In the Know - July 14, 2023
July 14, 2023
Anoka-Hennepin collects seven national awards for excellence in communication
Anoka-Hennepin’s efforts to inform and engage students, staff and community members has been recognized as some of the nation’s best.
The district’s communication and public relations team earned seven awards from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA), which is a professional organization for public and private school districts and post-secondary institutions from around the country.
Anoka-Hennepin earned two 2023 Golden Achievement Awards which recognize exemplary work in all aspects of school public relations, communication, marketing and engagement. The district received the Golden Achievement Award for its e-newsletter transition to Smore and for its communication plan regarding the Superintendent transition.
Anoka-Hennepin also earned two Publications and Digital Media Excellence Awards, one Merit Award and two Honorable Mention Awards.
Anoka-Hennepin’s five-member communication and public relations team includes Jim Skelly, executive director, Heather Peters, assistant director, Tim Evans and Dax Larson, communication specialists, and Jessica Sauro, communications assistant. Visit the district website to learn more about the NSPRA awards earned by Anoka-Hennepin.
Upcoming informational sessions for the Grow Your Own Program
Are you interested in becoming a teacher? Anoka-Hennepin Schools has partnered with local colleges and universities through the Grow Your Own Program.
District staff or community members that do not currently hold a teaching license have the opportunity to receive tuition assistance, one-on-one advising support throughout the program, support between college staff and employer and connection with a mentor teacher.
The Grow Your Own grant is funded by the Minnesota Department of Education. For more information on the program, visit ahschools.us/growyourown.
Visit the district website for details on informational sessions at Augsburg University, North Hennepin Community College/St. Cloud State University, Bethel University and the University of Minnesota.
UnitedHealthcare July engagement toolkit: Cultural awareness
To support Anoka-Hennepin School District employees, UnitedHealthcare has created a monthly engagement toolkit to support employee health and well-being.
The July engagement toolkit offers resources and content on topics related to cultural awareness and embracing the benefits of multiculturalism.
Included in this month’s engagement toolkit:
- A featured article about connecting to culturally competent care.
- A cultural awareness tip sheet.
- A video with advice on how people can be better for one another.
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.
Retirements
Summer school opportunities across the district support student learning
Summer academic programs began June 20 at more than a dozen school sites with the district serving approximately 3,300 students designed to support learning.
Enhanced options are available for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, English Learning (EL) students and students pursuing credit recovery to graduate. Targeted services (TS) are offered to eligible K-8 students and are designed to build academic skills and help students develop better organizational and social/emotional skills.
Summer EL courses can help high school students who might experience a longer graduation timeline than their peers to stay on pace to graduate in four years. A multilingual program at Anoka-Hennepin Technical High School will host co-taught courses and language support classes.
Additional programs offered over the summer months include the school-age child care program, Adventures Plus, hosted at 13 sites this year for 1,900 students - and programs for community members of all ages through Anoka-Hennepin Community Education. Families seeking additional enrichment opportunities for the remainder of the summer may consider community education. Learn more, browse offerings and register online: ahschools.us/communityeducation.
Update: Media centers, other improvements continue as Fit for the Future projects near the final year
In 2017, voters supported the Fit for the Future plan, approving a request for new funding to create safe and secure learning environments by removing all portable classrooms across the district, constructing additional schools and classroom space, providing solutions for maintaining quality schools at every building in the district, and address class sizes at every level.
Many of the major projects were completed at the start of the 2019-20 school year, including the opening of Brookside Elementary School in Ramsey and Sunrise Elementary School in Blaine.
Also a part of the Fit for the Future plan, all district schools were to receive a number of science, media center, and special education improvements, and these projects are scheduled to be completed by the start of the 2024-25 school year.
Sites receiving media center updates this summer include: Dayton, Eisenhower, Hoover, Johnsville, McKinley, Mississippi, Oxbow Creek, Ramsey, Rum River, University, Wilson elementary schools and Coon Rapids, Oak View and Northdale middle schools.
Multi-classroom additions have begun at both Sunrise and River Trail Learning Center at L.O. Jacob.
As the 2022-23 school year came to a close, that marked the beginning of 31 projects across the district. Funding for these projects also originates from long-term facilities management funds and district capital funds.
Anoka-Hennepin School Board seats up for Election Nov. 7
Three seats on the Anoka-Hennepin School Board will be up for election on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. Community members living in districts one, two and five who are interested in serving on the board must file for election between August 1 and August 15 by 5 p.m. Members serve four-year terms.
Details regarding impacted districts:
- District One includes Anoka, western Andover, western Coon Rapids and southwestern Ramsey. This seat is currently held by Erin Heers-McArdle who was elected to her first full term in 2019. She serves as the treasurer.
- District Two includes Blaine and eastern Coon Rapids. This seat is currently held by Marci Anderson, who has served on the school board since January 2008. Anderson is the current board chair and has served in that position since January 2020.
- District Five includes Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, southern Coon Rapids and Fridley. The seat is currently held by Nicole Hayes, who was appointed in February 2015, and was elected to continue serving in November 2015. Hayes is currently the vice chair and has served in that position since January 2020.
Read more on the Anoka-Hennepin Community Education website.
2023-24 Back-to-school information
Looking for more back-to-school information? Visit our back-to-school website at ahschools.us/bts for supply lists, open house dates, news and more.
The first day of school is Tuesday, Sept. 5. View the district calendar for important dates.
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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.