WPS June 2014 Communicator by Wayzata Public Schools

June 2014

Excellence. For each and every student.

Communicator T

CONSTRUCTION PROCESS MOVING FORWARD

hanks to voters approving the February 25 referendum, planning is underway on the new addition to Wayzata High School and a new eighth elementary school. In addition, safety, security and technology infrastructure updates and improvements approved by voters will begin this summer. The following is a summary of our progress to date and next steps.

High School & Elementary Core Planning Teams Two Core Planning Groups, one for the high school addition and the other for the new elementary school, have begun meeting. These groups are made up of 1215 individuals including representatives from: Wold Architects and Engineers, Kraus Anderson, district staff, parents and students. To date, these groups have toured other schools throughout the metro area for ideas and will continue to meet this summer and fall to provide big picture guidance and conceptual organization to each of the project designs. Get Involved and Provide Input to Construction Process As design concepts begin to be developed, a number of user groups will be brought together for one or two-time discussions to share input on specific aspects of the high school and elementary projects. This input will be shared with the appropriate Core Planning Group to guide and inform their work. High school user group meetings are tentatively scheduled for September 9, 10 and 11, 2014. Elementary user group meetings are tentatively scheduled for October 7, 8 and 9, 2014. Specific dates will be shared with those who sign up as they are finalized. Send an email to construction@wayzata.k12.mn.us if you would like to participate in a user group discussion and have not already signed up. Opportunities to provide input online will also be shared later this summer and fall. Construction Timelines and Next Steps • Design of the high school addition and improvements will proceed during summer 2014;

Planning is underway for the new addition to Wayzata High School, as well as for a new eighth elementary school and districtwide safety, security and technology infrastructure updates and improvements.

construction will likely start late fall 2014 and continue for nearly two years. The new addition is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2016. • Elementary school design will start after a final site is determined; construction is expected to begin by the summer of 2015. The new elementary will be located somewhere north of Highway 55 and west of the future expansion of Peony Lane to Lawndale Lane. With the addition of an eighth elementary school, a process to reconfigure school attendance areas to balance enrollment at all elementary schools will be determined and shared with the community this fall. The new elementary school is scheduled to be open in fall 2016. Safety, Security and Technology Infrastructure Improvements In addition to the new high school addition and eighth elementary school, infrastructure improvements

approved in the referendum are also being planned. For example, work will be underway soon at Central Middle School to relocate the main office to the front of the building. The new secure entrance at Central is scheduled to be completed this summer. New secure entrances at East and West Middle Schools are anticipated to begin in the spring of 2015 and be completed sometime during the summer or fall of 2015. In addition, a multi-year fiber optic infrastructure update will begin this summer to update, modernize and increase connectivity to meet our growing and evolving technology needs. Updates will continue to be shared as the construction projects proceed. For more information, visit our website at www.wayzata.k12.mn.us, call and leave your questions on the Construction Hotline at 763-745-5050, or send an email to construction@wayzata.k12.mn.us.

Wayzata Public Schools Maintains “AAA” Bond Rating

ayzata Public Schools recently had its “AAA” bond rating affirmed by Moody’s Investors Service and Standard and Poor’s Financial Services. The following strengths were cited as reasons for the continued positive rating: • Large, diverse and affluent tax base favorably located in the Twin Cities metro area; • Strong and sophisticated management team; • Consistent levy history for voter-approved operating levies; and • Positive enrollment trends. 1

Wayzata received its first “AAA” bond rating in September 2008 as evidence of the district’s strong financial health. According to Jim Westrum, executive director of finance and business, there are many advantages associated with having a “AAA” bond rating, including access to lower interest rates and borrowing costs, and greater stability to deal with the unpredictability of school funding from the State. For example, the tax impact of the recent bond issue approved by voters on February 25 will be less than the estimates provided prior to the election thanks to the “AAA” bond rating.

Bright Futures Await Class of 2014

ore than 90 percent of the 781 graduates in the Wayzata High School Class of 2014 are making plans to attend two- or four-year colleges or universities. The summary of post-high school plans for the Class of 2014 includes the following: • University of Minnesota, all campuses: 157 • Minnesota four-year state universities: 38 • Minnesota four-year private colleges/ universities: 77 • Minnesota one- and two-year colleges: 68 • Out-of-state four-year public colleges/universities: 228 • Out-of-state four-year private colleges/universities: 101 • Out-of-state one- and two-year colleges: 6 • College bound, school undecided: 28 • College bound, non-U.S. colleges: 1

Students celebrate the end of the 2014 Wayzata High School Commencement with the traditional hat toss at Mariucci Arena on the University of Minnesota Campus the evening of May 30.

The remaining Wayzata students have indicated the following choices for their post-high school plans: • Other education: 14 • Military: 7 • Work: 18 • Other plans: 38

• Total college bound students: 704

The top 10 colleges chosen by 2014 Wayzata graduates are: University of MN, Twin Cities (116); University of MN, Duluth (37); University of Wisconsin, Madison (35); Iowa State University (35); Normandale Community College (27); University of St. Thomas (22); University of

Missouri Columbia (17); St. Cloud State University (16); Minneapolis Community and Technical College (15); North Dakota State University (13); University of Wisconsin, Stout (12); Gustavus Adolphus College (12); University of North Dakota (12).

Keffeler Hired as Principal of New Eighth Elementary School

hanks to the successful February 25 referendum, a new eighth elementary school will be built to accommodate the district’s growing student population. Karen Keffeler will become the new principal of the eighth elementary school. Keffeler has been principal of Sunset Hill Elementary School since 2004 and was associate principal of Wayzata East Middle School from 1999-2004. In addition to nearly 20 years of experience as a principal, Keffeler also has construction design and management experience from when she was involved in the process to build North Prairie Junior High in Winthrop Harbor, IL from 19971999. Keffeler will remain the principal at Sunset Hill through the 2014-

2015 school year and assume fulltime duties as principal of the new elementary school beginning on July 1, 2015 to ensure a smooth opening of the new school in the fall of 2016. A dean (teacher on special assignment) will be hired at Sunset Hill to provide additional administrative support and coverage during the 2014-2015 school year so that Keffeler can also participate in the construction planning process. A new principal will be hired at Sunset Hill in time for the 2015-2016 school year. “We are excited to have Karen step into this new role as principal of the new elementary school,” shared Superintendent Chace Anderson. “Karen has the perfect combination of skills and experiences and it is important for her to be a part of

the construction planning process from the beginning stages. We are committed to providing Sunset Hill staff with the additional support needed during the 2014-2015 school year to make this a smooth transition for everyone involved.” Keffeler is looking forward to

her new position. “I am honored that the district has entrusted me with this monumental task,” said Keffeler. “This is an opportunity that few principals ever have during their career, and I am excited for the challenge.”

Trojan Tots Registration Open for Fall 2014

ayzata Public Schools is looking for potty-trained 3-, 4-, or 5-year-olds to participate in the Trojan Tots program taught by Wayzata High School students in the Child Development and Parenting II class. Dates and times are September 15 through October 23, 2014, from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. There will be no school on Thursday, October 16. A field trip has also been planned and a graduation day 2

Sunset Hill Principal Karen Keffeler has been hired as the principal of the district’s future eighth elementary school.

for families has been planned for Thursday, October 23. For registration materials or more information, contact Stephanie Bonsen at 763-745-6263, or by email at stephanie.bonsen@wayzata.k12.mn.us. The newchild registration form is also available for parents to complete on the district’s website at www.wayzata.k12.mn.us/wps/trojantotsregistration.

What a year it has been!

n Friday, May 30, 781 students graduated from Wayzata High School at Mariucci Arena. It is always a highlight of my year to be a part of celebrating the accomplishments of each of our students as they cross the stage. Before I share some of the many accomplishments of the Class of 2014, I would like to take a look back on the past year and share some of the other highlights that happened across the district. At the beginning of the school year, we embarked upon the largest referendum campaign in the district’s history to meet the growing needs of our resident student population. Thanks to an amazing collaborative effort including our School Board, district staff and parent and community volunteers, we successfully passed a $109.645 million referendum to build an addition to Wayzata High School, build an eighth elementary school and address the district’s safety, security and technology infrastructure needs. The referendum had a phenomenal passage rate of nearly 80%. We are humbled and take this vote of confidence very seriously. I hope you will take time to read the front page of the Communicator to learn more about the work that is already underway to make the components of the referendum a reality. This year will also go down for being the most challenging winter in recent history. It was an alltime record in Wayzata with a total of six weatherrelated school cancellations! Thanks to everyone for your patience as we did our best to keep our kids safe and focused on learning. It will certainly make all of us appreciate the warm weather that is finally here like never before. And now back to celebrating the Class of 2014. These students have filled shelves with trophies and honors in academics, arts and activities. Here is just a sampling of their many accomplishments. • Participation in the school’s Advanced Placement Program demonstrates strong academic focus; 396 seniors took 878 AP Classes and 679 AP Exams. • Impressive numbers in the National Merit Scholarship Program with 16 National Merit

Finalists and 25 National Merit Commended Scholars. • The Visual Arts students once again created exceptional projects in each of the art disciplines and worked in partnership with others to fight hunger through the Empty Bowls project. • The Theater Arts program inspired classmates, parents, staff, and the community with exemplary performances of Kiss Me, Kate, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and the Heidi Chronicles. • The Debate team enjoyed one of its most successful seasons in its history. • The Speech team again performed at high levels. • Specific honors in the following programs: Skills USA, Business Professionals of America, DECA, Knowledge Master, Science Olympiad, several Science Competitions, Creative and Fiction Writing, Quiz Bowl, Destination Imagination, Robotics, the World Languages and many others. • The Class of 2014 has proudly represented the school in All-State Band, All-State Choir, and All-State Orchestra in performances at Orchestra Hall. In addition, Minnesota Public Radio recently broadcast Vivaldi’s Gloria by our own Chamber Orchestra and Concert Choir. Further, many students and ensemble groups have received Superior Ratings in competitions and have earned a number of scholarships for their musical talent. • The Math Team earned a number of team and individual honors including several students placing in the top 1-2% of students in the nation with their scores in the American Mathematics Competition. • Outstanding Yearbook and Newspaper publications and impressive Television Broadcast productions. • 90% of our graduates will go on to attend postsecondary education and many will benefit from impressive scholarships. • Incredible athletic achievements including: • Impressive athletic accomplishments from our students participating in Adapted Athletic programs.

From THE SUPERINTENDENT

• Conference Section and State Championships in Boys Cross Country, Girls Cross Country, Girls Swim and Dive, Boys Swim and Dive, Girls Nordic Ski and Synchronized Swimming. • Conference and Section Championships in Gymnastics, Boys Nordic Ski and Dance. • Section Championships in Boys Tennis, Boys Golf and Boys Track and Field. • The Class of 2014 has also been exemplars in serving our communities. Through participation in Student Council, Youth Extending Services, and a wide array of other service groups, our graduates have reached out to participate in local, state, national, and international service-learning and fundraising efforts. It takes a village to raise a child and I hope you feel a sense of pride as a resident of the Wayzata School District as these students embark on the next chapters of their lives. Each and every one of these students is programmed for success and will forever gain from the benefit of their hard work and determination. I am confident they will take on the challenges that await them and improve the world around them in their own unique way. Thank you for your continued support of our students and our schools. It’s been a great year! – Chace B. Anderson, Ph.D. is Superintendent of Wayzata Public Schools

WPSEF Announces 2014 Grant Recipients

he Wayzata Public Schools book talk project using apps and Education Foundation (WPSEF) technology to engage students in selected four grant recipients for its reading. Application submitted 2014 “From Excellent to Exceptional” by Brad Gustafson, Greenwood grant program. The selected projects Elementary. received more than $19,500 in total • Polar Heart Rate Monitor funding from WPSEF for 2014-2015 Initiative: Heart rate monitors programming. Congratulations to the for all three middle schools. 2014 recipients: Monitors used to track heart rate • Lego Robotics: Expansion kits and fitness of students to achieve for the Lego Robotics project for levels approved by state guidelines. the Engineering & Technology Application submitted by Kristine Departments at all three middle Miska and Shelly Mozey. schools. Application submitted by • Teaching for Proficiency through Tyler Shepard. Reading and Storytelling in the • Augmented Reality World Book Elementary Spanish Classroom: Talk: Innovative and interactive Teacher education for TPR

(Total Physical Response) to help facilitate all levels of Spanish learning at the elementary level. Application submitted by Robyn Vethe.

Since 2007, WPSEF’s “From Excellent to Exceptional” grant program has provided nearly $140,000 to projects in the Wayzata Public Schools in a variety of academic areas, including reading and literacy, sensory research, math, science, fine arts and special education. For detailed information on all previous grant recipients visit www.WPSEF.org. The Wayzata Public Schools Education Foundation was formed in

June 2003 by a group of concerned parents and community leaders who wanted to ensure academic excellence across the district despite unreliable state and federal funding for public schools. The Foundation’s sole focus is to maintain and sustain the high quality of education in the Wayzata Public Schools. We wish to thank our generous donors who made these grants possible. If you would like to be a part of the tradition of Wayzata academic excellence, please consider giving to WPSEF. For more information visit www.WPSEF.org.

WHS Senior Named Prestigious U.S. Presidential Scholar

ayzata High School Senior Zoe Tu was named a 2014 U.S. Presidential Scholar by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. Tu is one of 141 outstanding American high school seniors that have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, artistic excellence, leadership, citizenship, service and contribution to school and community. The U.S. Presidential Scholars will be honored for their accomplishments in Washington D.C., from June 22-25. Since 1983, each Presidential Scholar has been offered the opportunity to name his

or her most influential teacher. Each distinguished teacher is honored with a personal letter from the Secretary of Education. The teacher chosen for recognition by Tu was WHS teacher Jodi Grack. The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars, appointed by President Obama, selects honored scholars annually based on their academic success, artistic excellence, essays, school evaluations and transcripts, as well as evidence of community service, leadership and demonstrated commitment to high ideals. Of the three million students expected to graduate from high school this year, more than 3,900 candidates qualified for the 2014 awards determined by outstanding performance on the College Board SAT and ACT exams, and through nominations made by Chief State School Officers or the National YoungArts Foundation’s nationwide YoungArts competition. The 2014 U.S. Presidential Scholars are comprised of one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico and from U.S. Families living abroad, as well as 15 chosen at-large and 20 U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts. Created in 1964, the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program has honored more than 6,500 of the nation’s top-performing students with the prestigious award given to honorees during the annual ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Zoe Tu was named a 2014 U.S. Presidential Scholar by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

Gengler Hired to Lead WHS Construction Project and Beyond

cott Gengler, currently principal of Irondale Senior High School in the Mounds View School District, has been hired as principal on special assignment at Wayzata High School (WHS). Gengler will come on board July 1 to provide leadership for the upcoming high school construction project, as well as to ensure that the district will have a seamless leadership transition into the role of Wayzata High School principal when that time comes. WHS Principal Mike Trewick has not yet announced his retirement. Trewick and Gengler will work closely to ensure that the construction of the new addition is successful and that Gengler has a smooth transition into the role of WHS principal in the future. “Scott and I will be working together closely to get the new addition built and continue Wayzata High School’s commitment to meeting the learning needs of each and every student. There is more than enough work to be done and it will take both of us working together to make it happen,” shared Trewick. Gengler is looking forward to joining the WHS team. “It’s a tremendous opportunity for me and my family. Wayzata High School is an exceptional high school, and it provides a unique opportunity for me to continue working and leading in an innovative school district,” said Gengler With the successful passage of the February 25 referendum to build an addition to Wayzata High School and an eighth elementary school, a tremendous amount of planning, staff and community engagement, monitoring and logistical management will be necessary for a construction project of this magnitude. Gengler will oversee the WHS construction process so that the new addition is ready to open in the fall of 2016. Gengler has held the following administrative positions: • Irondale Senior High School Principal, Mounds View Public Schools (2009-2014) • Watertown-Mayer Senior High School Principal, Watertown-Mayer Public Schools (2001-2009- His work included oversight for a $27 million

Scott Gengler has been hired to lead the high school construction project and will transition into the role of WHS principal in the future.

high school renovation project) • Associate Administrator Minnehaha Academy (1998-2001) Gengler completed his Education Specialist (Educational Leadership and Administration) and Master of Arts Degrees (Secondary Educational Administration) at St. Thomas University in Minneapolis. He completed his Bachelor of Science Degree (Physical Education/DAPE/Health) at Bemidji State University. He lives in Plymouth with his wife and their two children; both students within Wayzata Public Schools. “I am confident that Mr. Gengler will provide exceptional leadership at Wayzata High School for our high school construction projects,” said Superintendent Chace Anderson. “Further, Mr. Gengler’s appointment to this position ensures that the district will have a seamless leadership transition into the role of Wayzata High School Principal when that time comes. His leadership will serve WHS students, staff, families and our entire community very well into the future.”

Plymouth Creek Garden Growing With Community Help

he smell of freshly cut cedar wafted through the air as only a few clouds graced the sky, promising a beautiful day for the long-awaited construction of the Plymouth Creek Elementary School Garden. For over two years, the Plymouth Creek Green Team leaders, Marc Wegner and Ian Paul, envisioned creating a school garden that would provide students with an outdoor classroom to practice real-life applications of science, math and language arts skills, as well as learn about sustainability and nutrition. Little did they realize that their vision would become an example of community collaboration in action! After attempts to fund the garden through outside grant resources failed, the Plymouth Creek PTO

generously provided the money needed to get the infrastructure of the garden beds built. Many school families donated garden supplies, like seed starter kits, tools and gloves, and Dundee Nursery joined in with a generous donation of compost and seed packets. Then, Wayzata High School’s Engineering, Technology and Design teacher, Kyle Swenson, and WHS student, Andrew Evenson, helped precut all of the wood needed for the project, saving the garden team time and money. At long last, on the Saturday before Memorial Day, a volunteer team composed of many Plymouth Creek parents, students and teachers, constructed nine raised garden beds that will provide a unique learning experience for more than 750 students and

Community, parent, business and student volunteers all pitched in to build raised garden beds for the Plymouth Creek Elementary School Garden over Memorial Day weekend.

staff for years to come.  “All of the donations of supplies and time have made this a truly impressive collaborative effort,” shared Marc

Wegner. “This project wouldn’t have happened without all of the donations of time and supplies.”

WHS Synchronized Swim Wins Eighth State Championship

he Wayzata High School Synchronized Swim Team won its eighth consecutive state championship on May 24 at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center. The Trojans won with 137 points and placed first in seven out of 12 events. In addition to the team victory, many individual awards were earned by WHS swimmers including the following: • Riley Ruegemer – first place short solo • Colleen Donlin – first place long solo • Hannah Ogren – second place extended solo • Trisha Morrison – sixth place extended solo • Katlyn Ringquist and Riley Ruegemer – first place short duet • Grace Julian and Anna Vanorsow – third place short duet • Elisabeth Pate and Miranda Roberts – fourth place long duet • Magdalena Leali and Brittney Torguson – sixth place long duet • Colleen Donlin and Hannah Ogren – second place extended duet • Lucy Liu and Katrin Ree – third place extended duet • Lydia Boike and Grace Spencer – ninth place extended duet • Clarie Reid, Katlyn Ringquist, Lauren Webert and Alternate Anna Vanorsow – first place short trio • Grace Anfinson, Grace Julian, Nicole Miller and Alternate Anna Vanorsow – second place short trio • Brooke Alexander, Magdelena Leali, Leah Novik and Alternate Brittney Torguson – fourth place long trio • Meta Nagel, Kaitlyn Haller, Emily Turnquist and Alternate Marisa Skajewski – sixth place long trio • Kylie Crystal, Karin Leland, Caitlin Plate and Alternate Jenna Hahn – seventh place long trio • Lucy Liu, Trisha Morison and Katrin Ree – first place extended trio

The Wayzata High School Synchronized Swim Team is pictured with their trophy after winning the team’s eighth consecutive state championship title.

• Lydia Boike, Brianna Herbert, Grace Spencer and Alternate Miranda Roberts – seventh place extended trio • Grace Anfinson, Grace Julian, Nicole Miller, Clarie Reid, Katlyn Ringquist, Riley Ruegemer, Anna Vanorsow, Lauren Webert, Alternate Elizabeth Alviani and Alternate Katelyn Palesek – first place short team • Elizabeth Alviani, Madeline Bocek, Mari Leland, Paige Mclaughlin, Caroline Muske, Katelyn Palesek and Julianna Prohofsky – fourth place short team • Nicole Aadalen, Allison Herchuk, Samantha Jackson, Hannah Jirsa, Tallulah Letscher, Maddi Lubbers and Jane Speier – 10th place short team • Brooke Alexander, Kylie Crystal, Magdalena Leali, Karin Leland, Leah Novik, Caitlin Plate and Brittney Torguson – third place long team • Sydney Arseth, Rachel Gessner, Jenna Hahn, Sonia Neculescu, Marisa Skajewski and Katie Stover – fifth place long team • Lydia Boike, Colleen Donlin, Lucy Liu, Trisha

Morrison, Hannah Ogren and Katrin Ree – first place extended team • Kaitlyn Haller, Brianna Herbert, Meta Nagel, Elisabeth Pate, Claire Poppendeck, Miranda Roberts, Grace Spencer and Emily Turnquist – seventh place extended team • Colleen Donlin – first place figures extended • Hannah Ogren – third place figures extended • Katrin Ree- eighth place figures extended • Trisha Morrison – 10th place figures extended • Colleen Donlin – first place figures long • Anna Vanorsow – second place figures short • Katlyn Ringquist – third place figures short • Lauren Webert – fourth place figures short • Riley Ruegemer - fifth place figures short • Nicole Miller – sixth place figures short • Colleen Donlin – first place figures combined • Hannah Ogren – third place figures combined • Katrin Ree – eighth place figures combined • Trisha Morrison – 10th place figures combined 5

WHS Teacher to Spend Time at CERN This Summer

WHS Boys’ Swim and Dive Team Wins State Championship

Wayzata High School teacher Karin Foss will travel to CERN this summer for real-life particle physics experience with the Large Hadron Collider.

Pursuing an interest to expand her ability to teach particle physics to her students, Wayzata High School (WHS) teacher Karin Foss was selected to spend time at CERN this summer in order to bring real-life particle physics experience back to her students. CERN is the European Organization for Nuclear Research and is the home of the largest machine in the world, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), which sits 574 feet beneath the French and Swiss border and is 17 miles in circumference. Foss began participating in a program called Quark Net in the summer of 2012 after applying and being accepted into the program designed to bring particle physics curriculum into high schools. She said, “The idea that particle physics is making big strides and is in the news currently, encourages teachers to expand on the knowledge that they may have received in college.” After becoming a Quark Net teacher, Foss was able to attend a second workshop for physics teachers in the summer of 2013. “As luck would have it, there was a national conference on particle physics being held at the University of Minnesota,” she said. So the Quark Net leaders, Shane Wood from Irondale High School and Ken Cicere from the University of Notre Dame, held this second workshop in which she and other Minnesota teachers could further discuss their plans to teach particle physics to their students. She said she was also able to learn more about how the field of particle physics was advancing at that time. In March, as a Quark Net teacher, Foss was able 6

to conduct a “Master Class” at the University of Minnesota for eight WHS students. Wood organized the day and Foss was a guide for her students through the program, which included a lecture from a particle physicist about current knowledge and methods of analyzing data from CERN, a tour of research facilities, and meetings with graduate students at the University of Minnesota who spoke about their research. John (Jack) Buan, a WHS senior, was one of the students that attended this experience and is interested in pursuing particle physics in college. Also in March, Foss applied and was accepted into the “High School Teachers at CERN” program, which is designed to advance the teaching of high school physics, particularly particle physics. Only Quark Net teachers are allowed to apply and Foss said she was grateful to be selected. Between three and five teachers from the United States are selected to attend each year. “I am most excited to meet and work with other teachers from a variety of nations,” said Foss. She will spend three weeks at CERN in Switzerland and hear lectures from leading scientists, as well as work with some of the data collected from the LHC. “I think that the experience will be very beneficial to my students as it will help me increase the depth to which I am able to teach particle physics topics in my classes,” she said. She is also looking forward to learning about how teachers from other countries teach other physics topics and the tremendous sharing of ideas.

he Wayzata High School Boys Swim and Dive Team won its first State Championship on March 1 at the University of Minnesota’s Aquatic Center. The Trojans finished with a team score of 237 points. The following is a summary of results: • Christopher Carlstrom, Jack Kelly, Kevin Stowe and Cort Hanson took second place and set a new school record in the Boys 200Yard Medley Relay • Greg Arnold took fourth place in the Boys 200-Yard Freestyle • Isaiah Pihlstrom took 12th place in the Boys 200-Yard Freestyle • Kevin Stowe took sixth place in the Boys 200-Yard Individual Medley • Eric Mitchell took fourth place in the Boys 1-Meter Diving • Caleb Zarns took seventh place in the Boys 1-Meter Diving • Christopher Carlstrom took third place and set a new school record in the Boys 100-yard Butterfly • Cort Hanson took ninth place in the Boys 100-Yard Butterfly • Greg Arnold took first place and set a new school record in the Boys 100-Yard Freestyle • Isaiah Pihlstrom took 11th place in the Boys 500-Yard Freestyle • Isaiah Pihlstrom, Kevin Stowe, Miles Tracey and Greg Arnold took sixth place and set a new school record in the Boys 200-yard Freestyle Relay • Christopher Carlstrom took sixth place and set a new school record in the Boys 100-Yard Backstroke • Cort Hanson took 10th place in the Boys 100-Yard Backstroke • Kevin Stowe took fifth place and set a new school record in the Boys 100-Yard Breaststroke • Isaiah Pihlstrom, Christopher Carlstrom, Adam Colyer and Greg Arnold took third place and set a new school record in the Boys 400-Yard Freestyle Relay WHS students competed in every event except the 50-yard Freestyle. The team finished with six, top-four finishes. The State Championship caps a winning season for the Trojans with both Lake Conference and Section 5AA Championships. The Team is coached by professional swimmer David Plummer, Mike Yasis, Mike Ballard, Lindsey Schmidt and Olympian Peter Rocca.

Sunset Hill Restaurant Project Provides Real World Experience

tudents at Sunset Hill Elementary School participated in a restaurant project this spring that taught them about entrepreneurship and also raised $651 to purchase 561 pounds of food for Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners (IOCP) Food Shelf. Sunset Hill Vision 21 Teacher Bonnie Hatton began the restaurant program after joining a business partnership in the 1990s that paired her with Peggy Rasmussen, owner of Countryside Café in Hamel. She started out slow with classroom visits but in the second year, Hatton and Rasmussen decided to let the students run the restaurant and become entrepreneurs. Hatton wrote her Masters Degree thesis on demonstrating the importance of business partnerships in the school curriculum, creating a specific curriculum for the upper elementary grades. She emphasized the importance of math, science, communication, English, art and other subjects. Students realized the importance of what they were working on and gained a new respect for school and eventually the curriculum evolved into an annual community service project.

Fifth grade students from Sunset Hill Elementary School shopped for the IOCP Food Shelf with money they earned while running the Plymouth Culvers Restaurant as part of Vision 21 Teacher Bonnie Hatton’s annual restaurant project.

Hatton said the first year was so successful she applied for an Ashland Oil Award, which they received in 1991 and were invited to the Governor’s mansion for a reception. The project went on to win a Best Practices Abstract from the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce in 1993, $1,000 in 1994 from John Hopkins University and references in several middle school textbooks in the late 1990s. The restaurant project has been part of the third, fourth, fifth and sixth grade curricula under Hatton’s leadership ever since. Students meet with a lawyer, a banker, a representative from the health department, a nutritionist, a representative from IOCP and a restaurant owner. In the early 2000s, Hatton began partnering with Culvers, another family oriented business. “The project has always been successful and whenever I run into past students it is the first thing they bring up,” said Hatton.

Communicator USDA Changes to Middle School Lunch Program Begin During 2014-15 School Year

ased on recent changes by the USDA to the National School Meal program, Wayzata Public Schools will be changing its a-la-carte offerings at its middle schools to comply with the new guidelines beginning in the 2014-15 school year. A list of specific a-la-carte offerings for the 2014-15 school year can be found at www.wayzata.k12.mn.us/lunchmenu. For more information, visit the USDA website at www.fns.usda.gov or call the Culinary Express Department at 763-745-5153.

It takes a village to raise a child and I hope you feel a sense of pride as a resident of the Wayzata School District as our graduates embark on the next chapters of their lives. It’s been a great year! Nonprofit Org. US Postage Wayzata, MN Permit 43

- Superintendent Chace B. Anderson

The Communicator is published for residents and staff of Wayzata Public Schools. Contact Amy Parnell, director of communications and community engagement, at 763-745-5068 or amy.parnell@wayzata.k12.mn.us with questions or comments.

Excellence. For each and every student.

Wayzata Public Schools 210 County Road 101 N. P.O. Box 660 Wayzata, MN 55391-0060

June 2014

Changes to WHS Lunch Program Will Better Meet Student Needs

ayzata Public Schools is committed to meeting the unique learning needs of each and every student. Providing healthy, nutritional meals is an important part of making sure students can be successful both academically and in the activities they are involved in throughout the school day. After careful consideration and considerable input from students, parents and staff, the Wayzata School Board has approved a two-year pilot program (2014-15 and 2015-16 school years) at Wayzata High School that will provide an opportunity for Culinary Express, the district’s school nutrition program, to better meet the nutritional needs of high school students. The two-year pilot program will allow Wayzata High School to discontinue its participation in the National School Meal Program, a voluntary federal program that allows public school districts to receive state and federal funds based on student socio-economic status. All other schools in the district will remain on the National School Meal Program. Why is it Beneficial for Wayzata High School to Leave the National School Meal Program? Although leaving the National School Meal Program will cause a loss in revenue, this amount will be substantially less than revenue that would have been lost if Wayzata High School stayed on the National School Meal Program due to new federal guidelines and requirements. These new federal guidelines significantly limit the portion size of meals, ala carte items that can be offered and cause food to be wasted, due to fruits/vegetables that are required to be put on student trays regardless if they want them or not. The decision to discontinue participation in the National School Meal Program was made as a result of the following factors: • Under the federal program, school lunch meals are limited to 850 calories maximum per meal. Wayzata High School students are actively involved in athletics and activities at school and this caloric intake is not meeting the needs of many of our students. • Many students have to purchase two-three meals to get enough food and are reporting that they are hungry during the day. • Students are also supplementing their lunches with ala carte items, or simply no longer participating in the school lunch program. Participation in

the school lunch program at WHS went from 60% to 51% this year. How Will the Two-Year Pilot Program at WHS Benefit Students? The District’s Culinary Express program has an excellent history of providing nutritional and desirable menu items to satisfy the nutritional requirements of high school students. Culinary Express leaders, including a registered dietician, will create a financially feasible high school food service business model to better meet the unique and varied nutritional needs of each and every one of our students. Culinary Express staff has been surveying and conducting focus groups with students, parents and staff to gather input to create nutritional meals that offer items students and parents want. What Changes Can Students and Parents Expect? Students will continue to be provided with a wide variety of healthy lunch and ala carte choices in the existing serving areas/lines. Here are some of the changes students can expect: • Appropriate portion sizes will be offered, for example: current pasta serving of ½ cup will increase to 1 cup • Bread products will be offered more frequently • There will be no requirements for students to take all food items • Reduced food waste • Realistic calories for active students • Increased flexibility to offer items students and parents want 2014-15 Lunch Prices During the 2014-15 school year, lunch prices at Wayzata High School will increase from $2.85 to $3.10. This increase in line with prices in neighboring school districts and is less than the increase that would have been necessary by staying in the National School Meal Program. There will continue to be an opportunity for families to apply to receive free or reduced meals for their student(s) based on family income. More information, including specific menu choices for the 2014-15 school year, will be shared with students and parents in early August. If you have questions in the meantime, please contact Mary Anderson, Culinary Express Supervisor at 763-745-5153 or mary.anderson2@wayzata.k12. mn.us.