takes a leadership role in recruiting, selecting and retaining employees and providing support to ensure the organization is positioned for success.
Appreciation of Diversity workshop series for staff to begin Feb. 11
The Appreciation of Diversity speaker series is offered in alignment with the Anoka-Hennepin Equity Achievement Plan, a coordinated effort to promote high academic achievement for all students and eliminate predictable and persistent gaps between student groups.
Gaining an understanding of the cultures throughout Anoka-Hennepin schools and the community is the focus of the Appreciation of Diversity workshop series, a voluntary opportunity available to all Anoka-Hennepin employees.
The first workshop, Black Culture: Storytelling through Music, is set for 8:30-11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11. This workshop will be available in person only at the Educational Service Center (ESC) in Anoka. Registration can be completed in the Learning Management System (LMS).
Visit ahschools.us/equityachievementplan to view the entire plan and additional information.
Anoka High School’s Ted Mitshulis named KS95 Teacher of the Week
Ted Mitshulis, an art teacher at Anoka High School - Center for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (AHS), was named KS95 Teacher of the Week. He accepted the award from KS95 on-air talent Tricia ‘TJ’ Jenkins in front of his class Thursday, Feb. 9.
Mitshulis was nominated by a current student and was recognized on KS95’s Morning Show.
All the teachers who are chosen in KS95’s Teacher of the Week will participate in a dinner at the end of the school year wherein one teacher’s name will be randomly drawn to win $1,000 cash for herself/himself and $1,000 for their school.
W-2s now available for printing
Employee 2022 W-2s are now available to print within Skyward Employee Access. Visit the Staff Intranet website for detailed instructions on how to print your W-2.
Please contact Payroll at extension 61050 or Payroll.Help@AHSchools.us with any questions.
Apply for summer school positions, now
Anoka-Hennepin is currently seeking teachers and paraeducators for early childhood, elementary and secondary Extended School Year and Targeted Services summer positions.
Paraeducators and teachers who are not available for working the entirety of the summer schedule are encouraged to still apply and reach out to the appropriate supervisor indicating your availability. Sub coverage is still needed in the summer and your availability may help to fill that need. Read details and apply online.
Four district magnet schools receive national recognition
Four Anoka-Hennepin magnet schools have earned recognition from Magnet Schools of America (MSA) for their academic excellence, commitment to diversity and community engagement.
University Avenue Elementary School - Aerospace, Children’s Engineering and Science was recognized as a Top Magnet School of Excellence award winner, which is the top merit award given to only a select group of magnet schools. University Avenue was one of just 24 schools nationally to earn this recognition, earning the award for the second straight year.
Anoka Middle School for the Arts, along with University Avenue, was named a 2023 Merit School of Excellence, while Evergreen Park Elementary - STEM School of Innovation and Lincoln Elementary School for the Arts each earned Merit School of Distinction honors.
MSA national merit awards are given to magnet schools that demonstrate a commitment to high academic standards, curriculum innovation, successful desegregation and diversity efforts, and strong parent and community involvement. To be considered for a merit award, member schools must submit an application that is scored by a panel of educators.
High schools from across the north metro join in concert for 21st Annual NWSC Music Festival hosted by Andover High School
The 21st Annual Northwest Suburban Conference (NWSC) Music Festival was hosted by Andover High School this week. The event provided approximately 2,100 students from 14 area high schools the opportunity to spend two days with clinicians and working collaboratively and performing with students from other schools on Feb. 6 and 7. View photos from the Grand Finale Concert, Tuesday, Feb. 7.
Participating schools included the five traditional high schools from Anoka-Hennepin; Andover, Anoka, Blaine, Champlin Park and Coon Rapids - in addition to others in the NWSC: Armstrong, Centennial, Elk River, Maple Grove, Osseo, Park Center, Rogers, Spring Lake Park and Totino Grace. Read the full story.
Blaine and Coon Rapids High School orchestra programs to be featured at state education conference
Anoka-Hennepin Schools' commitment to music education is taking center stage at the Minnesota Music Educators Midwinter Convention in February at the Minneapolis Convention Center Feb. 16 and 17. The Blaine and Coon Rapids high school orchestras have each been selected to perform as part of the program, giving the students an opportunity to perform for music leaders from across the state.
Congratulations to instructors Michael Hebert from Blaine and Michael Watson from Coon Rapids and to all district music teachers for promoting excellence for our students.
North Metro Television visited Blaine High School this week to learn more about how the orchestra is preparing for the upcoming event. Watch the video story.
Monroe Elementary students demonstrate use of technology at Coding at the Capitol
On Jan. 19, eight students from Monroe Elementary School - Mathematics, Science and Children’s Engineering spent the day at the Minnesota State Capitol building demonstrating computer science concepts through various resources used regularly by Monroe students.
As a specialty school, Monroe offers Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Launch curriculum, allowing students to explore engineering, computer programming and science concepts in a fun, engaging and collaborative way.
Through its PLTW partnership, Monroe received the opportunity to participate in “Coding at the Capitol,” where students demonstrated to lawmakers engaging hands-on coding activities using the following tools: Sphero Indy Cars, Mouse coding, Scratch Ju, Lego WeDo 2.0, Spheros and Scratch.
View photos of Monroe students participating in Coding at the Capitol.
Interim Superintendent Dr. Kate Maguire celebrates “I Love to Read” month
Interim Superintendent Dr. Kate Maguire read to first graders at University Avenue Elementary School - Aerospace, Children’s Engineering and Science on Feb. 8 to help the school celebrate “I Love to Read” month.
Maguire read and interacted with two first-grade classes during her visit. She also shared a few books from her own collection that were signed by authors, to talk about who an author and illustrator are and how exciting it can be to meet the authors of their favorite books. Included in the group of signed books was one written and signed by her first grade teacher. View photos from her visit to University Avenue Elementary.
Schools across the district are participating in “I Love to Read”’ month activities to promote the importance of literacy and reading both in school and at home.
Anoka High School Senior Enzo La Hoz Calassara testifies at state capitol
The Minnesota Legislative session has provided opportunities for students to provide testimony and information for lawmakers as they consider legislation.
Anoka High School senior Enzo La Hoz Calassara testified in support of a Youth Intervention Programs Grant to the House Public Safety Committee and Policy and Finance Committee in association with representatives from the Youth Intervention Programs Association (YIPA). Anoka-Hennepin has a long-standing relationship with YIPA, and Enzo shared information for consideration on behalf of that organization. While this opportunity is not directly connected to Anoka-Hennepin’s legislative efforts, it is aligned with the district goals to build capacity and to amplify student voice in decisions that impact their future.
Bid now: Student-built ice house for auction
Anoka-Hennepin students from the Secondary Technical Education Program (STEP) want you to fish in comfort and style with a new ice house. An auction is live now for a student-built ice house, which is 6-feet wide, 8-feet deep and 9-feet high. The starting bid is $1,700.
The ice house features a 32-inch steel entry door with a locking knob, two 24-by-24-inch sliding windows and four ice fishing holes. The sale of the ice house benefits future hands-on learning opportunities in the school.
Act now! The auction is scheduled to close on March 2.
2023 graduation ceremonies for Andover, Blaine, Champlin Park and Coon Rapids high schools to be held on University of Minnesota campus - Maturi Pavilion
Andover, Blaine, Champlin Park and Coon Rapids high schools will host 2023 graduation ceremonies traditionally on the University of Minnesota campus to ensure adequate capacity for graduates and their families.
For the first time, graduation ceremonies will be held in the Maturi Pavilion, located at 1925 University Avenue SE, Minneapolis. In recent years, ceremonies were held at the 3M Arena at Mariucci, which will be under renovation and unavailable for this year’s ceremonies. Graduation ceremonies for the high schools are expected to return to the 3M Arena at Mariucci in 2024.
Ceremonies for Andover, Blaine, Champlin Park and Coon Rapids high schools will be held Sunday, June 4. Anoka High School will hold its graduation ceremony at historic Goodrich Field in Anoka on Monday, June 5.
Families of high school seniors may expect additional details sent via high school email regarding parking, seating and accessibility accommodations.
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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.