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~ Points of Pride ~
ISD 279-Osseo Area Schools Points of Pride 2009-2010
Note: This is an ongoing list of just some of the many accomplishments of ISD 279-Osseo Area Schools students and staff. Additional submissions always welcome; send to WeListen@district279.org
<< ISD 279-Osseo Area Schools Points of Pride 2008-2009 >>
Achieving Results
November 2009
- Emergency health care training currently available only at Osseo Senior High is being extended to two junior high schools through a pilot program. Students at Osseo Junior and Maple Grove Junior will practice artificial ventilation and administering defibrillators on manikins that provide students with feedback about their performance. Students also have the option of obtaining official AED and CPR certification through the American Heart Association. If the pilot program proves successful, the goal is to expand this training to all district junior high schools so all incoming high school students will have had the opportunity to gain critical life-saving skills.
- Woodland Elementary is one of four schools in the state honored with the Family-Friendly Schools award. As part of Minnesota Parent Involvement Month, parents were encouraged to nominate their child’s school in a statewide contest hosted by the Minnesota Parent Center. Woodland was chosen for the close relationship staff members have with each family and child, and for the outstanding communication between administration and parents. Principal Linda Perdaems accepted the award on behalf of the school.
October 2009
- As examples of our efforts to accelerate learning for all students:
- Almost 300 elementary students district-wide are participating in accelerated math programs that allow high achievers to study math at a higher grade level. The majority are sixth-grade students at Basswood, Rush Creek, Edinbrook, Oak View, Woodland, Fernbrook, and Elm Creek Elementaries who are taking seventh-grade math.
- Basswood Elementary received a District 279 Foundation grant that funded the purchase of books and learning materials that challenge advanced readers.
- As a certified monarch waystation, Weaver Lake Elementary: A Science, Math and Technology School, received 800 eggs and caterpillars from the University of Minnesota this year. Weaver Lake students tagged each monarch, then released them into the wild. Students will track the butterflies along their winter migration trek.
- The Osseo Area Schools Adult Education Center and its builder, ATS&R, was recognized for Outstanding Design in the August 2009 American School and University magazine. The magazine noted that ATS&R’s design for the Enrollment Center’s common areas uses daylight, warm colors and patterns on the floors and walls to make the center feel welcoming.
September 2009
- 62 ISD 279 students were named 2009 AP Scholars, based on their achievement on Advanced Placement exams taken last spring. In 2008, 46 students district-wide earned the honor. This year’s increase is driven primarily by a surge in the number of students who took the rigorous college-level exams: in 2008, 689 exams were taken, while in 2009, that number jumped to 1290. AP Scholar counts by building are: Maple Grove Senior High (43); Osseo Senior High (17); and Park Center Senior IB World School (2).
- ISD 279 has been recognized for achieving approximately $500,000 in energy savings over a 12-month period through the Schools for Energy Efficiency (SEE) program. The energy savings program seeks to achieve energy reduction through operational strategies, behavioral awareness campaigns, and improved use of data.
- The September issue of Maple Grove Magazine includes a cover story about magnet school excellence at Weaver Lake Elementary, and another article profiling extraordinary ISD 279 athletes.
- In an article about English Language Learners in the workforce, Minnesota Lawyer Magazine published a feature spotlighting customized training provided to local businesses through the ISD 279 Adult Basic Education program.
- ISD 279 students nearly doubled the number of college-level AP exams taken last spring, jumping from a total of 689 exams taken in 2008 to 1290 exams taken in 2009. A state grant helped participating high schools increase both the number of college-level courses offered and student participation in those classes. More than half of all the exams taken earned scores eligible for college credit, representing a significant tuition savings to those college-bound students.
August 2009
- 2009 Adequate Yearly Progress reports released by the Minnesota Department of Education showed significant improvement for our system over the previous year. One example was the percentage of student subgroups that met their targets, which jumped from 64% in 2008 to 79% in 2009.
- Approximately 1,000 high school students were served this summer through academic programs coordinated by the Osseo Area Learning Center:
- More than 400 students earned credits through a seven-week Independent Study Program.
- More than 100 students earned credit to replace a failing grade previously earned in a 9th grade core subject class.
- More than 200 students participated in BST-MCA/GRAD Prep and Test courses. According to principal James Hill, our system may have been the only district to offer summer instruction prior to the summer test dates (others may have offered the tests without a corresponding refresher course). The reading results are in, and nearly 70% of the students who received instruction and retook the reading test improved their score. Of those students, nearly 40% earned a passing score.
July 2009
- Spring MCA-II results reflected a mixture of news to celebrate and opportunities for additional work.
- There were several improvements over the previous year, including increased proficiency rates, more students performing at the highest proficiency level and fewer students performing at the lowest proficiency level. These are important improvements, and we want to recognize the work that students and staff did to earn them.
- At the same time, we are dissatisfied with the overall math and reading proficiency rates compared to state averages.
- We are also concerned that the performance of students in higher poverty schools lags behind that of their peers in higher-income schools.
- Weaver Lake Elementary: A Science, Math & Technology School, has been certified as a Monarch Waystation by Monarch Watch, an outreach program based at the University of Kansas. As an official Waystation, Weaver Lake maintains a robust monarch habitat and pledges to teach students about the science of the monarch. Weaver Lake’s monarch project involves K-6 students in various scientific investigations focused on these fascinating migrating creatures.
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Student Confidence, Courage, and Competence
November 2009
- The Maple Grove girls swim team won the Northwest Suburban Conference title.
- Patty Zhao is the first Maple Grove female to compete in the state tennis tournament, where she took fourth place on October 29.
- The Osseo Senior High varsity soccer Orange Squad placed third in the State Sideline Cheering Competition, and the Football Squad placed second. Three athletes participating in the competition were named 2009 all-state cheerleaders.
- The Osseo Boys Cross Country team was named Northwest Suburban Conference champions, with three team members receiving all-conference honors.
- The Osseo Volleyball Team tied for first place at the Northwest Suburban Conference.
- Three Osseo Senior High students have signed letters of intent to play sports at various post-secondary institutions in the Midwest next year.
- Congratulations to the Park Center Girls Soccer Team for finishing as runner-up in the Section 5A championship. One team member was named an all-state athlete.
- Two Park Center Cross Country athletes will compete in the state cross country meet at St. Olaf College November 7.
- At Boys Nation in Washington, D.C. this summer, Maple Grove Senior High student senior Hahn Chang ranked third out of 98 students nationwide in assessments determining individual leadership potential and knowledge of government.
October 2009
- The Maple Grove Senior High Girl’s Swim Team won the True Team swimming and diving sectionals this month to earn a spot in the True Team swimming and diving championship where they placed 4th overall out of 12 Minnesota high school teams. One team member also won the overall competition in the 100-meter backstroke.
- Park Center Senior IB World School is hosting a special ceremony on October 22 to showcase and dedicate a large mosaic composed of symbols made by art students to represent their individual heritage, culture, and ethnicity.
- Congratulations to the following Maple Grove Senior High students who were selected as Junior Rotarians after a rigorous screening and interview process: Ryan Kamphuis, Angie Lockwood, Lauren Lynch, Adam Mann, Ayushi Narayan, and Rachel Smardich.
- Late last summer, 12 junior- and senior-level students from ISD 279 high schools participated in the Northwest Suburban Conference Leadership Day, which kicked off a year-long effort to build leadership and team-building skills. The students will serve as advisory council members on various issues affecting extra-curricular activities this school year.
September 2009
- Park Center senior Jeanel Mouelle was one of two Minnesota “senators” who attended the American Legion Girls Nation, a week-long citizenship and government program in our nation's capital. While in Washington, D.C., Mouelle participated in mock election activities, caucuses, senate sessions, bill hearings and field trips to federal agencies, institutions, memorials and historical sites.
- We are extremely proud that two of the four Minnesotans participating in this prestigious national leadership program came from Osseo Area Schools.
July 2009
- Maple Grove Senior High student Hahn Chang has been named one of two Minnesota “senators” who will attend the American Legion Boys Nation, a week-long citizenship and government program in our nation's capital. While in Washington, D.C., Hahn will participate in mock election activities, caucuses, senate sessions, bill hearings and field trips to federal agencies, institutions, memorials and historical sites, including a tour of the White House and a scheduled meeting with President Obama.
The Park Center Marching Band ended its season on a high note with several commendations:
- Grand Champion at the Lake Waconia Band Festival—for the tenth year in a row!
- Grand Champion at Winona Steamboat Days
- Grand Champion at Mason City Musicman parade
- First place at Sauk Rapids River Days
- Best Winds at an unofficial state championship parade in Alexandria
- The Band recently returned from a tour to St. Louis where they were received with great enthusiasm in both Jefferson City and Webster Groves, MO.
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Achieving Dreams
October 2009
September 2009
- The Osseo Area Learning Center is celebrating 10 years of service to area youth this year. Watch for more details over the coming weeks as we publicize this milestone in the OALC’s work to help students achieve their dreams of graduation.
July 2009
- Fourteen Brooklyn Junior students recently participated in a week-long educational exchange in London to achieve a dream and share their Hmong heritage with others. CLIMB, which stands for Culture, Leadership, Integrity, Motivate and Build, is a collaborative program where students set goals and then plan how to attain them. While in London last month, the students received a history lesson, visited historic landmarks, and educated the Aylesbury, England Rotary Club members about their own Hmong culture.
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Contributing to Community
November 2009
- For the sixth year in a row, Basswood fifth graders are participating in the Maple Grove Parks and Recreation Department’s Adopt-a-Park program. This fall, students picked up litter on and around the Basswood Community playfield as part of their commitment to community and to reinforce the concept of citizen responsibility.
- Edinbrook is launching a new program called Watch DOGS, or Dads of Great Students. Watch DOGS is a National Center for Fathering initiative that invites fathers and father figures of Edinbrook students to spend at least one day per year volunteering at the school. The initiative seeks to increase parent involvement in schools and to provide students with positive role models. Watch DOGS will launch in mid-November with a pizza party for students and their fathers.
- Eighteen Osseo Hockey Team members partnered with Community Emergency Assistance Program (CEAP) this fall to help senior citizens in Osseo and Dayton rake and clean up their yards before the coming winter.
October 2009
- Elm Creek Elementary hosted its annual Family BBQ Lunch on October 8. More than 240 guests joined students to build community and enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by the talented kitchen staff and Chef Tom Pellegrino.
- A community rally against racism and hate crimes was hosted by the cities of Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park on October 1. Several ISD 279 representatives attended as a gesture of support for the victims of a recent hate crime, and to demonstrate our system’s core belief that everyone has equal intrinsic value.
- Volunteers from Target performed a Media Center Makeover at Zanewood Community School on September 25, donating nearly 300 books and materials to create a reading nook. Twenty Target employees from the Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park stores also built a book bin, designed and installed three bulletin board displays, and performed cleaning and organization tasks.
September 2009
- The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve has recognized Supt. Susan Hintz and Osseo Area Schools as a “Patriotic Employer.” The award recognizes the district for “contributing to national security and protecting liberty and freedom by supporting employee participation in America’s National Guard and Reserve Force.”
- Zanewood Community School hosted a family BBQ on September 11 with more than 100 parents in attendance.
- The Maple Grove Rotary Club donated hundreds of school supply items to Rice Lake Elementary to support student learning this school year.
- Living Word Christian Center also donated a generous number of school supplies to Crest View Elementary. You can see the supplies and hear Principal Suzette Erickson’s thank you message to Living Word, which was posted by Living Word on YouTube (find it by searching for the phrase “School Supplies for Crest View Elementary”).
- On August 31, the MOMS club of Maple Grove generously donated nearly 400 school supply items for the students of Garden City Elementary.
- Park Center junior Austin Hafner and his family were featured in a Star Tribune newspaper article describing the Hafner family’s involvement with the Brooklyn Park Champions for Youth organization, whose goal is to give youth a voice and to provide positive opportunities encouraging youth to become productive adults.
- On August 27, 27 Target employees volunteered their afternoon to help prepare Zanewood Community School for the new school year by sorting and collating materials, cleaning windows, assembling bookshelves, and packing backpacks with school supplies they donated.
August 2009
- Beach Blanket Blast, the summer family celebration for Kidstop, Cosmic Club, and the SPOT program, drew about 675 students and parents who enjoyed a penny carnival, outdoor BBQ, games, music, dancing, and more. Participants contributed more than 525 pounds of food items that were delivered to the CROSS food shelf.
- Students in the Kidstop child care program at Woodland, Weaver Lake, Rice Lake and Basswood Elementary Schools collected more than $5,000 in toys, electronics, art supplies and gift cards, and more than $900 in cash to benefit Children’s Hospitals and Clinics.
- Target Corporation contributed books valued at $500 to the Zanewood Elementary library, and is assisting with a “media makeover” to enhance a reading nook for all students at the school.
- Champions for Youth of Brooklyn Park, an organization of which District 279 is a co-sponsor, will host Teen Stock 2009, a free concert for area youth, from 2-6 p.m. August 29 at the Brooklyn Park Central Park Pavilion.
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Overcoming Obstacles
October 2009
September 2009
- Through federal Title I dollars, preschool opportunities were expanded at three elementary schools this fall. The response to this--and all other district preschool opportunities--has been overwhelming, and every seat in the Title I preschool program will be filled within the next few days. Zanewood Community, Fair Oaks, and Crest View Elementary Schools are hosting the Title I preschool program.
- This summer, approximately 300 students who tested below grade level in reading and/or math participated in a free, 7-week, half-day summer school program at Zanewood Community School, thanks to funding from Targeted Services and 21st Century Community Learning Centers.
- This summer, approximately 300 students who tested below grade level in reading and/or math participated in a free, 7-week, half-day summer school program at Zanewood Community School, thanks to funding from Targeted Services and 21st Century Community Learning Centers.
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Leveraging Assets
November 2009
- Palmer Lake Elementary is partnering with Boston Scientific and The Works, an educational non-profit, to host a Family Fun Night December 3. The Works museum will be on site offering "hands-on, minds-on" interactive games and activities that make learning about engineering, science and technology interesting, understandable, and fun. The event will help students get a jump start on topics related to the STEM science standards being implemented in 2011.
Owners of the Mobil service and gas station across the street from Woodland Elementary have graciously donated $750 to Woodland through Exxon Mobil Corporation's Educational Alliance Program to support math and science in schools. The funds will be used to support Woodland’s Fast Math program, which builds math fact fluency for 1st-6th graders.
- On November 1st, the Brooklyn Park Athletic Association (BPAA) Football Program held an end-of-season event at PCHS stadium. The event ran smoothly and student athletes and parents were excited to be using the stadium and its new field turf. Five games were scheduled throughout the afternoon and the event was a huge success. A great team of district staff supported the Association by setting up the field and the press box equipment and assisting Association members throughout the day. Park Center Booster members ran concessions, and Brooklyn Park police officers provided security. Stadium use guidelines, fees and staffing structure will be finalized this fall and we will be ready to welcome community users in 2010. Staff of the Community Education and Services Department will be processing permit requests as we welcome our community use of all three district stadiums.
October 2009
- Thanks to its partnership with Orchestra Hall, Birch Grove Elementary School for the Arts hosted world-renowned musician/composer Bernard Woma from Ghana, along with dancers and other musicians. The troupe performed its “Percussion Spectacular!” concert featuring Woma on the xylophone.
- Palmer Lake Elementary is receiving volunteer support from members of Lord of Life Church this year. Approximately 25 volunteers have stepped forward to help in classrooms, read to kids, and provide other support as needed. Earlier this fall, Lord of Life Church also donated approximately $2,000 in school supplies to Palmer Lake students.
- Palmer Lake Elementary is teaming up with University of Minnesota Gopher athletes who will be volunteering in classrooms for two hours each month as part of their Maroon and Gold Impacting the Community (MAGIC) service program.
- ISD 279 and Brooklyn Center Schools have jointly been awarded the ARRA McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth Grant. The grant will help ensure that homeless students enroll, attend, and succeed in school.
- Project Lead the Way, a technology and engineering education program offered in our system’s secondary schools, has received the 2009 Education Commission of the States Corporate Award. The award honors organizations for sustained commitment to and investment in improving public education. Project Lead The Way courses help create future generations of successful engineers and technology-savvy graduates.
September 2009
- ISD 279 Community Education, along with community partners TreeHouse, Brooklyn Park Recreation, and the Osseo Area Schools, received a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant in the amount of $899,000. A portion of the grant will help serve students at Brooklyn Junior High and North View Junior IB World School over the next three years through programs that help students become more connected to school, achieve at higher levels, and become productive adults.
July 2009
- For the 19th consecutive year, ISD 279-Osseo Area Schools has been awarded the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting award from the Association of School Business Officials International. The award recognizes our system’s “commitment to the highest standards of school system financial reporting.”
- The Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) program has been awarded a $3,000 grant from the Hennepin County Department of Environmental Services to implement a curriculum on environmental stewardship.
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Lifelong Learning
November 2009
- During fall conferences, 32 Fair Oaks families participated in a special craft project to create a writing box. Parents were provided information about early writing with children, then parents and children worked together to decorate and fill the boxes with many types of writing tools to encourage practice at home.
- Sixty student leaders from Osseo Senior High and Maple Grove Senior High explored the topic of corporate ethics at a university-level “Got Ethics?” workshop on October 29. The program was hosted by Maple Grove Rotary, with corporate sponsorship by Great River Energy and Liberty Mutual. ISD 279 was chosen as the first district in the state to participate in the “Got Ethics?” expansion, after 16 years of exclusivity at Eagan High School.
October 2009
- Oak View Elementary is hosting two teachers from Berlin, Germany this month as part of an international teacher mentorship program coordinated by the University of Minnesota. The German instructors will shadow Oak View 6th grade teachers to gain a better understanding of team teaching, to share culture, and to build relationships.
- Oak View, Fair Oaks, and Cedar Island Elementary Schools hosted their first-ever all-campus PTO meeting on October 19, focusing on helping parents understand their child’s MCA-II test scores. Parents were given a packet with their child’s individual scores, and received helpful information about the test from Don Pascoe, Director of Research, Assessment and Accountability.
- On September 29, more than 3,000 ISD 279 juniors and seniors from all three high schools attended the Minnesota Education Fair to learn more about opportunities that can help them achieve their dreams after high school. Representatives from more than 100 public and private colleges and universities, community and technical colleges, career schools and military organizations were available to help students consider their post-secondary options. This year’s event broke all previous attendance records for student and educational institution attendance.
- Robin Mueller, substitute physical education teacher, modeled a passion for lifelong learning when she was featured on KARE 11’s Showcase Minnesota for her artwork.
- Crest View Elementary hosted its fourth annual Family Math Night and Ice Cream Social on October 1. About 75 families learned a variety of fun and easy math games that students and parents can play at home.
September 2009
- Jodi Hartwig’s fifth grade class at Zanewood Elementary is engaging in a pen pal program with students from Ghana. Zanewood students have already received letters from their pals in Africa, and are exchanging details about their school, class schedules, and extra-curricular activities in order to get acquainted and learn more about each other’s culture.
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Mission-Driven Employees
November 2009
- Park Brook Elementary special education teacher Linda Chambers become the second ISD 279 teacher surprised by OfficeMax volunteers who presented her with $1,000 in classroom equipment and supplies as part of the “A Day Made Better: Working to Erase Teacher-Funded Classrooms” teacher recognition program.
- The Minnesota High Tech Association has awarded the 2009 Innovation in Teaching Award to Laurie Toll, a Technology Integration Collaborative Teacher at Weaver Lake Elementary: A Science, Math and Technology School. The award honors organizations and individuals who merit special recognition for their outstanding contributions to Minnesota’s technology-based economy.
- Three Weaver Lake Elementary teachers presented a course about integrating technology and outdoor education at the regional conference of the National Science Teachers Association on October 30.
- Music Coordinator Wendy Barden recently published a book entitled Performance Assessment in Band, which focuses on giving band teachers pragmatic ways to assess student progress and deliver feedback to students in a large ensemble. Performance Assessment in Band is the first book in a series of six, and is on sale now in music stores.
- Career Resource Specialists Diane Ahlberg, Michelle Mazanec, Kathy Nelson have been credentialed as Global Career Development Facilitators by the Center for Credentialing and Education. Only 411 individuals in the state have received this prestigious designation, and we are proud that our high schools have credentialed professionals who are well equipped to help students achieve their post-secondary dreams.
October 2009
- Crest View Elementary Licensed Media Specialist Holly Thompson received a scholarship to attend a conference for librarians where she was inspired by the use of Web 2.0 tools, such as blogs, to reinforce a book’s storylines and to get students excited about swapping book recommendations. She also left the conference with new favorite titles and authors to share with students. The scholarship was provided by Metronet, one of seven state-funded multi-type library networks in Minnesota.
- Ashley Mathews, a North View Junior IB World School Spanish teacher, was surprised by OfficeMax volunteers with $1,000 in classroom equipment and supplies as part of the “A Day Made Better: Working to Erase Teacher-Funded Classrooms” teacher recognition program. Ms. Mathews was nominated by North View secretary Rita Humble in recognition of her excellent teaching, dedication to her students, and commitment to the mission of the International Baccalaureate Programme.
August 2009
- Woodland Elementary’s Rojanne Brown, a Technology Integration Coordination Teacher, was one of only 51 educators selected through a national competitive process to participate in an intensive Google Teacher Academy. Mrs. Brown is now a “Google Certified Teacher,” with access to a network of other innovative educators, free education technology resources, and special professional development opportunities.
- Rice Lake Elementary principal Mark French will be a featured author in Principal magazine, the journal for the National Association of Elementary School Principals. Mr. French’s article provides insights on including non-traditional families in the school community.
- The fourth annual Macy’s Spelling Bee, hosted by Reading is Fundamental, took place at the Mall of America. In addition to District 279 Foundation staff support, four other ISD 279 staff helped judge and manage the contest.
- ISD 279 School Board chair John Nelson was elected chair of the TIES board of directors. TIES is an education technology collaborative serving 39 Minnesota member districts, including the Osseo Area Schools.
July 2009
- The 2009 National Magnet Schools of America Conference is being held in Minneapolis this month, bringing educators from across the country together to learn about magnet school excellence in Minnesota. On July 13, staff from Weaver Lake Elementary: A Science, Math & Technology School, were featured conference presenters and also hosted an afternoon site visit for conference participants. The visiting educators learned how Weaver Lake staff integrates technology and inquiry-based practices, along with citizen science, to create real world learning experiences for elementary students. Both of our district’s elementary magnet programs (along with Park Center Senior High) earned Magnet School of Excellence honors this year.
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