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Spring Choir Concerts
2015 Community Book Read
Update
The community’s guide to the District.
March 2015
reading! Where Am I Eating? by Kelsey Timmerman; and How Did That Get in My Lunchbox?, by Lucia Gaggiotti. Kick off held at the Go Families Go free event on: March 14, 9:00 a.m.-noon Eisenhower Community Ctr. 1001 Highway 7, Hopkins HopkinsSchools.org/book
Meadowbrook receives multiple Readers’ Choice Awards, including Best Public School
The Sun Newspaper 2015 Readers’ Choice Awards special section was published on Jan. 22. In addition to Meadowbrook Elementary being awarded Best Public School, Principal Greta Evans-Becker was named Best Principal, secondgrade teacher Justin Thorvilson was named Best Teacher, and the Meadowbrook PTA was voted Best PTA. The Golden Valley Sun Newspaper readers also named Hopkins Stepping Stones Preschool as Best Preschool. Stepping Stones is a year-round, year-before-kindergarten preschool located at Meadowbrook.
D’Lisa Campbell receives MnSACA 2015 Award of Excellence
At the Minnesota Association for the Education of Young Children and the Minnesota School-Age Care Alliance (MnSACA) 2015 State Conference, D’Lisa Campbell (above left) was among four individuals who were recognized for their outstanding contributions to the fields of early childhood and school-age care. Campbell, Hopkins Public Schools Lead Supervisor for Kids & Company at Eisenhower, received the MnSACA 2015 Award of Excellence.
Community Showcase
Realtor Event An evening of beautiful music 3 CEUs! Realtors, join us to learn performed by Hopkins High about Hopkins Public Schools and School choir students. the cities of Minnetonka, Golden 6:15 p.m.- Men’s Chorus, Valley, and Hopkins. Presented in Women’s Chorus, Geoff, and partnership with the Minneapolis Midori. 8:00 p.m.- Kantorei, Bel Area Association of Realtors. Canto, Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, and Sophomore Chorale. March 5, 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Hopkins High School March 5, 6:15–9:00 p.m. 2400 Lindbergh Dr., Minnetonka Hopkins High School 2400 Lindbergh Dr., Minnetonka Register: MplsRealtor.com
Let’s get the whole family
Hopkins Public Schools
com m u ni t y
Hopkins Advanced Placement (AP) Program Enhanced by Partnership with National College Board Five Hopkins teachers serve as national Advanced Placement exam readers Flip through the high school course catalog and it’s clear that Hopkins High School has a strong AP (Advanced Placement) program. Many of the teachers who fuel this powerhouse program have sought out additional training with the National College Board, a non-profit organization that prepares students for college success. Because of this partnership, Hopkins High School is home to some of the best-prepared, highly trained AP teachers in the state, if not the nation. “Our AP program is strong,” said John Sammler, AP coordinator at Hopkins High School. “We offer 21 AP courses and the teachers who teach them are passionate about the subjects they teach.” AP courses are intensely rigorous, college-level classes. They are attractive because students can earn college credit by taking an AP exam and earning a score of three or better. The essay portions of these exams are scored by national AP exam readers who have the responsibility of ensuring that students receive scores that accurately reflect college-level achievement. Five Hopkins AP teachers are among the teachers and professors from across the country who currently serve as national AP exam readers — John Sammler, Jennifer Heimlich, John Unruh-Friesen, Felicia Homberger, and Jeff Kocur — and a handful more have previously served in this capacity.
Historically, Hopkins High School has had more exam readers than any other district in Minnesota. The current Hopkins National AP exam readers are Jeff Kocur, John Unruh-Friesen, John Sammler, (left to right, back row) Felicia Homberger, and Jennifer Heimlich (front row, left to right).
Every time I read an essay, I say to myself, this could be one of my students. I am getting a slice of the nation and a real understanding of how my students
In order to be accepted, teachers must have a master’s degree and three years of AP teaching experience, and even then they require an invitation from the National College Board. Enhanced value to the AP program Having AP exam readers involved in the Hopkins AP program creates relevant curriculum that is closely aligned with the expectations of the National College Board. Students have the ability to leverage this opportunity to jump start their post-secondary track. Teachers who participate in the AP exam-reading process inevitably come back to the classroom with a fresh perspective and a better understanding of how to present their curriculum.
are stacking up.
Competitive application process Scoring AP exams is a high-stakes endeavor that involves more college professors than high school teachers — the ratio is about 60/40 respectively. There are only about 5,000 AP exam readers nationwide in all subject areas. Historically, Hopkins High School has had one of the strongest turnouts in Minnesota. Before teachers are able to contribute their time and talents as AP exam readers, they must undergo a rigorous vetting process.
“Every time I read an essay, I say to myself, this could be one of my students,” said Hopkins AP history teacher John Unruh-Friesen. “I am getting a slice of the nation and a real understanding of how my students are stacking up.” Last year, 603 students took at least one AP exam, and of those students, 70 percent earned a score of three or higher. Regardless of the AP exam test score, nearly all students who take an AP class benefit. They see Advanced Placement inside