School Talk, Summer 2017 by Mounds View Public Schools

School Talk SUMMER 2017

with Improvising spaces

resident!

After years of rising student enrollment, a School Board proposal offers relief ALSO INSIDE: COMMENCEMENT 2017 ▪ START TIMES TO CHANGE IN 2018

A proposal for relief F

or the first time in 18 years, Mounds View Public Schools will ask residents to consider a bond proposal this fall to add capacity at all schools throughout the District. In a unanimous vote on June 27, the School Board proposed a bond referendum for Election Day, November 7, 2017. If approved, funds from the bond would be used to add classroom space, improve infrastructure and enhance safety District wide. “We listened to the recommendations of our community task force, and the conclusion was clear,” explains Board vicechair Jonathan Weinhagen. “Growth is happening all across the District. We simply need more space.”

What does stressed capacity look like?

How did we get here?

Resident enrollment growth has become the new normal for Mounds View. With more than 11,000 students, Mounds View is the 10th largest district in the state. After a decade of being right sized, enrollment is now at a 15-year high. The District expects 1,600 more resident students within seven years. And most of the schools are already beyond 100 percent capacity. In response, years ago the School Board closed enrollment to new non-resident students in many schools. Today, all schools are closed to new open enrollment.

Are there other solutions?

• Students often collaborate on the floors in hallways and squeeze into conference rooms because of a lack of classroom space.

“Build a new school at TCAAP” and “Reopen Pike Lake and Snail Lake” are frequent suggestions some residents offer. But the math doesn’t add up. For several reasons, there are no plans to build a new elementary school to serve future residents of the Rice Creek Commons development in Arden Hills.

• Many classrooms are undersized for optimal personalized learning.

• The District is experiencing enrollment growth across all schools. Adding capacity throughout the District is needed.

• Students are crowded into cafeterias.

• To efficiently occupy a new elementary school built for the development, Mounds View Public Schools would have to impose District-wide boundary changes which would impact thousands of families with attendance area shifts.

Across the District, all schools are serving more students than ideally suited for their capacity. As a result:

• Students lose access to the gyms when large-group assembly spaces are needed for concerts, plays or assemblies. • Music lessons and rehearsals frequently occur in the hallways, stairwells, cafeterias, entrances or lobbies. • Drop-off and pick-up locations for parents and buses create congested areas and limits safe walking paths to and from the buildings. • Several school entrances do not provide a smooth and safe flow of students and visitors. On the cover:

Orchestra students at Bel Air Elementary School often rehearse in the gym because of limited classroom space.

Editors Rachel Gutierrez Colin Sokolowski

Designer Susan Abbott

Photographers Rachel Gutierrez Greg Helgeson Lifetouch

• The scope and speed of the development remains uncertain. • By itself, the development will not result in enough sustained elementary enrollment to warrant the construction of a new elementary school. Building a new school at TCAAP would be “overbuilding.”

Superintendent Chris Lennox

2017 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, 4570 Victoria St. N., 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. Like us:

Watch us:

Visit us:

www.moundsviewschools.org

“

Growth is happening all across the District. We simply need more space.

”

– Jonathan Weinhagen, School Board vice chair

cannot be used to run or operate schools. Bonds require voter approval through the referendum process.

What’s next?

Hallways are often used as makeshift, small-group instructional spaces at Mounds View High School and throughout the District.

Returning the Pike Lake and Snail Lake sites to elementary schools would not solve the space crunch either. • When other districts were scrambling to add classroom spaces to accommodate the state’s all-day, every day kindergarten statute, Mounds View was able to use these two sites to house kindergarten and relieve space issues in the elementary schools. – Housing kindergartners in Pike Lake and Snail Lake has relieved the six elementary schools of more than 800 students and 34 classrooms. • Even though all elementary schools are now serving only grades 1-5, all are filled at or beyond their capacities. • It would not alleviate the need to serve the growing number of pre-K and kindergarten students currently housed at Pike Lake (nearly 800 students) and Snail Lake (more than 700 students).

BY THE NUMBERS

$252

$165

Identified need

Cost of proposed priorities

million

$16.42

Last spring, a months-long facility review concluded with a series of recommendations from a community task force totaling $252 million. After prioritizing its needs, the District will instead pursue a $164.8 million bond in effect for 25 years. It will cost property owners a tax increase of less than $17 a month based on a median-valued house. Bonds raise money that can only be used for new construction or additions to school buildings. These funds

million

Monthly tax increase on median-value home ($275,000)

This is the first bond request in

• Returning these two sites to traditional elementary schools would force boundary changes for all elementary schools, impacting 5,000 students throughout the District.

What’s a bond?

All residents will be invited to learn more this fall as each school hosts facility information nights. “We want to make sure our neighbors get the factual information they need in order to make an informed decision on Election Day,” says School Board chair Amy Jones. “These buildings belong to the community, and it’s our responsibility to ensure they’re meeting the needs of our students, staff, families and residents.”

Design could begin

18 years.

immediately

after a successful election.

Construction could begin in

spring 2018.

Many projects could be

completed in

1-2 years.

Larger projects could take

up to

3 years to complete.

SUMMER 2017

School Talk

Elementary Schools BEL AIR

2023 Projections Enrollment 718 Capacity 700 Capacity Use 103%

Challenges: • Core reading and math classes have been held in the learning media center, not classrooms. • Specialists visit homerooms on a cart.

ISLAND LAKE

2023 Projections Enrollment 787 Capacity 750 Capacity Use 105%

Challenges: • Limited options for small group learning spaces and Special Education programming. • Students who work in small groups are at times forced to work in hallways.

PINEWOOD

2023 Projections Enrollment 566* Capacity 525 Capacity Use 108%

Challenges: • Small-group instruction services meet with students in the hallways.

SUNNYSIDE Built in 1950 – 67 years old

2023 Projections Enrollment 699* Capacity 550 Capacity Use 127%

Challenges: • Students have been using hallways, conference rooms and the learning media center for extra instructional spaces.

TURTLE LAKE

2023 Projections Enrollment 1,137 Capacity 875 Capacity Use 130%

Challenges: • A lack of classroom spaces characterizes the school, along with congested hallways. • Students who work in small groups are at times forced to work in the hallways due to a lack of small-group learning spaces.

VALENTINE HILLS

2023 Projections Enrollment 721 Capacity 650 Capacity Use 111%

Challenges: • Small-group instruction for struggling students takes place in the hallway or open air learning media center. • There are limited quiet spaces for small-group assessment accommodations.

Built in 1966-67 – 51

years old Last addition in 2001 – 16 years ago

Built in 1956-57 – 61

years old Last addition in 2002 – 15 years ago

Built in 1955-57 – 62

years old Last addition in 2002 – 15 years ago

Last addition in 2003 – 14

years ago

Built in 1958-59 – 59

years old Last addition in 2003 – 14 years ago

Built in 1968-69 – 49

years old Last addition in 2001 – 16 years ago

School Talk

SUMMER 2017

* Includes projected Rice Creek Commons development.

• Band and orchestra is typically held in the gym as available. Often times, small-group lessons are held in spaces like the conference room or a hallway. • Students are crowded into the cafeteria for lunch. • Drop-off and pick-up locations for parents and buses create a congested area and limit safe walking paths to and from the building.

Recommendations: • Two-classroom addition for capacity • Expand cafeteria and kitchen • Improve band/orchestra space • Improve parent drop-off and bus loop

• Students and staff have no flexible large-group space to work on larger or long-term physical projects. • The secured entryway does not provide a smooth flow of students and visitors. There is no lobby space, and the small front office is frequently crowded throughout the day.

Recommendations: • Two-classroom addition for capacity • Renovate and expand Special Education classrooms • Renovate and improve classrooms in and around the learning media center • Expand front secured lobby and entry

• Drop-off and pick-up locations for parents and buses are not separated. They create a congested area and limit safe walking paths to and from the building.

• Band and orchestra lessons are held in a small reconfigured space that also doubles as the only storage room in the building. • Students are crowded into the cafeteria for lunch.

• Lack of adequate classroom spaces force small groups to combine into smaller instructional spaces. • Students are crowded into the cafeteria for lunch. • Drop-off and pick-up locations for parents and buses create a congested area and limit safe walking paths to and from the building.

• Limited classroom spaces force some specialists to teach from carts. This displaces classroom teachers and requires considerable set-up and breakdown time. • Students are crowded into the cafeteria for lunch.

Recommendations: • Two-classroom addition for capacity • Separate buses and parent drop-off Recommendations: • Five-classroom addition for capacity • Improve band/orchestra space • Expand cafeteria and kitchen Recommendations: • Eight-classroom addition for capacity • Expand cafeteria and kitchen • Improve parent drop-off

Recommendations: • Five-classroom addition for capacity • Expand cafeteria and kitchen

Keeping pace with space Did you know? When Pike Lake and Snail Lake were closed as elementary schools, each site was serving about 500 students. Today, Pike Lake houses nearly 800 students in kindergarten and prekindergarten. Today, Snail Lake houses more than 700 students in kindergarten and prekindergarten. Housing kindergartners in Pike Lake and Snail Lake has relieved the six elementary schools of more than 800 students and 34 classrooms. Serving pre-kindergarten students in Pike Lake and Snail Lake helps avoid leased-spaced expenses and fully utilizes existing school facilities.

Kindergarten classrooms PIKE LAKE Bel Air........................6 Pinewood..................4 Sunnyside.................4 Valentine Hills..........6 SNAIL LAKE Island Lake...............7 Turtle Lake................7

SUMMER 2017

School Talk

Middle and High Schools CHIPPEWA MIDDLE SCHOOL

Built in 1973-74 – 44

2023 Projections

years old Last addition in 2003 – 14 years ago

Enrollment 1,224

EDGEWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL

Built in 1957-58 – 60

Capacity 1,217 Capacity Use 101% 2023 Projections

years old Last addition in 2004 – 13 years ago

Enrollment 856*

HIGHVIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL

Built in 1967-68 – 50

Capacity 724 Capacity Use 118%

2023 Projections

years old Last addition in 2002 – 15 years ago

Enrollment 911

IRONDALE HIGH SCHOOL

2023 Projections

Built in 1965-67 – 52

Capacity 974 Capacity Use 94%

years old Last addition in 2002 – 15 years ago

Enrollment 2,038*

MOUNDS VIEW HIGH SCHOOL

Built in 1952-54 – 65

years old Last addition in 2002 – 15 years ago

Capacity 1,878 Capacity Use 109%

2023 Projections Enrollment 2,124* Capacity 1,903 Capacity Use 112%

* Includes projected Rice Creek Commons development.

School Talk

SUMMER 2017

Challenges: • Lacks an adequately secured and efficiently located entryway and front office space which limits visibility and challenges supervision. Challenges: • Because of too few classrooms, teachers often teach out of more than one classroom, and almost all are displaced during their planning period, which limits access to their materials and cuts into planning time. • Students lose access to the gyms when large-group assembly spaces are needed for concerts, plays or assemblies. • Students are crowded into the cafeteria for lunch. Challenges: • The orchestra classroom is filled to capacity and lacks storage for students’ instruments. Several orchestra lessons are held in the hallway or in the art room.

Challenges: • Most classrooms are occupied all periods of the day. Several teachers use carts and teach in multiple rooms. • Hallways are extremely crowded during transition times. It’s difficult for students to move through congested corridors to get to their classes on time. • Lacks an inclusive fitness space that encourages health and wellness for all students, not simply student athletes.

Challenges: • Most classrooms are occupied all periods of the day, with no spaces to flex as needed. • Students often use hallway floors to collaborate in groups. • Students and staff have no flexible large group space to work on larger or longterm projects.

• There is no open commons area to decrease congestion during the school day and at evening events.

Recommendations: • Create a secured front entry into the main office • Renovate student lockers/ commons area

• Because science labs are limited, several science classes are held in a regular classroom instead of a lab equipped with stations and sinks. • Pool is aging and in need of ongoing repair. It does not allow for spectator seating, and it lacks the requirements for a competitive pool (regulation diving area, starting blocks, scoreboard and number of lanes). • Shared performance space limits availability for events and physical education classes. • Drop-off and pick-up locations for parents and buses are not separated. They create a congested area and limit safe walking paths to and from the building.

Recommendations: • Four-classroom addition for capacity • Renovate science classrooms • Expand cafeteria and kitchen • Additional gym/multi-purpose space • Improve performance space • Replace pool and provide diving space (shared with Irondale) • Separate parent drop-off and bus loop

• Lacks an adequately secured and efficiently located entryway. • The drop-off and pick-up location for parents and buses creates a congested area and a safety concern for students, families and visitors.

Recommendations: • Renovate orchestra space • Create a secured front entry into the main office • Improve parent drop-off and bus loop

• There is no common program equipment storage space for clubs or activities. Students often store equipment in a locker room, classroom or an inefficient storage closet. • The auditorium is undersized for the enrollment of the school. It lacks modern, up-to-date features of typical auditoriums, while events and performances are frequently sold out and standing-room-only for families. • Students are crowded into the cafeteria for lunch. • The Media Center is outdated, not ideally located and is not used to full capacity. Instead, students find congested halls or cafeteria spaces for student interaction and collaboration.

Recommendations: • Six-classroom addition for capacity • Renovate to address hallway congestion • Expand cafeteria and kitchen • Replace auditorium and expand its capacity • Improve fitness/wellness space • Additional capacity for program storage – Arts, Activities, Robotics • Renovate Media Center space/classrooms • Repurpose pool and provide access to new pool at Edgewood

• Lacks an inclusive fitness space that encourages health and wellness for all students, not simply student athletes. • Students are crowded into the cafeteria for lunch. • Lacks adequate gym space that allows multiple activities to simultaneously take place. Teams often practice or compete at other school sites. • Parents and students struggle to find available school parking spaces and often have to use nearby street parking for after-school and evening events.

Recommendations: • Seven-classroom addition for capacity • Renovate undersized classrooms • Expand cafeteria and kitchen • Additional gym space • Improve fitness/wellness space • Additional parking • Improve parent drop-off

SUMMER 2017

School Talk

SCHOOL BOARD 2017 School Board

Budget approved In June, the Board approved the 2017-2018 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.

School Board election notice

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

Operational Plan 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 2017–18 include: • Preparation for adjusted start times for 2018-19. • Implementation of the new North Suburban Post-Secondary Success Consortium. • A comprehensive review of the District middle school literacy program. • Addressing facility needs through a proposed bond referendum.

School start times After years of consideration and an intensive eightmonth public review, the School Board approved start times changes that feature an 8:35 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. schedule for the high schools. The high schools’ current schedule is 7:25 a.m. – 2:05 p.m. The new schedule will go into effect in fall 2018, giving parents, students and staff more than a year to adjust schedules and make plans for the 2018-19 school year. To view the 2018-2019 start times for all schools, visit www.moundsviewschools.org/starttimes. 8

School Talk

SUMMER 2017

This November, voters will elect three 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 August 1 and closes at 5 p.m. on August 15. 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 7, 2017.

New location for District Center The District’s central administrative offices have moved into the old Ramsey County library in Shoreview to make room for the expansion of Early Childhood programs at Snail Lake Education Center. The District Center is now located at 4570 Victoria Street N. in Shoreview. The District Center comprises about 50 staff members who support the District’s 1,600 employees and 11,000+ students. It comprises the following offices and services: Assessment Community Education Curriculum & Instruction Education Foundation Finance Human Resources Nutrition Services

Payroll Public Relations Student Information Student Services Superintendent Transportation

All School Board meetings and work sessions will be located in the Board Room at the District Center. The District Center can be reached at 651-621-6000.

EDUCATION FOUNDATION

The Mounds View Schools Education Foundation works in collaboration with Mounds View Schools District leadership to identify programs that require funding to advance opportunities for students throughout the Mounds View District. For more information on the Foundation visit www.moundsviewschoolsef.org.

Louise Wilson named Trustee

The Mounds View Schools Education Foundation is pleased to welcome Louise Wilson to the Board of Trustees. Wilson is Associate Professor Emerita at Bethel University where she served on the faculty for 15 years, teaching and chairing the Education Department. She has served on the Minnesota Board of Teaching, boards of education for P-12 and higher education institutions and nonprofit service organizations. She currently serves on the Council of Accreditation of Educator Preparation, the national accrediting body for teacher preparation programs. She taught for 15 years in a public high school in Illinois and worked on a national school reform project during the 1990s. She and her family have been residents of Arden Hills since 1985. They have two sons who attended Mounds View Public Schools.

Partnering for Education Luncheon Mounds View Schools Education Foundation has enjoyed a remarkable year. In late April, the Foundation hosted its 6th annual Partnering for Education Luncheon at the North Oaks Golf Club featuring keynote speaker Ritesh Gupta. Gupta, a Mounds View High School alumnus, is an award-winning filmmaker and journalist in the creative world of television, film and advertising. Gupta began his career as a sports broadcaster working for the CBS affiliate in Tallahassee before moving to New York City to work as producer and journalist for MTV’s news and Ritesh Gupta with Julie Rowles documentaries division. Gupta recently learned he’s a finalist for The Clios — one of the most respected awards in the advertising industry. Gupta offered highlights of his career and attributed much of his success to the influence of Mounds View educators Bernie Troje and Julie Rowles. The event was a testament to the important role Mounds View Public Schools shares in shaping the lives of remarkable individuals like Gupta. It was also announced the Mounds View Schools Education Foundation was the recipient of a $750,000 gift from the William, Rose and Norma Bailiff Memorial Scholarship. This donation — the largest single gift in the Foundation’s 30 year history — will annually provide generous college scholarships for high school students from Mounds View Schools. Bailiff Memorial Scholarships will be awarded primarily to students from lower-income families.

Save the Date

Saturday, November 11, 2017 6 – 11 p.m. Vadnais Heights Commons Visit the events page at www.moundsviewschoolsef.org to learn more about Rock the School House.

SUMMER 2017

School Talk

AROUND THE DISTRICT Free Farmer’s Markets

Need Help with food? Are you struggling to make ends meet? Food Shelf services and programs are available to low-income families and individuals living in the Mounds View Public School District. For more information, or to set up an appointment, call 651-621-7451.

Pick up locally grown produce at no cost this summer. For more information, call the food shelf at 651-621-7451, visit www.ralphreederfoodshelf.org or like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ralphreederfoodshelf/ to see ongoing news and updates about our seasonal programs and distributions.

Donations needed Demand for food and other services spikes in the summer when children are home from school and not able to access free and reduced lunches — putting added strain on already tight budgets. Your help is needed and appreciated. For every dollar donated the food shelf can purchase up to $8 worth of food. Even the smallest donation can make a big difference. Donations can be made online at www.ralphreederfoodshelf.org or by mailing it to the Ralph Reeder Food Shelf at 2101-14th St. NW, New Brighton, MN 55112.

Students explore the School Forest Fifth-grade classes from Sunnyside and Pinewood Elementary Schools traveled to the Edgewood Middle School Forest to explore the outdoors, learn about ecosystems, remove invasive species and help plant trees in May. A variety of stations were set up throughout the forest that were run by volunteers from the DNR, teachers, and Edgewood students.

Sunnyside student Emerson Mandell (in the water) takes a closer look at what is in the pond while his classmates Ian Bleskachek (left in canoe) and Dermsie Schauer (right in canoe) catch a ride with Edgewood students Mackenzie Martin (blue vest) and Abigail Brown (yellow vest).

School Talk

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.

SUMMER 2017

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. 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. 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. 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.

Edgewood NatureScape Students from Edgewood’s NatureScape STEAM class partnered with Ramsey County librarians to design, plan and build a NatureScape for the patrons and families at the Mounds View Library. The space is open to the public and includes outdoor games, shelter building materials and other activities.

Edgewood Middle School’s NatureScape STEAM Class hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony in May at the Mounds View Community Library to unveil the design they created as part of a STEAM project. A short presentation was followed by the cutting of the ribbon, as well as cookies and lemonade for all who attended.

Culture Night

Staff members Gao Her and Laura Hammer hosted an activity of making Hmong hats.

‘Press Start’

Three years in the making, Pinewood Elementary School’s Performing Arts Club has gone digital. This year’s musical, “Press Start,” featured popular video game characters, played by third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students on a quest through the world of videogames to earn lives, “and keep playing on!” The students of Pinewood were the first group to perform this cutting-edge musical in the state of Minnesota. A DVD copy of their magical performance is available for purchase by visiting the newsletter page at www.moundsviewschools.org/pinewood.

Left to Right: Ryan Hemstead, Trevor Okoro, Liam Parlin, Emoni Smith and Hailie Herzog.

Valentine Hills Elementary School welcomed more than 250 students, parents and staff in April to celebrate the many cultures that contribute to the Valentine Hills community.

Students Maggie, Stella, and Roxie Taylor represented their Scandinavian culture by dressing up for the fashion show.

The Sackih family of Cameroon brought a traditional dish of Fu Fu and Njama Njama to share at the event.

SUMMER 2017

School Talk

AROUND THE DISTRICT Band festival

District elementary and middle school band students were invited to a special band festival and rehearsal day hosted by elementary school band director Brenda Sorem. Students from Island Lake Elementary, Pinewood Elementary, Turtle Lake Elementary, Valentine Hills Elementary and Edgewood Middle School joined Sorem and guest conductors at Zimmerman High School in May for a day of rehearsing that concluded in a concert for family and friends. The day-long event was geared to beginning band and second-year band students.

Educators Rising Leadership Conference Educators Rising student groups from Irondale High School and Mounds View High School participated in the 2017 Leadership Conference sponsored by Northwest Suburban Integration School District in Plymouth this spring. The conference tested students’ employability, book writing skills, impromptu speaking abilities, essay writing and college exploration skills. A third place group award in Ethical Dilemma was presented to Felicia Galvan, Keenan Dickerson and Veronica Flakne. Keenan Dickerson won second place for College Exploration. Lydia Sinn won second place in Conference Theme Development.

Pictured from left to right: (back row) Brenda Sorem (band director at Island Lake, Turtle Lake and Valentine Hills Elementary Schools), Grace Wold (Valentine Hills), Ally Frantz (Pinewood), Kelly Tekautz (Pinewood), Maggie Durant (Island Lake), Hayden Sperbeck (Island Lake), Louie Cook (Turtle Lake), Loyce Agboola (Edgewood Middle School), (front row) Joey Bastian (Pinewood), Will Byers (Valentine Hills), Daniella Daire (Pinewood), Maddie Nagel (Island Lake), Amelia Gregory (Island Lake), Colin Bosshard (Turtle Lake), Michael Horning (Pinewood) and Natalie Simms (Turtle Lake).

Language Village In May, teachers took 46 students from Chippewa, Edgewood and Highview Middle Schools to Concordia Language Villages to spend four days at Lago del Bosque Spanish Camp in Bemidji. Students spent their time immersed in the Spanish language and South American culture — singing, dancing, cooking, playing sports, making crafts and engaged in classes. Living together in cabins and eating traditional meals consisting of foods from the Andean region, students enjoyed a full Spanish immersion experience. Educators Rising is a national organization dedicated to helping students gain valuable experience, knowledge and skills in all areas of education. Pictured: Irondale sophomore Lydia Sinn, Irondale senior Keenan Dickerson, Irondale sophomore Brianna Franke, Mounds View junior Lexi Munson, Irondale senior Veronica Flakne, Mounds View staff Mikayla Meyer, Irondale staff Angel Stiles, Mounds View junior Gabrielle Wiest, Mounds View senior Tanner Hintz, Irondale senior Felicia Galvan and Mounds View senior Karen Ketola.

School Talk

SUMMER 2017

Guest composer visits Chippewa A performance on a two-string violin known as an Erhu was practiced with notable musician, composer and conductor Zhang Ying this spring. Zhang Ying visited Chippewa for multiple orchestra rehearsals to offer feedback and guidance on how to execute techniques unique to the Erhu, an instrument that eighth-graders incorporated in their spring concert at Bethel University in May. Eighth-grader Sydney Peng performed a solo on the Erhu as part of the spring concert. Pictured is Brian Larson, Chippewa eighth-grade orchestra director, Zhang Ying (who created an orchestral arrangement for Chippewa of the piece titled Horse Racing by Huang Haihuai), Wei Ming Chiang (Erhu professional who has worked with Sydney Peng and was a consultant for a piece played earlier this year) and Principal Rob Reetz.

Saints baseball players visit Mounds View Students in the Mounds View High School PREP Program (Practical Readiness Education Program) enjoyed a visit from the St. Paul Saints players recently. The team’s pitcher and 2007 Mounds View High School alumnus Seth Rosin volunteers with PREP students in the off-season.

Mounds View junior Anna Miller was visited by Saints members who signed autographs and answered questions. Pictured: Mark Hamburger, mascot Muddonna, Anna Miller and Ken Frosch.

New music at Irondale Irondale Knightingales and Concert Choirs participated in the ¡Cantaré! program with the choral music organization VocalEssence during the 2016-17 school year in which students worked with a composer from Mexico, performed new music written for them and learned more about Mexican culture.

On May 2, Irondale Knightingales Choir performed with the University of Minnesota Women’s Choir along with other high schools at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in a final concert featuring more than 500 singers. Photo credit: Laura Alpizar Photography.

What happens when elementary principals wear their schools’ mascot costumes? Visit www.moundsviewschools.org/mascotmondays for a video created for Chalkboard Capers, the Mounds View Education Association’s annual variety show supporting student scholarships.

SUMMER 2017

School Talk

AROUND THE DISTRICT Mounds Views video series Find out what is new and cool in our schools by tuning in to Mounds Views, a new video series that highlights programs throughout the District.

Some of the latest videos include: STEAM Creation Stations Kindergarten students at Snail Lake Education Center engage in science, technology, engineering, art and math with STEAM Creation Stations.

Silver medal cyclist visits Valentine Hills Kelly Catlin, a former Valentine Hills Elementary School student, returned to school in May to talk to students about the road to the Olympics. Students in grades three, four and five gathered to see the bike Catlin rode and hear about her silver medal cycling experience.

Student news team Students at Valentine Hills Elementary School are learning video news production.

Both high schools ranked Top 10 in state TOP RANKED FOR STUDENT PERFORMANCE

TOP RANKED AS MOST CHALLENGING

Irondale High School and Mounds View High School were both named among the Top 10 best high schools in Minnesota. U.S. News & World Report recognized the schools once again for exceeding expectations when it comes to student performance on reading and math tests, and for preparing students for college.

With both Irondale and Mounds View on the 2017 list, Mounds View Public Schools is the only multi-high school district in the state with all of its high schools to rank in the Top 10. The Washington Post’s “America’s Most Challenging High Schools” is an annual ranking of how successfully schools challenge their students.

U.S. News & World Report Top 10 1. Math and Science Academy 2. Orono Senior High 3. Mahtomedi Senior High 4. Edina Senior High 5. Mankato West Senior High 6. Mounds View High School 7. Minnetonka Senior High 8. Eastview Senior High 9. Irondale High School 10. Eagan Senior High

School Talk

SUMMER 2017

Washington Post Top 10 1. St. Croix Preparatory Academy 2. Minnetonka 3. Southwest 4. Mounds View High School 5. Edina 6. St. Louis Park 7. Orono 8. Robbinsdale Armstrong High School 9. Eastview 10. Irondale High School

WITH HONORS Science Olympiad Mounds View High School’s Science Olympiad team placed seventh at the National Tournament held at Wright State University, marking the fifth year in a row the team has placed in the Top 10 nationally. Chippewa Middle School Science Olympiad Team Bonsai 2.0 took first place at State and went on to compete at Nationals. This is the fourth consecutive year that Chippewa has competed at the National Science Olympiad Competition.

Pictured are the Chippewa Bonsai 2.0 and Cacti 2.0 teams and coaches at the State Meet at St. Olaf. Chippewa’s Science Olympiad Team Cacti 2.0 was the runner-up at State. Team Bonsai 2.0 members are: Amy Binder, Olivia Chen, Angie Chen, Jennie Cheng, Eric Feng, Eric Frink, Janae Lee, Dorothy Li, Arthur Nghiem, Shardul Rao, Raj Singh, Claire Stellmack, Ian Tsai, Jessica Wasson and Maxwell Ye. Students on the State runner-up Chippewa Cacti 2.0 team are Daisy Bai, Maggie Cai, Nikhita Chandra, Gavin Chang, Addy Cota, Cynthia Dong, Kira Fullerton, Sydney Peng, Eunice Tong, Vibhaa Venkat, Paul Wang, Ashwin Warriar, Junha Yoo, Johnny Yue and Sarah Zhang.

Next generation gears up for Science Olympiad The Elementary School Science Olympiad event was held on April 8, 2017, at Mounds View High School. Bel Air, Island Lake, Turtle Lake and Valentine Hills Elementary Schools participated along with several other teams from the area. Students participated in two of the 17 different event offerings.

Island Lake fifth-graders Lale Baylar and Paulina Ley compete in Mystery Powders.

Among the best in the state for robotics Irondale High School’s Robotics team finished in third place at the Minnesota State High School League Robotics competition.

SUMMER 2017

School Talk

WITH HONORS Marketing student places in Top 4 in the world Irondale High School senior Madeline Hormann placed fourth in the world in the International DECA Competition in California recently. She was among 19,000 total students and 15 other Irondale students to compete in this year’s event. Other students competing were Andrea Beethe, Conner Dickson, Molly Doerrer, Julia Glaser, Darby Hanson, Luke Janecek, Alex Lilley, Hannah Martin, Marie Meysembourg, Noah Mruz, Maddie Quest, Anchu Thakral, Victor Tran, Morgan Welsh and Brianna Woo.

Highview student competes at national competitions Bill Ketola qualified and competed in the National History Bee finals in March. He was also a National Geographic State Geography Bee competitor this spring for the second consecutive year. Additionally, Ketola was awarded Highview Middle School’s 2017 Academic Presidential Award for having an Accumulated 3.6 or higher grade point average for all three years of middle school.

National Economics Challenge Champions Mounds View High School’s Economics Team competed against 11,000 students nationwide to take the National Economics Challenge title this year. The team of Benjamin Chen, Michael Pak, Abhishek Vijayakumar and David Zheng, coached by Martha Rush, took first place in the National Economics Challenge in New York City on May 22. It was Mounds View’s second championship and fifth time in the finals. They won an all-expenses paid trip to New York for the final rounds which were aired live on CNBC’s website.

International Science and Engineering Award A STEM project conducted by Mounds View High School students Alex Li and Rebecca Li won the finalist medal in Intel ISEF in Los Angeles in May. The project demonstrated a new approach to biosynthesize a green pesticide from wheat straw. The award came with free Wolfram Mathematics pro software, an all-expense-paid trip to Los Angeles for a week, as well as visits to Universal Studios and Disneyland.

U.S. Chemistry Olympiad Mounds View High School student Alex Li was selected as a 2017 U.S. Chemistry Olympiad finalist and was awarded an all-expensepaid study camp in Colorado this summer.

Quiz Bowl Team competes at Nationals Edgewood Middle School’s Quiz Bowl Team competed at the National Tournament in Dallas and placed in the top 50. Triana Grigsby placed eighth. The team ranked 43rd and was led by teachers Dan Perucco and JoAnna Sturm.

Economics Student of the Year Mounds View senior David Zheng, who has twice been recognized as Minnesota Economics Student of the year and attended the National Economics Challenge finals in New York City for the second time, was selected to attend an all-expenses-paid Economy Camp in Hamburg, Germany, in May.

Top 5 at the State Geography Bee Chippewa Middle School student Kishanth Balamurugan won fifth place at the Minnesota Geography Bee at Minnesota State University, Mankato, in March. This is his second fifth-place win at the State Geography Bee. 16

School Talk

SUMMER 2017

All-State Choir

Irondale musicians named Superior

Irondale students Nicole Clare, Kyle Doherty, Vanessa Johnson and Riley Wenisch were named All-State Choir members for 2017-18.

Six Irondale students attended the Region 5AA Solo & Ensemble Contest at Centennial High School in early April.

Nicole Clare Kyle Doherty

Vanessa Johnson Riley Wenisch

All-State Music Ensembles Irondale students Nick Seel and Maria Heuring (pictured) were named to the Minnesota Music Educator’s All-State Ensembles. Seel will perform with the Symphonic Band playing bass trombone, and Maria Heuring will perform with the Jazz Band playing vibes and auxiliary percussion. Kevin Ihnen was named as double bass alternate for the Jazz Band. Ryan Wood was chosen for the Minnesota Music Educator’s AllState Orchestra on string bass.

The following students received Superior ratings for their solos (back row): Hannah Sprague (clarinet) Ben Polk (horn), Nick Seel (trombone), (front row) Caitlyn Tinerella (bassoon), Kathryn Grutoski (horn) and Elizabeth Hicok (flute).

Best for music

For the fifth consecutive year, the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) recognized Mounds View Public Schools with the Best Communities for Music Education designation. Mounds View was one of only seven Minnesota school Districts to receive the designation for 2017.

Presidential Award for Excellence finalist Mike Larson, a teacher and instructional strategies facilitator at Chippewa Middle School, was named a Minnesota finalist for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching program for his outstanding contributions as a mathematics teacher. He will be honored during the annual conference for the Minnesota Council of Teachers of Mathematics in May 2018.

STAY INFORMED To subscribe to District and school e-newsetters, and receive the latest information on a variety of topics throughout the school year, please visit www.moundsviewschools.org/enews.

SUMMER 2017

School Talk

WITH HONORS Top in the state for color guard

Sunnyside teacher honored

Performing their show “Please Hold,” the Irondale winter color guard finished in third place at the North Star State Color Guard Championships. They were also finalists at the WGI Omaha Regional competition and they competed at the World Championships in Dayton, Ohio.

Sunnyside Elementary School teacher Rosalie Venterea was recognized with the Minnesota Reading Corps Lifetime Achievement Award in June for completing the maximum years of service with the Minnesota Reading Corp program. During her four years of being a Reading Corps Tutor, Venterea served more than 7,000 hours tutoring first-, secondand third-grade students. In addition to tutoring, she also organized and coached chess club at Sunnyside with 65 students participating each week.

World Drumline competitor The Irondale drumline finished in eighth place out of 64 groups in their class at the Drumline World Championships in late April. This marks the fourth time in Irondale’s history that the drumline placed in the Top 10 at the championships.

National History Bowl competitors Chippewa Middle School students Owen Arndt, Connor Pederson and Shardul Rao competed at the National History Bowl. Sharduhl Rao competed in the eighth-grade division and finished in the top 30 out of over 300. Connor Pederson competed in the seventh-grade division and finished in the top 100 out of almost 300. Owen Arndt competed in the seventh-grade division and finished in the top 150 out of almost 300. Aurora Wang, a sixthgrader at Chippewa, competed in the elementary division and finished in the top 250 out of almost 400. 18

School Talk

SUMMER 2017

SkillsUSA students compete at National Leadership Conference Mounds View High School SkillsUSA students traveled to Louisville, Ky., to compete with 16,000 top students from around the world at the National SkillsUSA Champions and Leadership Conference in June. Students who qualified to participate included Rachel Deno (Minnesota State SkillsUSA President), Jack O’Brien, Josie Walfoort and Ali Madow (first place at State for American Spirit).

Bar Association recognizes Irondale student Irondale High School ninthgrader Claire Alexander was one of only two high school students selected as a winner in the Ramsey County Bar Association’s Law Day essay contest. Claire received the award from presenters Martin Norder and Judge Diane Alshouse. This year’s essay contest posed two questions: “What does it mean to have a jury of your peers?” and “Why is this an important right for all Americans?”

Students score in top 25 percent of the nation Nearly 100 Mounds View High School students scored in the top 25 percent of the nation on the 2017 National Spanish Exam. Thomas Egan won the Minnesota Senior Scholarship ($1,000) from the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP – MN) and placed second in the state on the level five National Spanish Exam. David Corado placed first in the state on the level five NSE in the bilingual category. Nandini Avula was named the winner of the Junior Travel Award to Peru in July ($3,200). Bethany Kinney placed first in the state on the level four National Spanish Exam. Annika Borgaonkar placed first in the state on the level three National Spanish Exam. Mia Spieler placed third in the state on the level three NSE and was named winner of the Sophomore Global Citizen Scholarship to Concordia Language Villages for two weeks in August 2017 ($2,060). Valerie Heiderman placed second in the state on the level two National Spanish Exam.

Thomas Egan

Nandini Avula

Bethany Kinney

Annika Borgaonkar

Mia Spieler

Valerie Heiderman

Robotics World Champions

Marketing students earn spots at International Conference

Mounds View High School’s FTC robotics teams Height Differential, The Ponytail Posse and EPIC all competed at the World Robotics Championship in April. The Championship hosted more than 1,400 robotics teams from around the world. Height Differential was a finalist for the Inspire Award, the highest award given in FTC robotics. They were also captains of the winning robot game alliance and finished as the FTC World Champions. They will be joining the top eight teams in the world at the Festival of Champions in July. The Ponytail Posse won a first place award for their Promote video and a special Judges Award for “Gracious Professionalism Under Fire.” They have been invited to represent FIRST Robotics at the White House Science Fair later this year.

Mounds View High School students Hufsa Ahmed and Justin Reiling traveled to Anaheim in April to compete against 20,000 students from around the world at the International Career Development Conference — the pinnacle of DECA competitions. Hufsa Ahmed was awarded a chance to compete at the International Conference after placing second at the Minnesota DECA State Career Development Conference in March for her Principles of Hospitality and Tourism presentation. Justin Reiling’s Hotel and Lodging Management Series placed third at the State Conference, earning him a place in the International Conference.

Pictured from left to right: (back row) Grant Altenhofen, John Helgeson, Amelie Elmquist, Sabriyah Taher, Heeral Narkhede, Meghan Froehle, (front row) Akash D’Souza, Nick Riedel, Charlotte Hamilton, Nancy Koshy, Amy Helgeson and Rose Lam.

SUMMER 2017

School Talk

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS UPDATE

IRONDALE Athletes of the Year Liz Axberg and McEwan Rodefeld were named Irondale’s Senior Athletes of the Year. Both students excelled in cross country, nordic ski and track. Liz will be attending St. Catherine University and McEwan will be enrolled at The College of St. Scholastica.

Athena Award winner

Irondale head boys’ varsity lacrosse coach Eric Burtness was named Section 4 Coach of the Year by the Minnesota Boys Coaches Lacrosse Association.

Irondale High School athlete Liz Axberg was named Athena Award winner for 2017. Liz participated in cross country, nordic skiing and track. The St. Paul Area Athena Awards program honors 43 young women annually for their athletic achievements.

Scholarships Ryan Sully signed with Augustana University for track, Sean Sutherlin signed with Sheridan College for basketball, Jacob Zwieg signed with University of Minnesota Crookston for football, Michelle Meyer signed with the University of WisconsinMilwaukee for track, and Lucia Mesfin with Concordia of St. Paul for track.

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

School Talk

SUMMER 2017

Lee Waddell placed third at State and is the current Irondale recordholder in the pole vault.

Elizabeth VanLoon is the Northwest Suburban 3200 conference champion, second place in the 3200 in Section 5AA competition and went on to compete at State.

Michael Kruse was a state participant in the 100 meter competition.

Coach of the Year

Irondale Knights on Twitter @GoIrondale

Track and field state competitors

Track co-curricular activities on your mobile devices. Search MOUNDS VIEW PUBLIC SCHOOLS in the app store.

John Romes was a state qualifier in the 110 meter hurdles.

The girls’ 4 × 400 meter team (pictured below) qualified for the state competition by placing second in the Section 5AA competition. Left to Right are: Megan Ellingson, Michelle Meyer, Liz Axberg and Julia Hayes.

Julia Hayes qualified for three events at the MSHSL state track meet. She has excelled all year in the 100 and 300 meter hurdles along with anchoring the 4 × 400 meter relay. Julia went on to qualify in the 300 and 100 meter hurdles where she placed second in state in the 100 meter hurdles.

MOUNDS VIEW

Athletes of the Year

Boys’ tennis The boys’ tennis team

won the Suburban East Conference Section Championship. Petro Alex was named singles Section Champion. Michael Conlin-Brandenburg and Michael Cao were named Doubles Champions. Bjorn Swenson qualified as an individual. The team finished third in state competition. Petro Alex

Michael ConlinBrandenburg

Michael Cao

Bjorn Swenson

Erin Saemrow Basketball and track

Ryan Nickel Football and baseball

Alexandra Kopiecki Tennis

Ezekiel Lelinga Cross country and track

Track and field The boys track and field team won the Suburban East Conference Championship and were named Section True Team Champions. They finished third in State True Team, Section 5AA. The girls track team also won the Section True Team Championship and finished fourth in True Team State, Section 5AA. Both teams finished fourth at State.

3 × 4 Award Seniors Mark Ousdigian (soccer, nordic ski and track), Spencer Pauly (cross country, nordic ski, track), Talia Miller (cross country, nordic ski and track), Aaron Marx (cross country, nordic ski and track) and Ben Ebert (cross country, nordic ski and track) were recognized with the 3 × 4 Award for competing in three high school sports for all four years.

Mark Ousdigian

Spencer Pauly

Talia Miller

Golf Girls’ golf finished second in Sections.

Fine Arts Students of the Year

Boys’ golf finished second in Sections. Mitchell Wheeler qualified for State.

Charlotte Lim and Eric Besonen were named Mounds View High School’s Fine Arts Students of the Year.

Mitchell Wheeler

Charlotte LIm

Find the Mounds View Mustangs on Twitter @GoMVMustangs Follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/MoundsViewHighSchool

Aaron Marx

Ben Ebert

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

Eric Besonen

Track co-curricular activities on your mobile devices. Search MOUNDS VIEW PUBLIC SCHOOLS in the app store.

SUMMER 2017

School Talk

CLASS OF 2017 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 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 2017 Irondale Staff Scholarship Madeline Hormann

916 Foundation Mackenzie Glaser Lila Hallett Morgan Matlock Bailiff Memorial Scholarship Fund Anisa Hussein Fatoumatta Jarju Soraia Mohamed Gao Nou Yang Beisswenger Scholarship Fund Sarah Bodin DLMC Foundation Emily Dobbins Sam German Morgan Matlock Evelyn Ostrowski Kaya Parsons Brianna Woo Elwood F. Caldwell Scholarship of The N Suburban St. Paul Golden K Kiwanis Club Teresa Skubal Fridley American Legion Scholarship Helen Sabrowsky Awo Salad Hoverman Family Scholarship Selin Toker

School Talk

Irondale Student Council Nicole Burckhardt Molly Doerrer Jodi Maurer-Knudson Memorial Fund Elizabeth Axberg Kirk & Elizabeth Wheeler Fund Noah Mruz Kopp Family Foundation Sydney McGraw Margot Nammacher Abigal Rabenn Mikena Senarighi Lake Region Hockey Association Mackenzie Carlson McEwan Rodefeld Laura Harris Memorial Scholarship Mackenzie Glaser Marie Greenwald Memorial Fund Matthew Van Bruggen Memorial Blood Center Molly Doerrer Edith James

SUMMER 2017

Mounds View Community Theater Fine Arts Scholarship Adam Kelner

New Brighton Fraternal Order of Eagles, Auxiliary No. 3718 Kathryn Grutkoski

Mounds View Lions, Waste/Witte Kaia Columbus-Munson Mackenzie Spehn

New Brighton Lions Club Brian Blanchard Leah Damerow Kendra Edmonds Emily Fontaine Caitlin Geisenhoff Elizabeth Hernandez Soria Joshua Tillman

Mounds View Education Association Matthew Barton Henry Hofstede Michelle Meyer Benjamin Mildenberger Brianna Pearson Noelle Reiling Benjamin Young Mounds View Schools Education Foundation Alec Burgoyne Tatum Johnson Claire Kim Lindsey McConnell Hanna Norlinger Samantha Jean Ryan Anshuman Thakral

New Brighton/Mounds View Rotary Club Trong Cu Citlaly Escobar Tallman Math/Science Scholarship Charles Ouellette Tom Mischke Memorial Scholarship Luke Janecek Wilcox Sonam Paichang

Class of 2017 post-secondary plans: Work/ Apprentice 5%

Undecided/ Other 9%

College 84%

Military 2%

Justin Davis was among hundreds of students to participate in the graduation ceremony on June 6 at Irondale High School. The Class of 2017 is made up of 389 Irondale High School students.

Katherine Patten (highest honors), Lucia Mesfin and Marta Crooks.

Class of 2017 Highest Honors Elizabeth Axberg............ St. Catherine University Matthew Barton............ Bethel University Rebecca Blonigen......... Unknown Nicole Burckhardt......... UW Madison Alec Borgoyne............... UW La Crosse Leah Damerow.............. Concordia University Molly Doerrer................ UW Madison Kathryn Grutkoski.......... Kenyon College Madeline Hormann....... UM Twin Cities Tatum Johnson.............. Life University Claire Kim..................... UM Twin Cities Seth Knox..................... UM Twin Cities

Rachael Peterson.......... UW Madison

Sean LaFleur................. UW La Crosse

Ela Piskorski.................. University of Wyoming

Jillian Lothrop................ North Dakota State University

Cassie Rogers............... Macalester College

Connor Mann................ Clemson University

Teresa Skubal................ Illinois Institute of Technology

Hanna Norlinger............ UM Twin Cities

Hannah Sprague........... Wartburg College

Riley O’Neill.................. University of St. Thomas

Anshuman Thakral......... University of California at Berkeley

Charles Ouellette.......... UM Twin Cities

Selin Toker.................... UM Twin Cities

Katherine Patten........... UM Twin Cities

Brianna Woo................. University of California at Berkeley

SUMMER 2017

School Talk

CLASS OF 2017 Mounds View High School Class of 2017 916 Foundation Sammy Mishal

Hoverman Family Scholarship Morgan Kerfeld

Arden Hills – Shoreview Rotary Mohammed Alasadi

Joseph F. Kunze Scholarship Fund Angela Kim

Bailiff Memorial Scholarship Fund Alexia Johnson Nathaniela Lachica

Kopp Family Foundation Elizabeth Fleming Allison Forsythe Charlotte Lim

Beisswenger Scholarship Fund Rebecca Gillis Brandon Carlson Memorial Scholarship Sam Bobick Jack Graham Carey Crimmins Scholarship Isaac Angaran Don Segner Memorial Jacqueline Bertelsen Doug Christenson Scholarship Alexandra Gebhardt Nicholas Johnson Fridley American Legion Scholarship Madison Brandt Corrin Swintosky

Mounds View Basketball Association Jackson Denny Sophie Fixsen Erin Saemrow Nate Varburg Mounds View Community Theater Fine Arts Scholarship Sarah Springhorn Mounds View High School Alumni Association Maija Engebretson Mounds View High School Mustang Club Kofo Mustapha Noah Nelson Mounds View Student Council Kristina Quanbeck

Class of 2017 post-secondary plans: Undecided/Other 6% Work/Apprentice 2%

College 90%

Military 2%

Julia Sacay, Gabrielle Gonzalez and Baian Abu-Atieh will enter college next fall as juniors after earning two-year associate degrees through the Early College program. They were honored at the graduation ceremony by principal Jeff Ridlehoover.

Mounds View Education Association Cal Kleppe Quinn McDonagh Lauren O’Dougherty Marissa Peschel Thomas Rolfs Shanley Sokolowski Emily Walberg Mounds View Schools Education Foundation Peter Kennedy Neva Knoll Jeanna Lavalle Melissa Loken Kaylee Nielsen Braden O’Connor Niranjan Sankar New Brighton Fraternal Order of Eagles, Auxiliary No. 3718 Lahiri Naikwad

School Talk

SUMMER 2017

New Brighton Lions Club Daria Burton Charles Crist Joseph Floeder Karen Ketola Lisa Reimann Emma Tsai Calvin Wong North Suburban Community Foundation Tiffany Li Leah Lind Sherry Lou Engebretsen Memorial Fund Blessie Tandon Thank You Scholarship Kira Bunkholt Neva Knoll Vadnais Heights Area Community Foundation Tyler Hong

Class of 2017 Highest Honors Jacqueline Bertelsen........... UM Twin Cities

Caleb Lachinski................... UM Twin Cities

Kira Bunkholt...................... American University, Washington D.C.

Gabriel Lee......................... UM Twin Cities

Devina Chatterjee................ Johns Hopkins University

Olivia Ley............................ Baylor University

Sajel Dutt............................ Rice University

Tiffany Li............................. UM Twin Cities

Willis Ehrler......................... UM Twin Cities

George Mata....................... Army ROTC, Creighton University

Natalie Erickson.................. UM Twin Cities

Kailey Newcome.................. Vanderbilt University

Jessica Eveland................... Bethel University

Kaylee Nielsen.................... Vanderbilt University

Joseph Floeder.................... Fordham University

Braden O'Connor................. Purdue University

Allison Forsythe................... UM Duluth

Mackenna Page................... UM Twin Cities

Rebecca Gillis..................... UW Madison

Neil Patel............................ UM Twin Cities Jacob Ramos...................... UM Twin Cities Taylor Rimell........................ Cal Berkeley Niranjan Sankar.................. UM Twin Cities Julia Schroeder................... University of Southern California Clara Schubilske................. Northwestern University, Evanston, IL Sarah Springhorn................ Northwestern University, Evanston, IL Blessie Tandon.................... Purdue University Sabrina Tang....................... UM Twin Cities Emma Tsai.......................... Stanford University Nathan Varberg................... Wheaton College, IL Amanda Vo......................... UM Twin Cities Alan Wang........................... UM Twin Cities Madison Wang.................... Stanford University Roshan Wariar..................... UM Twin Cities

The Mounds View High School Class of 2017 is made up of 451 students including Joseph Murphy (Green and White Award), Mackenna Page (Highest Honors Medal) and Madeline Smith (Green and White Award).

Abbegayle Witham.............. College of Saint Benedict Paige Woldt......................... St. Olaf College Thomas Wong...................... UM Twin Cities Daniel Yong......................... University of Chicago

Ethan Gin............................ UM Twin Cities

Amber Zhao........................ Columbia University, New York

Lucia Grande...................... Colorado School of Mines

David Zheng........................ University of California at Berkeley

Tyler Hong........................... Stanford University Lisa Huang.......................... University of Notre Dame Taylor Jang.......................... Creighton University

Area Learning Center and Adult Education

Morgan Kerfeld.................... UM Twin Cities

The Area Learning Center Class of 2017 included 62 students. The following graduates received scholarships:

Reem Khan......................... UM Twin Cities

Bailiff Memorial Scholarship Fund.......................Paige Jones

Tiffany Khong...................... University of Notre Dame

Mounds View Lions, Waste/Witte.........................Caitlin Thompson

Angela Kim......................... UM Twin Cities

New Brighton Lions Club.......................................Samantha Thompson

Caroline Jeddeloh............... UW Madison

Jiyun Kim............................ UM Twin Cities Alexandra Kopiecki.............. Hamline or Wellesley Faith Kosek......................... McGill University, Quebec, Canada

The Adult Education graduating class included 176 students who received a General Equivalency Degree (GED) and 18 students who received high school diplomas.

Michael Kuehn.................... Iowa State University

SUMMER 2017

School Talk

COMMUNITY EDUCATION

Community Education changed to an online system last year. School websites will direct visitors to gradelevel and location-specific opportunities and offer online registration links. Registration is also available at www.moundsviewschools.org/communityed.

Registration is open now: Middle school athletics Registration for the fall season starts on Monday, July 17. Community Education coordinators will be available at all back-to-school events to help answer questions. Fall offerings include: • Cross country

• Science, Technology and Engineering Classes at all elementary schools

• Tennis • Ultimate frisbee

Registration opens soon Elementary/middle school enrichment registration opens on August 15 for activities taking place from September through December. Activities are school specific and only offered to students who attend that particular school: • Before-school Spanish at Pinewood and Valentine Hills Elementary Schools • After-school Spanish at Bel Air, Island Lake, Sunnyside and Turtle Lake Elementary Schools • Kindergarten Spanish at Pike Lake and Snail Lake

School Talk

• Chess Club at Bel Air, Pinewood and Valentine Hills Elementary Schools • Art Classes at all elementary schools

• Soccer

• Irondale Knightline Dance Team Clinic at Bel Air, Pinewood and Sunnyside Elementary Schools

SUMMER 2017

• Climbing and Archery Clubs at Turtle Lake Elementary School • Chippewa Glee Club at Chippewa Middle School • Strategy Gaming/Chess at all middle and high schools • Saturday seasonal art camps • Saturday science, technology and engineering camps All students are encouraged to participate in these opportunities. Mounds View Community Education is committed to ensuring that all students have access to affordable and high quality out-of-school programming. Scholarships are available for students receiving Free and Reduced Lunch for all Community Education opportunities. If interested and eligible, please contact the Community Education Office at 651-621-6057. You can also contact your student’s Dean and/or the Building Community Education Coordinator for students in grades 6-12.

2017-18 BACK TO SCHOOL EVENTS KINDERGARTEN CENTERS Open Houses Pike Lake Education Center August 30 Pinewood & Valentine Hills kindergarten families: 4 – 5 p.m.

Bel Air & Sunnyside kindergarten families: 6 – 7 p.m.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS Bel Air

Chippewa

MEET YOUR TEACHER

WELCOME BACK NIGHT

August 30

August 24

1st grade..............10 – 11 a.m. or 4:15 – 5:15 p.m.

OPEN HOUSE......................2 – 4 p.m.

2nd & 3rd grade...11 – 11:45 a.m. or 5:15 – 6 p.m.

MEET YOUR TEACHERS.....4 – 7 p.m.

4th & 5th grade....12 – 12:45 p.m. or 6:15 – 7 p.m. LAURENTIAN CHAPERONE MEETING

MEET YOUR TEACHER

August 30............... 4:30 – 6 p.m. EARLY GOAL SETTING MEETINGS

August 31...............................9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

PICTURE DAY & PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE DAY

August 24...........10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

IN THE MIDDLE DAY

August 31

September 5 for 6th-graders only

Sunnyside August 31............ 9 – 10 a.m. 5 – 6 p.m.

PICTURE DAY & SCHEDULE PICKUP

August 24...............10 a.m. – 7 p.m. 9TH GRADE PARENT MEETING

August 29..................... 6 – 7 p.m. 12TH GRADE PARENT MEETING

September 18............... 6 – 6:30 p.m. BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT

September 18............... 6:30 – 8 p.m.

Area Learning Center OPEN HOUSE

August 30......................... 2 – 7 p.m.

August 28............................. 4 – 7:30 p.m.

MEET & GREET CONFERENCES

September 18...................5:30 – 6:15 p.m.

Mounds View

ALL-SCHOOL PICNIC/ORIENTATION

August 30............ 4 – 7 p.m.

MEET YOUR TEACHER

September 18...................6:30 – 8:15 p.m.

Highview HAWK PRIDE CELEBRATION

August 23............... 5 – 7 p.m.

GOAL SETTING MEETINGS

HAWK PRIDE WELCOME BACK DAY

August 31............................. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

August 23............................. 1 – 7 p.m.

September 14....................... 4 – 7 p.m.

IN THE MIDDLE DAY

September 5 for 6th grade and new 7th & 8th grade only

Turtle Lake MEET YOUR TEACHER

PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT

August 30 1st grade and new families........ 3:45 – 6:15 p.m. Families with Last names A – M ...................... 4:15 – 5:15 p.m. Families with Last names N – Z ....................... 5:15 – 6:15 p.m.

Valentine Hills PARENT INFORMATION/ MEET YOUR TEACHER

August 30 1st grade and new families........ 3:45 – 4:15 p.m.

More information and school supply lists will be posted at www.moundsviewschools.org/backtoschool.

Edgewood August 25............... 7 – 10 a.m.

MEET YOUR TEACHER

SENIOR PARENT MEETING (AUDITORIUM) BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT

September 19 7th & 8th grade........................6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

ORIENTATION

Pinewood Irondale

PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT

September 13 6th grade.................................6 – 8 p.m.

Island Lake

HIGH SCHOOLS

IN THE MIDDLE DAY

September 5 for 6th-graders only

August 30...............................7 – 7:45 p.m.

Snail Lake Education Center August 29 Back to School Night 4 – 6 p.m.

MIDDLE SCHOOLS

Families with Last names A – M ...................... 4:15 – 5:15 p.m. Families with Last names N – Z ....................... 5:15 – 6:15 p.m.

September 14....................... 6 – 8 p.m.

Need help with school supplies? 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 900 low-income students throughout Mounds View Public Schools. Families needing assistance should contact 651-621-7451. School supply donations are needed. Make a donation at www.ralphreederfoodshelf.org or visit the Upcoming Events page in early August to view an up-to-date list of our most needed items, drop-off locations and hours.

SUMMER 2017

School Talk

H T 4

N O S

Music

Mounds View

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

TWIN CITIES MN PERMIT NO 4112

Independent School District 621 4570 Victoria St. N Shoreview, MN 55126

Mounds View Music at Mounds View is a professional concert series that brings high-caliber, nationally recognized artists into our community for public performances at Mounds View High School.

Friday November 17, 2017 7 p.m.

KAT PERKINS

Join us for our exciting fourth season! Season pass and single event tickets are available at the door or online at www.moundsviewschools.org/musicatmoundsview. All performances are held at Mounds View High School, 1900 Lake Valentine Road, Arden Hills.

Saturday, February 3, 2018 • 7 p.m.

WILD GOOSE CHASE CLOGGERS Wild Goose Chase Cloggers bring 13 energetic dancers to the stage for a fun-filled performance of Appalachian clogging. Dancers are accompanied by the Chicken Sedan, a band playing lively banjo, bass-fiddle and guitar music that often brings event-goers to their feet.

Best known for her performance on NBC’s The Voice, nationally recognized singer and songwriter Kat Perkins will kick off this year's Music at Mounds View series. Mounds View middle school choir students will join Perkins on stage for a grand finale performance.

Sunday January 14, 2018 2 p.m.

CLOCKS AND CLOUDS With Mounds View string students A Minneapolis-based instrumental trio that combines classical instrumentation with rock aesthetics, Clocks and Clouds has produced multiple recordings and has commanded audiences around the country.

Sunday, April 15, 2018 • 2 p.m.

OKEE DOKEE BROTHERS The GRAMMY® Award-winning Okee Dokee Brothers, are a family favorite on the Music at Mounds View line-up. The duo performs family music with a goal to inspire children and their parents to get outside and get creative. The four-time Parents’ Choice Award winners have garnered praise from the likes of NPR’s All Things Considered and USA Today, and have been called “two of family music’s best songwriters.”