innesota is home to the largest population of Somali’s in the United States according to the 2010 Census. According to Superintendent Rob Metz, the administration felt it needed a new position to help the transition of Somali families. Metz hopes Tarabi Jama will have an influence over the atmosphere of the high school. “My overall goal is that every student feels like the high school is theirs. They feel valued, not like an outsider. The more we can communicate the more likely it is that this occurs and all students can contribute to the good things that happen in the school,” Metz said. Jama said he sees a need for his position. “If you look at the weight of the minority students, there is a need for someone to advocate for them,” Jama said. “I help parents understand their children’s education in their mother language.” Jama said parents have provided feedback. “The response is excellent. They feel they are being listened to, and there is someone in the district advocating for them,” Jama said. Sophomore Saamiya Amin hopes Jama helps students get more involved. “Minority students often don’t want to participate. They feel like they won’t fit in,” Amin said. “He might make them feel like they won’t feel out of place participating.” Jama’s goal is for all to feel a part of the community. “This is the land of opportunity. They are here, they should succeed. The sky is the limit,” Jama said.
ince the drowning of a middle school student, Abdullahi Charif, in February during a physical education class, pool use during the school day has been suspended until the Aquatic Task Force Committee has established an aquatics policy. “We began by talking and listing the pros and cons of whether we should even use the pools specifically for swimming
uring a school board meeting Sept. 27, the board unanimously decided to make boys’ lacrosse a school sport. The meeting addressed ways of making athletics more successful and centered around a discussion about boys’ lacrosse. Park’s athletic director, Andy Ewald, gave a presentation to
lessons and whether it is even schools’ jobs to do such,” Superintendent Rob Metz said. Metz said the issue of whether swimming instruction should be part of physical education needs to be addressed. “We need to first consider why we are using them, whether it be for swim instruction or games,” Metz said. Regarding athletics, swimming coach and member on the committee, Joe Yaeger said since the tragedy, little was changed for Park swimming teams. “The only difference is our assistant coach needed to get lifeguard certification,” he said. “After school programs need
the School Board to express his favor for the switch. “A big part of this transition is that the families are ready and want to become a high school sport,” Ewald said. Ensuring lacrosse becomes a sport this spring is important due to a bylaw passed last spring. This bylaw states club programs can no longer compete against high school teams. Because of this, scheduling will become harder if the team remains as a club, Ewald said. Because the decision was finalized, Ewald must start pre-
to be treated differently than physical education classes, and I think the committee is doing this well.” Metz said these meeting have a positive impact on the development of district pool policy. “[The aquatics task force meetings] help me think the issue through and consider lots of different views. But in the end, the school board will decide what goes,” Metz said. “Before the holiday season, I want to see a School Board policy on aquatics.” As of now district pools are only currently being used for community education and athletics.
paring for the new sport. Ewald’s responsibilities include hiring coaches, letting the high school league know lacrosse is being added as a sponsored sport and educating the club on what is going to be different with the transition. The idea of a high school lacrosse team was supported by all the board members and looked at as a way to create more involvement, according to School Board member Karen Waters. “I think our purpose as a School Board is about finding what a kid’s spark is and doing
Should schools use pools? How will new policies be implemented? Will pools be used for games or lessons?
all in our power to make it happen,” Waters said. Some involved in boys’ lacrosse are excited about the switch, according to senior captain Colin Monicotti. “The amount of teams playing club lacrosse has dwindled, so having new teams to play will be great,” he said. “The increase in competition will be huge for us,” Monicotti said.