School Talk
SPRING 2017
ALSO INSIDE:
•Spring testing
season explained
•New non-resident
enrollment
remains closed
•Start times
decision coming
this spring
Keeping
pace
with
space
As enrollment rises, what’s
the impact on facilities?
Facilities: findings &
I
n response to increasing enrollment, last fall the School
Board established a 39-member facilities task force to
provide feedback on Mounds View Public Schools facilities
this spring. What did the community group discover and,
ultimately, recommend?
Rising enrollment & stressed capacity
For several years, sustained enrollment growth has been
putting pressure on school capacities across the District. To
determine if growth will continue, the task force reviewed
a 2016 demographic and enrollment study conducted by
former state demographer Hazel Reinhardt. In addition, the
group examined a comprehensive capacity study for each
school in the District.
“We’re clearly at a tipping point,” says New Brighton
resident and task force member Heidi Danielson. “As
enrollment grows, our aging facilities will have a difficult
time keeping up without some significant space additions.”
Findings: Facing a new reality of significant and
consistent enrollment growth, all schools need increased
capacity to accommodate approximately more than 1,600
students within seven years.
Feedback: Updating and adding flexible spaces to all
sites is the best approach to allow the District to effectively
and efficiently address enrollment and capacity issues into
the future.
Student Enrollment
12,686
projected
11,066
9,652
highest in
15 years
2010
2016
On the cover:
Freshman Ameera
Arshad navigates
a crowded Mounds
View High School
hallway.
2023
Editors
Rachel Gutierrez
Colin Sokolowski
Designer
Susan Abbott
Photographers
Rachel Gutierrez
Greg Helgeson
Lifetouch
Aging facilities
Built more than 50 years ago, are today’s school buildings
adequately prepared for tomorrow’s needs? On the outside,
tired iron and brick characterize many schools, while rapidly
aging mechanical and HVAC systems have required extensive
ongoing maintenance. The task force discovered that over
the last 11 years, the District has invested an average of
$3.4 million annually on facility maintenance. Despite these
efforts, buildings continue to show their age through common
wear and tear.
“Investing in our infrastructure is not exciting, but it is
necessary and responsible to maintain our facilities,” says
Superintendent Chris Lennox.
Findings: Despite ongoing maintenance efforts, the
increased use of buildings and the 15-year gap since the
last major upgrade have led to increased strain and needs.
Feedback: As future space additions are considered,
corresponding infrastructure updates are required.
Instructional program
Mounds View’s instructional model is based on creating
flexible, personalized instructional groups. Yet, undersized
and inflexible classroom spaces throughout the District create
challenges. For 21st century learning, technology must also
keep pace. Today, the District maintains more than 10,000
student-use laptops, desktops, Chromebooks and tablets.
Within five years, 70,000 daily connections are anticipated as
students continue to bring their own devices.
“Classroom spaces should support and enable our
personalized instructional model, but they often do not,” says
Angie Peschel, director of curriculum.
“Cramped and outdated classrooms limit
Superintendent
our teachers’ ability to serve the needs of
Chris Lennox
our students.”
2017 School Board
Bob Helgeson
Amy Jones
Greg Madsen
Marre Jo Sager
Jon Tynjala
Jonathan Weinhagen
Sandra Westerman
School Talk is published by Mounds View Public Schools, Independent School District 621.
Send correspondence to School Talk editor, 350 Highway 96 West, Shoreview, MN 55126,
e-mail [email protected] or call 651-621-6012.
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Findings: Mounds View has created
some usable and flexible learning
spaces where possible, but all buildings
require refinements to fully support the
instructional model.
Feedback: The District is committed
to post-secondary success for all
students, the principles of STEAM
and preparing students for real-world
experiences. This commitment requires
creative and collaborative spaces
supported by progressive technology.
feedback
“
We’re clearly
at a tipping
point.
– Heidi Danielson,
New Brighton resident and
facilities task force member
”
Community & co-curricular spaces
School connectedness is a key to student success,
As enrollment continues to rise, Irondale High School’s “four corners” hallway
and it requires flexible facilities that accommodate
intersection is increasingly congested with student traffic during passing times.
a variety of ways for students and staff to connect
inside and outside the classroom. The task force
reviewed studies that have shown usage of indoor
Safety & security
and outdoor facilities by school and community groups
When it comes to school safety measures, districts like
has increased, and the demand for gyms during evenings
Mounds View realize their work is never done. Here, school
and weekends regularly exceeds capacity. Routinely, high
security is managed through a combination of controlled
schools have to hold practices and contests at other sites
access, staff supervision, communication, visitor management
including middle schools and elementary schools because of
systems and collaboration with law enforcement. In recent
limited space and availability. The District’s award-winning
years, the District has hired a safety consulting firm to
arts groups often perform to standing-room-only audiences
perform audits on the schools’ safety measures. These included
because school performance spaces are inadequate for concerts
analyses of vulnerable points of access and security. The task
or events.
force reviewed these risk management reports.
“As a real estate agent, I know families buy homes here
“School buildings are safer and more secure than they
because of the school district, and activities are a big part
were a decade ago,” says Aaron Tsai, Shoreview resident and
of that,” says Jim Diffley, Shoreview resident and task force
task force member. “But experts believe we can reshape some
member. “Our community supports our athletic teams and
facilities to make entrances safer and more welcoming as well.
arts groups, and our facilities should support them too.”
That’s advice worth taking.”
Findings: Despite efforts, the District lags behind
other high-performing and community-supported
school districts that have undertaken their own facilities
initiatives resulting in convenient, multi-functional
facilities.
Feedback: Residents deserve to have District facilities
that are comparable to other high-performing school
districts. Mounds View’s facilities should reflect the
public’s pride in the students and school communities.
Findings: Despite recent security studies and
enhancements, there’s still room for improvement.
Feedback: As any District-wide facilities improvements
are contemplated, further safety and security
enhancements must be considered in the scope of
future work.
View the entire facilities task force report
online at www.moundsviewschools.org/facilities
SPRING 2017 School Talk
3
M
eeting monthly since September, a group of residents
and parents, supported by staff and administration,
compared current facility and program needs to the realities
of a growing student body. Reviewing data, reports and
studies, the task force reported its findings to the School
Board and administration in March.
The facilities task force
agrees...
Carolynne Ladd teaches social studies in one of Mounds View
High School’s 43 classrooms that were identified as deficient in
total square footage.
Rising enrollment will continue
Improving infrastructure
• An enrollment increase of 1,620 students is expected
within seven years. That would bring total K-12
enrollment to 12,686, compared to today’s 11,066 total.
This increase will be experienced initially in the elementary
schools.
• All schools need renovated, upgraded or replaced
HVAC units and some replacements of chiller units.
• In Arden Hills, the Rice Creek Commons development
(TCAAP) will not result in the need to build a new
elementary school. (See “Next steps,” page 5.)
• Aging and inefficient lighting needs improvement
in all schools.
• If enrollment numbers do not materialize as quickly
as expected, open enrollment can be reopened to nonresident families to serve as a responsible means of
managing student enrollment.
The facilities task force
recommends...
Adding space
• All schools should be designed for 85 – 90 percent
utilization.
• The District should maintain size targets for all core
classroom spaces.
• 21st century shared-learning spaces such as flex labs
and Makerspaces should be created to support
STEAM programming and personalized learning.
• All additions and renovations should be implemented
using sustainable design and practices.
Creating flexible classroom spaces
• In addition to existing traditional classrooms, all schools
should create flexible instruction spaces that allow teachers
to increase student engagement and personalization.
• Additions should include spaces for non-academic club/
activity purposes to maximize use before, during and after
the school day.
• All schools should establish flexible space for collaborative
staff work.
• Teachers should not operate from carts, unless it is
instructionally appropriate.
Enhancing safety and security
• All schools need multiple strategies and resources to address
safety and security for effectiveness and cost efficiency.
– Gymnasium spaces should be flexed.
– Improved exterior and property lighting including
crosswalks, handicapped accessibility features, additional
security cameras and redesigned drop-off and pick-up
areas that separate cars and buses.
– Arts and performance spaces should be improved
and modernized.
– Additional internal building signage for community
member use and ease of navigation.
– Athletic and co-curricular spaces should be improved
and modernized.
– Greater ability to direct visitors to only those areas
within the building that are considered appropriate and
necessary.
• To provide capacity and to support rising enrollment...
– Cafeteria spaces should be expanded.
– Family engagement spaces should be improved
and modernized.
4
• In all schools, aging technology infrastructure requires
upgrading or replacement to support rising student
enrollment and increased bandwidth usage.
School Talk SPRING 2017
– Secured entrances at all times.
Next steps?
School Board action
After the facilities task force presented its findings and
feedback at the March 14 School Board meeting, the
Board agreed to consider future steps, which could include
proposing a bond referendum to address facilities needs.
“The issues raised by the work of the facilities task force
will not end with this report,” says Amy Jones, Board chair.
“These buildings belong to the community, and it’s our
responsibility to ensure they’re meeting the needs of our
students, staff, families and residents.”
Early ed. stays at Pike Lake and Snail Lake
• The District is experiencing enrollment growth across
all schools — not simply in the future development area
of Rice Creek Commons. Adding capacity throughout
the District is needed.
• By itself, the development will not result in enough
sustained elementary enrollment to warrant the
construction of a new elementary school.
• To efficiently occupy a new elementary school built for
the development, Mounds View Public Schools would
have to impose District-wide boundary changes which
would impact thousands of families with attendance
area shifts.
TCAAP Map TCAAP map in Arden Hills
County Road I W
FEDERALLY
OWNED
PROPERTY
leased to the
Minnesota National Guard
County Road H
35W
RICE
CREEK
COMMONS
S.
U.
Hi
Ben Franklin Dr
Hamline Ave N
No new school for Rice Creek Commons
0
y1
wa
gh
District officials have been working closely with Arden Hills
and Ramsey County to determine the scope and speed of
the Rice Creek Commons development. The development
is focused on a small percentage of the open property,
located in the southwest corner. Because of the location of
development, residents will attend Pinewood or Sunnyside
Elementary Schools, Edgewood Middle School and Irondale
High School. These are the elementary schools, the middle
school and the high school with the lowest enrollments in
the District. The number of housing units, the housing mix
and the pace of development remains difficult to predict.
However, based on the current 2020 master plan, a rapid
development could result in 350 more elementary school
students.
Lexington Avenue
Old Highway 8
In the decade since Pike Lake and Snail Lake were
repurposed from elementary schools into education
centers, the District’s schools have been right sized.
Today, the education centers are 100 percent occupied
accommodating kindergarten centers, pre-K programming
and administrative offices.
Returning these two sites to traditional elementary
schools would force boundary changes for all elementary
schools impacting 5,000 students throughout the District.
In addition, reopening the two sites as elementary schools
would not alleviate the need to serve the growing number
of pre-K and kindergarten students currently housed at
Pike Lake and Snail Lake. With demand for early childhood
programming increasing over the last 10 years Districtwide, Mounds View needs additional capacity to serve
early childhood students and their families. Relocating
the District office staff from Snail Lake to the old Ramsey
County Library in Shoreview this summer makes room for
expansion of early childhood four-year-old programs and
will relieve many capacity challenges.
For several reasons, there are no plans to build a
new elementary school to serve future residents of the
development.
Paul Kirkwold Dr
County Road 96
Community feedback
In the coming months, the community will be invited to
provide feedback related to rising enrollment and facilities
issues across the District.
SPRING 2017 School Talk
5
SCHOOL BOARD
2017 School Board
Audit report praised
In November, representatives from the audit firm Malloy,
Montague, Karnowski, Radosevich & Co., P.A. reviewed the
2015-2016 audited financial statements and supplemental
reports. During the presentation to the Board, representatives
commended the District for its excellence in financial reporting
and issued the highest level of audit reporting an auditor
can give an organization. The audit report is available on the
Budgets & Finance page at www.moundsviewschools.org.
Start times decision
coming this spring
Front row: Amy Jones, Jon Tynjala and Marre Jo Sager.
Back row: Jonathan Weinhagen, Greg Madsen, Sandra
Westerman and Bob Helgeson.
New non-resident enrollment
closed through 2019
To meet timelines for the next cycle of non-resident
enrollment applications, the District announced it will
continue to be closed for non-resident enrollment options.
There are multiple indicators that suggest that the District
will continue to see growth in resident enrollments for
several years. For that reason, the Board closed new nonresident enrollment options for two years rather than one.
New non-resident enrollment will be closed for 2017-18
and 2018-19.
Legislative priorities approved
In January, Board members discussed their legislative
priorities for the 2017 session with the District’s local
legislators. The top three priorities include:
• Increase the basic formula allowance by at least
2.5 percent per year.
• Allow locally-elected school boards to renew an
existing operating levy referendum if they choose.
• Expand the Northwest Regional Partnership to include
educators from all parts of the state.
A full range of additional priorities is available on the
Legislation webpage at www.moundsviewschools.org.
6
School Talk SPRING 2017
In January, the Board reaffirmed its commitment to
establishing later high school start times and indicated it will
make a decision later this spring. Implementation of the new
start times will go into effect in the fall of 2018 — not the fall
of 2017 as previously expected. After receiving public feedback
on three options, the Board revisited its criteria and asked
administration to work with a transportation consultant to
determine if additional options may be possible.
Consultant Tom Watson indicated another option may
be possible if the Board were comfortable making some
adjustments to the existing parameters. The Board agreed to
support flexibility with the following parameters if another
option can be created.
• Some elementary schools and middle schools might
have slightly different start times within their levels.
• For efficiency, the entire fleet of different-sized
buses might be used more creatively, depending on
neighborhood densities or traffic patterns.
This spring, the District will continue to work with the
consultant and bring updates to future School Board
meetings. Communication and information about start
times will continue to be shared with families through
e-newsletters, at School Board meetings and updated at
www.moundsviewschools.org/starttimes.
EDUCATION FOUNDATION
The Mounds View Schools Education Foundation (MVSEF) works in
partnership with Mounds View Public Schools leadership to identify programs
that require funding to advance District priorities and innovations that can
reach students throughout the entire District.
For more more information on the Foundation, please visit
www.moundsviewschoolsef.org.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Mounds View graduate to speak at Foundation luncheon
Ritesh Gupta, a 1994 graduate of
Mounds View High School, has been
announced as the keynote speaker
for the sixth annual Partnering for
Education Luncheon in April. Gupta is
an award-winning filmmaker, journalist
and executive producer in the creative
world of television, film and advertising.
His recent work includes films and
content for some of the biggest brands
in the world such as Budweiser, Toyota,
Ritz, Subway as well as some of the
biggest content providers on the planet
like ESPN, VICE, the NFL and MTV.
Gupta started his career as a
sportscaster working for the CBS
affiliate in Tallahassee before moving
on to New York City to work as a
producer and journalist for MTV’s news
and documentaries department. During
that span, he covered some of the
biggest stories in the world including
the 2004 presidential election, the
battle to fight the AIDS epidemic on the
African Continent and documenting the
death and destruction of a tsunami in
Southeast Asia. Those duties led him
to work directly with a wide range of
notable figures including Beyonce,
Bono and Bill Clinton.
Gupta credits his interest in
journalism to his time at Mounds View
High School. At Mounds View, he was
influenced by his involvement with The
Viewer, Mounds View High School’s
student newspaper. Bernie Troje, The
Viewer advisor at the time, provided
guidance that Gupta appreciates to
this day. He is also grateful for the
encouragement he received from
teacher Julie Rowles — in both her acting
and speech classes — to pursue his
passion in the creative field. Gupta’s
story reflects an exceptional career
that began right here in our community,
in Mounds View Public Schools. He
will share his story and reflect on the
education he received on April 28 at the
Partnering for Education Luncheon.
Gupta sits on Florida State
University’s Alumni Association National
Board of Directors. In his role, he is the
Membership & Marketing committee
chair helping to advocate for his
university’s 300,000 alumni around the
world. In addition, he also specializes
in spearheading opportunities in
networking to help new graduates
achieve their career goals.
Shelley Diffley, MVSEF Trustee and
high school classmate of Gupta’s, was
quick to offer her praises as a fellow
classmate. “Ritesh was always a
charismatic and engaging individual. He
exuded enthusiasm wherever he was.
In fact, if I were to assign him a moniker
it would be ‘Mr. School Spirit.’ He was
highly respected, and he challenged
conventional thinking which I believe
helped him pursue and achieve a very
successful career.”
Interested in promoting your local business?
Saturday, November 11, 2017
6 – 11 p.m. • Vadnais Heights Commons
If your business would like to increase visibility within the local
community while also showing support for the Foundation, please contact
Michael Kauls at [email protected] or visit the events page at
www.moundsviewschoolsef.org. Michael Kauls is a Foundation Board
Member and former Mounds View High School teacher, who serves as
chairman of the MVSEF Event Sponsorship Committee.
SPRING 2017
School Talk
7
A CLOSER LOOK
Answers to the tests
Spring is the season when Minnesota schools administer
a number of tests. Mounds View Public Schools believes
families deserve clarity about spring exams. Here
are answers to the most commonly asked questions
about testing.
Which grade levels participate in spring testing?
 Students in grades K-8 participate in the Northwest
Evaluation Association’s Measure of Academic Progress
(NWEA MAP) assessment in reading and mathematics.
 Students in grades 3-8, 10 and 11 take the Minnesota
Comprehensive Assessments (MCA-III) in reading,
mathematics and science (grades 5, 8 and 10).
 All Mounds View Public Schools students take the
ACT exam as 11th-graders.
What do tests measure?
MCA-III and NWEA MAP tests are frequently administered
in the spring; however, there are important differences
between these tests. Like all Minnesota public school districts,
Mounds View is required by the state to administer MCA-III
exams. MCA-III exams measure a student’s proficiency on
the state standards. In addition, Mounds View administers
NWEA tests to all grade K-8 students one time a year.
NWEA MAP tests measure individual student growth, and
they assist teachers in targeting instruction to meet the needs
of students.
When are tests administered?
High-achieving districts like Mounds View regularly use
data to respond to the needs of their students. Tests and
assessments are used to measure student performance and
progress throughout the year. These assessments are essential
to monitoring student progress, tracking growth, achieving
long-term academic goals and being prepared for postsecondary opportunities.
Throughout the year:
 Teachers use formative assessments throughout the
school year to ensure all students are learning and
growing in academic areas.
Annually:
 High school juniors
take the ACT exam in April.
Mounds View Public Schools was the first district in
the state to offer this nationally recognized college
entrance exam to all 11th-graders during the school
day at no cost.
 NWEA MAP assessment is administered to all K-8
students each spring. Sometimes a student may take
the NWEA MAP additional times throughout the
year as teachers monitor the student’s progress.
Spring:
 Students take standardized tests each year as part of
federal and state statutes. The timeframe in which
MCA-III state-mandated tests must be administered
is March through May. Students in grades 3-8 and in
grades 10 and 11 take the MCA-III assessment.
To better understand a specific school’s spring testing
schedule, please contact the school’s principal.
How are test results used?
Teachers view tests as a way to honor students’ work and
highlight the learning and growth that has occurred over
a period of time. While testing is not the only tool used to
monitor proficiency and growth, it is an important tool
used to:
 Monitor student growth patterns exhibited across time.
 Identify individual student’s current level of skills and
academic strengths and areas for growth.
 Assist teachers in targeting instruction for each student.
 Help determine student placement in District programs.
More information
Mounds View Public Schools is playing an active role in
working with the state to redesign and reduce the statetesting requirements. If you have any questions about this
work or about a test at your school, please contact the school
principal or Mary Roden, assistant director of assessment, at
[email protected], 651-621-6042.
Please visit www.moundsviewschools.org/assessments
for more information.
8
School Talk SPRING 2017
AROUND THE DISTRICT
Assistant
Superintendent named
Jeff Ridlehoover
has accepted the
position of Assistant
Superintendent
of Instruction for
Mounds View Public
Schools, effective
July 1. This position
has been unfilled
since Chris Lennox began his role as
Superintendent last July. As Assistant
Superintendent, he will be working on
a variety of District-level projects.
Ridlehoover served as principal
of Mounds View High School
for the past four years, and
he was named 2017 Principal
of the Year by the Minnesota
Association of Secondary School
Principals.
Student-led innovation seminars
Secondary schools throughout the District have designed (or are developing)
dedicated areas of the school that encourage innovation through hands-on
learning. These spaces are known as “Makerspaces” and include tools to engage
students in hands-on learning using graphic design programs, 3D printers
and engravers, and much more. At Mounds View High School, students have
taken the Makerspace movement beyond the classroom. With help from the
school’s library media specialist, Becky Stouten, students are using dedicated
space in the media center to develop and lead seminars for their classmates.
Student seminars are led during free periods or before or after school. Seminars
range from sewing, card-making, cookie decorating, drones and robotics.
Supplies like sewing machines and materials are often donated by parents and
community members.
The first students to letter in
innovation are Lily Willier-O’Connor,
Josiah Wiest, Emma Waguespack,
Meghan McGowan and Sophia
Hickel (not pictured). To qualify
for a letter, students must spend
20 hours or more volunteering for
the innovation program, host three
or more Makerspace seminars
or participate in other innovation
performances throughout the year.
New principal named
Stephanie Bruggers
has been named
the new Principal of
Mounds View High
School, effective
July 1. Bruggers
has served as
an Associate
Principal for the
past five years — two years at Mounds
View and three years at Wayzata High
School. Previously, she worked at Osseo
Area Schools for 13 years, serving as
an instructional coach and a social
studies teacher. She holds a bachelor’s
degree in social science from the College
of St. Benedict, a master’s degree in
education from St. Mary’s University and
an educational specialist degree from the
University of St. Thomas. Bruggers and
her husband Tom have three sons —
Joey (14), Michael (10) and Sam (10).
Thank you.
Origami cranes are
regarded as symbols of hope
and healing during challenging
times. Mounds View students
have created and displayed dozens
of these and other handmade and
heartfelt memorials in the school’s hallways.
In the wake of the tragic car accident last fall, we have been overwhelmed
by our community’s countless gestures of generous support. Too many to
list, all of these acts of kindness have deeply touched our students, staff
and families. Through your compassion, you all have redefined for us what
community truly means. Our high school thanks you for your care and
concern during these difficult days.
SPRING 2017 School Talk
9
AROUND THE DISTRICT
r244
Costume fun
Kindergarten students and staff at
Pike Lake Education Center celebrated
Halloween with crafts, games and a
costume party. Pictured: Nathan Aguilar
and paraprofessional Kathy Chinander.
Fall tradition
Seasonal
First-grade students, staff and even some
parents enjoyed an all-school costume party
at Turtle Lake. Pictured: Blaize Wells and
his mom Nichole Wells.
Island Lake kindergartners Avan Ollendick
and Kaitlyn Nerland celebrated the fall
season in costume. Students and staff at
Snail Lake Education Center paraded the
hallways.
Nearly 700 students participated in Pinewood Elementary
School’s annual fall parade in Mounds View. This year’s
parade highlighted the school’s 60th anniversary and
brought together a community of schools and families.
A record number of high school students marched in the 201617 school year parade. Irondale students used the parade as
an opportunity to connect with Pinewood students and share
their interest in band.
10
School Talk SPRING 2017
celebratıons
Operation Joy
yields 4,000 gifts
The Ralph Reeder Food Shelf
collected more than 4,000 gifts
this holiday season during its
annual Operation Joy Campaign,
which benefits Mounds View
Public Schools families. Thanks
to more than 80 community
volunteers and donations from area
churches, schools, businesses,
clubs, individuals and Toys for
Tots, 843 children (ages birth to
12th-grade) received gifts this year.
Qualifying families who registered
with the Food Shelf were invited
to the Operation Joy Toy Shop in
December to pick out gifts for each
of their children as well as food for
the holidays. During the holiday
season, District schools helped
to raise nearly 9,000 pounds of
food, just under $13,000, and
500 assorted toys and gifts for the
food shelf.
Spreading holiday cheer
The student council at Turtle Lake
Elementary School raised more
than $4,000 during their November
“Thanksgiving For All” project. The
money collected provided hundreds of
area families in need with turkeys and
complete Thanksgiving meals via the
Ralph Reeder Food Shelf.
Turtle Lake’s student council is made up of
28 fourth- and fifth-grade representatives.
Mounds View High School PREP (Practical
Readiness Education Program) students
volunteered as bell ringers for the Salvation
Army. This is the ninth year the PREP program
has been part of the Salvation Army’s holiday
campaign. Volunteer opportunities, along
with weekly PREP community participation,
allow students an opportunity to apply skills
learned in the classroom into the community
environment. Pictured: Alex Han, Heather
Harmon and Stella Snapko.
Community support helps
Bel Air celebrate Thanksgiving
For the second year, the New Brighton Eagles and
New Brighton Lions Club hosted a winter clothing
drive to benefit students at the Pike Lake Education
Center, Bel Air Elementary School and Highview
Middle School. In addition to delivering warm-weather
gear the week of Thanksgiving, the Eagles and Lions
Clubs also presented Bel Air Elementary School with a
check for $2,000 to support ongoing school initiatives.
Lions Club New Brighton president Tarii Klose and New
Brighton Mayor Valerie Johnson (pictured with Bel Air
community liaison Mark Suggs) delivered the donations to
Bel Air in November.
SPRING 2017 School Talk
11
AROUND THE DISTRICT
Island Lake author visit
Students at Island Lake Elementary School spent time with award-winning
author Grace Lin in January to learn more about how to write, illustrate
and publish books.
LEGO League Junior
New this year, kindergarten students were given
an opportunity to participate in LEGO League
Junior. More than 60 students from the two
District kindergarten centers participated in
the program. Weekly meetings used LEGOs to
introduce students to engineering, computer
coding, research and teamwork skills.
In anticipation of Grace Lin’s visit, second-graders read Grace Lin’s The Year of the
Dog and Bringing in the New Year. The books inspired conversations about holiday
traditions and the Chinese New Year. Students especially enjoyed learning about
the Dragon Parade. This learning inspired students to create a 15-foot dragon
mural to brighten the hallway and wish everyone good luck and happiness in the
coming year.
Practicing strategies
that support success
Area Learning Center (ALC) students were introduced to a new 80-minute
class this year that focuses on the District’s 12 Habits of Mind. The class,
known as 3Plus, is an activity-based
class framed around the application of
Habits of Mind using real-life situations.
Off-site field trips, college campus
tours, career fairs and speaker events
encourage students to learn and practice
the strategies that best support success.
Habits of Mind
The 12 Habits of Mind include persisting,
managing impulsivity, listening with
understanding, thinking flexibly, striving
for accuracy, questioning and problem
posing, applying past knowledge to new
situations, thinking and communicating
with clarity, creating/imagining/
innovating, engagement, teamwork,
and continuous learning.
These habits are encouraged in
elementary school and continue to
be a focus throughout high school.
12
School Talk SPRING 2017
Mercedes Wiler and her
classmates visited the Science
Museum to engage in hands-on
learning.
Snail Lake kindergarten students Kyle Norell,
Logan Mckee, Axel Erickson, Tony Gu and Evan
Luke participated in an exhibition in January to
show judges what they had created.
Students experiment with oobleck
Island Lake second-graders got messy in
MaryAnn Bergantine science class during lessons
about solids vs. liquids. In preparation for the
school’s science fair, students experimented with
oobleck, a non-newtonian fluid which is nontoxic and safe to handle.
Pictured: Andrew Dittberner, Whitney Sotanski,
Carter Thompson and Ella Grant-O’Meara.
Students explore
‘The Omnivore’s
Dilemma’
Grant to help fund math
and science initiatives
Turtle Lake Elementary School and
Valentine Hills Elementary School
both received grant awards from
Exxon Mobile to be used toward math
and science.
Valentine Hills principal Lindsey
Boumgarden and students Axel
Stephens and Vanida Bird accepted a
$500 check from Exxon area manager
Julia Zohlmann.
Chippewa Middle School eighth-grade
English language arts students read
the nonfiction book, The Omnivore’s
Dilemma, the young readers edition,
by Michael Pollan. The book inspired
students to take a closer look at the
four basic food chains and how food is
produced in America. As a culminating
activity, students were asked to think
critically about Pollan’s perspectives
concerning food chains in the United
States. They used their finding to create
interdisciplinary research-based STEAM
(science, technology, engineering, arts
and math) presentations to answer
questions inspired by the book. Students
used coding, video games, cookbooks,
cooking shows, talk shows, skits, board
games, and more, to illustrate how
everyday food choices have political,
environmental, economical, cultural
and nutritional impacts.
Turtle Lake principal Darin Johnson and
students Dimay Thukhotsong and Olivia
Matthies received the $500 check to be
used for math and science programs.
Stay connected
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Mounds View Public Schools
from your smartphone
or tablet.
Download the new free app for
customizable, mobile-friendly
access to a wealth of information.
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SPRING 2017 School Talk
13
AROUND THE DISTRICT
Mark your calendars!
Chalkboard Capers
Chalkboard Capers is a variety show presented annually by the staff of
the Mounds View Education Association. The goal is to raise money
for student scholarships given to graduating seniors from Irondale High
School, Mounds View High School, REACH Academy, Area Learning
Center and Adult Basic Education. Each scholarship is for $621. The
number of scholarships awarded depends on the financial success of
the show.
The 2017 show is slated for April 5-8.
• Wednesday, April 5, 5:15 p.m.
• Thursday, April 6, 6:30 p.m.
• Friday, April 7, 6:30 p.m.
• Saturday, April 8, 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Donations
If you wish to make a financial contribution or children’s prize donation to
Chalkboard Capers, please send your check to or drop your donation off at:
Mounds View Education Association
Attn: Chalkboard Capers
900 Long Lake Road, Suite 110
New Brighton, MN 55112
Visit www.moundsviewschools.org/chalkboardcapers
to order tickets. If you have any questions please email
[email protected].
ComedySportz FUNdraiser
Join Irondale High School’s KnightKrawler Robotics Team for their fourth
annual ComedySportz FUNdraiser and Bake Sale on April 1 at 7 p.m. in
the Irondale High School Auditorium.
A ComedySportz match features two teams of improvisational comedy
“actletes” competing for laughs and points, with a referee keeping things
moving and calling fouls. ComedySportz is great for all ages. The audience
of a typical ComedySportz match contains everyone from kids to college
students to parents to grandparents.
Advance tickets are $10
or $12 at the door the evening
of the event. To purchase
advance tickets, please contact
Shannon Mildenberger at
[email protected].
14
School Talk SPRING 2017
Pinewood students
‘Press Start’
Elementary school students will perform Press
Start, a children’s musical based on Super Mario,
Sonic the Hedgehog and others, at Pinewood
Elementary School
April 20 – April 22
6:30 p.m. nightly
with a matinee
performance on
April 22 at 2:30
p.m. Seats are firstcome, first-served.
At-will donations
appreciated. Call
the school at
651-621-7500 for
more information.
Translation assistance
To learn more about District programs and
events featured in this issue of School Talk
in Spanish, Hmong or Somali, please call
Angel Toro (Spanish) at 651-724-0396,
Mee Yang (Hmong) at 651-724-0396 or
Ali Ali (Somali) at 651-724-7482.
Haddii aad dooneysid faahfaahin dheeraad
ah oo ku saabsan barnaamijyada
lugu soo qoro School Talk, ee ka baxa
Iskuulada Moundsview, fadlan la soo xiriis
Ali Ali: 651-724-7482.
Para aprender mas sobre los programas
del Distrito Escolar y de los eventos en
esta edicion de School Talk, llame a Angel
Toro al 651-724-0396.
Yog xa paub ntau tshaj nov txog peb lub
District cov program thiab kev sib sau ua
ke ntawm peb cov tsev kawm ntawv thiab
niam txiv nrog rau me nyuam kawm ntawv
uas muaj nyob rau hauv tsab ntawv School
Talk no, thov hu rau Mee Yang ntawm
651-724-0396.
WITH HONORS
National Aspirations
in Computing Award
SkillsUSA
Mounds View junior Rachel Deno was elected
as a SkillsUSA MN Secondary State Officer.
She will serve throughout the 2016-2017
school year and will represent Minnesota at
the National Leadership and Champions
Conference in Kentucky this summer.
Mounds View High School senior Maddie Wang
was awarded the National Aspirations in Computing
Award and will be honored at the Fifth Annual
Minnesota Aspirations in Computing Awards
dinner in April. The National Center for Women and
Information Technology (NCWIT) recognized Maddie
with the Computing Award for her interest and
achievements in computing, her leadership ability
and her academic performance. Maddie is one of
only two students in Minnesota to win the 2017
National Aspirations in Computing Award. With
the award, NCWIT will pay for Maddie to attend the
National Awards conference at the Bank of America
headquarters in Charlotte, SC. Maddie will also be
offered a paid internship
in the computing industry
this summer.
Maddie’s teacher,
Kaitie O’Bryan, will also
be recognized at the April Awards Dinner with the
Educator Honorable Mention Award for her ongoing
support of Mounds View High School students
and her continued passion to grow technology
education. Kaitie teaches math and computer
science at Mounds View High School.
Teacher of the Week
Turtle Lake Elementary
School third-grade
teacher K.C. Morris was
recognized as Teacher of
the Week by KS95 Radio.
A KS95 representative
surprised Mrs. Morris
with the Teacher of the
Week engraved plaque
this fall.
Teacher of the Year candidates
Heidi Shah, health
and physical education
teacher at Irondale
High School
Taylor Toellner,
first-grade teacher at
Pinewood Elementary
School
Mounds View Public
Schools teachers Heidi
Shah and Taylor Toellner
have been identified by
Education Minnesota as
teachers “who motivate
and inspire students for
a lifetime.” Education
Minnesota, the state’s
teachers union, announced
Irondale teacher Heidi
Shah and Pinewood
teacher Taylor Toellner as
candidates for the 2017
Minnesota Teacher of the
Year award.
FOLLOW US
Every school in the District has a
Twitter and Facebook page to connect
with the community. “Like” and follow
Mounds View Public Schools and
specific school pages on Facebook
and Twitter for timely news.
SPRING 2017 School Talk
15
WITH HONORS
Mounds View robotics
teams compete at the
State Tournament
All four of Mounds View High School’s FTC
Robotics teams qualified for the state
Tournament in January: EPIC, Height
Differential, The Ponytail Posse and Titanium
Allies. EPIC finished number one in their
division. Height Differential won awards for
their 3D printing, PSA video and the first place
Inspire award. The Ponytail Posse won awards
for their engineering notebook and Compass
video. Height Differential and
The Ponytail Posse advanced to
Super Regionals where they will
compete against 70 other teams
from 11 states March 30 – April 1.
Edgewood Robotics
competes at State
Edgewood Middle School’s VEX
Robotics Team, the Eagles,
qualified for the VEX State
Competition at the River’s Edge
Convention Center in St. Cloud
after a successful season this year. The
team finished sixth of 31 teams in programming
and individual skills and fourth in the STEM
research projects competition. Team members
include: Sixth-graders Cole Lalor, Andrew
Heuss, Jordan Bernier, Jacek Johnston, Loyce
Agboola, Kenawak Olana, Ella Johnson,
Jayden Remore, Orion Sisombath, JJ
(Jonathan) Fleischer, Bronte Brunson,Tristen
Englund and Barbara Danku; seventh-graders
Christian Jensen and Keagan Remore;
eighth-graders Susan (Odunola) Adewale,
Freddy Barlue and Ejatu Bah. Team mentor
Nadina Beethe and members of Irondale’s
KnightKrawler Robotics Team served as
mentors to the Edgewood Robotics Team.
16
School Talk SPRING 2017
KnightKrawler Robotics to compete
at the World Championship
Irondale High School’s
KnightKrawler Robotics Team
2052 will compete at the
FIRST World Championships
in April in St. Louis, Mo.
KnightKrawler was part of the
winning alliance at the Lake
Superior Regional competition
in Duluth in March. The team
was also awarded the Gracious
Professionalism Award.
In addition, team member Emily Davis was honored with the
Dean's List Finalist Award and long-time mentor, Nate Cmiel,
was awarded the Woodie Flowers Finalist Award.
Irondale to compete at the World
Color Guard Championships
Irondale’s Winterguard will compete at the WGI Color Guard World
Championships in Dayton, Ohio, in early April. It is the 28th season
for color guard at Irondale High School.
Irondale drumline plans for
the World Championship
Irondale’s Winter Drumline will compete against the best drumlines in
the nation at the WGI Percussion World Championship in April in Dayton,
Ohio. In the drumline’s 28th season, they are on track to take the
Scholastic A State Champion title again, for the second year in a row.
Quiz Bowl Teams to
compete at Nationals
Edgewood’s Quiz Bowl Team placed in the top four at a
recent meet of 30 teams, qualifying the team for Nationals.
The team will travel to Dallas in May to compete against
120 teams from around the country. Team members include
eighth-graders Triana Grigsby and Ammar Ahmed,
seventh-graders Molly Schuh and Xander Pichner and
sixth-grader McCullen Wilmert. Dan Perucco and
Johanna Sturm are Quiz Bowl coaches.
Coach Dan Perucco, Triana Grigsby, Ammar Ahmed, Molly Schuh,
McCullen Wilmert, Xander Pichner and coach Johanna Sturm.
Mounds View High School’s Quiz Bowl Team
qualified recently for the 2016-17 Minnesota
High School Quiz Bowl League and for
the National Academic Quiz Tournaments
High School National Championships in
Atlanta in May. The team members who qualified are
William Amendola Bye, Justin Duffy, Joey Floeder and
Aryan Sehgal.
Spotlight Award takes
Irondale to the Orpheum
Irondale High
School drama
students,
and director
Janet Paone,
accepted
the 2017
Outstanding
Spotlight
Award for
an exceptional performance of Disney’s The Little Mermaid.
The award, presented by the Hennepin Theater Trust, honors
high school musicals and students by formally recognizing
extraordinary achievements. Irondale’s technical crew received
special recognition with the Overall Outstanding Technical
Team Award and the Outstanding Tech A/V Board Op
Award. The Spotlight Award earned Irondale drama students
an opportunity to perform and work backstage during the
Spotlight Showcase at the Orpheum Theatre in June.
In addition to the Outstanding Spotlight Award, the
following students were recognized with individual awards.
Leah Danielson as Ursula (Outstanding Performance in a
Leading Role), Jake Richardson as Grimsby (Honorable
Mention for Performance in a Supporting Role), Grace
Whiting as Flotsam and Emily Hensley as Jetsam (Honorable
Mention for Performance in a Feature Role), Clarissa Vandale,
Sophie Paulsen and Sarah Bodin (Technical Leadership
Nomination) and Nicole Clare (Evaluator Shout-Out).
DECA students to compete at State
Mounds View Public Schools students represented Irondale
High School and Mounds View High School at the 2017
Minnesota DECA State Career Development Conference
March 19 – 21 at the Minneapolis Hyatt Regency. Students
competed in the areas of sales, promotions, finance,
management and entrepreneurship.
Mounds View students who competed at the
State DECA Conference include: Hufsa Ahmed,
Jason Andersen, Fil Gilbert, Jared Herbert,
Lauren Jahnke, Nick Kottke, Sancho Lopez, Matt
Meloch, Chaz Nelson, Bhumi Patel, Aman Rao,
Justin Reiling, Ben Rosenow and Alisa Samadani.
Irondale DECA students who competed at
the State Conference this spring are: Sophie
Alaverez, Emma Beckman, Andrea Beethe,
Sam Bickford, Haily Dabrowski, Conner
Dickson, Kaitlyn Dobbins, Molly Doerrer, Tyrese
Dooyema, Daniel Duong,Tyler Eskro, Julia Glaser,
Ellie Goligowski, Grace Haglund, Darby Hanson, Mary Herstel,
Maddie Hormann, Luke Janecek, Ashley Kluz, AlexLilley,
Hannah Martin, Marie Meysembourg, Noah Mruz, Duc
Nguyen, Zach Pettipiece, Maddie Quest, Anshuman Thakral,
Victor Tran, Amy Umanzor, Morgan Welsh, Briana Woo and
Daniela Zuniga.
SPRING 2017 School Talk
17
WITH HONORS
Science Olympiad
Irondale’s Science Olympiad team took third
place in the varsity division of the regional
competition in February. In addition to their
overall rankings, the team earned medals in
seven of the 14 individual events.
Irondale’s Science Olympiad team is coached by parents Belinda
Cheung and Kathy Pape.
Mounds View High School’s Science Olympiad
teams continue to dominate the competition
this year with one varsity and five junior
varsity teams. At the Boyceville Invitational in
December, three Mounds View teams took the
top three spots overall out of 60 teams. At the University of
Wisconsin River Falls Invitational in January, Mounds View’s
other three teams took sixth, ninth, and
24th place overall out of 64 teams.
Mounds View’s varsity team will compete
at the Science Olympiad State Competition
in March after winning first place at the
regional competition in February (pictured).
Justin Duffy, Jeffrey Hu, Lucy Chen, Joey
Floeder, Mason Huberty, Madeline Pape, Devina
Chatterjee, Nathan Chau, Alex Li, Tyler Hong,
Daniel Yong, Aarthi Vijayakumar, Amber Zhao and
Emma Tsai.
18
School Talk SPRING 2017
Highview Middle School sent two Science
Olympiad teams to the Regional Science
Olympiad competition held at the University of
Minnesota in January. The teams placed first and
sixth overall and earned medals in the following
individual events: Food Science (first), Hovercraft (first),
Road Scholar (first and third), Scrambler (first), Wind Power
(first), Dynamic Planet (third), Ecology (third), Meteorology
(third) and Tower Building (third). Science Olympiad at
Highview is coached by science teachers Ellen Gurrola and
Courtney Baugher, and community volunteer Kathy Pape.
Pictured from left to right: (front row) Michael Acenic-Buyuccan,
Pyrenees Gavois, Samuel Kufus, Miles Huberty, Bella Woo,
Charlotte Wise, Giaochau Nguyen and Elliott Mihm; (back row)
coach Ellen Gurrola, Isabel Newhouse, Grace Farmer, Anthony
Willier, Bria Farmer, Andrew White, coach Courtney Baugher and
Destiny Beulangh.
In addition to their overall ranking, the varsity team earned
first place in 10 of the 14 individual events, and second
place in two of the events. Mounds View’s ninth-grade
team took top honor in the junior varsity division. Science
Olympiad at Mounds View is coached by teachers Dan
Butler, Michael Huberty, Thomas Carr (retired), David
Barhan and community volunteer Janet Jamison.
Science Bowl
Mounds View High School sent two teams to compete
in the Minnesota State Regional Science Bowl held at
Macalester College in January. Out of the 37 teams
competing, Mounds View ranked eighth and 13th overall.
Coaches are math and statistics teacher Michael Huberty
and parent Lenie Hermanson.
Scholastic
Art Awards for
Irondale senior
Irondale High School senior Michelle
Meyer was awarded three Gold Keys
from the Scholastic Art Awards.
Michelle Meyer with three drawings
that were displayed at the University
of Minnesota in February.
Spirit of Community Award
Pictured from left to right (back row) Eric Palmer, Derek
Zhu, Mason Huberty, Luke Hermanson, (front row) Abhi
Vijayakumar, Diana Zhu, Aarthi Vijayakumar, Michelle Sung
and Madeline Pape.
Seven Seals Award recognizes
Chippewa teacher
Diane Hershey, Chippewa choir teacher, was recognized
with the Seven Seals Award in December. The military
honored Hershey with the award for her dedication to
veterans and the National Anthem Project.
Andrew Kim, an eighth-grader at
Highview Middle School, was awarded
The Prudential Spirit of Community
Certificate of Excellence and the
President’s Volunteer Service Award
recently. The award was presented by
Prudential Financial in partnership
with the National Association of
Secondary School Principals to
recognize Andrew for his outstanding
volunteer service. Certificates of
Excellence are granted to the top
10 percent of all award applicants in each state to recognize
Americans of all ages who have volunteered significant amounts
of their time to serve their communities and their country.
Chippewa Geography Bee Winner
Chippewa eighth-grader Kishanth Koushik Arumugam
Balamurugan won the Chippewa Geography Bee and advanced
to the Minnesota State Competition in March. He competed
against sixth-grade winner Justus Zerrath and seventh-grade
winner Rohit Iyer. Kishanth placed fifth in state last year at the
Minnesota State Geography Bee competition.
Chippewa students headed to the
History Bee Regional competition
Pictured: Diane Hershey with Major Belinski, Shoreview
Council member Terrence Quigley and Sergeant Elms.​
The following students qualified to compete at the Regional
History Bee: sixth-graders Tia Saxton, Shatvika Sriram, Cindy
Su, Emily Zhao, Nick Schulte and Aurora Wang; seventhgraders Ally Brodin, Omar Rahman, Owen Arndt, Quinn
Muller, Rohit Lyer and Connor Pederson; and eighth-graders
Kishanth Koushik Arumugam Balamurugan, Shardul Rao
and Zack Schulte. They will compete in March to qualify for
the National Competition in Atlanta.
SPRING 2017 School Talk
19
WITH HONORS
MUSICAL HONORS
Mounds View Public Schools was one of only six school districts
in Minnesota to earn the Best Communities for Music Education
designation in 2016.
Schmitt Music recognized the District for the designation and honored
music teachers throughout Mounds View Public Schools with an award
ceremony in February.
Chippewa choir
student goes on tour
Chippewa
Middle School
sixth-grade
choir student
Soren Miller
was recently cast
in the role of
“Bruce” for the
United States
National Tour of
Matilda The Musical. He began touring
with the show in February and will tour
for five months traveling to 15 different
states. He will perform in more than
150 shows including performances
at the the Orpheum Theatre in
Minneapolis, March 28 – April 2.
Highview among
the top orchestras
in the state
Highview Middle School’s seventhand eighth-grade orchestra students and
teacher James Bartsch were awarded
the Superior with Distinction title at
the annual Middle Level Orchestra
Festival in February. The Superior with
Distinction award is sponsored by the
Minnesota String Orchestra Teachers
Association (MNSOTA) and recognizes
only eight to 10 orchestra groups
statewide annually.
20
School Talk SPRING 2017
State Honor Band
Edgewood Middle School
student Chris Gottwaldt
(trombone) and Highview
Middle School student
Camille Tinerella (bass)
(pictured with Edgewood
band teacher Eric Johnson
and Highview band teacher
Andy Schmidt) were selected
to be part of the state-wide
Minnesota Band Director’s
Association (MBDA) 2017
State Honor 7-8 Jazz Band.
Students were selected by audition from seventh- and eighth-grade students from
around the state. Honor Band students played an informal concert at McNally School
of Music before performing their formal concert at the Minnesota Music Educator’s
Convention in February at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
Chippewa band seventh-graders Johnny
Yue (bassoon) and Kevin Xiong (bassoon),
eighth-graders Leah Orman (French horn)
and Shelby Scott (bass clarinet) and
Highview eighth-grader Bill Ketola (tuba)
were named to the 2017 Minnesota
Band Director’s Association State Honor
Band. They were selected from hundreds
of students
throughout the
state by audition
for membership
in the group. The
Honor Band will
perform in April
at Chanhassen
High School.
Irondale Orchestra honors
Irondale High School ninth-graders Amanda Rogers (cello), Ryan Wood
(bass), Murah Hsiung (violin) and Annabelle Hosmer (cello) were named
to the Minnesota String & Orchestra Teachers Association Middle Level
Honors Orchestra. They performed with the Honor Orchestra at the
Minneapolis Convention Center during the Minnesota Music Educators
Association Mid-Winter Clinic in February. Rachel Skunes (viola) was
named to the All State Orchestra for 2017. She performed with the All
State Orchestra at Orchestra Hall during the Minnesota Music Educators
Association Mid-Winter Clinic in February.
State Honors Choir
Irondale students Lyndsay Bleiler,
Courtney Roman, TJ Anthony and
Emily Hensley were named to the
Minnesota ninth- and 10th-grade State
Honors Choir. More than 2,400 students
audition each year for placement into
the Honor Choir program. An estimated
800 students are selected.
Musical ensembles highlight Irondale talent
Irondale High School played host to the annual Northwest Suburban Conference
(NWSC) Music Festival this year. The Festival provides students an opportunity to
pursue excellence in music performance, listen to music with understanding and
celebrate the artistic achievements of other student musicians. Each school’s
highest-level ensemble performed at the Festival. Student musicians and a guest
clinician provided critical and supportive feedback to each group.
All-Conference Ensembles for band, choir and orchestra are select ensembles
that are formed in the fall and rehearse together for three weeks in preparation
for a grand finale concert at the end of the Festival.
BAND Irondale Band Students who were named NWSC All-Conference
are TJ (Timothy) Frantz (percussion), Kathryn Grutkoski (horn), Maria
Heuring (percussion), Nick Hustings (trumpet), Kevin Ihnen (string bass),
Isabelle Lalor (trombone), Tyler Ollanketo (bassoon), Grace Pearson (euphonium),
Nick Seel (trombone) and Hannah Sprague (clarinet).
CHOIR All-Conference Choir students are Jordan Kantor, Riley Wenisch,
Becca Donley, Emily Dobbins, Hannah Wiste and Vanessa Johnson.
ORCHESTRA Irondale’s All-Conference Orchestra ensembles included
Lauren Favre (violin), Skylar Fehlen (viola), Kathryn Grutkoski (French horn),
Matthew Gunderson (violin), Stewart Hofer (bass), Nick Hustings (trumpet),
Ryan Nguyen (violin), Tyler Ollanketo (bassoon), Rachel Skunes (viola),
Jimmy Sorenson (violin), Hannah Sprague (clarinet) and Brianna Woo (cello).
SPRING 2017 School Talk
21
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS UPDATE
IRONDALE
Nordic Ski
The boys’ and girls’ nordic ski teams both finished
with strong seasons. The boys’ team finished third in
the conference while the girls’ team finished second.
McEwan Rodefeld qualified for the Minnesota State
High School League state competition.
Basketball
Sean Sutherlin completed his Irondale High School
basketball career scoring over 1,000 points. This
makes Sean the sixth person in the history of the
school to reach this milestone. Sean was also named
to the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association
All-Star team.
Athletic
Signings
Jacob Zwieg signed a football scholarship with
the University of Minnesota Crookston. Irondale
senior Leah Damerow recently signed a volleyball
scholarship with Concordia of St. Paul.
Swimming
The boys’ swim team finished third in the Section 5AA competition
and received the Silver Academic Award. Greg Pehl finished in
second place in the 100 fly, which qualified him for state and broke
the Irondale High School record.
Greg Pehl, Kevin
Steiner, Mason
Gehring and
Daniel Larson will
go on to compete
at State after
taking first place
in the 200 Free
Relay at Sections.
Triple A winners
Alec Burgoyne and Liz Axberg were
named the Triple A award winners at
Irondale High School. This Minnesota
State High School League award
recognizes students who have excelled
in academics, arts and athletics. Alec has
been involved in choir, cross country,
nordic ski and lacrosse. Liz has excelled
in orchestra, cross country, nordic skiing
and track.
22
School Talk SPRING 2017
Basketball coach honored
Jon DeMars, the head basketball coach for Irondale’s boys’
varsity team, was named as one of the four coaches in the
state who will coach at the Minnesota Basketball Coaches
Association All Star Series.
Irondale Knights on Twitter @GoIrondale
facebook.com/IrondaleHighSchool
For the most up-to-date news, visit
the Activities and Athletics website at
www.moundsviewschools.org/irondale.
Track co-curricular
activities on your
mobile devices.
Search MOUNDS VIEW
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
in the app store.
MOUNDS
VIEW
Girls’ swimming and diving
The girls’ swim and dive team, pictured below, competed
in the state tournament at the University of Minnesota
Aquatic Center.
Viewettes
The Viewettes competed at the state tournament in February.
Left to right: Libby Fleming (12), Zoe Rylander (9), Alli Misialek
(9), Madie Petry (12), Dalanie Oliver (11), Hannah Aitkin (11)
and Chella LaMere (11). Not pictured: Jackie Gaworski (12).
Wrestling
Mounds View High School wrestlers took top spots at the
Section finals and qualified for State. Mitch Engebretson won
first place at 113 pounds, Nick Dunagan took second place at
120 pounds, Jack Graham was awarded second place at 160
pounds, Rowan Morgan won second place at 182 pounds and
Johnny Tereault won first place at 220 pounds.
Boys’ swimming
The boys’ swim team competed in the state
tournament and was also named True Team champions
for 2017. Quinn Doan, Will Goldman, Isaac Pan and
Will Quackenbush qualified for State in the 200 free
relay. Will Quackenbush also qualified in the 500.
Top skiers
The Minneapolis
Star Tribune named
Mounds View senior
Mark Ousdigian and
sophomore Kaarl
Damberg as top skiers
Nordic Skier
to watch this season.
Mark Ousdigian
Mark and Kaarl both
competed at the state tournament.
Track co-curricular activities on your
mobile devices. Search MOUNDS VIEW
PUBLIC SCHOOLS in the app store.
Find the Mounds View Mustangs
on Twitter @GoMVMustangs
Follow us on Facebook at
facebook.com/MoundsViewHighSchool
For the most up-to-date news, visit
the Activities and Athletics website at
www.moundsviewschools.org/moundsview.
Alpine Skier
Kaarl Damberg
Signings
Mounds View High School seniors Ryan Nickel (Augustana
University, baseball), Jackie Gaworski (University of Nebraska,
Omaha, diving) and Natalie Nowatzke (Winona State University,
cross country running) signed Letters of Intent recently.
Seniors Yaquub Mohamed (Bemidji State, football),
Justin Geisen (University of Minnesota Crookston, football)
and Erik Holloman (St. Cloud State University, baseball) signed
Letters of Intent in February.
SPRING 2017 School Talk
23
This spring, give your
house cleaning
more meaning
Mounds View
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Independent School District 621
350 Highway 96 West
Shoreview, MN 55126-1951
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
TWIN CITIES MN
PERMIT NO 4112
by donating an
unused instrument
to Mounds View Public Schools
Every year in every school, dozens of
students who participate in band and
orchestra cannot afford to rent or buy
their instrument. Our schools have
a limited number of instruments for
students to use for the cost of a small
annual maintenance fee. But as our
programs grow, so does the need.
A donated instrument will find a
home with a student in our band and
orchestra programs. We’re looking for...
•Brass
•Woodwinds
•String instruments (especially
smaller-sized violins and violas)
...in any condition. Even instruments
that are in rough shape can be
repaired or traded in for a credit for
a new instrument.
Simply stop into any school office and
leave the instrument along with a name
and address. Donors will receive a
gift acknowledgement form that can
be used for a tax deduction. For more
information, call 651-621-6787 or e-mail
[email protected].