Communicator WINTER 2017
Wayzata Public Schools Early Kindergarten Entrance
ACCORDING TO MINNESOTA law, children who are five years old by September 1 of any given year are eligible to begin kindergarten. However, Wayzata Public Schools offers an early kindergarten entrance option for children who will turn five between September 2 and October 15, and reside within the school district at the time of application. Children who demonstrate superior intellectual ability, high levels of academic achievement, and social/emotional development well-advanced for their age may be considered for early kindergarten entrance. If you would like your child to be considered for early kindergarten entrance, please visit www.wayzata.k12.mn.us/earlyentrance to view the district early kindergarten entrance criteria and complete the application. Applications will be accepted through May 1. District staff will evaluate eligible students from mid-May through early June and will make a decision by June 20.
Excellence. For Each and Every Student.
Wayzata Schools Continue to Experience Robust Student Population Growth By Superintendent CHACE B. ANDERSON I WOULD LIKE to share information with you about the continued student growth Wayzata Schools is experiencing and a process that is underway to determine how to best manage our growth to meet student’s needs. In a recent survey of district residents, 99% of parents and 96% of residents rate the quality of Wayzata Public Schools as excellent or good. Demand for our schools has never been greater and we are grateful that families are choosing the Wayzata Schools to provide an excellent learning experience for their child. This growth is putting pressure on our schools, and we need to proactively and strategically address how to best meet student needs.
Here are some facts about our current reality:
>If current housing trends continue, the district can expect approximately another 1,000 new students K-12 by 2019. >New housing developments in the north of the district are being completed 2-3 times faster than originally planned by developers due to consumer demand. >There is also steady growth in the south due to housing turnover bringing in young families. >Even though we opened Meadow Ridge Elementary in fall 2016, made boundary adjustments to right-size all our elementary schools in fall 2016 and will open an addition to Meadow Ridge in fall 2018 – we still need to add capacity at the elementary level to accommodate resident student growth. >While we have capacity issues at the elementary level, projections show we have adequate space at the middle schools and high school through 2030. This is due to the recent expansion of Wayzata High …Student Population Growth (continues on page 2)
“Thoroughly Modern Millie” Receives Honors from Spotlight Education Program WAYZATA HIGH SCHOOL’S production of Thoroughly Modern Millie, and many of the cast and crew, were named among the fall 2016 honorees by Spotlight Education, a program of the Hennepin Theatre Trust. This past fall, evaluators assessed the productions of 82 schools and submitted nominations. Shows are not compared or ranked against each other and categories can have multiple honorees. The musical received “outstanding” in the categories of Achievement in Musical Theatre, A/V Board Operators, Ensemble Performance, Overall Performance, Overall Production, Overall Technical Team, Student Orchestra, Vocal Performance ”Thoroughly Modern Millie”… (continues on page 3)