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Spring Play
Empty Bowls Fundraiser
Update Hopkins Public Schools
The community’s guide to the District. Green Card Voices Traveling Exhibit Teaches Junior High Students the Power of a Story
Throughout the month of February, both North Junior High and West Junior High embarked on a digital storytelling project as part of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program. The Green Card Voices exhibit traveled to both schools and documented the stories and experiences of local students who are immigrants to this country. After analyzing the stories featured in the exhibit, seventhgrade students used video, podcasts, and multi-media to tell their own digital stories in a unit called “stories that need to be told.” On Feb. 27, the community was invited to attend a corresponding event called Green Card Voices, featuring immigrant students speaking about their experiences in this country.
Coach ‘Cos’ Earns 500th Win
Coach Brian “Cos” Cosgriff joined an elite group of coaches on Tuesday, Feb. 13, when he attained his 500th career win. Hopkins took on conference rivals the Minnetonka Skippers, but pulled ahead to give Cosgriff his milestone win. He has been part of the girls basketball program since 1999 and has won six state titles with the Royals.
Spring 2018
Free Family Activity!
com m u ni t y
Join us for the 20th annual Empty Bowls fundraiser benefiting ResourceWest and ICA Food Shelf. Enjoy a bowl of soup and live entertainment! Tuesday, March 13 Hopkins Center for the Arts, 1111 Mainstreet, Hopkins
North Junior High Builds Program that Helps All Students ‘WIN’
Spring Family Field Trip
Join Hopkins High School’s Royal Productions for their spring play Strange Boarders. Thurs.-Sat., April 26-28 Nightly shows from 7-9 p.m. Hopkins High School, 2400 Lindbergh Dr., Minnetonka Details: HopkinsSchools.org
Visit the Lowry Nature Center for an afternoon of outdoor family fun and exploration with spring activities! Free, but registration is required. Saturday, May 5, 1-4 p.m. Shuttles leave from Eisenhower Community Center, 1001 Highway 7, Hopkins Register: HopkinsCommunityEd.org
A restructure of North’s existing advisory time allows all students to participate in everything the school has to offer On Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, the school day at North Junior High looks and feels a lot like it does after school. Students engage in enrichment activities, participate in school clubs, and seek academic support from their teachers. It’s all part of a new program that started at North this February called WIN, which stands for What I Need. It creates equitable experiences for students, deepens school community, and allows teachers and students to build stronger bonds. Debbie Hahn, a social studies teacher at North, along with 11 other teachers, came up with the concept of WIN this past summer when they were trying to find time in the day for ninth-grade students to work on a required International Baccalaureate (IB) service-learning project. By cutting just four minutes off each block, they created 30 minutes of time two days a week for ninth-grade students. They soon realized that if they opened up this time to the entire school, all students could benefit. It was a complex endeavor that involved reconfiguring advisory time, but from the beginning everyone was all in, including North leadership.
Two students play chess during North Junior High’s WIN time.
“This is a big change, but we knew it would be great for kids and for our school community,” said Hahn. “By deconstructing the traditional advisory time, we are building deeper experiences for students.”
We wanted to create an equitable solution where students could access enrichment activities, tutoring, or homework help without having to stay after school.
“It’s my job as a leader to help break down barriers, access resources, and clear a path for innovation to be put into action,” said Becky Melville, North Junior High principal. “When there is passion for something that is grounded in research and possibilities all in one, how would it be possible not to support it?” Equitable solutions for students WIN serves all students, but is especially beneficial for those who are not able to participate in after-school enrichment, clubs, or homework help opportunities. Assuming students are current on their homework, they can choose to spend their WIN time in a variety of ways. There are dozens of enrichment choices including chess, knitting, coding, gamer club, and more. Many of the afterschool clubs run sessions during WIN, giving all students a chance to be involved in Royal Records, North Speaks Out, or the North Gay Straight Alliance. This also means students can be involved in more than one club.
Academic support for all students When building WIN, North teachers wanted to come up with solutions that gave students access to academic support during the school day. Students are busy, and if they are not able to stay after school or come to school early, their options for accessing academic support are limited, and they can fall behind. “We wanted to create an equitable solution where students could access enrichment activities, tutoring, or homework help without having to stay after school, which is not always an option for them,” said Angela Wilcox, a language arts teacher at North. With WIN, teachers are able to identify students who need extra support and schedule them into an academic session to catch up on their homework or improve their grade.
Students who were absent or who found a lesson confusing can have it re-taught or reexplained by the teacher. The support is offered in a much smaller setting, giving the teacher the opportunity to work one-on-one with a student. Although the program is new, teachers are already reporting that they have been able to move students up an entire letter grade based on the work they were able to complete during WIN time. “During B days, I work with a small group of students that need extra support in my global studies class,” said Allegra Smisek, a social studies teacher at North. “It is so valuable to connect with students who need a re-teaching of a concept that was confusing to them.” Building school community Social time is important for junior high students. One of the benefits of WIN is that it allows seventh-, eighth-, and ninth-grade students the opportunity to interact with each other in meaningful ways because WIN activities are open to the entire school. see North Junior High WIN, inside
Hopkins Plays Super-Sized Role in Super Bowl LII Activities In January, Minneapolis transformed into the Bold North to celebrate hosting Super Bowl LII. And being within earshot of U.S. Bank Stadium boded well for Hopkins students, who were part of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in more ways than one.
Super Kids-Super Sharing Event Leading up to the big game, schools across the District — and across the state — collected items for the Super Kids-Super Sharing event, which is an annual donation drive organized by the local Super Bowl Host Committee and Verizon. The Royals were among more than 500 kids who packed Braemar Field in Edina on January 18 to unload and sort their donations, which were donated to other organizations and schools in need. Hopkins collected 1,807 items, and altogether the event collected over 45,000 items. Associate Director of the NFL Environmental Program Susan Groh said the Minnesota event was “the most giving group of any Super Bowl.” While at the event, students also participated in football drills and activities with former Minnesota Vikings linebacker E.J. Henderson, took photos in a Vikings-inspired photo booth, and mingled with Viktor the Viking and Vikings cheerleaders. Peyton Manning visits Tanglen Elmentary Speaking of famous NFLers, someone who is no stranger to the gridiron dropped by one of the
elementary schools for a surprise visit during the week of the Super Bowl. Veteran quarterback, two-time Super Bowl champion, and former Tanglen Tiger Peyton Manning stopped by his childhood school for a tour with Principal Dr. Jim Hebeisen. The Manning family lived in Minnesota while the patriarch, Archie Manning, played two seasons with the Minnesota Vikings.
Peyton Manning attended third grade at Tanglen Elementary. Though the visit sent social media into a frenzy, there was yet more in store for Hopkins. ProStart participates in Taste of the NFL The Friday and Saturday before the big game, eight Hopkins High School ProStart culinary students experienced an incredible opportunity when they worked alongside professional chefs at one of the biggest food events in the country: the Taste of the NFL. The star-studded fundraiser featured current, Hall of Fame, and alumni NFL players from each of the NFL franchises, as well as plenty of celebrities. Working over 10-hour shifts, the students clocked a total of 22 hours over the course of two days prepping and serving food for 32 chefs. The Taste of the NFL was held on Saturday, February 3 at the RiverCentre in St. Paul. Those
who attended sampled over 45,000 tastings prepared by the best chefs from each of the 32 NFL cities. The event officially sold out with 2,500 tickets sold at prices ranging from $700 to $1,000 apiece. The money raised was dedicated to food relief, with the majority benefiting the host city’s local food shelves. Royelles perform at the Super Bowl Halftime Show On game day, the Hopkins High School Royelles dance team joined 13 other metro area high schools for a performance on one of the world’s biggest stages — the Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show. With brightly colored jackets, oversized mirrors, and elaborate dance moves, the Royelles showed off their school spirit. But their participation wasn’t known until after the game. Kept under wraps with the help of a confidentiality agreement, the Royelles quietly practiced throughout January. “The secret is finally out,” the team tweeted. “We are honored to have been chosen to dance in the Super Bowl Halftime show. We are still in shock!” And one of the biggest perks? Dancing with Justin Timberlake, of course.
North Junior High WIN, continued from front “We’re starting to see more seventh- and ninthgrade students talk to each other,” said Hahn. “It’s challenging to build authentic relationships between these age groups.” Dana Sagedahl, a media para, is noticing that in her knitting session, students who know how to knit are assisting those who don’t. These interactions give students easy inroads with each other and help strengthen school community overall. A similar trend is revealing itself in Smisek’s North Speaks Out Club, a civic engagement group where students can speak out about
Hopkins Community Education
Enchanted Stars
Little Girls & Their Favorite Guy
Friday, March 9, 6:30 p.m. Eisenhower Community Center Girls, ages 4-12, and their dad or special adult will enjoy an enchanted evening together with dancing, crafts, games, photos, Bling Shop, and more. Register today! Register online:
HopkinsCommunityEd.org
issues they care about. Before WIN, the group was scheduled in the same way all clubs were — after school. But not all students were able to participate due to being involved in sports or other extra-curricular activities or having responsibilities at home. Now, once a week, she is able to hold club meetings during the school day, opening it up to more students. One of her first observations was that WIN brought together school leaders in each grade level. “WIN is a great opportunity to create community and for students to broaden their social circles,” she said. “At our first North Speaks Out meeting,
A group of students test their knitting skills in the media center.
four student leaders attended, but they had never really hung out together previously. I am seeing students engage and make positive change in our school community — it’s incredible.”
Building a great place to live
HopkinsCommunityEd.org
Go Families Go Come Dance With Me! Free Family Fun! Saturday, March 10 9:00 a.m.-noon
Eisenhower Community Center 1001 Highway 7, Hopkins Come out for a morning of free family fun. Enjoy games, sports clinics, hands-on activities, face painting, and more!
Spring Community Ballroom Dance Friday, April 13, 6:30-9:00 p.m. Eisenhower Community Center 1001 Highway 7, Hopkins
Join us at Eisenhower Community Center for an evening of live music and dancing. Free dance lesson at 6:15 p.m.
Details:
HopkinsCommunityEd.org or call 952-988-4070
Tickets: 952-988-4070 or visit HopkinsSchools.org/dance
From the Superintendent, Dr. Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed
The Future of Hopkins: From Great to World Class Hello, Hopkins parents, families, and community! I hope you are thriving this winter, and getting out to enjoy the snow and every sunny day! My children are delighted to be back in a climate that has snow — Sterling is taking snowboarding lessons and ... the rest of us watch. I’m not much of a winter person, but as long as I have my warm boots and mittens, I’m set. The Great to World Class trajectory I’d like to talk with you about Hopkins’ future and our path toward continuous improvement. While our enrollment is declining slightly, our District remains exceptional. Our early childhood and preschool programming reflects our belief that birth to age 5 development is key to closing opportunity and achievement gaps. Our language immersion and K-6 experiences are infused with art, music, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), physical education, health, and talent development, all representing our focus on the whole child. Our two amazing junior highs, to quote North’s motto, are driven to help students discover their awesome possibilities, and staff are doing that work within the world-renowned IB (International Baccalaureate) framework. Finally, when you walk into Hopkins High School, you feel the vibrancy of our students, you see the dedication of staff, you experience the rigor in our learning spaces — it’s truly the place to be. So, if Hopkins is so great, why change? Why evolve? I recently heard the CEO of a leading-edge organization make a proclamation that by the year 2020, the successful organizations across our globe will have been redesigned for 21st century success, and the rest will be disrupted or forced to dissolve. This absolutely applies to our public schools. We must increase our competitive edge. More importantly, we face a moral imperative to erase the predictability of race and income in student outcomes, create pathways for advanced students to excel, and design a way for all of our students to acquire tomorrow’s skills. These reasons compel us to consider transformative change, and we’ll need to join together to move forward. I am calling this the Great to World Class trajectory, and I invite you to join this journey. Since mid-February, a Request for Proposal has been in the Sun Sailor as well as on national platforms. This proposal describes our need for a strategic transformation consultant who will push our thinking, help us gather input, and guide us as we disrupt what we know in order to design our next concept. I anticipate us being in disrupt and design mode starting this spring and continuing on into the fall, with the hope of collectively designing our next concept for the 2019-20 school year. During this time, we will need to keep in mind that change is uncomfortable, that no idea is a bad idea, and that if we are going to teach our students to embrace failure, we ourselves must at least be willing to experience discomfort and ambiguity. Overall, this will be an exciting time that we experience together, and I can’t wait to hear what world class means to you. Thanks for reading! Sincerely,
Survey Reveals Parents Feel Connected to Their Schools and Are Satisfied with School Communication In November, Hopkins Public Schools surveyed all families regarding school engagement, communication, and overall parent satisfaction. The goal of the survey was to gain an understanding of how satisfied parents are with school communication, the relevancy and importance of school events, and to what extent parents feel connected to their school. The survey was sent out electronically and translated into three languages. A total of 577 families responded, and of those, 83 percent self-identified white as their racial background. All schools were represented, but the majority of responses came from Hopkins High School, Meadowbrook Elementary, North Junior High, West Junior High, and Eisenhower/XinXing Academy. Survey results Key findings from the report revealed many positives and also areas in which school communication could improve. Positive findings include: • 95 percent of respondents reported that they are satisfied with how their schools are communicating with them. Those who reported a need for improvement cited a preference for more digital communication, including email or text message. • The majority of respondents (85 percent) felt that their school provides them with the information they need to support their child’s learning at home. • Furthermore, 90 percent of respondents said they felt connected to their school. • Families are particularly impressed by the feeling of care that is reflected in their school’s communication. They placed the highest level of importance on communication they received regarding their child’s academic progress or social and emotional development. • Families felt positively about the availability of instructors, and how parents are encouraged to be an ongoing support for their child’s educational experience. • Families have a preference for information being “pushed” to them from our information systems. They don’t want to have to look for it. Areas of improvement include: • Although conferences were identified as the top priority for parents, many expressed frustration that the survey did not allow them to choose more than one option. In the comments, parents reported that concerts and back-to-school nights had equal importance, and some said that all events at the school were important. • Parents reported a level of frustration with identifying common standards for course content, frequency of communication between buildings and/or teachers, difficulty navigating the student information system, and timeliness of assignment information. • Many secondary parents were open to exploring a conference style other than the current arena-style conferences.
Dr. Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed Superintendent
With these results in mind, over the next few months, Hopkins Public Schools will analyze its communication structures and determine the steps necessary to provide the best experience possible for all families regarding school engagement and communication. Stay tuned for an update on this work.
District Life Changer
Debbie Hahn
Many people describe their career choice as a calling. North Junior High social studies teacher Debbie Hahn certainly does. Hahn was in a psychology Ph.D. program at the University of Minnesota while working in the nonprofit sector serving teens and young adults. But while studying, Hahn discovered an even deeper passion. “I decided I could make a bigger difference with kids and in the world by being a teacher,” she said. “So I changed my graduate program to secondary social studies.”
After student teaching, Hahn was hired in 2000 at North Junior High. Her social studies department colleagues describe her in a number of ways — creative, kind, tenacious, practical, and resilient. Her innovative ideas have helped integrate technology into the classroom and bridge the gap between generations, giving her U.S. history students a front-row seat to well known historical events. “If you’re lucky, you may come across a couple of people that touch your life in a way that truly makes you a better person. Debbie Hahn is one of those people,” said K-12 social studies curriculum coordinator and fellow North staffer Allegra Smisek. “Her passion and integrity are embedded in everything she does in the social studies curriculum.” Together with her colleagues, Hahn serves on North’s IB (International Baccalaureate) ninth-grade community project team and guides students through the IB requirement of developing a servicelearning capstone project. And while her coordinator role on the team is new this year, Hahn is excited to help implement new ways for students to learn. Background: Hahn has been part of the Hopkins Public Schools community since 2000. After student teaching at Hopkins High School, she was hired full time at North Junior High. Over the years, she has accumulated roles within the school, namely the titles of District learning coach and coordinator for the IB ninth-grade community project. As part of the social studies department, Hahn teaches seventh-grade U.S. history. What do you love most about working at Hopkins Public Schools? I love the people — all of the students, teachers, and families. Being part of a team of teachers is incredible because Hopkins has phenomenal teachers. I also love that we — kids and adults — are constantly learning in Hopkins and that we value real learning for everyone. Proudest moment? My favorite times are classroom moments when I see students perk up and really engage with each other and with me. The moments where I see students connecting and problem-solving and noticing that the world is bigger than they think it is, and that by engaging they can make it better. Teaching philosophy? I tell students, and myself, all the time: everyone has a story. I try to pause and help students pause and have empathy. Most things and most people are more complicated than they seem, and a great first step is always to take time to talk and listen to each other. Stats: • BA in psychology from Morningside College; and an MA in educational psychology from the U of M. Hahn has been teaching seventh-grade social studies for the last 18 years. Her roles have also included peer coach and, most recently, digital learning coach and IB capstone/community project coordinator.
Where are they now?
Community Spirit Jen Gale
Parent volunteers are at the heart of what make our schools run. They put in the extra hours to set up for events, raise funds for activities, serve as ambassadors for our District, and go above and beyond to ensure students succeed. And this certainly can be said about Meadowbrook Elementary parent volunteer Jen Gale. For the last two years, Jen has been busy with the school’s parent-teacher organization. “I started volunteering because children are the best thing in the world,” she said. “And helping my kids’ school through PTO is extremely rewarding.” She began volunteering at Meadowbrook when her daughter was in kindergarten — she is now in second-grade. And now her son, a kindergartener, is seeing his mom in action. What started as a role on the PTO’s carnival crew led to being a room parent, then helping make copies, then helping at recess. She is also a weekly LEAP tutor and helps second-grade students with reading. And if that isn’t impressive enough, Jen is the PTO co-president, co-chairs the incoming kindergarten events, and serves on the RunMeadowbrook-Run committee. Proudest moment volunteering: When our Meadowbrook PTO events come together in a wonderful combination of family fun and fundraising for the kiddos. What person has influenced you most? Other PTO volunteers — feeding off of their fantastic energy. Also, Meadowbrook Principal Dr. EvansBecker’s dedication to the Meadowbrook kids and parents is inspiring. People would be surprised to learn… I am a veterinarian. But I almost chose the route of elementary education. I volunteer because… There’s no better feeling than giving my extra time to helping Meadowbrook.
Know someone we should feature on this page? Email Emily.Buss@HopkinsSchools.org
Cody Bursch: 2011 graduate
Mary Somsen: 1997 graduate
Jacqueline Taradash-Bennett: 1989 grad.
Stats: Graduate teaching assistant at University of Maine and freelance composer • BA in English, University of Maine; and finishing MA in English studies, University of Maine fun facts Chances are if you find yourself Googling Cody Bursch’s name, you’ll learn he’s an actor, writer, and award-winning composer. During his budding career, he has scored several short films, even winning the Best Original Score nod at the Los Angeles Movie Awards in 2014. Currently he is completing his master’s thesis (a novella) and teaching college freshmen English composition. Favorite hangout spot during Hopkins High School? The music department where I spent at least 80 percent of my time. What Hopkins teacher made a difference? Mark Hauck, my high school theatre director and now good friend. How did Hopkins prepare you? Having the ability to constantly surround myself with music was one of the experiences I have carried with me ever since graduating from Hopkins.
Stats: Activities supervisor at Glen Lake Elementary • Degree in elementary education and early childhood endorsement, Northwestern College, Orange City, Iowa fun facts Hopkins grad Mary Somsen found her forever career in early childhood, and she didn’t have to go far to find it. Since 2002, Mary has been an activities supervisor for the before- and after-school program where she oversees the kindergarten and first-grade rooms. And when she’s not working, Mary volunteers with her church youth group. Favorite hangout spot during Hopkins High School? There was a little cubby next to the library steps that led to the second floor where my friends and I would hang out. What Hopkins teacher made a difference? My kindergarten teacher Mrs. Bach at Gatewood Elementary is the reason I wanted to become a teacher and work with kids. How did Hopkins prepare you? I was given the opportunity to be myself and really explore the different interests I had outside of academics.
Stats: Senior compliance officer, Ameriprise Financial; and artist creating original and custom fused glass • Bachelor’s degree, Hamline University; and MBA, Augsburg College fun facts Hopkins grad Jacqueline Taradash-Bennett can do it all. A lifelong learner, professional artist, photographer, student of Tai Chi, and entrepreneur, she truly is the “Jacki of all trades.” She recently took her passion for origami and fused glass to a new level and will soon be selling it on Amazon Handmade. Outside of her creative environment, Jacqueline loves her corporate day job and spends as much time as she can with her husband of 20 years and children. Favorite hangout spot during Hopkins High School? The ceramics studio in the art wing. What Hopkins teacher made a difference? Mel Jacobson taught me so much about art and creativity. How did Hopkins prepare you? Hopkins provided such a depth and breadth of academic and other experience for students. I didn’t fully realize how much so until I graduated. Update Spring 2018
Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 161 Hopkins, MN 55343
Spring Events Enchanted Stars Dance – Girls ages 4-12, grab your dad, uncle, grandfather, or friend and enjoy this enchanted night out! Friday, March 9, 6:30 p.m. Register: HopkinsCommunityEd.org or call 952-988-4070
1001 Highway 7 Hopkins, MN 55305 www.HopkinsSchools.org 952-988-4000 Time Value
Go Families Go! – Come out for a morning of FREE family fun highlighting all of the great opportunities in the Hopkins community! Saturday, March 10, 9 a.m-12 p.m. Eisenhower Community Center, 1001 Highway 7, Hopkins
Residential Postal Patron ECRWSS
Empty Bowls – Join us for the 20th annual Empty Bowls fundraiser! Tuesday, March 13 Hopkins Center for the Arts, 1111 Mainstreet, Hopkins Hopkins High School Spring Choir Concerts Thursday, March 15 6:15-7:30 p.m. Tenor/Bass Chorus, Treble Chorus, Chamber Choir, Sophomore Chorale. 8-9:15 p.m. Kantorei, Bel Canto, Concert Choir, Geoff, Midori. Hopkins High School, 2400 Lindbergh Dr., Minnetonka
Best summer ever!
Spring Break – Mark your calendar: no school for Hopkins students. March 26-30
Awesome summer camps for preschoolers, K-6 youth, & teens.
Zumba Dance Event – Free! Dance to fun, upbeat music! Ages 4-8. Saturday, April 14, 10-11 a.m. Register: HopkinsCommunityEd.org or call 952-988-5000
Get Connected, Stay Connected Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HopkinsPublicSchools
Hopkins Preschools Expand! Is your child ready for the 2018-19 school year? Hopkins Preschools are expanding to serve our community better with new programs and sites at each Hopkins elementary school in Hopkins, Minnetonka, and Golden Valley. Our curriculum inspires a love for learning Hopkins Preschools provide children opportunities to use their natural curiosity as a catalyst for discovery and learning. Our Reggio-inspired curriculum allows our teachers to focus on the whole child, skillfully guiding their observations and interests into deeper academic learning experiences with STEM, art, science, music, literacy, and drama woven into the exploration.
Teens
Discover Chess Camps at Camp Royal
Club Royal
HopkinsSummer.org • 952-998-4070
Hopkins High School Receives 22 Minnesota Scholastic Art Awards Hopkins High School art and photography students won an impressive 22 Minnesota Scholastic Art Awards (four Gold Key, seven Silver Key, and 11 Honorable Mentions). Students who received the Gold Key and Silver Key had their pieces on exhibit at the Regis Center for Art at the University of Minnesota through February 17. Honorable Mentions were displayed digitally. The Minnesota Scholastic Art Award is the highest art recognition for high school students. The exhibition and awards ceremonies are made possible through the generous support of sponsors, contributors, and Art Educators of Minnesota (AEM). Gold Key Winners:
Hopkins Preschools are proud to have earned a 4-star rating from Parent Aware. This rating is earned by excelling in the use of a wide variety of best practices in preparing children for success in kindergarten. Enroll your child in full- or half-day preschool Our full-day Stepping Stones Preschool is a school-year or full-year program for 4- to 5-year-olds and runs from 6:45 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Looking for flexible half-day preschool? Kaleidoscope offers half-day programs for 3- to 5-year-olds. If your child will be 4 to 5 years old on September 1, you may choose Stay & Explore options to extend your child’s day to create up to a full-day experience at several sites. Learn more at HopkinsSchools.org/preschool or contact Kathy Willett at 952-988-5004.
Candlesticks Lia Harel
Burning Under Pressure Grant Cohen
Disobedience Teddie Bernard
Negative Teapot Lia Harel