In the Know - July 28, 2023
July 28, 2023
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.
Recently retired bus paraeducator recognized with state transportation award
Louise Sivanich, who retired from Anoka-Hennepin following the 2022-23 school year, was recognized on July 27 with the 2023 Minnesota Association for Pupil Transportation (MAPT) Special Education Transportation Award.
Sivanich was recognized at the 2023 MAPT Train the Trainer annual conference which was held July 24-27 in St. Cloud.
She was nominated by Jeff Mueller, Anoka-Hennepin transportation safety director, who shared: “Louise Sivanich goes above and beyond and shows much compassion with students, staff, parents and drivers. She has outstanding attendance which is extremely important in providing a safe and consistent experience on the bus for students.”
Sivanich is known for making the workday fun, as well as for her compassion and calm demeanor. As a special education paraeducator, those traits are essential to help with the caretaking needs of students on her bus. Sivanich has also been asked to carry those same tools into emergency situations where she was able to control a scene before emergency medical teams arrived. Mueller was in attendance with Sivanich as she received her award at the Train the Trainer conference.
Back to school hiring blitz starts next week; District to host summer hiring event for non-teaching positions Aug. 3
Anoka-Hennepin Schools is ramping up marketing and increasing awareness of available positions during the month of August with a “Back-to-School recruiting blitz." It is our goal as an organization to ensure schools are staffed and ready to welcome students and families for the new school year. A number of efforts are taking place over the next few weeks:
- The Anoka-Hennepin School District will host an in-person hiring event for non-teaching positions Thursday, Aug. 3 from 1-5 p.m. in the Erling Johnson Rooms A and B at the Educational Service Center (ESC), located at 2727 N Ferry St. in Anoka (enter Door 7). Visit ahschools.us/jobs or call 763-506-JOBS for more information.
- District and school websites will include pop-up alerts, news articles, and weekly available jobs by school site geared to increase visits and fill jobs by site.
- Community/school cluster marketing materials and tactics such as electronic school signage, and “Work Here, apply within” yard signs.
Anoka-Hennepin Schools is a great place to work and learn, and we all play a role in recruiting staff members to join our team. Word of mouth is an effective tool in recruiting new staff members. District and school staff can help fill available positions in the following ways:
Share district and school social media postings with friends and neighbors.
Visit your school website to view weekly job postings at your school and share them with friends and neighbors and on social media. Jobs will be updated each Monday.
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.
School spotlight: Anoka Middle School for the Arts
"One of the super unique things about our school is the amount of opportunities it has for electives and extracurricular classes." - Joe Cheddie, student.
Anoka Middle School for the Arts offers a learning environment that emphasizes the integration of core academics with the arts. In addition to rigorous core classes, the arts curriculum provides students the opportunity to explore the following art courses in depth through advancing levels. Learn more about Anoka Middle School for the Arts in the latest school spotlight video.
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 updates.
AHS graduate a physical therapist for U.S. Women’s National Team at the World Cup
Since she was a child, Marie Boo, a 2007 graduate of Anoka High School (AHS), has dreamt of being a member of the U.S. Women's Soccer National Team (USWNT). She is currently living out her dream, although not how she originally imagined it.
Boo is working as a physical therapist for USWNT. Hired in January of 2021 as the team’s physical therapist, she provides daily treatment and on-field rehabilitation while traveling with the team. She is currently in New Zealand for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
“It's a little surreal to be here in New Zealand supporting the team that I looked up to when I was a kid,” Boo said. “It’s a lot of work, day in and day out, but it is exciting to be a part of the World Cup.”
Boo’s desire to reach the highest level of women’s soccer started at the age of 7 or 8 when she served as a ball girl for the AHS girls soccer team. Then in 1999, she watched fellow AHS alum Briana Scurry help the women’s national team to a World Cup victory, which fueled her desire to chase the dream. Read more about Boo's path to her dream job.
Anoka-Hennepin HOPE office partners with Undies for Everyone to support students in need
The Anoka-Hennepin Homeless Outreach and Prevention Education (HOPE) office, which provides support to students and families experiencing homelessness, has partnered with the nonprofit Undies for Everyone for students in need this school year, adding to the ways the department supports families by providing essential supplies for school and connecting families to food and meal resources. Learn more from district homeless liaison Heidi Geiss in the story by CCX News.
Students have unforgettable experience in German American Partnership Program
For more than 20 years, students at Andover and Blaine high schools have participated in the German American Partnership Program (GAPP), which is a student exchange program between the United States and the Federal Republic of Germany. The program’s goal is for students to gain an inspiring international understanding, promote German language instruction and motivate personal friendship.
“My first draw to the GAPP program was the ability to experience the German language and culture firsthand,” said Carly Anderson, a Blaine High School student. “After taking four years of German in school, I grew curious about the differences and similarities between life and school for teenagers in Germany compared to the United States.”
Nearly 20 students participated in 2022-23. The students welcomed and hosted students from Germany in January for two weeks to give them a true Minnesota experience with winter activities and more. The Anoka-Hennepin Schools students recently returned from their trip to Germany where they spent two weeks with their same partner that visited in January. The students go to school with their partner and also participate in sightseeing experiences and activities that typical teenagers do in their countries. View photos from this year’s experience and read more about the program.
Coon Rapids High School and the Coon Rapids Police Department launch "Cops & Cardinals" mentorship program
Last spring, Coon Rapids High School and the Coon Rapids Police Department partnered to launch a new program called "Cops & Cardinals" to build relationships between youth and the police department. Watch the video by CTN Coon Rapids to hear from students about their experience in the program.
Parent Engage 360 Podcast Episode 34: Summer reading
Check out the latest episode of the Parent Engage 360 Podcast, with resources to help!
District parent involvement coordinator and host Liz Burgard was joined by district media specialist Holly Groebner, Tiffany Casey (senior librarian, community engagement, Hennepin County libraries) and Erin Straszewski (community engagement manager, Anoka County libraries) to learn more about how as parents you can encourage reading activities throughout the summer months.
From reading resources, homework help, and apps available to support reading -this episode is full of information and resources for parents/guardians.
Did you know that the county library systems located in the district also support summer reading? Both Anoka and Hennepin County libraries offer resources for families looking for reading support. Visit your local library or learn more about libraries in your neighborhood by visiting their websites below.
Tune in to the Parent Engage 360 Podcast on Podbean, Apple Podcasts, or at ahschools.us/parentengage360. The Parent Engage 360 Podcast is also now available on Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible, iHeartRadio and Samsung Podcasts.
The Parent Engage 360 Podcast aims to provide parents and guardians with knowledge from experts in chemical health, mental health, internet safety and more, as well as the tools needed to support their children. Anoka-Hennepin hopes that providing timely and helpful information through the Parent Engage 360 podcast series will strengthen the bond between school and home with resources parents and guardians can use and share with others.
Blaine High School grad to participate at 3M Open
Best of luck to 2019 Blaine High School graduate Caleb VanArragon at the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine. Caleb was granted a late sponsor's exemption for the PGA Tour event, which begins today. He recently claimed the Minnesota State Open and Minnesota Golf Association State Amateur Championship titles by a total of 21 strokes. Check out the story from WCCO-TV.
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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.