Backpack Online - December 16, 2022
December 16, 2022
Tom Heidemann honored with inaugural Distinguished Service Recognition
At its meeting Monday, Dec. 12, the Anoka-Hennepin School Board introduced a recognition program for board members who have demonstrated dedicated service to the schools and community they serve. Tom Heidemann, who served as a board member from 2000 to 2019, was honored with the inaugural Recognition of Distinguished Service.
Board chair Marci Anderson led a recognition program that included supportive comments from Deb Day, Anoka-Hennepin teacher and community volunteer; Michael Farley, Anoka High School principal; Dr. Roger Giroux, former superintendent; and Jinger Gustafson, former associate superintendent and principal.
“This district has a rich history in celebrating student successes, of course - and we also celebrate and honor many other impressive accomplishments,” Anderson explained. “In the past, we have named rooms and vestibules after departing or lost board members, and we started to consider recognition in a different way. We thought about how we could honor those [board members] who have contributed significantly, but also memorialize these accomplishments.”
The school board developed the recognition with specific criteria, and a plaque highlighting Heidemann’s service will be on display at the Sandberg Education Center, located at 1902 Second Ave. in Anoka.
Past superintendent (1995-2008) Giroux reflected on his time in the district and shared his perspective. “I thank the board for doing this award for a very important community reason; our collective memory gets lost with age, and that collective memory is critical to the heart and health of the organization. This is one of the ways that you anchor those memories and important historical moments – and I thank you for that.” View the full story, including details about Heidemann’s service to Anoka-Hennepin Schools.
School Board votes to amend 2022-23 school year calendar
The last day of school for elementary students will now be Wednesday, June 7, while secondary students will have their last day Thursday, June 8
The School Board approved a change to the district calendar at its December 12 meeting, converting June 8 to a non-student contact day at the elementary level. There will be no change to the schedule at the secondary level. The last day of school for elementary school students will be Wednesday, June 7, while the last day of school for secondary students will remain Thursday, June 8.
This change will allow elementary staff additional time to prepare for transitions that will occur from the current school year to the next, including the closing of Franklin Elementary School and boundary changes across the district.
The Way We Play: Stay Above the Line
Promoting sportsmanship and positivity at school events and activities
Anoka-Hennepin Schools are committed to creating experiences that showcase the talents of student athletes in an environment that promotes healthy competition. Promoting sportsmanship and a positive environment is a priority and our school communities expect respectful behavior and cheers for all players, fans, opponents and game personnel. Join us and stay above the line, supporting student athletes and school communities.
View this new video illustrating what it means to stay above the line, how our student athletes compete and how our communities support our schools.
Students connect curriculum with real-life application in NASA virtual visit
On Dec. 14-15, students from elementary, middle and high schools in Anoka-Hennepin met virtually with Dr. Fernando Mier-Hicks, a scientist from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to talk about his work on the Mars 2020 mission.
Selected students from Andover and Anoka high schools; Anoka, Jackson, Oak View, and Roosevelt middle schools; and elementary school students from the Nebula program at Eisenhower Elementary School had the opportunity to ask questions to Mier-Hicks about the Mars mission, specifically the Mars rover and helicopter. The virtual experience was recorded and will be shared to all sixth and ninth grade classes in the district as part of their ongoing study of earth science.
Mier-Hicks is the cognizant engineer of the ground support equipment used on the sampling and caching system of Mars 2020. He also developed the gravity offload system for the Mars helicopter. Currently he is training as a rover planner for Mars Science Laboratory.
Sand Creek Elementary student wins Coon Rapids fire prevention poster contest
Congratulations to Sand Creek Elementary fourth-grader Sophia Narr on being the overall winner of the annual Coon Rapids Fire Prevention Week Poster Contest. She attended a pizza party last week at Fire Station #1 with other winners from Coon Rapids elementary schools. Watch more from this CTN Coon Rapids story on why fire prevention is personally important to Sophia.
Above & Beyond Awards nominations being accepted through Jan. 20
Do you know an Anoka-Hennepin staff member who goes above and beyond normal job expectations to ensure that students receive a high quality education in a safe and nurturing environment? Maybe that person is a teacher or a custodian or a paraprofessional? Maybe a school counselor or principal? Perhaps someone working in the cafeteria, or a nurse or a secretary?
If you know someone who does amazing work for children, you’re strongly encouraged to nominate them for the Above & Beyond Awards. The Above & Beyond Awards involve students, staff, parents and community members in recognizing and rewarding Anoka-Hennepin employees and groups who consistently go that extra mile so students can be successful.
Nominations are being accepted for worthy candidates through Friday, Jan. 20, 2023.
Check out the Above & Beyond Awards website, ahschools.us/aboveandbeyond, for a nomination form or to read additional information about the awards.
The program is a joint effort of the district and the Anoka-Hennepin Educational Foundation (AHEF). The 2023 Above & Beyond Awards ceremony will take place March 29 at the Educational Service Center (ESC).
Deadlines approaching for specialty and magnet school enrollment
Anoka-Hennepin offers 12 specialty and magnet schools at the elementary, middle and high school levels and 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, but the deadlines are approaching.
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).
Want more information? The specialty and magnet schools offer in-person tours upon request. View the full list of school offerings.
Anoka-Hennepin hosted first Education, Employment, and Enlistment Palooza
On Dec. 10, Anoka-Hennepin career and college specialists from the district’s high schools hosted the first Education, Employment, and Enlistment Palooza. The event at Anoka High School highlighted a variety of college, career and post-high school planning options for all high school students and families.
An estimated 400-500 students and families throughout the district were present during the three and a half hour event. The format included 40-minute sessions on focused topics like paying for college, FAFSA information, applying for scholarships, labor market trends and more. The fair portion of the event featured 40 higher education institutions from the region, 20-plus employers and multiple military branches. View photos from the event.
Adams Elementary hosts breakfast for English Learner families
On Friday, Dec. 9, Adams Elementary School in Coon Rapids hosted English Learner (EL) families, including parents and guardians for a welcome breakfast. Students were able to enjoy breakfast with their families before the start of the school day, and parents and guardians stayed for an informational meeting with school staff.
Adams assistant principal Kristel Linn led the discussion, introducing families to information and resources to help improve communication between families and school. A number of school, district and community partners were also in attendance, including the Adams Parent Advisory Council, Metro North Adult Basic Education, Anoka-Hennepin Community Education, YMCA and Anoka County Libraries.
Language interpreters were also in attendance to assist families in communicating with school staff. The event served as an opportunity to enhance connections between school staff and families.
Substitute teacher appreciation
The Anoka-Hennepin employee services department hosted a substitute appreciation celebration at the Educational Service Center Dec. 2. The event was held as a thank you to all who work as substitutes across the district in all work areas.
Serving as a substitute helps provide stability for students and plays an important role in maintaining quality educational services. A new $225 substitute teacher rate is offered at select sites and on Friday snow in effect through the end of the school year. Learn how to substitute teach in Anoka-Hennepin: ahschools.us/jobs.
Registration is now open for all winter Community Education classes, activities
Anoka-Hennepin Community Education offers many exciting opportunities for lifelong learning this winter. Distribution of printed catalogs has been delayed due to circumstances outside of the district's control, but registration for all programs is open and available online.
Learn more about the upcoming Community Education opportunities.
Manufacturing shortages affecting daily school menus
Due to a product shortage from our manufacturer, the Anoka-Hennepin child nutrition department (CNP) is experiencing and expecting shortages of juice cups served as a fruit/vegetable option during breakfast and lunch, which may be noticed at some school sites for the remainder of 2022. The district believes juice cups will be replenished after winter break. The child nutrition department wanted to inform families of this as soon as possible, realizing that some students only choose this produce option every day.
As always, the district child nutrition department will continue to provide a variety of fruit and vegetable options during meal services. If you have specific questions about which produce options will be offered at your school, please contact your child’s school office to be connected to the child nutrition supervisor.
In the news: Bus company uses Facebook challenge to recruit drivers
Say it Again extended hours set for Dec. 21
Say it Again is an Anoka-Hennepin Schools program that sells home decor, furniture and gifts refurbished by special education students practicing on-the-job skills. The store in Andover (13735 Round Lake Blvd. NW) will have extended hours on Wednesday, Dec. 21 until 6 p.m. Everything in the store is 30% off.
Regular store hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Upcoming events and important links
Translate this message
To translate this information to another language, please click anywhere on the message to open it in a web browser and at the top of the page, select your language from the dropdown menu.
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.