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St. Francis Community for Drug Awareness receives county award David Roberts St. Francis Community for Drug Awareness Board Member
a division of Independent School District 15 Community Education | St. Francis, Minnesota
May 2014 | Volume 21, Issue 10
PAGE 32
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On April 8 as we stood among doctors who spent their careers helping reduce the spread of disease, first responders who helped turn their city into a Heart Safe Community and a few other very distinguished individuals who were being recognized for devoting their time, energy and talents to improving their communities, we took a moment to reflect. It had been
On April 8, board members from St. Francis Community for Drug Awareness (SFCDA) received an Anoka County Public Health Award for their commitment to reducing drug deaths in the community. Pictured (L-R) are Jen Semler, David Roberts, Michelle Anderson, Heidi Clark, Jillian Ringer and Matt Look, Anoka County Commissioner. SFCDA has only been in existence for six months, but in that time, the committee has organized events and forums to bring public awareness to drug problems in Submitted Photo our area.
almost six months to the day since we as a community stood up and said, “Not one more.” On this day, we were able to look back on our efforts and, maybe for the first time, take inventory of what we had built. Six months ago, when we formed St. Francis Community for Drug Awareness (SFCDA), we did not have a plan. We did not know where we were heading or where this path would lead. We knew we had lost a member of our community to the evils of drug use. Like so many communities around us, we were forced to look at this issue that was suddenly in our face. That was when the energy started moving SFCDA forward. Together, we decided to take a stand. Since that fateful day, we held our first awareness forum. We helped surrounding communities around us build similar events and structures to help them take a stand. We helped families by providing information and resources. Through our work, we helped families see they are not alone and there are others they can reach for support. Through our efforts, we watched a student-led movement at St. Francis High School the week leading into prom called Drug Awareness Week. Banners, made by students, along with hundreds of pledge cards, signed by students, promising to make the choice to live drug free, were on display at the high school. So, on April 8, we let out a collective sigh. Not that our work was finished, but that the path is clear. We see a vision for the future, we have goals and we see a way to get there. This will always be something that we must work on together, but we know we can. When we accepted the Anoka County Public Health Award, we did so not just on behalf of SFCDA, but for all of the families in our community who have known this struggle, all of the volunteers who have helped along the way and all of the people who took a stand and said, “Not one more.” We accept the award in your honor and say, “Thank you.”
May What’s Inside The Bridge Street Singers are a competitive show choir from St. Francis High School. This 53-member group, with a seven-member band, has been preparing for their competition season since September. Under the direction of Lukas Warren and Ana-Maria Kraemer, these remarkable students have attended 13 competitions over the last three years. Competing against schools who have been involved in show choir for over 30 years, the Bridge Street Singers have had a very successful showing and have placed in finals 10 of the 13 times they competed. The group traveled as far as Mitchell, South Dakota, where they earned third runner up. One of the highlights from the year was competing in Warren’s hometown of Hastings, where our own Connor Olson (center) was named Best Male Vocalist. Due to its amazing success and an increase in student interest, a junior varsity show choir is being created for the 2014-15 school year and will be under the direction of Katelyn Larson. Kathi Greene, Parent
Schools in Action..........................................3 School Board Highlights......................... 12 Community Education............................ 13 Mother’s Day............................................... 16 Community & Business........................... 20 Sports & Outdoors.................................... 30 Courier Readership Survey.................... 32 Life.................................................................. 33 Classified....................................................... 35