School Talk Summer 2015

School Talk SUMMER 2015

Extra credits Irondale students are earning a diploma and a degree — thanks to hard work and the Early College program.

ALSO INSIDE: NEW ASSIGNMENTS • STUDENT HONORS • COMMENCEMENT 2015

Extra Credits Thanks to hard work and an innovative Early College program, more than half of Irondale’s graduating class earned at least one semester of college credits.

hen Mounds View Public Schools W launched its innovative Early College program three years ago at Irondale High School, leaders didn’t know how many credits students would earn by the time they graduated from high school. But they were certain about one outcome — students would be prepared.

“If we don’t do a good job of providing students with the preparation they need to be successful after high school, their choices may be compromised,” says Superintendent Dan Hoverman. “Our Early College program was designed to give students more than just the opportunity to earn free college credits. We wanted them to be ready for whatever they choose to pursue.”

Now that the first class of Irondale students to participate in the program has graduated, the results are clear.

On the cover: Senior Brittney Frenette was among eight Irondale students to earn an associate degree for free while still enrolled in high school.

“ It wasn’t just for college credit. I was actually interested in the classes.”

– Lexzi Schobe, Class of 2015 Students have earned, and students have learned.

• More than half of the class earned at least one semester of college credits.

• More than two-thirds earned at least one college credit.

• Nearly 25 percent of the class earned three or more semesters of college credits.

Editors Rachel Gutierrez Colin Sokolowski

Designer Susan Abbott

Photographers Rachel Gutierrez Greg Helgeson Lifetouch

Superintendent Dan Hoverman

2015 School Board Bob Helgeson Amy Jones Greg Madsen Marre Jo Sager Jon Tynjala Jonathan Weinhagen Sandra Westerman

School Talk is published by Mounds View Public Schools, Independent School District 621.

Send correspondence to School Talk editor, 350 Highway 96 West, Shoreview, MN 55126, e-mail rachel.gutierrez@moundsviewschools.org or call 651-621-6012.

Para asistencia en traducciones ó ayuda como intérprete, por favor comuníquese con Angel Toro al 651-724-2854. Yog xa tau kev pab thiab hais ua lus Hmoob thov hu rau Mee Yang ntawm 651-724-0396. Haddi aad ubaahantahay faahfaahin dheerad ah ama turjumaad, fadlan kala soo xiriir, taleefanka 651-724-7482.

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• Eight students earned an associate degree along with their high school diploma.

• Students earned a combined estimated 7,000 credits — an increase of about 4,000 credits compared to the class of 2012.

• When factored for the current rate of college tuition, those credits translate into $1.75 million in savings.

“It wasn’t just for college credit,” said Lexzi Schobe, who graduated with 27 credits. “I was actually interested in the classes. That was important to me. Now that I have tested my limits, I know that I don’t have to be limited. I can think about colleges, and I can think about all of them.”

First in the state Although many high schools offer concurrent college enrollment programs, most programs typically serve the highest-achieving students in the top quarter of their class. Mounds View’s Early College program offers the courses necessary for those top students to earn college credits, but it is unique for targeting students in the academic middle. Students in the 30th to 70th percentile of their class at times have not received the preparation necessary to succeed in post-secondary programs. Through Early College, students are exposed to the rigors of college coursework along with academic foundation classes that provide targeted support for success. The District

launched the program at Irondale High School in 2012 and at Mounds View High School in 2013.

Early College is only one example of the District’s Equity Promise in action.

But it may be the most visible. The Equity Promise ensures all students are prepared for post-secondary success regardless of race, class or disability.

And the District’s first class of Early College graduates reflects its promise.

The percent of non-white students who earned college credits mirrors the percent of non-white students in the class. Likewise, the percent of economically challenged students who earned college credits mirrors the percent of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

This equity has not gone unnoticed.

Addressing his classmates and their families at the Irondale commencement ceremony, senior Kyle Livingood made this observation. “Our school was committed to preparing all students for opportunities of their choice after high school,” he said. “That is the equity promise that Mounds View Schools is committed to fulfilling for every single student. And as you can see with the 264 graduates who received college credit, that promise has been kept.”

This year, eight Irondale students successfully earned an associate degree by participating in the Early College program. L-R: Karina Olivar, Brittney Frenette, Maria Guzzetta, Luke Bortot, Meghan Pieper, Haley Carlson, Spencer Hofschulte-Beck and Denise Reyes.

“ Our school was committed to preparing all students for opportunities of their choice after high school.

That is the equity promise that Mounds View Schools is committed to fulfilling for every single student.

And as you can see with the 264 graduates who received college credit, that promise has been kept.”

– Kyle Livingood, Class of 2015 graduation speaker

College credit earners: Before and after Early College

80

Students

75 67

60

40

51

34

31

20

$1.2M

3000

39

37

32

$1.6M

5000 4000

56

51

6000

2000

$800K

$400K

1000

12 0 Less than 1 semester of credits

1+ semester of credits

2+ semesters of credits

3+ semesters of credits

(1 semester = 12 credits)

8 4+ semesters of credits

0 Qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch

Non white

$1.75M

Class of 2015

89

$2.0M

$740K

Students earning credit who are...

7,000

80

7000

Class of 2012

2,959

100

$0 Total credits

Tuition savings (1 credit = $250)

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Irondale announces post-secondary partnership

Irondale launches the Early College program

• Announces agreement with Anoka-Ramsey Community College to offer Minnesota’s first comprehensive early college program allowing students the opportunity to earn a free two-year associate degree, while still enrolled in high school.

• Number of Irondale students participating in college-level, credit-earning courses more than doubles.

• Program targets students who are in the middle of their class and also adds the courses necessary for the highest-achieving students to earn an associate degree.

• Teachers collaborate with faculty from Anoka-Ramsey Community College to jointly develop the syllabus for each course.

his program is one of the “ Tstate’s most comprehensive

ducation gurus in the state point to places like “ EMounds View for evidence that college readiness at earlier grade levels can work. ”

partnerships between a high school and our state colleges.

”

— Dr. Steven Rosenstone, Chancellor of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities

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U.S. Secretary of Education visits Irondale • Town Hall meeting features 400 community members and speakers also including U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, Governor Mark Dayton and Minnesota Department of Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius.

• Leaders praise Mounds View Public Schools for thinking outside of the box to focus on post-secondary success for students and for strategically aligning grades nine through 14.

the early college program. I love the innovation. “ II love love the creativity. ” — U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan

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A timeline 2011

Key moments in the creation of the state’s first comprehensive early college high school program.

2012

2013

2014

2015

Mounds View High School launches Early College • Mounds View High School logs 200 student registrations in college credit-earning courses through the Early College program.

• District wide, more than 70 percent of 10th, 11th and 12th-grade students are now taking courses which are yielding college credit.

rondale High School and Mounds View “ IHigh School are absolutely leading the way for the state. ” — Dr. Brenda Cassellius, Minnesota Department of Education Commissioner

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First students earn associate degree Early College named top local government innovation in the state school winner • The Local Government Innovation Awards names Early College at Irondale the top local government innovation in the state from a field of 111 entries submitted by cities, counties and school districts throughout Minnesota.

Early College

named top

• More than half of the class earns at least one semester of college credits.

hen I started the “ Wprogram, I just wanted to challenge myself. From there it just took off.

”

• Program receives grand prize grant of $25,000.

rondale’s focus on average students for higher “ Ieducation classes was different and commendable.

• Eight students receive an associate degree at Irondale’s commencement.

”

— Denise Reyes, earned 71 credits and an associate degree

— P. Jay Kiedrowski, a senior fellow with the Public and Nonprofit Leadership Center (PNLC) at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs

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EDUCATION FOUNDATION The Mounds View Schools Education Foundation works in partnership with Mounds View Public Schools leadership to identify programs that require funding to advance District priorities and innovations that can reach students throughout the entire District.

Mark your calendars This year’s Rock the School House event is scheduled for October 24, 2015, at Vadnais Heights Commons.Tickets will go on sale in September. Watch the Foundation’s website for details. Tickets sell out fast.

More than 300 parents, staff and community leaders attend this annual event, which includes silent and live auctions, appetizers, a cash bar and dancing. Last year’s event raised almost $45,000 in support of Mounds View Public Schools. If you are interested in sponsoring the event or donating an item for the live or silent auction, please contact Mindy.Handberg@moundsviewschools.org.

Visit www.moundsviewschoolsef.org for more information and to consider making an investment in classroom enhancements for Mounds View Public Schools students through the Annual Giving Campaign.

Equity Promise Scholarships Mounds View Schools Education Foundation made a lead gift this year in support of Equity Promise Scholarships. These scholarships support the District Equity Promise to ensure that all students are prepared for post-secondary success regardless of race, class or disability. For more information and a list of scholarships, see the Class of 2015 pages starting on page 22.

Jim Ostlund, president of the MVSEF Board of Trustees, presented Equity Promise Scholarships at both Mounds View High School and Irondale High School Senior Awards events in May.

The Mounds View Schools Education Foundation is pleased to welcome three new Trustees to the Foundation’s Board.

Shelley St. Marie Diffley

Sanjay Kuba

Jen Lodin

Shelley St. Marie Diffley and her husband, Jim, have a long history and anticipate a positive future with Mounds View Public Schools. Both are proud graduates — Shelley from Mounds View High School and Jim from Irondale High School. Additionally, two of their daughters currently attend Turtle Lake Elementary, while their youngest will enter kindergarten next year. As a real estate professional with Edina Realty, Diffley recognizes that families choose to reside and often purchase homes in the District due to Mounds View’s exceptional reputation. Shelley’s personal commitment and professional experiences will strengthen the Foundation’s effort to educate and inspire our community about the value of our work.

Sanjay Kuba is the owner of SK & Associates, a management consulting firm started in 2013. He was the co-owner of GCI Systems in Shoreview and GNet Group in Roseville, both IT services companies that were acquired in the last four years.

Kuba served on the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors from 2007 to 2013 and chaired the Chamber’s Education and Workforce Development Policy Committee from 2013 to 2014.

Kuba has a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and an MBA, both from the University of Minnesota. Kuba is a Mounds View High School alumnus. He and his wife, Tricia, live in North Oaks and have two boys, one of whom is a sophomore at Mounds View High School.

Jen Lodin is an associate principal at Irondale High School.

Lodin has served in a variety of roles within Mounds View Public Schools over a seven year period, including the position of dean of the Area Learning Center. Notably, Lodin’s recent involvement with the Early College program at Irondale demonstrates her ongoing commitment for positioning students in our district for post-secondary success. Lodin will provide the Board of Trustees with a unique perspective as an administrator and former dean.

She currently resides in Braham and spends much of her free time renovating her 1910 farmstead.

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SCHOOL BOARD What’s ahead for Mounds View?

2014 – 15 School Board

Each year, the School Board approves a series of goals and related activities on which the Superintendent and Cabinet will focus their work.

This is known as the District Operational Plan (DOP). Priority goals for 2015–16 include: • Enhance STEAM programming with a focus on facilities, curriculum, training and technology.

• Implement the District Management Council’s recent literacy recommendations at the elementary schools.

• Increase teacher and student access to technology devices in order to enhance the quality of classroom instruction at the elementary, middle and high schools.

• Identify program models and facility needs to expand 4-year-old program opportunities.

• Complete contract negotiations with all employees with the goal of maintaining programs, keeping class sizes within Boardapproved ranges, limiting legacy costs while balancing the need to attract and retain the best employees.

School Board election notice This November, voters will elect four residents to serve four-year terms on the School Board. The School Board is made up of seven citizens elected at large by voters in the District every two years to serve four-year overlapping terms. At the end of a four-year term, members may run for reelection to successive terms. Voting takes place at general elections in November and terms begin the first Monday in January thereafter.

The period for filing affidavits of candidacy for the office of School Board member begins on July 28, 2015, and closes at 5 p.m. on August 11, 2015.

Affidavits of candidacy may be obtained from and filed in the Ramsey County Elections Office, 90 West Plato Blvd., Suite 160, St. Paul, MN 55164.

The election will be November 3, 2015.

Front row: Amy Jones, Jon Tynjala, Marre Jo Sager. Back row: Jonathan Weinhagen, Greg Madsen, Sandra Westerman, Bob Helgeson.

Lease for administrative space In April, the Board approved a resolution for leasing administrative space in order to make room for future additional early childhood instructional space. The following month, the Minnesota Department of Education approved a financing plan that makes funding available with administrative lease levy. These steps pave the way to eventually allow administrative offices currently housed at Snail Lake Education Center to vacate and return the building to entirely instructional space.

This summer, the District is negotiating a lease purchase agreement with Ramsey County to purchase the Shoreview library for administrative space. The District has a letter of intent with Ramsey County which identifies the terms and conditions that would make this property available to the District. The District and Ramsey County are working cooperatively to complete a formal agreement by the end of summer.

Budget approved In June, The Board approved the 2015-2016 District budget.

Complete details can be found on the Budgets and Finance page at www.moundsviewschools.org. The adopted budget will maintain stable class sizes, allow the District to maintain current programming and continue its commitment to the Pre-K – 14 plan for all students.

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NEW ASSIGNMENTS John Ward has been working for Mounds View Public Schools for 20 years. Most recently, he served as the District’s director of human resources and operations.

Ward has served in a variety of roles at the District office and was also the associate principal and activities director at Mounds View High School. Before joining the District, he taught social studies at St. Louis Park High School. Ward has a bachelor’s degree in political science from St. John’s University, his Juris Doctorate from William Mitchell College of Law, and a Ph.D in Organizational Leadership from the University of Minnesota. He holds a superintendent’s license from the University of Minnesota.

John Ward and Chris Lennox have been named assistant superintendents of Mounds View Public Schools. John Ward will serve as assistant superintendent of human resources and operations, and Chris Lennox will serve as assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction. These assistant superintendent roles replace the deputy superintendent position formerly held for three years by Rick Spicuzza, who recently accepted a position to become superintendent of Prescott Public Schools in Wisconsin.

Chris Lennox worked most recently at Bloomington Public Schools as assistant superintendent. Before joining Bloomington, he was assistant superintendent for Stillwater Public Schools and has also served as a junior high and high school principal at Stillwater and South St. Paul, and a secondary math teacher at Brooklyn Center High School. His experience in education dates back more than 20 years.

Lennox holds a superintendent’s license from St. Mary’s University, a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of St. Thomas, and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics education from the University of Minnesota.

Familiar faces are moving to new places this summer.

Beginning July 1, Pike Lake Education Center, Valentine Hills Elementary, Sunnyside Elementary and Chippewa Middle School will get new principals.

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Ryan Lang will join the kindergarten centers at Pike Lake EducationPCenter INEWas program administrator. Lang has been a teacher R O in Mounds AI since 2012. Most recently, View Public Schools he served as a first grade teacher at Island Lake Elementary School where he was also a member of the Building Instructional Leadership Team (BILT).

He has served as a Positive Behavioral Instructional Supports (PBIS) representative, an elementary targeted service coordinator and has five years of teaching and leadership experience in Mainland China. He holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Northwestern – St. Paul and a master’s degree in IN Bethel University. Lang expects education from U to receive his doctorate E H from BethelSUniversity in educational leadership in 2016. He lives IL L S in Spring Lake Park with his wife, Melissa, a teacher at Turtle Lake Elementary School.

Lindsey Boumgarden will join Valentine Hills Elementary School as principal. Boumgarden taught for three years at Valentine Hills, and most recently served as the program administrator for the kindergarten centers located at Pike Lake Education Center, where she got to know Valentine Hills kindergartners very well — along with the other kindergartners from Bel Air, Pinewood and Sunnyside. During her 13-year career as a teacher, she has held several teaching assignments in various grade levels including six years teaching in the Dominican Republic and Colombia.

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Nathan Flansburg will join Sunnyside Elementary School as principal, succeeding Paul Good, who retired. He served as principal of Valentine Hills Elementary School for eight years, and he brings an experienced educational and administrative perspective to Sunnyside, thanks to his unique and diverse career at Mounds View Public Schools.

Flansburg has been with the District for 18 years with teaching roles at Chippewa Middle School, Island Lake Elementary School and Snail Lake Elementary School. Flansburg also served as the student services assistant at Turtle Lake Elementary School before joining Valentine Hills.

He lives in Andover with his wife, Jen, and two girls, Lauren and Claire.

Rob Reetz is succeeding retired principal Dr. Mona Fadness at Chippewa Middle School.

Reetz has served Mounds View Public Schools for seven years. At Irondale High School, he spent six years as an instructional strategies facilitator and special education teacher. Most notably, he played a key role in implementing the successful and innovative Early College programming. Most recently, Reetz led all District professional development as a professional learning specialist.

He also teaches education courses as an adjunct instructor at St. Catherine University and Hamline University. Reetz holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from University of Minnesota – Duluth, a master’s degree in special education from Augsburg College and an education specialist degree in leadership, policy and administration from University of St. Thomas. He lives in Mendota Heights with his wife, Liz, and their daughters Grace (6) and Mae (3).

Learn more about the people taking on these new principal roles by visiting www.moundsviewschools.org.

A video greeting from each principal is available in the news section of the District website.

AROUND THE DISTRICT Everybody’s Garden

Good Neighbor Back to School Project

Mounds View Public Schools students and staff worked together to construct small organic gardens at all District kindergarten, elementary and middle school buildings, for a total of 11 garden sites. Work was funded by a grant from the State Health Improvement Program, and supported by the Ramsey County Department of Health.

Greg Herder, the District’s service learning coordinator, hosted a ribbon-cutting event at Edgewood Middle School in May to introduce the “Everybody’s Garden” project. With help from Ramsey County Commissioner Blake Huffman, Ralph Reeder Food Shelf director Lisa Baker and Superintendent Dan Hoverman, Herder talked about ways the garden will serve as an outdoor classroom for students while giving back to the community.

Teacher Nathan Johnson’s seventhgraders (pictured here working with Sunnyside third-graders) use the Edgewood Middle School garden for research and to plant crops. They work together with other students to tend and harvest the garden through work in various courses at various grade levels.

The purpose of the gardens is to encourage student knowledge and awareness of various food issues, to serve as outdoor classrooms applicable to multiple content areas and to act as a platform for community engagement. Most importantly, Everybody’s Garden helps provide opportunities at multiple grade levels for students to directly support a local cause through community service. Produce grown in the garden will be donated to the Ralph Reeder Food Shelf to benefit Mounds View Public Schools community members and families in need.

The Good Neighbor Back to School Project takes place in August at the Ralph Reeder Food Shelf. Last year, this annual program provided school supplies to 836 low-income students throughout Mounds View Public Schools. Families needing assistance should contact the food shelf in early August for more information at 651-621-7451.

Donation drop-off School supply donations can be dropped off Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Pike Lake Education Center, 2101 NW 14th St. New Brighton (door 13, room 22). School supply donations should be received by August 21.The most-needed items include new larger-sized backpacks, spiral notebooks and pocket folders. Cash donations are also greatly appreciated.

Checks can be made out to the Ralph Reeder Food Shelf, and all donations are tax deductible.

Need help?

Are you struggling to make ends meet and need some extra help? Food Shelf services and programs are available to low-income families and individuals living in the Mounds View Public School District. For more information call the appointment line at 651-621-7451. Donations are especially needed during the summer months.

Donation drop-off hours are Monday – Thursday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Fridays 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Pike Lake Education Center in New Brighton.

Computer classes

The District’s Computer Learning Center offers a variety of computer class offerings for all experience levels. Classes are offered through the Community Education department and are run by experienced instructors. Small class sizes for beginning, intermediate and advance training programs are open for registration now. For more information, call 651-621-6230 or email linda.bankston@moundsviewschools.org.

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AROUND THE DISTRICT

EARTH DAY Students in Vicki Johnson’s Turtle Lake kindergarten class celebrated Earth Day with a lesson on composting.

When student teacher Taylor Platzer brought in her worm compost, students were hesitant to take a closer look. By the end of the class, students like Emilia Jenson (pictured) didn’t want to return the worms to the compost.

Students pictured at the front table include Gabe Corbo, David Gibbs, Rex Robbe and Macallan Murphy. At the back table, students pictured are Zoe Buzan, Preston Paige, Rachel Guo and Kevin Yang.

Elementary school students perform at Beginning Band Festival Band students from Island Lake Elementary, Turtle Lake Elementary and Valentine Hills Elementary were invited to attend a special Beginning Band Festival at Delano Middle School in May. The participants received new music as they arrived to the Festival and had only a few hours to prepare for an afternoon performance. After rehearsing with a guest conductor and a section coach, elementary school students entertained family and friends with a concert in which they demonstrated remarkable talent and musicianship.

First-year band students from left to right include (back row) Caitlynne Springhorn, April LaShombe, Sarah Hemmen, Max Derosier, Ben Erickson, Owen Kolwinska, Ian Mulheron, Spencer Fellman, (front row) Keelyn Murphy, Miriam Angeles-Mendoza, Jamie Blilie, Ryan Edelman, Kieran Connolly, Genna Loween, Kendra Fehrman, Austin Gin and Kathryn Hemmen. Not pictured: Joseph Hong.

High school students take interest in community improvement talks Irondale High School students participated in a Marnita's Table community event in May to engage in an authentic conversation across race, class and culture in Suburban Ramsey County communities. Students shared their ideas about how communities can collaborate to better support children, youth and families’ health and wellness. The purpose of the event was to share a dinner and engage in important conversations with youth, parents, educators, policy makers and other community members.

Irondale students who participated include Fatuma AdanBack, Hebah Katabay, Sam Vang, Son Hoang, Cheemeng Xiong, Cha Moua and Mang Hang (front).

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Pinewood performs ‘Annie’ Hundreds of parents, students and community members gathered in early May for Pinewood Elementary School’s performance of Annie: KIDS. The musical production, directed

by Pinewood staff Angie Coldren, Matt Anderson, Kellie Cleary and Jen Parlin, was the first elementary level musical to take place in the District in recent years.

The cast of Annie: KIDS was made up of 52 students in grades three to five.

Turf replacement approved

Irondale students head to college for the day

Life expectancy exceeded at both high schools

Cultural liaison Mee Yang coordinated a trip to St. Cloud State University recently to give students an opportunity to see a college campus and experience community and diversity at college.

Students appreciated the opportunity to experience a college setting. Pictured from left to right (in the back row) Fatoumatta Jarju, Nghia Cu, Mina Vang, Jon Winters, Jackie Chang, Suchia Yang, Adnan Hassan, Adam Xiong (front row) Seng Thao, Ashley Lor, Kameiko Vue, Chimeng Xiong, Hoseng Lor and Pamela Vang.

Pennies for Patients Nearly 400 Sunnyside Elementary School students helped raise more than $900 for Leukemia patients this spring. The Pennies for Patients campaign was led by Sunnyside’s student leadership team in partnership with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's School and Youth Program. Sunnyside kindergarten students at Pike Lake Kindergarten Center worked with Sunnyside students in grades one through five to collect money for the cause.

Student leadership team members pictured from left to right include thirdgrader Tristin Smith, fourth-grader Jayden Remore, second-grader Paige Nguyen, advisor LaVon Tell, fifth-grader and student leadership team vice president Liam Stone and fifth-graders Damianna LaDoucerJurgens and Leila Hausia Haugen (student leadership team secretary).

To provide multi-purpose and safe playing surfaces, artificial turf made its debut at Mounds View High School in 2004 and at Irondale High School in 2005. Prior to installation, Mounds View’s grass field saw about 45 hours of use each year. Today, the field averages more than 700 hours of use by school and community activities as well as physical education classes.

At the time of the turf installations, a less than 10-year life expectancy of both fields was estimated. Both fields have exceeded their life expectancy.

Two years ago, the District began to plan for turf replacement, and in April, the School Board authorized the District to enter into a contract with FieldTurf for turf installation at Mounds View High School this summer.

The new replacement field will use an increasingly popular infill that is nontoxic, eco-friendly, recyclable and meets all state and federal guidelines. Alternative facilities funding will be used to cover expenses of $580,590 for turf replacement and $105,000 for installation. Alternative facilities funding covers expenses related to deterioration of existing facilities.

Irondale High School is scheduled for turf replacement in summer 2016. Although no formal bids have been approved, it is anticipated that Irondale will replace its field with a similar or comparable product as chosen for Mounds View.

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AROUND THE DISTRICT

Music at Mounds View

Student surprises teacher with classroom update When Julie Cannon asked her art students to help brainstorm ways to make her classroom space more efficient, one student’s response exceeded her expectations. Irondale High School student Ben Bye used his art and engineering skills to repurpose old classroom materials to build an art storage center that doubles as a work space.

The 2014-2015 school year marked the inaugural season of the Music at Mounds View Concert Season. Three concerts were presented, including the classical/rock crossover band Clocks and Clouds, the Saakumu African Drum and Dance ensemble and the Charles Lazarus Jazz ensemble. All three groups made visits to various Mounds View Schools prior to their weekend performances.

Chippewa Middle School band director Nathan Blinn with sixthgrader Joseph Steil, musician Charles Lazarus and sixthgrader Paul Diekoff.

The 2015-2016 season will feature five performances, all at the Mounds View High School Auditorium. Performers for 2015-16 include: Wobegon Brass Band on October 10, Grammy Award winning Okee Dokee Brothers on January 17, the Loring String Quartet and others. More information is at www.moundsviewschools.org.

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The easiest way to access Mounds View Public Schools from your smartphone or tablet.

Download the new free app for customizable, mobile-friendly access to a wealth of information.

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Building

in 2015 Schools throughout the District focus on science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) throughout the school year. Chippewa, Edgewood and Highview middle schools hosts annual STEAM showcasing events to highlight the creative and inventive student projects.

Engineering Week at Edgewood

Physics Fairs

Edgewood students celebrated National Engineering Week February 23 through February 27. Thanks to a grant from the Minneapolis-St. Paul Society of American Military Engineers (SAME), sixth-graders were engaged in engineering helmets, seventh-graders built self-propelled boats and eighthgraders engineered rockets.

Hundreds of high school students participated in Physics Fairs this spring. Parents, community members and support from the Mounds View Schools Education Foundation have helped grow the program to include a display of students’ engineering work and also introduce students to studies and careers related to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math).

Sixth-graders Zoe Mears, Clairice Skeate, Ryan McFarlane and Jacob Bowman used Jell-O to simulate brains in their first test of the Helmet Egg Drop experiment.

STEAM Day at Chippewa and Highview Highview Middle School sixth-graders participated in a STEAM Day this spring to focus on science, technology, engineering and math. As part of the STEAM Day, students learned about heat transfer and the engineering design process. Sixth-graders designed an igloo for an ice cube penguin, and performed tests on the mass loss of their penguins under heat lamps.

Eight engineers visited Highview to speak with all sixth-graders about what life is like as an engineer. The engineers also provided the students with feedback about their penguin designs, and encouraged them to analyze their data to make changes in their redesign.

Chippewa Middle School students also participated in STEAM Day and the penguin project.

David Vang, Britney Johnson and Natalie Bahnemann at Irondale’s Physics Fair.

Nearly 1,000 people attended the 12th annual Irondale Physics Fair and the 18th annual Mounds View Physics Fair. Both events also included a STEM career fair this year.

Sixth-graders Leah Ban, Tess McVay and Catie Winkels created storyboards to highlight their work on the STEAM Save the Penguins project. Storyboards were used to illustrate learning throughout the process, including research on heat transfer, engineering and design.

More than 30 career presenters including Bob Burchfield (pictured), plant manager at Faribault Energy Park, participated in Irondale’s seventh annual STEM Career Fair.

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WITH HONORS Turtle Lake teacher honored

by Yale School of Music Kathy Crockett, music teacher and choir director at Turtle Lake Elementary School, and Sowah Mensah, an artist-in-residence for Mounds View Public Schools, were recognized with the 2015 Yale Distinguished Music Educator Award recently. They were selected for this honor because of their ongoing partnership developing, maintaining and directing the African Music Ensembles at Turtle Lake Elementary and Chippewa Middle School. District students in grade three to eight participate in the performing groups. This summer, Crockett attended Yale School of Music’s fifth Symposium on Music in Schools, on the Yale campus. This year’s Symposium focused on partnerships between professional music organizations and public school music programs.

Teacher of Excellence BestPrep honored Irondale High School Teacher Angie Zappa with a Teacher of Excellence Award in May. The award honored Zappa for her dedication to educating students about business, career and financial literacy, and for providing students with experiential education opportunities.

District wins Partner Achiever Award Genesys Works named Mounds View Public Schools the School Partner Achiever Award winner for 2015. Genesys Works is a non-profit organization that works to change the life trajectory of underprivileged high school students by enabling them to work meaningful paid internships at major corporations. Mounds View Public Schools was recognized with the Partner Achiever Award for its strong commitment to the program. The District partnered with Genesys Works beginning in 2013 and has since grown the program to include more than 35 seniors, from Irondale High School and Mounds View High School, working as interns in corporations like Metronic, Deluxe, St. Jude and other Fortune 500 companies.

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Fellowship award sends Mounds View teachers to Poland Mounds View teachers Ashley Walter, Beth Baxley and Allyson Manns were named 2015 Fund for Teachers Fellows. The award will take them to Poland this summer to research the context of Art Spiegelman’s novel Maus to develop relevant lesson plans that enhance the critical thinking and empathic skills for ninth-graders. Mounds View teachers are among 487 teachers nationwide to receive the award.

District recognized for music education Mounds View Public Schools was honored for its outstanding commitment to music education recently when the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) recognized the District with the Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) designation. Mounds View Public Schools was one of only three school districts in Minnesota selected to receive the award for demonstrating exceptional efforts toward maintaining music education as part of the core curriculum. This is the third consecutive year that the District has been recognized with this award.

Translation assistance To learn more about District programs and events featured in this issue of School Talk in Spanish, Hmong or Somali, please call Angel Toro (Spanish) at 651-724-0396, Mee Yang (Hmong) at 651-724-0396 or Ali Ali (Somali) at 651-724-7482.

Yog xa paub ntau tshaj nov txog peb lub District cov program thiab kev sib sau ua ke ntawm peb cov tsev kawm ntawv thiab niam txiv nrog rau me nyuam kawm ntawv uas muaj nyob rau hauv tsab ntawv School Talk no, thov hu rau Mee Yang ntawm 651-724-0396.

Para aprender mas sobre los programas del Distrito Escolar y de los eventos en esta edicion de School Talk, llame a Angel Toro al 651-724-0396.

Haddii aad dooneysid faahfaahin dheeraad ah oo ku saabsan barnaamijyada lugu soo qoro School Talk, ee ka baxa Iskuulada Moundsview, fadlan la soo xiriis Ali Ali: 651-724-7482.

Personal Finance state champions Mounds View High School won the Minnesota State Personal Finance Decathlon Championship on April 28 at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. As state champions, Mounds View surpassed 66 teams from across Minnesota.

Mounds View wins National Economics Challenge Mounds View High School students Jacob Weightman, Emily Ruan, Abraham Chen and Sam Rush won the National Economics Championship in New York City in May.

Paula Keller, copyright MCEE, 2015.

Photo by Chris Cooper, ©2015, MCEE

Mounds View students (pictured above, left to right) Alex Li, Emily Ruan, Daniel Yong and Alex Jiang won the championship and went on to compete at the national competition in Kansas City, Mo., in May. Mounds View students Anders Bandt, Joseph Floeder, Sam Rush and David Zheng also took one of the top spots at the Personal Finance Decathlon with a third place win. The teams were coached

by Mounds View High School teacher Martha Rush. Mounds View also swept the individual awards for individual scores. Emily Ruan, Alex Li, Sam Rush and Daniel Yong placed first, second, third and fourth respectively.

Federal Reserve Essay Contest finalists Mounds View High School freshmen Felix Zhang (second place) and Justin Duffy (third place) were among the 30 finalists in this year’s Federal Reserve Essay contest. They wrote on the subject of Economic Inequality.

Gayathri Dileepan, Anna Solheim and Ellie Tsai were also finalists.

In addition to winning the national and state championships, Sam Rush was also named 2015 Economics Student of the Year for having the highest individual score of any student at the state competition.

Abraham Chen and Emily Ruan had the third and fourth highest scores respectively. Teacher Martha Rush serves as the team’s coach.

Presidential Scholar Mounds View High School student Varun Mangalick has been selected as a U.S. Presidential Scholar under a program administered by the U.S. Department of Education. He was one of only two Minnesota recipients. Each year the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars, appointed

by President Obama, selects honored Scholars based on their academic success, essays, school evaluations and transcripts, as well as evidence of community service, leadership and demonstrated commitment to high ideals. Of the 3 million students expected to graduate from high school in 2015, approximately 4,300 candidates qualified for the award determined by outstanding performance on the College Board SAT and ACT exams, and through nominations made by Chief State School Officers or through the National YoungArts Foundation’s nationwide YoungArts™ competition.

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WITH HONORS District teams compete at National Science Olympiad Tournament Mounds View High School’s Science Olympiad team took fifth place overall at the National Science Olympiad Tournament at the University of Nebraska in May. The team was awarded the fifth place spot after competing in various events against 60 other teams from across the country. In addition to placing among the top overall teams, Mounds View also took second in the Air Trajectory competition and in Compound Machines, third place in Anatomy & Physiology and Forensics, fourth place in Experimental Design and Scrambler, and fifth place in Chemistry Lab. Chippewa Middle School placed 17 out of 60 middle school teams at the National Tournament. This is from the combined scores of 23 individual events of which Chippewa placed in the top 10 for several events. Chippewa won first place in the Air Trajectory competition, second place in Disease Detectives and sixth place in Crave the Wave (waves in physics).

Elementary school Science Olympiad students competed at a Science Olympiad competition hosted at Mounds View High School in April. Island Lake and Turtle Lake tied for first place. The tiebreaking win went to Turtle Lake.

Mounds View High School Science Olympiad team members from left to right (front row) Tiffany Tran, Namrata Gadela, Erin Shen, Krystal Jamison, Joanna Liu, Denis Li, Sabrina Tang, Amber Zhao, Brandon Duffy, Jonathan Wang, Daniel Yong, (back row) Dan Butler (coach), Claire Chen, Tyler Hong, Thomas Carr (coach), Peter Yong, Samuel Lee, Justin Duffy, William Newhouse, Alex Li, Alex Jiang, Jeffrey Hu and Daniel Min.

Top 10 most challenging high schools Irondale and Mounds View High Schools are no strangers to the Washington Post’s annual list of Most Challenging High Schools in the nation. This year, however, both high schools cracked the list of the Top 10 most challenging high schools in Minnesota. America’s Most Challenging High Schools ranks schools through an index formula that’s a simple ratio: the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and Advanced International Certificate of Education tests given at a school each year, divided by the number of seniors who graduated that year.

FOLLOW US Every school in the District has a Twitter and Facebook page to connect with the community.

“Like” and follow Mounds View Public Schools and specific school pages on Facebook and Twitter for timely news.

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To subscribe to School Board agendas/meeting summaries or other school e-newsletters, and receive the latest information on a variety of topics throughout the school year, please visit www.moundsviewschools.org/enews.

National Student Leadership Irondale High School student George Howard has been selected to participate in the National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) on Business and Entrepreneurship this summer at Yale University. The Leadership Conference identifies and recognizes outstanding young leaders from around the world and offers a unique learning environment that encourages academic achievement, diversity and cooperation.

District high school students perform well on National Spanish Exam

Mounds View violinist selected for National Youth Orchestra

Hundreds of Mounds View Public Schools students who are enrolled in Spanish took the National Spanish Exam recently, a competitive activity sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP). Each year more than 150,000 Spanish students in the United States take the exam at seven different levels. Students who scored in the top 5 percent received gold certificates and students who scored in the top 6 to 15 percent received silver certificates. The top 15 percent were invited to an awards luncheon by the Minnesota chapter of the AATSP in May.

Mounds View High School junior Brandon Duffy was selected as a violinist for the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYOUSA). Duffy is among 114 musicians ages 16-19 from 37 states across the country. The group participated in a two-week training residency at Purchase College, State University of New York, in June before traveling the U.S. and abroad to perform nine concerts in July.

Irondale students who won the gold certificate are Angela Vu, Ronald Nova, Kathryn Grutkoski and Claire Kim. Silver certificate recipients include George Fisk, Danielle Franke, Sydney McGraw, Alfonso Sainz, Steven Truong, Matt Barton, Nicole Burkhart, Holly Peterson and Hannah Sprague.

Mounds View students who placed in the top 5 percent nationally and earned gold recognition are Hassan Lubega, Emily Ruan, Jackie Bertelsen, Thomas Egan, Emma Tsai, Alan Wang, Nandini Avula and Justin Duffy. Silver certificate recipients who scored in the top 6 percent nationally include Willis Ehler, Mary Fennig, Kitone Johnson, Nathaniel Smith, Yasmeen Awad, Devina Chatterjee, Rebecca Gillis, Cindy Hong, Reem Khan, Leah Lind, Grace Lindmark, Krista Nagel, Abbegayle Withan, Emerson Fernando, James Hong, Daniel Frink and Victor Cruz Gomez.

F or a complete list of National Spanish Exam certificate winners including gold, silver bronze and honorable mention students, visit the Newsmakers section at www.moundsviewschools.org.

Junior Achievement recognizes Mounds View students Mounds View High School junior Brandon Duffy and seniors Abraham Chen, Karl Keeler and Jonathan Wang took first place in the Junior Achievement State Titan Competition at Best Buy headquarters in May. The team of juniors Alex Jiang, Emily Ruan, Kevin Shen and senior Samuel Lee won second place. Mustang Mail, a company run

by Mounds View students (pictured) Jered Everson, Jonathan Wang, Joanna Liu, Jeman Park, Furqan Syed and Jacob Weightman took first place in the Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest Company of the Year competition at the Carlson School of Business in April. Mounds View’s team is one of only 15 finalists out of more than 100 to be chosen to compete at the national competition in Washington, D.C. in June.

Jonathan Wang was named the Otto Bremer Entrepreneur of the Year at the Junior Achievement competition in April.

Photo courtesy of Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest

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WITH HONORS

Scholar of Distinction Irondale High School student Steven Truong was named a 2015 Scholar of Distinction in math and science by the Minnesota Department of Education. The Minnesota Scholars of Distinction program nurtures and recognizes distinguished achievement by highly motivated self-directed students. Each award area was developed through partnerships of educators, the business community and others. To earn this recognition, students must complete required work in the Minnesota Academic Standards, demonstrate mastery of complex subject matter and apply their knowledge to challenging projects. Students may pursue one or more area of focus in any or all years of their K-12 education.

Irondale DECA competes internationally Irondale High School DECA students qualified in a variety of events to compete in at the DECA International Career Development Conference in Orlando, Fla., in April. Neha Panigrahy and John Beckman finished seventh in the world in a team event called Entrepreneurship Promotion Project. In addition to the competitive events, students participated in a variety of leadership and career advancing academies related to marketing, finance, hospitality and business management.

Students are under the advisement of marketing instructor Diane Waite.

From left to right (front row) John Beckman, Neha Panigrahy, Bridget Sweeney, Luisa Offori, Kayla Ortt, Angela Abel, Sukhwinder Kaur, Kyle Livingood, (back row) Jack Sazma, Steven Truong, Bridget Volkert, Ben Bye, Bailey Flynn, Parth Patel, Tanner LaMotte and Josh Schwanke.

Mounds View SkillsUSA students among best in state Mounds View High School students Kevin Ameyaw and Renee Smith were awarded first place for American Spirit at the SkillsUSA state competition this spring. Renee Smith was also awarded first place for Customer Service and second place for Job Skill Demonstration.

Theresa Sturre took second place for Early Childhood Education. They all advanced to the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Champions Conference in Louisville Kentucky in June. Lynn Nelson (pictured with students) serves as Mounds View’s SkillsUSA advisor and was selected as the 2015 Minnesota High School Advisor of the Year.

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Irondale Robotics Team attends FIRST World Championship Irondale High School’s FIRST (For Inspiration & Recognition in Science & Technology) Robotics Team, 2052 Knightkrawler, was invited to attend the FIRST World Championship in St. Louis, Mo., in April where 600 teams from 19 countries competed. Knightkrawler was selected by the third seed alliance in the Galileo subdivision and made it through the quarter-finals before being eliminated.

During the season, the team placed second at both the Lake Superior Regional Competition in Duluth and also at the University of Minnesota’s 10,000 Lakes Regional Competition in Minneapolis. At the Lake Superior Regional, Team Knightkrawler was awarded the Industrial Design Award sponsored by General Motors. At the 10,000 Lakes Regional, Knightkrawler was awarded the Quality Design Award by Motorola. Knightkrawler finished the season as second place finalists at the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) Robotics Competition in May. On August 29, Knightkrawler will be at the Minnesota State Fair for the Robotics Demo in the Education Building.

This year’s challenge, Recycle Rush, was a recycling-themed game consisting of stacking totes on scoring platforms, capping those stacks with recycling containers and properly disposing pool noodles that represent “litter” in either the recycling containers or the landfill zone. Shown is this year's drive team, Matt Sondrol and Elyssa Edgeton with drive coach Pete Awker, placing a recycling container on top of a stack of totes. To the left is human player, Ben Young.

Irondale wins state Project Citizen competition Irondale students Sara Hundt, Tasneem Qutob, Jackie Vasquez, Megan Robson and Lyndsey Weaver-Lang (pictured with Secretary of State Steve Simon) won first place at the Project Citizen state competition this year. Their topic of childhood poverty in Minnesota was recognized as the top presentation at the Capitol in May. Their exemplary student portfolio will be submitted for evaluation at the Project Citizen National Showcase later this year. The portfolios represent work done by students to analyze local issues within their school, community, or state and present public policy solutions to address their selected problem. Irondale social studies teachers Tom Franta, Andy Highstrom, Aaron Redman and Tom Rodefeld serve as ninth-grade Project Citizen advisors.

History Bee students compete at national level Chippewa Middle School sixth-graders Shardul Rao, Rishi Raghavapudi, Zack Schulte and eighth-graders Mateusz Kukla and Grace Su advanced to the National History Bee in Kentucky in May after successfully competing at the state History Bee. Eighth-grader Nate Moller represented Chippewa Middle School at the state Geography Bee.

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HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS UPDATE

IRONDALE Athena Award winner

Coach of the Year Irondale coach Tom Rodefeld was named Section 5AA Coach of the Year for boys’ track.

Irondale High School athlete Mary Heinks was named Athena Award winner for 2015.

For cross country, she lettered five times, was named All-Conference honorable mention four times, and she served as cross country captain. For Nordic skiing, she lettered five times, competed at state, was a three-time All-Conference honoree and an All-Conference honorable mention, and she served as Nordic team captain. In addition, Heinks lettered four years for track and was a fourtime All-Conference track competitor.

Irondale activities director Ron Broberg, coach Andrea Butler, Mary Heinks and Irondale principal Eric Nelson.

Track and field state competitors The girls’ 4×400 meter team of Liz Axberg, Emily Brandt, Julia Hayes and Greta Nundahl competed at the State Track Meet.

The boys’ 4×400 meter team of Branden Boleman, Bryce Warren, Sam Vossler and Alex Kelner won third place at the State Meet in June.

Julia Hayes set new school records in both the 100 meter hurdles and the 300 meter hurdles at the 5AA Section Track and Field Meet in June. She also won fifth in

Find the Irondale Knights on Twitter @GoIrondale Track co-curricular activities on your mobile devices.

Search MOUNDS VIEW PUBLIC SCHOOLS in the app store.

the 300 hurdles and ninth in the 100 hurdles at the State Meet.

Lee Waddell, who competed in pole vault event at the State Meet, was named Academic All State.

Alex Kellner, who competed in the 200 meter event and ranked fourth in the 400 meter event at State, was named Academic All State. The University of Minnesota awarded Kelner a track scholarship.

Bryce Warren finished sixth for the triple jump at the State Meet.

Section runner-up The Irondale girls’ lacrosse team took second place at the Section 5 Championship.

For the most up-to-date news, visit the Activities and Athletics website at www.moundsviewschools.org/irondale.

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Julia Hayes

Alex Kellner

Lee Waddell

Bryce Warren

MOUNDS VIEW Girls’ track and field

The girls' track team was named State True Team Champions.

State Track Meet competitors Cassidy Smestad won first in State for shotput. She signed with Truman State.

Emma Bangert finished third for the 800 meter and was named All-State.

The girls’ 4×100 team of Mikayla Toninato, Elizabeth Menne, Noelle Reynolds and Maddy Quickstad won third place at the State Track Meet.

The girls’ 4×200 team of Mikayla Toninato, Rachel Boyer, Elizabeth Menne and Maddy Quickstad won fourth place at State.

Boys’ track and field State competitors

State Champions Mounds View boys’ tennis won the State and Conference Championship titles after a 27-1 season.

The boys’ 44×800 relay team finished fourth at the State Championship.

Matt Baker finished third in 110 meter hurdles.

Conference Champions Cassidy Smestad

Emma Bangert

Matt Baker

Mounds View’s varsity baseball team won the Conference Championship, and won the Section Championship title for the third straight year.

For the most up-to-date news, visit the Activities and Athletics website at www.moundsviewschools.org/moundsview.

Find the Mounds View Mustangs on Twitter @GoMVMustangs Track co-curricular activities on your mobile devices. Search MOUNDS VIEW PUBLIC SCHOOLS in the app store.

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CLASS OF 2015 Mounds View Public Schools has a goal of preparing all students for opportunities of their choice after high school.

Ensuring that all students have an opportunity to pursue postsecondary success involves a promise the District calls the Equity Promise. The Equity Promise aims to disrupt systematic patterns associated with race, socio-economic status, gender and disabilities to provide equal opportunities for success for every Mounds View Public Schools student.

This spring, seniors from Irondale High School in New Brighton and Mounds View High School in Arden Hills received Equity Promise Scholarships acknowledging their achievements during high school and supporting their

educational goals post-high school. Funded in part by the Mounds View Schools Education Foundation, this unique award recognizes a broad range of students who have demonstrated success in their high school journey through a variety of ways. Recipients have demonstrated academic growth and sustained participation in activities throughout high school.

Some may aspire to be the first in their families to attend a technical college, two-year college or four-year university. All will have overcome challenges, displayed perseverance and exhibited grit along the way.

Mounds View Public Schools would like to thank the donors who contribute to Equity Promise Scholarships. These donors and their contributions reinforce the Equity Promise and give deserving students a chance to pursue post-secondary continued education.

Irondale High School Class of 2015 American Red Cross (Blood Drive) Nick Kanning Kyle Livingood

Fridley American Legion Post #303 Hanna Boleman Joel Swanson

Balliff Memorial Scholarship Benjamin Bye Audreanna Clark Ebisie Deressa Bonito Martizna Karina Olivar Merary Soriano

Marie Greenwald Memorial Scholarship Elizabeth Swanson

Chalkboard Capers Ben Danielson Ellen Jacobson Kathryn Manning Megan Montero Alexander Stuart-Schield Molly Tynjala Abigail Ward DLML Foundation Nicholas Elscott Louis German Nicholas Gohman Bethany LaVaque-Nassif Shannon O’Rourke Eggert Family Dentistry Shadee Palmer

Irondale Staff Nathaniel McGee Irondale Student Council Kyle Livingood Jack Marchiafava Kopp Family Foundation Haley Fuhr Aida Matoshi Urgen Sangmo Lifetouch National School Studios Meghan Pieper Marianna Quanbeck Jodi Maurer-Knudson Memorial Scholarship Elizabeth Swanson Tom Mischke Memorial Scholarship Ben Danielson

Mounds View Community Theater Fine Arts Anna Matthes Mounds View Lions – Waste-Witte Memorial Fund Talal Alnizami Madison Brauer Te’Jah Fields Mounds View Schools Education Foundation Breann Brown Michael Burgoyne Tenzin Dolker Maria Donato Hannah Gombold Mang Hang Jessica Hansen Shannon Hoffman Ben Johnson Madeleine Keller Madison Lundberg Kaitlin Maile SusyKate Ngale Neha Paniprahy Denise Reyes Amanda Stoddard Nikita Thakral Abigail White New Brighton Fraternal Order of Eagles, Auxiliary 3718 Anna Quanbeck

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New Brighton Lions Club, Adagio’s Doua Al-Mosawi Kyvon Davis Grace Mruz Kaiya Ruff Alicia Zondlo New Brighton/Mounds View Rotary Club KateLynn Mauk Megan Montero Ryan Norlinger Soup It Up, Inc. Luisa Offori Tallman Math/Science Austin Heckert Wallin Education Partners Awards Haley Carlson Ebisie Deressa Jack Marchifava Ryan Norlinger Sarah Skubal Kirk & Elizabeth Wheeler Fund Ashley Evenson Jeremy Wilcox Memorial Scholarship Isaac Ackerman Spencer Hofschulte-Beck

Class of 2015 post-secondary plans: Work/ Apprentice 3%

Undecided/ Other 6% College 89%

Military 2%

Mary Ellwood, Hannah Eischens, Bianca Battaglia and Husna Gobana were among the 406 Irondale students who graduated on June 2, 2015.

Jack Marchiafava, graduation speaker, graduated with high honors. He plans to attend the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire.

Class of 2015 Highest Honors Hanna Boleman.......................University of Wisconsin, La Crosse

Natalie Linders.........................University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Luke Bortot..............................University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Kaitlin Maile.............................University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Ebisie Deressa.........................University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Kathryn Manning......................University of Northwestern

Nicolas Elscott.........................University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Ryan Norlinger..........................University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Jesus Figueroa Jusino...............Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico

Marco Ochoa...........................Bethel University

George Fisk..............................University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Luisa Offori..............................University of Pittsburgh

Haley Fuhr................................University of Wisconsin, Madison

Neha Panigraphy......................University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Louis German...........................Illinois Institute of Technology

Moses Park..............................United States Naval Academy

Nicholas Gohman....................University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Meghan Pieper.........................University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Mary Heinks.............................University of St. Thomas

Anna Quanbeck.......................St. Olaf College

Andrew Hormann.....................University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Marianna Quanbeck.................St. Olaf College

Ellen Jacobson.........................Lawrence University

Nitika Thakral...........................University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Nicholas Kanning.....................University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Molly Tynjala.............................University of Iowa

Sukhwinder Kaur......................University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Josiah Walker...........................University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Madeleine Keller......................University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Abigail Ward.............................College of St. Benedict

Madeline Kinney......................University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Abigail White............................Dordt College

Hattie Knudsen........................Anoka Ramsey Community College

Emily Wong..............................Syracuse University

Megan Lawrence......................College of St. Benedict

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CLASS OF 2015 Mounds View High School Class of 2015 New Brighton Fraternal Order of Eagles, Auxiliary #3718 Valerie Pederson

Mounds View Basketball Association Login Maccani Maddy Rosenow Kasie Tuff Nicole Wahlin Mounds View Community Theatre Fine Arts Scholarship Peter Goggin Mounds View High School Alumni Association Devon McDonald

New Brighton Lions Club Cassidy Smestad Nicolas Standridge Teresa Sturre Sean Wentworth Aleksander Westlund North Suburban Community Foundation – Ashbach Family Fund Pushkar Chaubal

Eggert Family Dentistry Colin McMurray

Mounds View Schools Education Foundation Kellis Brandt Daniel Crist Skye Gagnon Marcel Hujanen May Li Abigail Meier Isabel Miller Lynsey Miller Erin O’Dougherty Veronica Rasmussen Clare Schaefers Timothy Schnell Hannah Schultz Annastasia Schwab Renee Smith Nathan Torunsky Mia Westby-Kastner

William E. & Rose A. Bailiff Memorial Asa Carlson

Sherry Lou Engebretsen Memorial Fund Hannah Paulsen

Mustang Club Scholarship Victoria Fleming Melissa Tran

Elwood F. Caldwell Scholarship of the North Suburban St. Paul Golden K Kiwanis Club Xingliang Chen

Fridley American Legion Post # 303 James Knox Jade Thao

MV Alumni Wrestling Association – Brandon Carlson Memorial Karl Keeler Sam McGinnity

Chalkboard Capers Kevin Duffy Carter Jones Emma Kesler Heidi Samuelson Alexander Solheim Priya Tandon Anne Walberg

Jodi Mauer-Knudson Memorial Scholarship Madeline Quickstad

More memories here

Ryan Yoch received the Principal's Award during the class of 2015 commencement ceremony. The Principal's Award honors the achievements and honor of the student who exemplifies the school's highest education goals and represents the finest qualities of the graduating class. Yoch graduated with highest honors. He plans to attend Georgetown University in the fall.

916 Education Foundation Scholarship Madeline Simkunis Arden Hills Shoreview Rotary Club Community Service Sara Nelson Arden Hills Shoreview Rotary Club Equity Promise Scholarship Michael Gaines

Comcast Leaders Ruth Jiang

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Comstock Scholarship of the North Suburban St. Paul Golden K Kiwanis Club Elizabeth Menne Destination Education Scholarship Foundation Asa Carlson

Kopp Family Foundation Hana Gulli Sophia Jaszweski Michelle Nguyen Joseph F. Kunze Anna Solfest

SUMMER 2015

Go online to see more from the Irondale and Mounds View classes of 2015:

Don Segner Memorial Scholarship Andrea Aguila Soup It Up for Kids Brianna McCord Thank You Scholarship Asa Carlson Gabrielle Lerdahl Vadnais Heights Community Partners Brooke Olson Wallin Education Foundation – Wallin Scholar Andrew Tang Wallin Education Foundation – Medtronic Scholar Ana Daniela Paraiso Wallin Education Foundation – Minnesota Opportunity Scholar Kaicong Xu

• Watch the ceremonies • Browse the photo albums • Read the commencement programs

www.moundsviewschools.org

Class of 2015 Highest Honors Samantha Baschky..................University of Oklahoma

Jordan Nustad..........................Boston University

Samuel Blustein.......................University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Ana Daniela Paraiso.................Bethel University

Claire Chen..............................University of Wisconsin, Madison

Hannah Paulsen.......................University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Abraham Chen.........................University of California, Berkeley

Maya Rao.................................University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Sarah Conlin-Brandenburg.......St. Olaf College

Veronica Rasmussen................University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Gerritt Dieters...........................University of San Diego

Jonathan Rolfs.........................St. Olaf College

Jared Everson...........................Northwestern University

Hannah Schultz........................Colorado College

Namrata Gadela.......................Florida Atlantic University

Julie Sherman..........................University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Peter Goggin............................University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Nathaniel Smith.......................University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Kathryn Jeddeloh.....................University of Wisconsin, Madison

Anna Solfest............................University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Karl Keeler...............................Concordia College

Noelle Stadler..........................University of Wisconsin, Madison

David Lee.................................Northwestern University

Megan Tomhave.......................Colorado College

Samuel Lee..............................University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Nathan Torunsky.......................University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

AnYang Li.................................University of California, Berkeley

Nicole Wahlin...........................University of Wisconsin, Madison

Varun Mangelick.......................Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Anne Walberg...........................North Dakota State University

Devon McDonald......................University of Wisconsin, Madison

Jonathan Wang.........................Stanford University

Joseph McGrath.......................Boston College

Nicole Wolf...............................St. Norbert College

Elizabeth Menne......................University of Pennsylvania

Ryan Yoch................................Georgetown University

Michaela Morse.......................University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Yuqi Zhang...............................Michigan State University

Sara Nelson.............................University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Class of 2015 post-secondary plans: Undecided/Other 6% Work/Apprentice 2% Military 1%

College 91%

Senior class officers Colin McMurray and Sabrina Batiz were among the 400 Mounds View High School students who became alumni on June 1, 2015. The commencement ceremony took place at Roy Wilkins Auditorium.

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CLASS OF 2015 Adult Education graduates

Class of 2027

The first all-day every-day graduating kindergarten class was celebrated during ceremonies and events at both kindergarten centers in May and June. More than 800 District kindergartners celebrated a successful year.

The Adult Education graduating class included 121 students who received a General Equivalency Degree (GED) and 26 students who received high school diplomas.

Chelsey Olson (pictured with Superintendent Dan Hoverman) was among the 11 students who participated in the graduation ceremony on June 4 at the Mounds View Community Center.

Area Learning Center The Area Learning Center class of 2015 included 53 students.

Graduates received diplomas at a May 27 ceremony at Bethel University. The following students received scholarships to be used for post-secondary education.

Daniel Antonio Te’Jah Fields Marissa Garcia Mikalen Heraeu

All graduating kindergarten students received diplomas as a taste of future post-secondary success. Robin Therrien's Bel Air kindergarten class celebrated with a graduation ceremony in june.

Santiago Mauricio Marissa Garcia received one of two $2,500 Marjorie and Ray Cox Memorial Fund Scholarships to be used for continued education.

Christy Rangel Joy Werronen Nick Wilson

REACH On May 28, REACH announced the following students as graduates during a ceremony at the New Brighton Community Center.

Reach Academy Madaleine Gates, Blake Isaacson Schleifer, Madeline Lesieur and Will Ricci.

Reach Transition Program Zeinab Barkhadle, DaiQuawn Burrell Smith, Abigail Heller, Jesus Hernandez Navarro, Samantha Jacka, Mi’Kal Jefferson, Marimar Jiminez, Starnisha McClellan, Amber McKinney, Kristyle Peterson, Jake Sauer, Joshua Schuneman, Megan Schutta amd Emma Whiting.

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Island Lake kindergarten center student Walter Ratwik celebrated his kindergarten graduation with his teacher Kelly Walseth.

2015-16 BACK TO SCHOOL EVENTS KINDERGARTEN CENTERS Kindergarten Open House/Meet Your Teacher Snail Lake Education Center

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS Meet Your Teacher/ Parent Information Events

September 2 1st grade families....... 3:45 – 4:15 p.m.

Last names A-M.......... 4:15 – 5:15 p.m.

Bel Air

September 2 (45 minutes)

OPEN HOUSE

1st grade............... 10 a.m. or 4:15 p.m.

September 1........................... 4 – 6 p.m.

2nd or 3rd grade..... 11 a.m. or 5:15 p.m.

KINDERGARTEN PARENT INFORMATION NIGHTS

4th or 5th grade...... noon or 6:15 p.m.

Island Lake Kindergarten September 14...........5:30 p.m.

Pike Lake Education Center KINDERGARTEN PARENT INFORMATION NIGHTS

Bel Air Kindergarten September 1 11 a.m. – noon and 3 – 4 p.m.

Pinewood Kindergarten September 1 1 – 2 p.m. and 5 – 6 p.m.

Sunnyside Kindergarten September 1 Noon – 1 p.m. and 4 – 5 p.m.

Valentine Hills Kindergarten September 1 2 – 3 p.m. and 6 – 7 p.m.

Last names N-Z........... 5:15 – 6:15 p.m.

PARENT/TEACHER GOAL SETTING MEETINGS

September 3................. 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Valentine Hills September 2

Island Lake September 2........... 4:30 – 6 p.m.

PARENT INFORMATION NIGHTS

Turtle Lake Kindergarten September 10...........5 p.m.

Turtle Lake

1st grade....... Sept. 24....... 5:30 – 7 p.m.

2nd grade....... Sept. 22....... 6 – 7 p.m.

3rd grade....... Sept. 24....... 7 – 8 p.m.

4th grade....... Sept. 22....... 7 – 8 p.m.

5th grade....... Sept. 17....... 6 – 7:30 p.m.

Pinewood

1st grade........... 1 p.m. or 5 p.m.

2nd grade........... 1:30 p.m. or 5:30 p.m.

3rd grade........... 2 p.m. or 6 p.m.

4th grade........... 2:30 p.m. or 6:30 p.m.

5th grade........... 3 p.m. or 7 p.m.

MIDDLE SCHOOLS Chippewa

September 2........... 4 – 7 p.m.

MEET AND GREET PARENT MEETINGS

WELCOME BACK CELEBRATION NIGHT

September 3..........8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

August 27......... 4 – 7 p.m.

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT & MEET YOUR TEACHER OPEN HOUSE

Sunnyside September 2 1st grade........... 1 p.m. or 5 p.m.

2nd grade........... 1:30 p.m. or 5:30 p.m.

3rd grade........... 2 p.m. or 6 p.m.

4th grade........... 2:30 p.m. or 6:30 p.m.

5th grade........... 3 p.m. or 7 p.m.

6th grade September 15.............. 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

7th & 8th grades September 22.............. 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Edgewood ORIENTATION

August 28......... 7 – 10 a.m.

HIGH SCHOOLS Mounds View SCHEDULE PICKUP/PICTURE DAY

August 27......... 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

9TH GRADE PARENT MEETING

September 1.......... 6 p.m.

ORIENTATION/FAMILY PICNIC/OPEN HOUSE

August 31.................... 4 – 7:30 p.m.

Irondale SCHEDULE PICKUP/PICTURE DAY

August 27...... 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

9TH GRADE PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT

August 27................. 6:30 p.m.

Highview REGISTRATION FOR FAMILIES

August 26......... Noon – 7 p.m.

HAWK PRIDE CELEBRATION

Area Learning Center OPEN HOUSE/ICE CREAM SOCIAL SILVER VIEW PLAZA

September 1................ 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.

August 26.................... 5 – 7 p.m.

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT

September 17.............. 6 – 8 p.m.

SUMMER 2015

School Talk

27

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

Independent School District 621 350 Highway 96 West Shoreview, MN 55126-1951

Plan your stay at Laurentian Environmental Center Planning a family reunion or group event? Consider Laurentian Environmental Center (LEC) in Britt, Minn.

The Center can accommodate small and large groups year-round with 160 beds, five large classroom buildings, a lodge and a dining facility that seats 175. LEC offers access to hundreds of acres of wilderness with trout streams and diverse wildlife habitat. The environmental center’s property includes access to a 100-acre pristine lake and hiking/ski trails that connect with the Big Aspen hiking and ski trails. LEC maintains a 12-station Challenge Course, a 32-foot outdoor climbing wall, a dogsled yard and trails, an archery range, canoes and rowboats, a sauna, an outdoor campfire theater and a large playing field. The on-site dining facility serves healthy, home-cooked meals from menus developed by a dietician. Call 1-888-749-1288 or visit www.laurentiancenter.org for more information.

TWIN CITIES MN PERMIT NO 4112

Summer Camps YOUTH HUNTING CAMP Laurentian will host Forkhorn hunting camps for students 11 and older, June – August. Visit www.laurentiancenter.org for more information.

SENIOR CAMP Summer camp isn’t just for kids! Adults 50 and older are invited to participate in the “senior camp” experience at Laurentian Environmental Center September 8-13. A mix of indoor and outdoor activities include hiking, archery, canoeing, crafts, nature tours and more.

Singles and couples are welcome. Call 1-888-749-1288 for details and early registration discounts.