October 19, 2022

An online store to purchase Anoka-Hennepin branded apparel and accessories is now open through Tuesday, Oct. 25. Items will be customized with the Anoka-Hennepin Schools logo through BSN Sports, with delivery expected between Nov. 30 and Dec. 13. Orders will be delivered to the Anoka-Hennepin Schools Educational Service Center (2727 N. Ferry Street, Anoka) for pick-up. Email notifications will be sent to staff when orders are ready for pick-up.

Visit the online store. If prompted to use a code, the Anoka-Hennepin Schools store code is ahstaff955.

Note: District funds may not be used for purchases. This opportunity is available for staff members who wish to enhance their wardrobe with Anoka-Hennepin Schools apparel and accessories.

The fall issue of Anoka-Hennepin Schools' FOCUS newsletter will arrive at district households within the week. Mailed to all residences within the school district, the FOCUS newsletter is listed as a top resource for community members to learn more about their local schools.

Among this edition's features are results from the 2022 annual community survey, information on boundary changes, notable student and staff accomplishments, completed and upcoming renovation projects, and a graduate spotlight on 1999 Coon Rapids High School graduate Todd Archbold, who currently serves as the CEO of PrairieCare.

Additional copies will be delivered to each school site for new families or staff and families who do not reside in the Anoka-Hennepin district. It will also be available via the district's website at ahschools.us/focus after landing in mailboxes.

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 three-part series gets underway on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 8:30-11:30 a.m. The workshops will be held in a hybrid format, in-person and online. Participants are encouraged to attend in person. Registration can be completed in the Learning Management System (LMS).

Staff are encouraged to attend one, all, or a combination of the series.

Visit ahschools.us/equityachievementplan to view the entire plan and additional information.

Learn more about the Appreciation of Diversity workshop series.

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 23 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-Hennepin staff members may attend regular season high school athletic events, free of charge! Just show your staff badge at the entrance. (High school hockey game and fine art event employee benefits may vary, based on facilities managed by municipalities.)

District high schools have two regular season home-field football games left for the year. Join us tonight at Andover High School as the Huskies compete against Cambridge-Isanti, or tomorrow at Champlin Park High School vs. Anoka High School.

Student athletes and school communities value community support. Get behind your team, and have a game plan before you arrive to get the most enjoyment at the event. Read details at ahschools.us/safegames.

For more information, please visit ahschools.us/eventpolicies.

The Minnesota Wild are showing their appreciation for educators and their hard work and dedication by holding an Educator Appreciation Night on Thursday, Oct. 20.

Educators have the opportunity to purchase an exclusively-priced ticket pack that includes a Wild-branded canvas tote, a pregame on-ice photo and a pregame gathering. Additionally, a donation will be made to the Education Minnesota Foundation from a portion of each ticket pack purchased.

Start MEA break by watching the Minnesota Wild take on the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday, Oct. 20. Opening faceoff is set for 7 p.m. at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

Purchase tickets using this exclusive link.

Last week, the district concluded a series of eight community meetings held in September and October at locations in each area of the school district to provide families, staff and community members the opportunity to see attendance boundary proposals, ask questions and provide feedback. Meetings were streamed online, live, and are archived on the boundaries website.

Recommendations will be presented to the School Board Nov. 7, and the board is expected to take action at its Nov. 21 meeting with a final vote. Updated boundaries are to go into effect in the fall of 2023. View the boundary change timeline for implementation.

Details by community clusters

There are no boundary changes proposed in the Andover or Coon Rapids communities. High school boundaries are also not proposed to change.

Read more details about proposed changes in the following community cluster of schools:

• Anoka community cluster

• Blaine community cluster

• Champlin Park community cluster

Feedback and input

The district continues to seek feedback from families, staff and community members on the current proposals. Submit feedback via online form at ahschools.us/boundaryfeedback or by emailing boundaries@ahschools.us.

Early childhood education offers classes, events, playtime and other opportunities designed to give families information, ideas, and skills to support their child’s growth and development from birth to third grade. A favorite class is Riverview Early Childhood Center’s Class Under Glass. Families who attend the class say that it gives their children time to learn and explore in a unique outdoor setting.

Parent educator Penny Walsh says children experience traditional learning with the added benefits of everything that nature brings.

“They’re learning small and large motor development, mathematics, and language and literacy development out here,” said Walsh. “The social emotional piece outside is just as great as it is indoors.”

ECFE is not just for the benefit of the child. Parents meet and interact with each other in each class, which gives them time to discuss important topics and get advice.

In our latest Putting ‘U’ in Community Education video, we introduce you to some of the families, children and staff who are part of our Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) program.

Anoka-Hennepin offers 12 specialty and magnet schools at the elementary, middle and high school levels that are designed to provide families with additional choices at no cost. Students who live within the Anoka-Hennepin boundaries may apply to enroll at any of the specialty or magnet schools.

The specialty and magnet programs provide in-demand educational options such as the arts, science, technology, math, engineering and biomedical sciences (STEM/STEAM), as well as International Baccalaureate (IB).

The magnet schools are offered to students districtwide in partnership with the Northwest Suburban Integration School District (NWSISD) which provides transportation to those schools. The application window is open for the 2023-24 school year, closing Dec. 31, 2022. Students may also enroll at the specialty schools using an in-district transfer process without transportation. Applications are accepted between Dec. 1, 2022 and Jan. 15, 2023 for priority consideration.

The specialty and magnet schools are hosting information nights/open houses for parents to learn more about the programs offered. These events range from mid October to mid January.

For specific open house dates, more information on each of the specialty and magnet schools and the application/enrollment process, visit ahschools.us/specialtymagnet.

Education Minnesota, the voice for professional educators and students in Minnesota, is now accepting nominations for the 2023 Minnesota Teacher of the Year award program.

Online nominations are open now through Nov. 14.

Anyone may nominate a teacher.

For more information or to receive a paper nomination form, call Ashley Behrens at 651-292-4862 or 800-652-9073.

The Business Professionals of America (BPA) chapter at Blaine High School - Center for Engineering, Mathematics and Science (BHS) collected 845 coats for the 37th Annual Coats for Kids drive.

The collection was run by BHS students in the Business Internship program who are also members of BPA. The group, which has participated in this event for nearly 30 years and collected close to 15,000 items, had a goal of collecting 600 coats. The month-long drive accepted new and gently used coats at the school and during school-sponsored activities.

The donated coats are cleaned by the organizer, Pilgrim Dry Cleaners, and distributed out to local charities, churches and schools.

“All coats that are collected are given out every single year,” said Holly Boisjolie, BHS business teacher and BPA advisor. “This shows us what a big need we have to keep our fellow Minnesotans warm in the winter. If anyone has coats to donate, Pilgrim is still accepting them throughout this week.”

A large contributor to the success of the drive was Randy Hemstad, who is a retired BHS business teacher and former BPA advisor. Hemstad started the partnership with Pilgrim Cleaners 29 years ago when he was looking for a new community service project for students in his Business Internship program and BPA club. He brought in 350 coats on his own this year.

• School Board preview, Oct. 24 meeting.
• School Board approves substitute pay rate increases, retention incentives.
• Resources available for teachers and staff serving students who have a seizure disorder.
• SEED seminars to be held for staff again in 2022.
• Construction for building addition at Sunrise Elementary set to begin this fall.

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