School Performances

1

SchoolPerformancesServing Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, New Hope, Plymouth and Robbinsdale

INSIDE NEWS

March 2008

2 – Letter from the superintendent

3 DISTRICT Connecting students to the world outsideLevy not approvedBudget reduction approvalBusiness office awardImpact of budget reductionsWhere dreams come trueBuilding language togetherAdvocating for schools Transition Center helps studentsRedesign: Working togetherAfter-school fun at Mosaic

11 EARLY CHILDHOOD NEWSNew families benefit from HUGECFE – Family education focus

12 ELEMENTARY Kindergarten registrationCreative Play Preschool Partnerships connect elementary learnersFifth-graders perform with Minn. Orchestra

Third-graders introduced to the classicsRobbinsdale Spanish Immersion enters third decadeLakeview students decorate hospitalCommunity group encourages literacy

17 MIDDLE SCHOOLPartnerships serve distinct needsRMS teacher honored for ethicsKids & Cops builds assetsRMS looks to high-tech futureIBMYP & pre-AP invigorated by grantsClassroom of the Future winners

20 HIGH SCHOOLPartnerships enliven high schoolsDouble honors for excellence in technologyRotary Club STRIVE programIncreased programming with IB grantAP grant funds high school programs

Grant helps kids prepare for collegeMarching Band at Outback BowlCooper Debate team returns to nationalsFull scholarship to Yale for Cooper’s PhanHighview’s leadership class supports troops

26 COMMUNITY EDUCATION Wittman is top in state and nation for 2007Partnerships in Workforce PreparationVolunteers inspire student successBrain injury and one man’s courage

29 SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES

30 GREAT GRADSWahlstrom wins Youth Contribution Award

31 DISTRICT CALENDAR AND DIRECTORY

“It takes a village to raise a child” is a proverb attributed to African cultures. Community partnerships in Robbinsdale Area Schools are testaments to its truth. The efforts of New Hope Church Pastor Greg Braly and Elementary Coordinator Joanne Lundberg led to new

playground equipment at Sonnesyn Elementary School, as well as fundraising and volunteer help for three other schools. Every district school benefits from Community Partnerships — learn more beginning on p. 3 of School Performances.

CP

Kindergarten Registration

Night is March 6 – see page 12

2

March 2008

Dear Robbinsdale Area School families,

Since the last edition of School Performances

arrived in homes in October, Robbinsdale Area

Schools has managed some very high profile issues.

As you may expect, the school board and staff

of Robbinsdale Area Schools were disappointed

when voters did not approve the operating levy

referendum in November. More heartbreaking was

the process to reduce our budget for the 2008-09

school year by $5.4 million. Despite the difficulties in adjusting to a new reality, we continue to see strong

programs carried out by a strong staff that is committed to students. We have

much to celebrate. Students continue to achieve, academic options are intact,

our arts programming remains strong and our community remains supportive

of students. To address our new reality, the school board, administration, and staff are

taking these steps.• Staff is staying committed to the daily process of teaching and learning.

• The school board and administration are balancing the district’s general

fund budget.• Administration is reorganizing the delivery of services to ensure academic

progress for all students.• Community members are laying the ground work for the next operating

levy referendum.• Community members are advocating for supportive legislation.

• The district is continuing to receive contributions from the community

that support programs.• The school board and administration are resuming and expanding the

strategic planning process.Even as we commit to the hard work of leading the district through

challenging times, we celebrate student and staff achievement and the role of

community in our schools. This issue of School Performances recognizes the

community partnerships that are so vital to the success of our students. Pastor

Braly’s quote on the facing page is a testament to the commitment of an untold

number of community members who give of their time, skill and money. These

partnerships enhance and improve upon the quality services already delivered

by teachers and support staff. For example, volunteers can fill in the gaps by

providing individualized attention to students.

We also celebrate the district finance department. It has won, for the

second year in a row, the Association of School Business Officials International

Meritorious Budget Award for preparation of this year’s budget. When the

award was given to us last year, ours was the first school district in Minnesota to

receive it. Many other celebrations, as well as opportunities, are highlighted in this

newsletter. We hope you find it informative and helpful. Best wishes for a

wonderful spring.

Sincerely,

Stan F. Mack, IISuperintendent of Schools

S U B H E A D

3

D I S T R I C T N E W SCommunity partnerships connect Robbinsdale students to the world outside

Building an active, engaged, and vibrant school community requires a dedicated staff, great students, and energetic parents and volunteers. But there’s another piece to the puzzle, one that connects students to the community around them while enriching their experience in the classroom. That vital piece is community partnerships.

A community partnership is any cooperative effort between a school and a community organization designed to meet students’ educational needs more fully. A church donates volunteer hours to read to kindergarteners. A police department provides added safety and security for students at the beginning and end of the school day or helps students avoid drugs and violence. A local business shares its expertise while enriching children’s education and potentially paving the way to future careers. Service organizations donate funds for new trees around a school or help assemble new playground equipment. The creative possibilities are unlimited, and in the best experiences, the benefits are mutual.

In many cases the direction of the partnership is reversed, and the energy and effort flow out of the schools and into the community. Opportunities for students to visit a workplace, practice a professional skill, or volunteer to help community members are all types of community partnership, and no less valuable a contribution to a child’s education.

Robbinsdale Area Schools is fortunate to have several outstanding community partnership programs in place and more evolving all the time. In these pages you will find service organizations, companies, churches, and public agencies volunteering time in the classroom, on the grounds and at special events, donating much-needed funds and supplies, sharing expertise, tutoring, training, encouraging, and rewarding students for a job well done.

You’ll also find district students banding together to tackle homelessness and hunger, to reach out to schools in economically disadvantaged communities, and to volunteer their own time and effort in making our communities all they can be.

Community partnerships represent that final piece of the puzzle that connects our schools to the community and makes the student experience all that it can be. We are grateful for all those whose hard work and creative spirit makes these partnerships happen!

(More articles on community partnerships can be found on pages 10, 11, 13, 15-18, 20, 21, 26 and 27.)

CPommunity

artnerships

“ It is a privilege and a pleasure to have the opportunity to partner with your school district because we live here too and we count it a joy to invest in children.” – Pastor Greg Braly, New Hope Church

Operating levy not approvedAn operating levy proposal by the school board of Robbinsdale

Area Schools was not approved in a referendum election in November. The proposal would have increased revenue to maintain existing programs and would have held off budget cuts by increasing residential property taxes to levels near that of neighboring districts. Approximately 34 percent of registered voters participated, with 9,660 voting yes and 10,733 voting no.

The school board sought to increase revenue because state funding for general education and federal funding for special education has been inadequate. While the district did receive additional state funding for this year and next (a 2 percent and 1 percent increase, respectively), it was not enough to keep pace with inflation and previous years of underfunding.

Board approves budget reduction planThe school board of Robbinsdale Area Schools approved a

$5.4 million budget-reduction plan in January for the 2008-09 school year that will increase class sizes districtwide and eliminate middle school extra-curricular activities and other programs and personnel. A key component of the plan is to resume and complete the strategic planning process, which began in late 2006.

Cuts to administration and general operations will total more than $1.8 million, athletics and activities will be reduced by $800,000, and secondary staff and elementary staff will each be reduced by $1.1 million. The board chose not to close a school at this time, choosing instead to cut an additional list of programs and personnel to reach the $5.4 million total. The district’s budget was reduced by $4.5 million in the current year and is expected to be cut by $4 million in 2009-10.

The school district will implement most budget reductions by the start of the fiscal year, July 1, 2008. The full list of reductions can be seen at www.rdale.k12.mn.us.

District’s Finance Department honored for excellence

For the second year running, the Finance Department of Robbinsdale Area Schools has been awarded the Meritorious Budget Award by the Association of School Business Officials (ASBO) International. The award recognizes excellence in the preparation and issuance of the 2007–08 annual budget. Last year, Robbinsdale Area Schools was the first school district in Minnesota to receive the recognition.

ASBO International is a professional association of approximately 5,500 members that provides programs and services to promote the highest standards of school business management practices, professional growth, and effective use of educational resources.

D I S T R I C T N E W S

MOVING FORWARD“We still have much to celebrate. Students continue to achieve, academic options are intact, our arts programming remains strong and our staff continues to be caring and committed to students.” – Stan F. Mack, superintendent

4

5

MOVING FORWARD“I like to believe our community is united in a common purpose: To provide the best possible education for our students.” – Patsy Green, school board chair

D I S T R I C T N E W SHow will budget reductions impact students?Elementary school

While elementary class size ratios will be 30 or more at each grade, average actual class sizes are expected to range from 19 students in kindergarten to 32 in 5th grade. Principals may use additional funding sources to decrease class size. New curriculum will be developed to enable classroom teachers to provide art instruction. A new design for gifted education will ensure district coordination of all gifted education programs. Northport, Noble, Lakeview, and Pilgrim Lane elementary schools will no longer have instructional assistants. Programs and personnel funded by compensatory education will be slightly reduced.

Middle schoolThe middle school class size ratio will be 23.6, but average

actual core class sizes will be approximately 29 students because elective and remedial courses often serve a smaller number of students. All middle-school extra-curricular activities and athletics will be eliminated. Funding is being sought privately to provide some intramural activities. A new design for gifted education will ensure district coordination of all gifted education programs and continued support of special activities such as Math Masters. Pre-Advanced Placement (pre-AP) and International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (IBMYP)courses, while not technically considered gifted education, remain intact due to dedicated funding sources. The chemical health specialist positions at the middle schools will be eliminated.

High schoolThe high school class size ratio will be 27.1, but average actual

core class sizes will be approximately 31 students because elective and remedial courses often serve a smaller number of students. A number of activities and athletics will be eliminated. Fees will increase for all high school athletics to $200; all activities will be $100. Students qualifying for the federal reduced lunch subsidy will pay 50 percent of the fees and students qualifying for the federal free lunch subsidy will pay 25 percent. The family maximum is $700. Gifted education will continue to be coordinated by the district. Pre-AP, AP, IBMYP, and IB courses, while not technically considered gifted education, will remain intact due to dedicated funding sources. The state-funded gifted education account will temporarily fund the Honors Mentor Connection program for a limited number of students from each high school. Elimination of some English Language Learner teacher positions will result in service to fewer ELL students. Career and technical education courses offered at Hennepin Technical College will be temporarily eliminated. Students will choose from a number of quality technical course offerings at the high schools. The chemical health specialist positions at the high schools will be eliminated and student parking fees will increase.

The approved list of budget reductions is available at www.rdale.k12.mn.us.

Where dreams come trueBy Lorrie Cegla

Dreams really do come true for Robbinsdale Area Schools’ students when their teachers receive a Progress and Innovation grant from the Seven Dreams Foundation.

The foundation, consisting of community members, parents, and educational professionals from the seven cities that comprise Robbinsdale area schools, annually funds grants to enrich the learning experience in our schools. Since its inception in 2002, the foundation has funded 39 creative projects at nearly all district schools.

This year the foundation was re-energized by a number of new board members and a renewed commitment to raise the funds needed to enable more educators to “catch a dream.” The 27-member board has established six committees focusing on communications, program services, special events, ambassadors, fund development, and alumni relations.

Fund development is a major undertaking of the foundation. This school year, the foundation:

• Raised $14,000 during the Staff Charitable Giving Campaign;

• Received $800 from a holiday letter suggesting gift donations to the foundation to honor a special teacher; and

• Raised $1,000 at a special dinner event at the Minneapolis M&S Steakhouse and Grille.

Goals for the balance of the year include a community fundraising campaign this year, increasing awareness of the foundation’s work, updating the database of alumni contacts, and creating an online contribution option. The foundation will award the 2008 Progress and Innovation grants in May. And the board has approved a partnership with the school district to help communicate fundraising opportunities for district programs that fell victim to budget reductions.

New ideas, volunteers, and donors are always needed and welcome. To find out more, visit our website at sevendreamsfoundation.org or call Emilie Branca, program assistant, at 763-504-4088.


6

The Seven Dreams Foundation BoardExecutive committeeLynette

Obayuwana, president

Leesa Avila, vice president

Holly Lewis, secretary

Kathy Ricketts, treasurer

Board membersKathleen AdixMike CampbellLorrie CeglaDon CollierJeff DehlerDebbie

FitzsimmonsCharles HadleyShep HarrisSherrill LindseyStephanie MaggittGlynn

MerriewetherRandy MobergAnne PoltaNichol SuttonJim VathingPam WhitmoreTom WhitneyDan Woodbury

StaffBob Wittman,

executive directorEmilie Branca,

program assistant

School board liaisonsPatsy GreenTom Walsh

Brooklyn ParkBrooklyn Center

Contribute to the Seven Dreams Foundation:

763-504-4088www.sevendreamsfoundation.org

7


What: Building Language TogetherWhen: Mondays, March 10 and April 14 For: Parents and children 4 to 5 years oldRegister: 763-504-4170or www.RobbinsdaleAreaComm unityEd.com

7 literacy

Seven Dreams Foundation grant helps improve literacy skills for young learners

A unique program made possible by a Progress and Innovation grant from the Seven Dreams Foundation is now improving the language and literacy skills of 4- and 5-year-old children in Robbinsdale Area Schools. A new evening class called “Building Language Together” is offered by the Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) program at Cavanagh Early Childhood Center in Crystal. The curriculum for children and their parents is based on research findings from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education. Parents and children come together to work on activities that build language and literacy skills to help children get ready for later learning. Materials, knowledge, and ideas help parents continue these activities at home.

Building Language Together is one of 11 unique projects being implemented this year thanks to Seven Dreams Foundation grants awarded in May 2007. The projects are: Assessment for Learning: Using Technology in the Mathematics/World History/Geography Classroom (Robbinsdale Cooper High School), 9th Grade Reading Communities (Robbinsdale Armstrong High School), Wetland Health Field Study (Highview Alternative Program), Building a Trebuchet (Highview Alternative Program), Improving Science Education Through the Use of a Student Response System (Sandburg Middle School), WEB “Where Everyone Belongs” (Robbinsdale and Plymouth middle schools), Be Your Best University (Pilgrim Lane Elementary School), and Robbinsdale Career Competitions: Job Olympics 2007 (New Hope Special Education Transition Center).

These projects benefit students of every age and give teachers an opportunity to creatively provide enriching educational opportunities to students. We thank you for your generous contributions that make Seven Dreams Foundation grants possible!

D I S T R I C T N E W SNew HopeCrystal

Plymouth

Brooklyn ParkGolden Valley

Robbinsdale

Devrim Etienne places pictures of items in the room they belong while his dad, Richard, looks on. The exercise helps Devrim learn the names of the items while associating where to find them.

Residents take school advocacy to legislatorsThe Minnesota Legislature convened Feb. 12, and Robbinsdale

Area Schools’ residents were there to provide information to legislators about the school district. In fact, a few members of the district’s Legislative Action Coalition (LAC) intend to visit legislators at least once each week throughout the legislative session, which ends in May.

The LAC was created several years ago by the school board. “The purpose of the LAC is to give district residents, parents, students, and business owners an opportunity to become engaged in the pursuit of legislative actions to positively impact our school district,” said LAC chair Brad Scheib.

Residents are participating in seven action teams with goals to build relationships with local organizations; participate in local events and functions; maintain a frequent and visible presence at the capitol; communicate with federal elected officials; and provide communication and outreach opportunities to educate residents about district issues.

Robbinsdale Area Schools has long enjoyed excellent relationships with the state legislators who represent the residents of the school district. While the actions of past legislatures and governors have resulted in revenue not keeping pace with inflation over the last decade, local legislators have been strong partners with Robbinsdale Area Schools to bring about positive change on behalf of public schools.

State Senator Ann Rest appreciates the work of the LAC. “We especially like seeing parents and administrators and board members, and yes, students as well, coming together to talk about what’s best for our school district,” she said.

The recent defeat of the district levy referendum inspired a renewed activism among those determined to maintain the district’s long tradition of educational excellence. “About 250 people in the community were signed up to receive LAC updates last year,” said LAC staffer Andrea Wiley. “Now we have more than 500 people on the list.”

For more on the Legislative Action Coalition, visit www.rdale.k12.mn.us. To become a member, call 763-504-4087.

School Board elects new officers, welcomes new director

School board members Helen Bassett, Sherry Tyrrell, and Barb Van Heel were elected in November and began their terms in January. The members will serve from Jan. 2008 through Dec. 2011. This is Tyrrell’s first term.

The board elected officers for 2008. Patsy Green is the board’s chairperson, Barb Van Heel

is vice chair, Helen Bassett is clerk, and Tom Walsh is treasurer. Linda Johnson and Paul Magnuson are also directors on the seven-member board. 8


WE’RE PROUDJackie Fraedrich, Student Services program director for Robbinsdale Area Schools, has been awarded the Ron McKinley “All My Relations” Award by the Minnesota Minority Education Partnership.

Sherry Tyrrell

9

Robbinsdale Transition Center smoothes bumps of a big transition

The transition from high school to the adult world presents real challenges for everyone. For students in special education, these challenges are multiplied—and that’s where the Robbinsdale Transition Center (RTC) comes in.

The Transition Center serves approximately 40 Robbinsdale students in a given year, most of whom have completed four years in one of the district high schools. “We work with students on what are called the ‘five transition areas,’” said lead teacher and work experience coordinator Mark Preissing. Those five areas are Job Training, Recreation and Leisure, Community Participation, Home Living, and Post-Secondary Training. Courses offered at the center range from workplace skills and career planning to making healthy choices, self-advocacy, and food preparation.

Read more about the Transition Center in Special Education Update, an on-line newsletter available at www.rdale.k12.mn.us/sped/.

Library media centers more active than ever before

The library media centers in Robbinsdale Area Schools are alive with activity and interactivity. Circulation numbers are increasing every year and currently average more than 28,000 books annually at each elementary and middle school. Each elementary student checks out more than 50 books per year on average, and the high school library media centers average more than 150 student visits per day.

Computer databases have also seen a marked increase in use. The SIRS social sciences database was accessed almost 12,000 times last year. CultureGrams, a database with information about world cultures, had 38,000 page views; and the World Book Encyclopedia online was accessed 41,000 times.

Student art in the spotlight at Spring Art Show

Art by students from throughout the district will be on public display at the Robbinsdale district student Spring Art Show March 4 through April 1

at the Brookdale Hennepin Area Library. The annual show is put together by every art teacher in Robbinsdale Area Schools and includes work by students in grades 1-12.

An open house reception will be held Tuesday, March 11, with music by the Robbinsdale Middle School Chamber Orchestra.

Antonio Vivaldi’s jubilant masterwork Gloria was the culmination of an October concert by the combined choirs, symphonic bands, and orchestras of Robbinsdale Area Schools at the district’s annual Music Festival at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis. See the Fine Arts Calendar for dates and times of concerts in April and May at www.rdale.k12.mn.us > District > Calendars.


Amy Simons, grade 11

10

D I S T R I C T N E W SThe Redesign: Working together for family and student success

Robbinsdale Area Redesign is a Family Service Collaborative serving the communities within the Robbinsdale Area Schools attendance area. Redesign is guided by a legislative agenda to improve outcomes for families and children.

Redesign has worked collaboratively with Robbinsdale Area Schools on many programs and strategies to support student learning and family strengths. Some of the areas Redesign has supported throughout its 15 years of existence are truancy, literacy, health and mental health services at schools, home visiting, tutoring and academic support, alternative schooling support, early childhood, Adventure Club and other childcare resources, Primary Project, programs to reduce the achievement gap, and after-school activities that provide safe, structured opportunities for young people.

Redesign is currently working on various support structures for children, including newly designed school-based mental health services.

Redesign also has been instrumental in collaborating with additional partners to leverage financial and other resources to support student learning and social/emotional well-being. The Redesign work is governed by a community board made up of mandated partners and community partners. For more information or to become involved, please contact Melodie Hanson, program director for Redesign, at 763-504-4981.

Mosaic Youth Center: After-school fun and academic support

The Mosaic Youth Center provides a safe and constructive place for youth to hang out with friends, get academic support from licensed instructors, play noncompetitive sports, or express themselves through arts and service learning opportunities.

Friends of the Mosaic is a nonprofit organization that provides academic tutoring and enrichment support, social and recreational activities, mentoring, service learning, job shadowing, and college preparation. High school youth can participate three days a week in fun social and recreational activities, as well as receive homework assistance and BST and ACT test preparation.

Middle school youth participate through the Kids & Cops program. Students have academic and social goals and participate in fun free time at the Northwest YMCA. Kids & Cops is made possible through community contributions, state and foundation grants, and community partners such as local law enforcement, the Northwest YMCA, and the Redesign.

Funding for the Mosaic Youth Center is based on community grants and individual donations. For more information, contact Mario Green at 763-504-4984 or 612-749-9561 or check out the Mosaic web page at www.mosaicyouthcenter.com.

WE’RE PROUDSchool Board Director Linda Johnson was recognized with the Minnesota School Boards Association President’s Award for 2007-2008.

11

ECFE SPRING PARTY IS MAY 8Families with young children are invited to the ECFE spring party on Thursday, May 8 from 6:30-8:00 at Cavanagh Early Childhood Center. Enjoy music enter-tainment, treats and lots of family fun!Information: 763-504-8147.

EARLY CHILDHOOD NEWSNew families benefit from Helping Us Grow

Helping Us Grow (HUG) is a home visiting program and community partnership dedicated to supporting expectant families, adoptive parents, and families with newborns living in the northwest suburbs of Hennepin County.

HUG works closely with Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) home visitors and public health home visitors to offer connections to community resources, parenting and brain-based learning, opportunities to connect with other families with newborns, and much more!

HUG is also a school-readiness program. Roughly half of Minnesota kids arrive at kindergarten unprepared to succeed. By providing reassurance, information, and support, HUG seeks to equip parents and other adult caregivers with the knowledge and tools to prepare kids for success in school.

HUG provided 657 home visits in 2007. Each visit includes a gift for the family, such as a baby sling to promote bonding or the book 101 Brain Games for Babies. In addition, families are invited to participate in library dinners. Held at the Rockford Road library, these dinners provide education on school readiness, and each child goes home with a new book of his or her choice.

Funding for HUG is provided through grants and county contracts. No general education funding is used for HUG home visits. For more information about HUG or to schedule a home visit, please contact Paula Watkins at 763-504-4983 or 612-210-7781.

ECFE builds early assets for familiesEarly Childhood Family Education (ECFE) is a high-quality

program with certified parent educators, early childhood teachers, and age-specific curriculum. ECFE’s focus is family education for parents and learning activities for their children, birth through 5 years old.

Class choices include 13-week classes for parent and child, six-week Art and Playtime, six-week classes for children from birth to five months, three-week Baby Massage, and Parent Book Club. Classes for dads and adoptive families are offered, as well as home visits, family literacy and community support services. Classes are held at three convenient locations in Crystal and New Hope.

A typical ECFE class includes parent discussion facilitated by a licensed parent educator, while children spend time participating in age-appropriate activities led by a licensed children’s teacher. In some classes parent and child spend the entire time playing and learning together.

ECFE operates on a sliding-fee scale; no one is turned away for inability to pay.

For more information on Robbinsdale Area Schools’ Early Childhood Family Education, visit www.rdale.k12.mn.us/ced/ecfe.

KINDERGARTEN

WHAT: Kindergarten Information and Registration Night

WHEN: March 6, 2008, 6 – 8 p.m.

WHERE: All district elementary schools (except RSIS)

12

A child’s garden of learningKindergarten literally means “children’s garden.” And what

better word for one of the most exciting growing experiences in a child’s life? Kindergarten is the place where a child’s social skills and love of learning take root and bloom. It prepares children for elementary school and lays the foundation for future skills, interests, and attitudes. At Robbinsdale Area Schools, we are committed to making your child’s kindergarten experience meaningful, challenging, and rewarding.

Kindergarten registration begins in MarchKindergarten registration for the 2008-09 school year will

be accepted at all Robbinsdale area elementary schools (except Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion School) beginning in March 2008, weekdays during school hours (approximately 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.), as well as at the March 6 Kindergarten Information and Registration Night. Please register as soon as possible so schools can plan staffing needs for the upcoming year.

Kindergarten Choice (fee-based) full-day kindergartenNeill, Pilgrim Lane, Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion School,

Sonnesyn, Sunny Hollow, and Zachary Lane elementary schools offer one or two sections of full-day kindergarten for an additional fee. Applications are available at these schools. Space

is limited. Applications for free or reduced tuition are also available at each school. Half-day classes are also available.

The cost of Kindergarten Choice (full-day) for 2007-08 was $331 per month. There will be a slight increase for the 2008-09 school year. A limited number of free or reduced tuition spaces are available to families based on financial need.

Registration starts for Creative Play Preschool Registration has begun for Creative Play Preschool in

Robbinsdale Area Schools. Creative Play serves children 3 to 5 years old. Program goals are to provide a foundation that will ensure future success in school through directed play and helping children develop positive attitudes toward learning, themselves, and others.

Classes are held mornings or afternoons two or three times per week. There are several sites conveniently located throughout the district. Monthly tuition is charged. Reduced tuition is available on a limited basis to families who qualify.

For more information on Creative Play, call 763-504-5330 or visit www.rdale.k12.mn.us/pre.

13

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWSPartnerships connect elementary learners to the community

Partnerships with organizations in the community provide a vital enrichment to the education and experience of elementary students in the Robbinsdale district. Here are a few examples of our partnerships:

Zachary Lane Elementary’s partners include ATK Alliant Techsystems, whose engineers work with 5th-grade students on engineering projects; Pilgrim United Methodist Church, which provides volunteers for vision and hearing screenings; New Hope Church, which works with students in the after-school program; and Community Bank of Plymouth, which collected funds for the new playground. … Sunny Hollow Elementary partners with New Hope Church for its Read Naturally Program, and Calvary Christian Church, which provides classroom volunteers. … Neill Elementary is grateful to the Crystal Police Department for daily safety and patrolling and teaching the DARE Program; to the Robbinsdale Jaycees for donations; to Wells Fargo for school supplies; to tutors from Volunteers in Action; and to the West Metro Fire Department for safety talks. … Noble Elementary receives contributions of winter clothes and supplies from the Robbinsdale Jaycees. Adult volunteers from Valley of Peace Lutheran Church work with Noble students on academics and donate school supplies. … Forest Elementary partners with St. James Lutheran Church; Target Corporation, which provides school supplies and backpacks; Coldstone Creamery, Subway, and Pizza Hut offer certificates to students who meet reading goals (also true in other schools); Lutheran Social Services provides grandparent volunteers; VFW provides reading program grants; Cargill provides licensed tutors; and the city of Crystal supports the new playground, the gymnasium, DARE, and safety patrols. … Sonnesyn Elementary appreciates DARE officer Nichole Korth from the city of New Hope; New Hope Church, which collects milk caps and box tops for the PTSO and school supplies for students; Volunteers in Action, which provides tutors; Calvin Christian School students, who volunteer in the classrooms; and Best Buy engineers, who assist students in constructing a car as part of their electricity unit. … Lakeview Elementary has worked with the Robbinsdale Lions Club and Kiwanis on several programs; volunteers from Copperfield Senior Housing help the school in countless ways; and Faith-Lilac Way Church is creating a new homework partnership program this year. … Meadow Lake Elementary has a “Safe Routes to School” grant program in partnership with the city of New Hope and a school supply drive at Broadway Village Apartments for Meadow Lake children in need, and receives donations from the Robbinsdale Lions Club. … The student council at Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion School participates in the Prism Food Drive each year and RSIS students raise money and awareness for homeless families in Minnesota by participating in the Sleep Out for Homelessness in November. During the annual Scholastic Book Fair, RSIS families purchase books that are then donated to Northport Elementary School for distribution to needy families. … Northport Elementary School’s student council helps charitable programs like food shelves and Blankets of Love. Brookdale Covenant Church provides tutoring, Brooklyn Center Lions and Brooklyn Center Charitable Giving donate funds, Volunteers In Action work with students on academic support. … Pilgrim Lane Elementary partners with New Hope Church and the senior citizen “Silver and Gold” program, the Junior Achievement program which focuses on community development, the Volunteers In Action Association, the Readers’ Theater group, DARE and Park and Recreation programming.

“I am very frequently asked ‘What are the strengths of Sonnesyn school?’ My response is always the same. The first is our outstanding teachers; the second is our rigorous curriculum and the third is our strong parent community and volunteer community.” – Lois Nordling, principal, Sonnesyn Elementary School

CP

Fifth-grade musicians perform with Minnesota Orchestra

All 5th-grade orchestra students in Robbinsdale Area Schools were invited to take the stage with members of the Minnesota Orchestra for the annual Young People’s Concert at Orchestra Hall on Wednesday, Dec. 5. Robbinsdale students were one of three districts in the state asked to participate in the Young People’s Concert. The combined student and professional orchestra performed the “Ode to Joy” from Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9.

“Playing with the Minnesota Orchestra is like young football players playing with the Minnesota Vikings,” said district orchestra director Jeanne Kauffmann, “a once in a lifetime opportunity!”

Third-grade students get a first-class intro to the classics

More than 1,000 3rd-grade students in Robbinsdale Area Schools received a thrilling introduction to the symphony orchestra when they attended a special Minnesota Orchestra Young People’s Concert at Orchestra Hall on Dec. 5.

The concert featured music from Austria, Brazil, Germany, Japan, Russia, and the United States, culminating in Leroy Anderson’s holiday classic “Sleigh Ride.”

This is the second year of a four-year series made possible by a grant from the Young People’s Symphonic Concert Association. The district’s entire 3rd grade will attend one Young People’s Concert each year from 2006 to 2009, with tickets and transportation covered by the grant. Last year’s 3rd-grade students attended a concert that included Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWS

WE’RE PROUDSix 5th-grade students from Meadow Lake Elementary School created an original musical, entitled “Meadow Lake Mystery.” They developed the story, wrote music and lyrics, built the set, created the choreography, and performed the finished work.

14The latest district news is available at

www.rdale.k12.mn.us

15

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWSRSIS enters its third decade celebrating language and cultural diversity

Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion School (RSIS) is in its third decade of “empowering students to be self-directed learners, living healthy lives as committed, collaborative and respectful global citizens.” More than 2,000 students have passed through the school’s program of education immersed in the Spanish language and culture, and the waiting list for admission is long.

An example of the distinctiveness of RSIS is Niños de Zihuatanejo, which principal Chris Holden calls “perhaps our most unique community partnership. Each spring, the school organizes a service-learning trip to Zihuatanejo, Mexico, raising money and collecting material donations for underprivileged schools in the town. These donations are then delivered by RSIS students and families over spring break.”

Another example was RSIS’s participation in “Immersion Celebration 2008: Many Languages, Many Friends” in February at the University of Minnesota, an event showcasing 18 language immersion programs from the Twin Cities metro area. French, Spanish, Chinese, German, Dakota, and Ojibwe immersion programs participate in the annual event, which features native dances, folklore, poetry, theatrical storytelling, and singing.

Language immersion education is a school-based program where students learn regular school curriculum through the medium of a new language. Students are “immersed” in the new language while they learn reading, mathematics, science, social studies, language arts, and other subject matter. Research shows that language immersion students develop functional levels of proficiency in the new language at no expense to their achievement in English or other content areas.

WE’RE PROUDAngela Hanson’s 4th grade class at Sonnesyn Elementary School (below) was one of six in the nation to win the “K’NEXpert Classroom Challenge.” They built a “Crazy Contraption” using K’NEX construction sets and wrote an explanation of how it works.

CP

Carmen Manrique, grade 4, with a student in Zihuatenjo, Mexico.

16

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWS

WE’RE PROUDStudents at Noble Elementary School raised $876.82 for the Pennies for Patients 2008 program. The donation helps The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society find a cure for blood cancers.

Lakeview Elementary students decorate hospital for holidays

Lakeview Elementary School students were invited by North Memorial Hospital to participate in a “Holidays Around the World” decorating project. All students, grades K-5, showed their creativity, enthusiasm, and cooperation in creating decorations that represented holidays and celebrations around the world. Groups of students and parent volunteers spent two mornings before school putting up the projects on the Cardiac and Stroke Center floors of the hospital.

The items were not only appreciated by the patients at the hospital, but also by the diverse staff who represent many other cultures. Lakeview is an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program Candidate school, where community action and international awareness is central to the program. This project exemplified Lakeview’s partnership with the Robbinsdale community.

Community group encourages literacyRead Around Town is a partnership among families,

individuals, business leaders, civic organizations, libraries and Robbinsdale Area Schools committed to encouraging literacy and a love of reading. One of the initiatives of Read Around Town is to collect new or slightly used books that can be used throughout the year by students and adults in the Robbinsdale Area Schools communities. A new book is also presented to each kindergarten student and to children who participate in the district’s preschool screening. Read Around Town is funded by donations from individuals, businesses, community organizations and Robbinsdale Area Schools. To learn more, call Kari Peterson at 763-504-8147.

CP

Lakeview 5th grader Sheyanna Magnuson stands by the display she and other students created for North Memorial Medical Center.

17

M I D D L E S C H O O L N E W SPartnerships serve distinct needs of middle school students

Community partnerships at the middle school level take on a different focus and flavor than those at the elementary level. While elementary school partners tend to donate much-needed supplies, teach safety, and lend a hand with academics, middle school partners are focused on the distinct needs of this age group.

Middle school partnerships can encourage young people to greater awareness of the less fortunate and a desire to engage in community service. At Sandburg Middle School, the Golden Valley Rotary Club gives “Service Above Self ” Awards and C. S. Robinson helps fund the Kids Against Hunger campaign. Students at Robbinsdale Middle School (RMS) participate in food drives for Prism and Feed My Starving Children.

Partnerships can also help guide students toward productive, positive choices and away from the pitfalls of drugs and violence. At Plymouth Middle School, volunteers from North Hennepin Mediation provide nonviolent conflict resolution between students, while the YMCA offers the same service for Sandburg. New Hope Tree House provides after-school mentoring programs and support groups for students at Plymouth and Sandburg; and local police departments in conjunction with the Mosaic Youth Center, Redesign, and the YMCA provide the Kids & Cops program for all three middle schools (see p. 18).

The middle school years also offer an excellent opportunity for the first major interactions with the career world. Robbinsdale Middle School has partnerships through which professional journalists from the Star Tribune and Minnesota Score Magazine work with student writers on the RMS Review; city engineers with the city of Robbinsdale assist in the annual Future Cities urban design competition, and Brian Turner of Cities97 works with students in a podcasting class.

The list of valued partnerships in Robbinsdale middle schools continues to grow. Youth Connections provides mental health evaluations; Success Builders provides after-school activities; Prism provides families in need with food, money, and transportation; La Oportunidad works with Latino students on cultural and academic enrichment; and organizations as diverse as the Seven Dreams Foundation, Team McDaniel, American Legion, University of Minnesota, Minnesota Historical Society, Bassett Creek Dental, Davanni’s, Andy Wallen Peace Association, Target, General Mills, and Doyle’s Bowling Alley provide time, talents, and resources to ensure the best possible education and experience for our middle school students.

WE’RE PROUDSandburg Middle School choir teacher Sandy Brown has been chosen to serve on the Praxis Music National Advisory Committee, a group that evaluates tests administered to music teaching candidates at colleges across the country.

CP

M I D D L E S C H O O L N E W S

18

RMS teacher honored for “Ethics in Education”

Robbinsdale Middle School life sciences teacher Kenneth Habel, was named regional honoree in the WEM Foundation’s 2007 Outstanding Educators Awards program. Habel was honored in the “Ethics in Education” category, which recognizes educators who exemplify ethical behavior in the teaching profession and promote ethical practices and development for their students through classroom activities or curriculum.

Habel has served as a mentor for a former student struggling with the loss of his only parent and coaches athletics to develop a healthy relationship with students who struggle academically but excel in other areas. He invites students with identified at-risk behaviors to spend lunch with him once a week in what he calls the “Lunch Bunch.” He brings real-world relevance to classroom life science study, including the invitation of a guest speaker with a genetic disorder. Habel also encourages goal-setting by having his students create a list of 50 to 100 goals they wish to accomplish in their lifetime.

The WEM Educator Awards program is now in its ninth year of recognizing education’s often “unsung heroes.”

Kids & Cops builds assets for middle school students

All three Robbinsdale middle schools participate in Kids & Cops, a community-based program providing positive after-school activities for at-risk middle school students while building relationships with members of the Golden Valley, Plymouth and Robbinsdale police departments.

Kids & Cops attempts to reduce at-risk indicators such as school absenteeism, antisocial behavior, and offenses such as vandalism, fighting, and drug use by providing youth with six assets: adult resources, friendship-making skills, achievement motivation, adult communication, self-esteem, and involvement in community organizations or activities.

Robbinsdale Middle School looks to a high-tech future

Students at the technology-focused Robbinsdale Middle School compete each year in the Future Cities Competition, an exploratory coordinated by Bev Ramolae (6th-grade teacher at RMS) and Richard McCoy (director of Public Works for the city of Robbinsdale). Students from this year’s class designed a city using SimCity

software, researched nanotechnology and wrote an essay about its uses in cities of the future, and built a scale model of their work. On Saturday, Jan. 26, they presented their work to engineers and other students at the University of St. Thomas in Saint Paul.

WE’RE PROUDHannah Matthews, Kristen Hatfield, Kendall Spence, and Amanda Yang of Plymouth Middle School successfully auditioned for the highly-competitive Minnesota Honor Choir. The choir will perform for the convention of the American Choral Directors Association this fall.

CP

19

M I D D L E S C H O O L N E W SIB Middle Years Program and pre-AP invigorated by grants

Both the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (IBMYP) at Sandburg Middle School and the pre-Advanced Placement (pre-AP) program at Plymouth Middle School received a boost from grants in 2007.

Sandburg’s IBMYP will benefit from a half-million grant from the Minnesota Department of Education to be used districtwide at all levels of IB (see p. 22). In addition, Sandburg was selected by the International Baccalaureate Organization as the 2007 recipient of the Thomas H. Hagoort Award for Outstanding Programs Fostering International Understanding. The award, which includes a $2,500 grant, goes to one IB program in North America each year.

Sandburg’s IB program coordinator Lauren Hildebrand submitted an application describing the school’s Kids Against Hunger campaign, aimed at educating students and the community about poverty and hunger in Tanzania. “This award certainly validates the enormous effort by students and staff at Sandburg to recognize and appreciate a country, culture, and lifestyle most of us will never know,” said Hildebrand.

The pre-AP program at Plymouth benefits from a $545,000 districtwide AP grant (see p. 23) that includes the funding of “vertical team collaboration time” among the elementary, middle school, and high school levels of the AP program. The grant will also increase the number of teachers with AP and pre-AP training, which in turn will equip them to prepare more students for the rigor of AP courses.

Sandburg team wins with plan for Classroom of the Future

A team of teachers working with classes and a computer club at Sandburg Middle School has won a 2007 Classroom of the Future Technology Award (middle school division) that will bring new technology to their school.

The business plan submitted by a group of Sandburg students and educators was to provide technology services, training, and updates to Sandburg faculty, students, and their families, while teaching involved students necessary job and communication skills.

Technology experts from Tierney Brothers Inc., an audiovisual systems design firm and the contest sponsor, installed the new technology in February, including a SMART Board interactive whiteboard with classroomwide interconnectivity, projector, and software.

Dawn Nelson, media specialist at Sandburg and co-sponsor of the winning plan, hopes this reinvigoration of classroom technology will continue. “We are very excited about the possibilities and hope that this is just the beginning as we engage our students with new methods of instruction.” she said.

WE’RE PROUDCooper High School IB student Matias Nagel is fulfilling the IB program’s personal project requirement by raising more than $3,000 for Haroldo Andematten, the Argentine school where he attended kindergarten more than a decade ago.

Kristopher Achter (left), a business teacher at Sandburg Middle School, coauthored the winning Classroom of the Future plan with Dawn Nelson, library media specialist.

S U B H E A D

2020

H I G H S C H O O L N E W SCommunity partnerships alive at Armstrong, Cooper

Robbinsdale Armstrong High School is integrated into the surrounding community through several strong partnership programs. BestPrep provides the school with speakers for classes and for the STEM+ (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Program. Cargill funding provides for teacher professional development, student and classroom supplies, college visit field trips and tutors for AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) students.

Medtronic has also supported AVID with an in-kind donation of office equipment, binders and other necessary school supplies. The Armstrong robotics team has been funded by Boston Scientific. The school partners with Mosaic and the YMCA for afterschool activities, and Community Bank of Plymouth makes a large annual contribution to the District Fall Music Festival at Orchestra Hall.

Assistant Principal John Cook cites a special partnership with Vista Technologies, a cutting-edge technology company in Arden Hills. “[Vista president] Jim Mishek came in this past Monday to talk to my students about his field and what they need to be doing if they are interested in a career in this area. This is the fourth year he has spoken to my students,” said Cook. “This is a great guy who delivers a strong message, a message my students need to hear—that education equals options.”

Community involvement is vital to prepare youth at Robbinsdale Cooper High School for the ever changing world economy. Cooper relies on its community partners to provide much-needed funds, and volunteer and program resources to help students achieve at the highest levels.

A number of foundations, including the McKnight Foundation, The Minneapolis Foundation, the General Mills Foundation, and the two foundations of Robins, Kaplan, Miller, & Ciresi, LLP fund programs and materials for students. Target Corporation and many other local businesses are quick to help with in-kind or monetary contributions.

The Minneapolis Urban League provides human services and advocacy that enable African Americans and other minority group members at Cooper to cultivate and develop their individual and group potential on a par with all other Minnesotans.

The Life’s Headwaters Foundation assists individuals who desire to reach their full potential and capabilities through a variety of educational and life coaching programs. Youth Frontiers delivers programs that improve school climate and strengthen student character.

Dr. Kenneth Bartlett of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, has agreed to collaborate with Cooper to provide data and research in the human resources development areas of studies. His information and findings will contribute greatly to decreasing the achievement gap for students of color.

CP

S U B H E A D

21

H I G H S C H O O L N E W SWE’RE PROUDTwo Robbinsdale Armstrong High School seniors, David Droullard and Cole Stiegler, have been named National Merit Scholarship Finalists for 2008 by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

Armstrong doubly honored for excellence in technology

The Minnesota High School Technology Education Association announced in October that Robbinsdale Armstrong High School received the organization’s Program of Excellence Award and Armstrong technology education teacher Mike Livieri received the Teacher of Excellence Award. The award comes after a districtwide effort to build a strong technology education program.

Livieri’s Teacher of Excellence Award, among the highest honors given to technology education classroom teachers, was presented in recog nition of outstanding contributions to the profession and to students.

“It’s nice to know that what we do as an educator is appreciated and that we’re on the right track,” said Livieri. “The process includes a selection committee of our peers, so being selected for this award is a validation of our effort. The program award speaks to the quality of the Tech Ed program here at Armstrong and in the district. This is a shining example of what a community dedicated to education can accomplish.”

Rotary clubs make a difference for high school students

Seniors at Robbinsdale Cooper and Robbinsdale Armstrong high schools are getting a boost from two local Rotary clubs. The partnership matches Rotary members with students selected to participate in the Strive program based on their academic standing and desire for mentoring.

The Crystal-New Hope-Robbinsdale Rotary Club serves Strive students at Cooper and the Golden Valley Rotary Club serves Strive students at Armstrong. Rotary members are integral vocational and academic coaches who build relationships with Strive students. These relationships help Strive students understand the relevancy of academic success to their professional goals.

Rotary Clubs across the nation are active partners in education. Rotary International is an organization of business and professional people (united worldwide) who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace throughout the world.

If you would like to learn more about Rotary, please contact Tom Parry, Golden Valley Club secretary, at 952-926-0748 or Sarah Hermans, Crystal-New Hope-Robbinsdale Club president, at [email protected].

CP

Mike Livieri

S U B H E A D

22

H I G H S C H O O L N E W SDistrict gets half million dollar grant for IB expansion

A $555,600 grant from the Minnesota Department of Education will support increased programming in the International Baccalaureate (IB) programs at Lakeview Elementary School, Sandburg Middle School, and Robbinsdale Cooper High School.

Project planners emphasized the need for a smooth transition through a K-12 IB program. “We need to build systems at all three schools to help traditionally underrepresented students succeed in rigorous IB courses and to support initiatives which encourage students to enroll in rigorous classes,” said Jackie Fraedrich, the district’s program director for Student Services and co-author of the grant proposal.

“It is very gratifying to receive this help from the state as we grow the IB program and open it up to more and more students,” added Holly Lewis, IB coordinator at Cooper High School. “I am looking forward to the possibility of increased student numbers necessitating more sections and choices of IB courses.”

Cargill grant boosts AVID program at high schools

The AVID academic success programs at Robbinsdale Cooper and Robbinsdale Armstrong High Schools will share a $130,000 grant from Cargill Foundation.

Currently in its second year in the district, AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is a program designed to help academically average middle and high school students prepare for and succeed in colleges and universities. Students in the program commit themselves to improvement and preparation for college through a rigorous program of instruction in academic “survival skills” and college entry level skills.

The Cargill Foundation grant will fund twice-weekly tutoring in the AVID elective class, classroom and student supplies, college visit field trips, professional development for content area teachers to bring AVID strategies across the curriculum, and staff for one new section of AVID at each high school.

“The grant is extremely important in that it provides for support of and growth in the number of AVID participants, as well the scope of the program itself,” said Erica Gullickson, AVID Coordinator at Armstrong and author of the grant. “This funding will support AVID’s mission of increasing academic achievement for all students and ensuring all students not only have access to the most rigorous curriculum, but are prepared to be successful in those courses and in college.”

Junior Amy Simons, Robbinsdale Cooper High School IB student, presents an illustrative representation of Ernest Hemingway’s character Jake Barnes from The Sun Also Rises and Orlando by Virginia Woolfe during a recent class.

23

H I G H S C H O O L N E W S

WE’RE PROUDFor his Eagle Scout project, Cooper High School student Josh Anderson helped create a “virtual trophy case” online for Cooper Athletics to document the trophies and awards won throughout the school’s 44-year history.

Advanced Placement program receives generous state grant

The district’s Advanced Placement (AP) program has received a two-year grant from the Minnesota Department of Education to continue the ongoing expansion of AP and pre-AP offerings at Robbinsdale Armstrong High School and Plymouth Middle School.

The $545,820 grant will help fund teaching positions for the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program, student support, and program recruitment and expansion, a teaching position for AP science courses, curriculum materials and textbooks, teacher training, and AP vertical team collaboration time at Armstrong.

Small Learning Communities program coordinator and grant author Brenda Damiani called the grant “essential to the expansion of the AP program” at Armstrong, which has recently grown into the fourth largest in the state.

Armstrong Marching Band adds oomph to Florida’s Outback Bowl

The Robbinsdale Armstrong High School Marching Band performed in the Outback Bowl parade at Disney World on New Year’s Eve before joining nearly 5,000 musicians on the field in a half-time extravaganza at the Outback Bowl in Tampa Bay, Florida, on New Year’s Day 2008. Hundreds of dancers surrounded 30 high school bands from across the nation for the halftime show as 65,000 fans roared their approval.

This was the first time that the Armstrong High School Marching Band had been accepted into a bowl game performance. The Armstrong Band won third place in the parade competition on New Year’s Eve and was the only band representing the state of Minnesota. “Being accepted into the Outback Bowl was the culmination of a four-year goal,” said band director Todd Burkholder. “I am so proud how our students performed and represented their school, community, and state.”

This photo was taken with a fish eye lens by Dr. Mike Stiegler, an Armstrong parent.


24

WE’RE PROUDFour Cooper High School students were elected to leadership positions in the Minnesota chapter of Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America/Home Economics Related Occupations (FCCLA/HERO) in November. Kevin Thor was elected president, and Pakou Xiong, Joua Xiong, and Hlee Yang were elected vice-presidents.

Cooper excels at State debate tourney, qualifies for National

The Robbinsdale Cooper High School Debate team returns to the national debate tournament in June after a strong showing at the recent state debate tournament.

Cooper has qualified for the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) State Debate Tournament for the last four years. Senior Dan Willey returned to the tournament as the defending state champion, and this year sophomore Erik Legried joined Willey in the Lincoln-Douglas debate category. Willey bested Legried in the semi-final round to progress to the final round where he finished runner-up to Eastview’s Akshar Rambachan on a 4-3 decision.

Legried and Chyenne Thibodo qualified for the 2008 National Tournament in Public-Forum debate at a two-day qualifying event, held Jan. 25 and 26 at Mankato West High School.

“This has been a fantastic year for the entire team,” said head debate coach D.J. Brynteson. “The team has experienced tremendous success at every level.”

The 2008 National Debate and Speech Tournament will be held in Henderson, Nevada June 15-20. Information: www.CooperDebate.com.

Cooper student wins full scholarship to YaleRobbinsdale Cooper High School student Uyen Phan of

Crystal has been awarded a four-year full scholarship to Yale University valued at more than $160,000.

About 3,800 students entered a competition administered by the National College Match, in partnership with the 20 top American colleges that the program represents. Phan was one of 204 students nationwide, and the only Minnesota student, to make it through a grueling process that included a 20-page application with three essays and a long series of short-answer questions.

Yale has guaranteed her a four-year scholarship that will cover tuition and room and board. Phan plans to explore engineering, fine arts, and the sciences during her time at Yale.

Dan Willey Erik Legried Chyenne Thibodo

25


WE’RE PROUD Two Robbinsdale Cooper High School seniors, Philip Breczinski and Anthony Vella, have been named National Merit Scholarship semi-finalists.

Highview Leadership Class sends holiday cheer to troops in Iraq

Highview Alternative Program’s Leadership Class held a military care package drive and jewelry sale in December in support of U.S. troops in Iraq. More than $1,500 was raised to buy additional items and pay for postage to send the packages overseas. Packages included handwritten thank-you notes to the soldiers for their service in Iraq.

The care package drive was only the most recent activity for this busy group. In addition to conducting food drives, fundraisers, and teambuilding activities, Highview’s Leadership students volunteer at Prism Food Shelf, Feed My Starving Children, Cavanagh Early Childhood Center, Pennies for Patients, and Toys for Tots.

March Madness! Root for your favorite team during tourney time this month. The Robbinsdale Armstrong Girls’ Basketball team expects to go far despite an injury to star-scorer Nicole Dooher. Rodney Williams, Jr. will try to lead the Robbinsdale Cooper Boys’ Basketball team on a tournament run. Photos by Jeff Thimell www.jthimell.smugmug.com

Kris Laughlin (1st row, left) teaches the Leadership class at Highview that promoted the Military Care Package Drive. She and some of the participating students are shown at the post office mailing the packages.

C O M M U N I T Y E D U C AT I O N

26

WE’RE PROUDEmployees of Robbinsdale Area Schools contributed more than $57,000 during the 2007 Charitable Giving Campaign. They designated more than $14,000 to be used for the Seven Dreams Foundation.

Wittman is top community educator of state and nation for 2007

Bob Wittman, executive director of community education and community relations for Robbinsdale Area Schools, is the recipient of the 2007 Community Educator Award from both the National Community Education Association (NCEA) and the Minnesota Community Education Association (MCEA).

The NCEA Community Educator Award is presented to a community education professional who exemplifies outstanding community, state, or national level leadership in the development of community education. The MCEA state award is presented each year to a community education director, coordinator, or other professional who has exemplified, promoted, and supported the community education concept and philosophy within his or her community and made a significant contribution to the growth and advancement of community education outside his or her district. One award each is given for districts with populations over and under 15,000.

NCEA president-elect Mike Looby called Wittman’s recognition “well overdue.” “Bob Wittman is recognized as a community education leader across the state and at the national level,” he noted. “He fully recognizes that we are not only a country of 53 million K-12 students, but rather a nation of 300 million lifelong learners!”

“Being recognized by my peers is very flattering and humbling,” said Wittman. “I’m excited to receive these awards on behalf of all those community educators I have worked for and with over the years, as well as the entire community education staff here in Robbinsdale Area Schools.”

Partnerships in Workforce PreparationPartnerships with local colleges and businesses are helping

adult students at the Robbinsdale Adult Academic Program (AAP) improve their basic academic skills so they can attend college or compete more effectively in the workforce.

Each year certified teachers at AAP provide free personalized instruction to more than 1,200 adult learners looking to earn high school diplomas, prepare for college or technical training, and prepare to find quality employment. AAP has partnered with Hennepin Technical College to provide preparatory classes that directly lead to continuing curriculum at the college in career fields such as nursing assistant, childcare assistant, and metal or plastics manufacturing. College placement testing and college preparation classes are also available at the Winnetka Learning Center.

The AAP has also partnered with senior staff at the Crystal Target. They help teach a class for students interested in working in retail and conduct mock interviews. The result: several students have found jobs in retail; some were even hired by Target!

Go to www.rdale.k12.mn.us/ced/aap/ for more information, or call 763-504-8300.

Bob Wittman

27

Community volunteers inspire student success

Each school year, parents and community members contribute thousands of hours to our schools and programs. As a school volunteer, you will be joining the dedicated team of teachers, staff, and administrators who are working together for the success of all students. Your gifts of time and talents will have an enormous impact on the children and adults you work with each week. Citizen volunteers are an important part of our educational team. Public involvement is the well-established key to successful schools. You will inspire success one learner at a time!

Below is a sample of opportunities in which to get involved.

Share the adventure of reading with a child—Help elementary students in several different reading programs. Work with one child or in a small group. You will assist in building lifelong readers in the students with whom you work.

Tutors for English Language Learners—Assist high school students with limited English improve basic reading and math skills. A couple of hours during the school day can help them become academically successful.

Are you a history buff?—If the answer is yes, consider this volunteer opportunity. Robbinsdale Area Schools’ District Archives is in need of volunteers to answer requests and help with cataloguing items for a couple of hours twice a month.

Receptionist—Senior Services needs help with answering phones, assisting with class registrations, and greeting people at the Winnetka Learning Center. Be a part of this active senior services program. Work four-hour shifts in the morning or afternoon, or serve as a substitute.

Call Community Volunteers in Schools at 763-504-6991 to learn about these and many other opportunities in our schools.

C O M M U N I T Y E D U C AT I O N

Community Volunteers in Schools:763-504-6991

CP

Adina Wicklund (center) volunteers at Forest Elementary School in Crystal with her husband Kenneth.

S U B H E A D

28

C O M M U N I T Y E D U C AT I O NBrain injury no match for young man’s courage

Four years after sustaining a traumatic brain injury during a University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire football game, 26-year-old Justin Greenwood continues on the road to recovery, thanks in part to the Robbinsdale Area Schools Adult Academic Program (AAP) at Courage Center.

After a helmet-to-helmet collision in the 2003 game, Greenwood lost consciousness. A blood clot on the brain left him comatose for a time and severely impaired his vision, speech, and movement. He was hospitalized for three months, then began a long course of rehabilitation.

Since enrolling in AAP, a division of Robbinsdale Area Schools’ Community Education department, Greenwood has made steady progress toward regaining his academic skills and independence. He attends class once a week for three hours to work on reading, writing, and vocabulary. He walks with a cane and is aided by a pair of high tech glasses that help with peripheral vision.

Lori Leininger, lead AAP teacher at Courage Center, gives much of the credit to Greenwood for his continuing improvement. “His road to recovery has presented challenges, but Justin is an example of courage and determination. He is an inspiration to fellow students and staff,” she said.

Greenwood has shared the story of his injury and recovery numerous times

on TV and radio. He appeared on KSTP-TV, Channel 5, news on Sept. 27, the fourth anniversary of his injury. On Nov. 18, Greenwood’s story, from the onset of his injury, rehabilitation, volunteerism, and continuing academic recovery, was covered on Rosen’s Sport Sunday on WCCO-TV, Channel 4.

Greenwood hopes to help others who have experienced brain injuries and to increase public awareness of the prevalence and prevention of brain injuries.

And he is just the one to do it, says Leininger. “Justin brightens the day of everyone he meets. You will often hear him say, ‘It’s a great day to be alive.’”

For more on Justin Greenwood and the Robbinsdale Area Schools Adult Academic Program at Courage Center, contact Lori Leininger at 763-520-0554.

28

Lori Leininger (left), lead teacher for the Adult Academic Program at Courage Center, with Justin Greenwood and Lori Yurick, educational assistant.

Adult Academic Program at Courage Center:763-520-0554

S U B H E A DS U M M E R T I M E L E A R N I N G Summer OpportunitiesStudents in Robbinsdale Area Schools have a wide variety of opportunities to choose from in summer 2008.

Summer Activities: June 16-July 18 (no classes the week of June 30-July 4). Fun, affordable activities for students in grades K-8. Registration begins in March as soon as the class brochures are available. Registrations are first-come, first-served so register early. 763-504-6999.

Extended Year Targeted Services Instructional Programs: Elementary classes June 16-Aug. 8 (no classes the week of June 30-July 4). Middle school classes July 14-Aug. 1. For K-8 students who meet eligibility requirements. 763-504-8034.

High School Credit Recovery: Traditional or computer-based instruction. Held at Cooper High School and Winnetka Learning Center June 16-Aug.1. (No classes the week of June 30-July 4). 763-504-8034.

Highview Alternative Program/ALC: A year-round Area Learning Center for 16- to 21-year-old students in grades 10-12 who want to earn a diploma in a supportive, smaller setting. Summer classes are active, high interest, and meet graduation requirements from the students’ home high schools. Additional OJT/Work Experience credit can also be earned. Highview is located in the Cavanagh building in Crystal, 5400 Corvallis

Ave. N. off of Highway 81. Busing is available for students who live within Robbinsdale Area Schools boundaries. Check with home school counselors regarding eligibility. For more information call 763-504-8700.

Adventure Club: Summer fun during June, July, and August. Fee-based, full-day, quality childcare from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., including most field trips and enrichment activities, for school-age children entering grades K-6 at select elementary school locations. 763-504-5320.

Swimming: Swim lessons and recreational swimming for all ages June 9-July 18. Registration is in person 7-8 p.m. Monday, May 19, on a first-come, first-served basis at either Plymouth Middle School (763-504-7116) or Sandburg Middle School (763-504-8216). Brochures are available Monday, May 12, at elementary and middle schools and on the district web site. Due to ongoing construction, the Plymouth Middle School pool will be closed for the summer and all swim activities will take place at Sandburg Middle School.

Summer Driver’s Education: Sessions begin in June and July. For additional information or to register go to www.t-wheels.com or call 763-525-4052.

Special Education Extended School Year Services (ESY): July 7-July 31 (Monday-Thursday). ESY is an extended program for students who qualify through the student’s Individual Education Plan (IEP) team. The IEP team determines if and what services students need. Contact your student’s IEP case manager or Mike Sullivan at 763-504-7975 for information.

Camp Invention: 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. August 11-15, Winnetka Learning Center. A hands-on science and creativity camp for students entering grades 1-6 from the National Inventors Hall of Fame. A new curriculum features invention, engineering, physics, environmental science, and art. To register call 800-968-4332 or go to www.campinvention.org.

29

S U B H E A D

30

W h e re a re t h e y n o w ?

Lindsey WahlstromRobbinsdale Armstrong High School alum Lindsey Wahlstrom

has already accomplished and experienced more in her 22 years than most of us manage in a lifetime. At Armstrong, she implemented a youth volunteer program, served on the Multicultural Leadership Council, led the March of Dimes campaign, and graduated in 2003 as valedictorian. While attending Boston University, Wahlstrom helped indigenous people in Guatemala start community radio stations, interned with human rights lawyers investigating political violence in Peru, learned the Quichua language so she could conduct research in Ecuador, and taught English to underprivileged indigenous people in that country to create the opportunity for them go to college.

Wahlstrom recently returned to the Twin Cities from a research trip to Ecuador, Bolivia, and Chile, where she studied the impacts of petroleum extractive industries on indigenous communities. While in town, she received the Minnesota Community Education Association’s Youth Contribution Award.

Wahlstrom credits the early influence of her family for putting her on the path of accomplishment and service to others. “I started volunteering at a young age with the encouragement and example of my family,” she said. “My parents taught my sister and me about the importance of making your life count by providing for us all that they could, but showing us that not everyone is as fortunate. It wasn’t done in a way to make us feel pity for people, but in a way that made us feel empowered to take a stand. My father spent years working at Medtronic, developing technology to save lives. My mother worked as a speech and language pathologist, helping people who were unable or found it difficult to speak or swallow. My sister works in public health and has spent a good chunk of the last 10 years teaching others about HIV. So I stand back and think, ‘I have some big shoes to fill.’”GR

EA

T G

RA

DS

31

School Board InformationSuperintendent of SchoolsStan F. Mack II [email protected] 763-504-8011

School board membersHelen Bassett [email protected] 763-504-7997Patsy Green [email protected] 763-504-7992Linda Johnson [email protected] 763-504-7994Paul Magnuson [email protected] 763-504-7993Sherry Tyrrell [email protected] 763-504-7998Barb Van Heel [email protected] 763-504-7995Tom Walsh [email protected] 763-504-7996

School board contact informationGroup voice mail 763-504-7990Group e-mail [email protected] site www.rdale.k12.mn.us/dist/district/board_members.aspx

Watch your school board meetings on TV School board meetings are broadcast live on Ed’s TV, cable channel 22, and replayed the same week on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m., Thursday at 8 a.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m. Your opportunity for public inputPublic listening sessions are held at 6 p.m. before the first meeting of each month. You do not need an appointment to participate.

School board meeting schedule: everyone is invited to attendSchool board meetings are open to the public from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Education Service Center in New Hope. Please see the district web site for a meeting schedule.

D I S T R I C T I N F O R M AT I O N2007-08 School Calendar

Spring Break, No School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 21-28, 2008No School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Monday, May 9, 2008Memorial Day, No School. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Monday, May 26, 2008 Last Day of School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wednesday, June 4, 2008 Graduation (Armstrong and Cooper) . . . . . Thursday, June 5, 2008

2008-09 School Calendar First Day of School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tuesday, September 2, 2008No School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thursday-Friday, Oct. 16-17, 2008No School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Friday, October 31, 2008Thanksgiving, No School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wednesday-Friday, Nov. 26-28, 2008Winter Break, No School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dec. 22, 2008 to Jan. 2, 2009No School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Friday, January 16, 2009Martin Luther King Jr. Day, No School . . . Monday, January 19, 2009President’s Day, No School . . . . . . . . . . . . . Monday, February 16, 2009Spring Break, No School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 23-27, 2009No School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Friday, April 10, 2009No School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Monday, April 13, 2009Memorial Day, No School . . . . . . . . . . . . . Monday, May 25, 2009Last Day of School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wednesday, June 3, 2009

32

Inde

pend

ent S

choo

l Dis

tric

t 281

Ro

bbin

sdal

e A

rea

Scho

ols

4148

Win

netk

a Av

enue

NN

ew H

ope,

MN

554

27

NO

N-P

ROFI

T O

RGU

S PO

STAG

E PA

IDPE

RMIT

NO

302

7M

INN

EAPO

LIS

MN

***E

CRW

SS**

*Po

stal

Cus

tom

erCA

R-RT

-WS

SPOTLIGHT

The School Performances newsletter is published periodically by the Robbinsdale Area Schools’ community relations team, 763-504-8029. The newsletter is published in good faith based on available information at the time of distribution. Information is subject to change. District information is available at www.rdale.k12.mn.us.

Community partnerships, the theme for this issue of School Performances, sometimes benefit people who are far away. Students in Robbinsdale Cooper High School’s FCCLA/HERO program raised funds and purchased supplies to send 87 “care packages” to soldiers in Iraq. Cooper graduate Jessica Gaulke Chayer, now deployed in Iraq, distributed the supplies. In return, her unit sent Cooper a 10 foot square thank you banner and the flag Jessie raised over the camp. More at www.rdale.k12.mn.us/chs/.

School Performances

Documents

Transcript of School Performances