In the Know - June 2, 2023
June 2, 2023
Open enrollment period for health insurance benefits now open through June 13
The open enrollment period for health insurance benefits is May 30-June 13 with the effective date of September 1, 2023. Open enrollment materials were 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.
District to close Monday, June 19, 2023 in observance of Juneteenth holiday
Recent legislation established Juneteenth as a state holiday. Juneteenth recognizes the historical pronouncement of the abolition of slavery on June 19, 1865, when the Emancipation Proclamation was said to have been first publicly read in Texas by Union soldiers.
An end of session amendment applied the change immediately, impacting current school year operations. Minnesota school districts received notice of this change on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, and the Minnesota Department of Education advised that schools cannot hold classes or programs, school board meetings, athletic practices and competitions, and other school-associated events.
In keeping with the new law, Anoka-Hennepin Schools will be closed Monday, June 19, 2023 to observe the Juneteenth holiday.
- Staff currently contracted to work on June 19, 2023 should not report to work.
- Staff scheduled to work will be paid, including part-time casual staff.
- Employees on other extra service agreements or other working arrangements should consult with their supervisor for direction.
- Employees on vacation or leaves of absences will be credited back this time by the Employee Services Department.
- School or district-sponsored summer, after-school and evening activities, including Adventures Plus school-age child care, will also be canceled. Families enrolled in summer programs previously scheduled will be notified of any potential refunds, credits or rescheduling plans.
- The district calendar committee will convene and recommend potential calendar revisions for future school years. Any changes would require School Board approval.
Thank you for your attention to this message.
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.
More than 1,160 pounds lost: Real Appeal® helping Anoka-Hennepin employees
Since January, employees utilizing UnitedHealthcare benefits have had access to Real Appeal®, an online weight loss program, and in the first four months 167 members of the program have reported 1,162 total pounds lost.
Through April, nearly 400 people enrolled in the program and span an age range from early 20’s to 70-plus. Real Appeal is available to employees and eligible family members at no additional cost as part of your health insurance plan.
Want to know more? Real Appeal is hosting two upcoming webinars for current and potential members on June 7 and June 21 with the focus on maintaining healthy habits during the summer:
Real Appeal testimonial from Chris S., an Anoka-Hennepin employee:
“After seeing my husband’s success losing over 30 pounds with Real Appeal, I knew I wanted to become a member. I enrolled and received my generous ‘Success Kit’ within days. Real Appeal gives you all the tools for success. My weekly online group sessions led by a coach have become something to look forward to. Tracking my eating and exercise has become a healthy habit and several Real Appeal recipes have become a weekly favorite. The scale is going in the right direction, and I am almost 15 pounds lighter! If you want to lose weight, achieve a healthier you, and see results - I highly recommend Real Appeal.”
UnitedHealthcare June engagement toolkit: Celebrating our differences
To support Anoka-Hennepin School District employees, UnitedHealthcare has created a monthly engagement toolkit to support employee health and well-being.
The June engagement toolkit offers resources and content on topics related to celebrating our differences, and making sure people feel respected, valued and welcomed at home, in our community and at work.
Included in this month’s engagement toolkit:
- A featured article about choosing respect.
- A short questionnaire to better understand how you approach diversity.
- A training program for creating a positive work environment.
- A featured article about ways to be an LGBTQ+ ally.
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.
2023 employee retirements
Congratulations to 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.
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.
Anoka and Coon Rapids high school seniors named Triple Threat students by Hennepin Theatre Trust
Anoka and Coon Rapids high school seniors Ashley Wongbi and Imani Harris were selected as Triple Threat on Hennepin students by the Hennepin Theatre Trust. The pair have earned a spot following an extensive auditioning process where they submitted singing and dancing performances and an essay about how they have made the school better before being selected for a live audition.
To be named a Triple Threat, students must demonstrate exceptional skills in singing, acting, dancing and leadership. Starting May 30, Triple Threat students participate in an intensive coaching, rehearsal and performance process in preparation for Spotlight Showcase, an event celebrating the best of Minnesota high school theater. More than 1,600 students will participate in the awards and recognition event at the historic State Theatre on June 12 and June 13.
Five district teams represent Minnesota at Destination Imagination Global Finals, Northdale Middle School team places third
Anoka-Hennepin sent five teams to the Destination Imagination Global Finals in Kansas City, Mo. May 20-23 competing against teams from all over the world, including China, India, Canada, Pakistan, Qatar, Turkey, Australia, Brazil, Guatemala, as well as teams from all over the United States.
Teams at each level represented the very best in the world, sharing their best solution to this year’s challenges in Engineering, Science, Fine Arts, Improvisation, and Community Service.
Northdale Middle School team Struck by Creativity members Garrett Bower, Weston Finco, Gratia Foxx, Aiden LaPage and Gabby Fournier placed third in the world in the Community Service Challenge High Stakes. Struck by Creativity also recorded the highest score of all middle school level teams in the Instant Challenge. Read more about the teams representing Anoka-Hennepin at this year's Destination Imagination Global Finals.
District participation in the Summer Food Service Program makes meals available to children at select school sites
The Anoka-Hennepin School District will participate in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), which provides meals to all children 18 and under, free of charge.
Meals will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis, at 14 sites across the district. The program will start Thursday, June 15 at most sites. Meal availability and serving times vary from site to site and are subject to change. Review a list of sites and meal times for more information.
Meals will be served inside school buildings. Parents accompanying their children may purchase a meal. Adult breakfast is $3.00 and lunch is $5.00. Exact change is required, and no checks will be taken. Anoka-Hennepin employees may use their meal accounts as long as there are funds available in their account.
The SFSP was created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to ensure that children could continue to receive nutritious meals during summer break, when they may not have access to school breakfast or lunch.
For more information, please contact Anoka-Hennepin child nutrition at 763-506-1240 or staff.CnpEnrollment@ahschools.us.
Students share a school year’s worth of learning and leading at Ramsey Leadership Day
On May 25, Ramsey Elementary School invited families and community members to its annual Ramsey Leadership Day, which provides students the opportunity to showcase the learning done in 2022-23.
Ramsey Elementary participates in the Leader in Me program. The annual school event offers the students a chance to display their leadership skills through interactive and engaging projects and activities. The day also allowed students to sign up to showcase a talent (musical, dancing, gymnastics) in the main entrance while families entered the building. View photos from Ramsey Leadership Day. Read more about the annual event.
University Avenue Elementary - Aerospace, Children's Engineering and Science piloted the Leader in Me program for Anoka-Hennepin in 2018-19 and also conducted a leadership day on May 25.
A nonfiction story: Hundreds of elementary students visit college campus to explore and develop advanced writing skills
Over 480 fourth- and fifth-grade students from elementary schools across the district turned a new page May 30 and 31, traveling to Bethel University in Arden Hills to attend a Young Authors Conference - along with students from 11 other schools in the Twin Cities. The event was a one-day field trip and provided students with a passion for reading and writing new opportunities to learn from and write with Minnesota authors.
“The conference allows students to envision themselves as authors and foster their love and interest in writing for future learning opportunities,” explained Chad Libby, Anoka-Hennepin Teaching and Learning Specialist for Elementary Talent Development. Libby coordinated students attending the conference with chaperone teachers from each of the district’s 26 elementary schools.
Students were able to choose from and participate in a variety of breakout sessions to learn new strategies, ideas and skills to become better writers. Sessions focused on a range of topics, including developing characters, turning stories into song or poetry, transforming personal narrative into fiction, bringing scenes to life, crafting surprise, burying treasure in a story, fantasy and science-fiction, making comics, conquering fear and basing writing off of a true story. Learn more about the Young Authors Conference.
2022-23 Anoka-Hennepin graduation season begins
Anoka-Hennepin Regional High School graduates celebrate with diplomas
Proud family and friends celebrated the accomplishments of the 37 newest Anoka-Hennepin Regional High School (AHRHS) graduates in a ceremony held at Anoka Technical College on Wednesday, May 31. Read the full story about AHRHS graduation.
Diplomas earned, 111 honored at Anoka-Hennepin Technical High School graduation
The Anoka-Hennepin Technical High School (AHTHS) commencement signals a significant accomplishment for the 111 graduates, offering high school degree completion and a platform to launch into postsecondary education opportunities and career goals. Read the full story about AHTHS graduation.
Bridges and Pathways programs celebrate graduates with ceremonies
On May 31, the Pathways program honored 48 graduates at the program's building in Coon Rapids. Then on June 1, the Bridges program recognized 32 graduates at the Educational Service Center in Anoka.
Anoka-Hennepin is committed to providing special education services to students with disabilities who have not yet met the requirements for a diploma through their Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals to the age of 21. Both the Pathways and Bridges programs provide students with special needs who have completed high school, have not yet taken their diploma and have transition needs, benefit from a setting that is specifically designed to prepare them for working and living in the community.
Live coverage for upcoming high school graduation ceremonies
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.
Sunday, June 4 - Maturi Pavilion
- Champlin Park High School - 10 a.m. - Watch live.
- Blaine High School - 1 p.m. - Watch live.
- Coon Rapids High School - 4 p.m. - Watch live.
- Andover High School - 7 p.m. - Watch live.
- Anoka High School - 7 p.m. - Watch live.
For more information about graduations, including links for live coverage, visit the district website.
2022-23 spring sports and activities round-up
With the spring sports and activities season wrapping up, here’s a look at who’s heading to state, and how they fared when they performed and played. Also included is information about post-season awards gathered by student-athletes and coaches.
Adapted Softball
The Minnesota State High School League Adapted Softball State Tournament physical impairment (PI) division will be held June 2-3 at Chanhassen High School.
The Anoka-Hennepin Mustangs qualified for the adapted softball state tournament in the PI division and earned the No. 2 seed. The Mustangs open play on Friday, June 2, taking on No. 3 seed Minneapolis South at 6:30 p.m.
The winner between Anoka-Hennepin and Minneapolis South will play the Dakota United Hawks in the semifinals at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 3. View the complete bracket for the state tournament on the MSHSL website.
Middle school track and field teams compete in district meet
Hundreds of athletes took to the field at Andover High School on Thursday, May 25, 2023, for the district-wide middle school track meet. Teams from all six of Anoka-Hennepin’s middle schools competed in track and field events while friends and family cheered them on.
The spring middle school sport continues to be a favorite with more than 500 kids participating in track and field this year. In addition to multiple running events, athletes also competed in the long jump, shot put and high jump.
Middle school track and field is coordinated by Anoka-Hennepin Community Education. Organizing such an event is a feat in itself and wouldn’t have been possible without the help of amazing staff, coaches and more than 80 volunteers.
Project Power participants sing at Minnesota Twins game
The sun was out and the Minnesota Twins were hot as they took on the Toronto Blue Jays at Target Field on Saturday, May 27.
The 9-7 win was just icing on the cake for participants in Project Power, an Anoka-Hennepin Community Education program that provides learning opportunities and activities for adults with special needs. The group was not only at the Minneapolis stadium to catch some baseball, but they were also there to perform during the seventh inning stretch.
Sporting matching Project Power t-shirts, participants went down to the field to sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” in front of thousands of Twins fans. The group was also featured on the jumbotron.
Read the full story on the Anoka-Hennepin Community Education website.
- Action of the School Board, May 22, 2023.
- 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.
- Suicide Prevention Training available in the district's learning management system.
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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.