a rundown of news and events from fridley public …...2017/04/17 · fridley public schools phone:...

Fridley Public Schools PHONE: (763) 502-5020

Communications Office FAX: (763) 502-5050

6000 West Moore Lake Drive E-MAIL: [email protected]

Fridley, MN 55432 WEB: www.fridley.k12.mn.us

A rundown of news and events from Fridley Public Schools

SCHOOLS AND DISTRICT NEWS

FRIDLEY STUDENTS AND STAFF PARTICIPATE IN REIMAGINE MINNESOTA CONVERSATION

On March 9, 2017 in the Mounds

View Community Center, students,

parents and staff of Fridley Public

Schools joined similar groups of

stakeholders representing Anoka,

Columbia Heights, and Spring

Lake Park school districts for a

community discussion on equity

and achievement. A total of 40

school districts joined together for

a world café themed “Reimagine

Minnesota” for discussion on how

to reduce the achievement gap and

raise academic success for all

students.

Fridley High School students who

attended served as facilitators of

small group discussions and shared

some of their thoughts about the

event and what would make

schools and school districts more

successful for all students. The

recurring message from students

was a need to diversify school staff

to be representative of the students

who attend those schools, train

teachers and staff on cultural

competencies, provide a safe and

welcoming school environment and

climate where everyone is

welcomed and valued, implement a

culturally relevant curriculum,

personalized learning for all

students, and decrease the

achievement gap between white

students and students of color.

At a later meeting, area

superintendents and representatives

from their respective school

districts gathered to review the

opinions, thoughts, suggestions and

recommendations shared during

Reimagine Minnesota. The

information gathered will be key in

creating an action plan that will be

used to better serve Minnesota

public school students.





News and events from Fridley Public Schools

ALC STUDENTS GAIN MORE THAN A HISTORY LESSON AT MILL CITY

A group of twenty students from the Area Learning Center had a fun history lesson that included cookies on February 22, 2017. The students traveled to the Mill City Museum in downtown Minneapolis. The museum, on the banks of the Mississippi River, is built into the ruins of the Washburn “A” Mill from years past. At one time, it was the largest flour mill in the world. The ALC students learned more about the history of Minneapolis and what working in the mill would’ve been like. They also noted the importance of the Stone Arch Bridge and the river being a key part of industry over a century ago. The trip led to more than just education, however. “While the purpose was history, what ended up happening was a lot of group work and some new relationships with classmates,” said Jenny DeMars, ALC teacher. “Getting into a setting outside of school brought out the best in most students! It was really interesting to see new friendships form that carried back to a positive school climate upon return.”

Before the students departed, they baked cookies using five different

types of flour and made advertisements for the cookies.

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT STUDENTS TOUR HIGH BRIDGE PLANT Seven students from Fridley High School’s Junior Achievement group received an opportunity to job shadow and tour Xcel Energy’s High Bridge facility in Saint Paul on March 28, 2017. Work-based learning teacher Stephanie Warner invited students based on their interest in engineering, manufacturing and technology. Students were able to see a variety of potential positions, from engineering to maintenance. They also discovered Xcel employs its own team of meteor-ologists who determine when systems need to be adjusted due to weather.

Xcel also has apprenticeships positions that were explained to the Fridley group. “Even if they start out working in building maintenance and grounds, they can eventually shift into some-thing else,” said Warner. “They would be able to gain on-the-job training and move into something different they would like to do.” The tour gave a glimpse of how the entire plant operates and electricity is generated. “They found it very inter-esting,” Warner said. “Xcel offers

scholarships to high schools students, so possible placements with the com-pany is very exciting.”





KEY CLUB TAPES TEACHERS TO POSTS, RAISES MONEY

It wasn’t malicious or against any rules when Fridley High School’s Key

Club affixed two teachers to posts in the cafeteria with duct tape. It was

a noble and worthy cause.

The Key Club held its annual ‘Tape a Teacher’ fundraiser on March 28,

2017. The club raised $63 for the Children’s Miracle Network.

Senior class dean Jim Cummings and math teacher Christine Nalepka

were this years ‘tapees.’ Fellow staff were on hand at all time to ensure

the placements were not permanent.

NHS BLOOD DRIVE

Fridley High School’s chapter of

the National Honor Society held

its annual blood drive March 10,

2017. 106 pints of blood were

donated via the American Red

Cross to aid patients around the

country.







Fridley High School Variety Show - February 10, 2017

RL Stevenson 4th Grade Choir Concert - February 16, 2017

Fridley High School Improv Troup Laugh 2 Death - February 17, 2017






Fridley Middle School’s Dear Edwina - February 24, 2017

Fridley Middle School’s Dear Edwina - March 23, 2017

Fridley Middle School’s James and the Giant Peach - March 24, 2017






NOTEWORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENT

FRIDLEY HIGH SCHOOL’S KHADAR WINS NATIONAL ART AWARDS

Amir Khadar, a

senior at Fridley

High School, has

again placed high

in fine arts

competition; this

time on the

national level.

Khadar received a

record-setting six national awards from

the national Scholastic Art & Writing

Awards. His winning pieces are:

Black Barbie Beauty Project.

Gold Medal, Digital Art

Unsolicited Advice to a Gay Boy

in the Back of a Classroom Who

Can’t Say No. Silver Medal,

American Voices Medal Poetry

WitchCraft. Gold Medal, Poetry

Safety Pin Solution. Silver Medal,

Editorial Cartoon

That is Not My Job. Gold Medal,

Editorial Cartoon

Trump’s Presidential Cabinet.

Gold Medal, Editorial Cartoon

Out of the over 330,000 works

submitted, less than one percent are

recognized at the national level. The

awards include 29 categories, such as

poetry, photography, sculpture, humor,

editorial cartoons, and video game

design. Alumni of the prestigious

awards include Andy Warhol, Truman

Capote, Sylvia Plath, Stephen King,

Richard Linklater, Zac Posen and Lena

Dunham.

With the national recognition, Khadar

has been invited to the National

Ceremony on June 8 at Carnegie Hall in

New York City.

Amir Khadar’s Gold Medal winning piece, Black Barbie Beauty Project.

A sampling of Amir Khadar’s other work on display in the high school media center.






FRIDLEY JUNIOR LONDON-BOUND FOR INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE

WORLD CONFERENCE

A wonderful surprise was waiting for

Stevenson Elementary teacher Andrea

Erichsrud the morning of March 16,

2017.

WCCO television’s Kim Johnson

surprised Erichsrud with the news

station’s Excellent Educator Award.

She was nominated for the award by

the parent of one of her students, only

to find out later a second parent also

tried to nominate her.

Erichsrud was taken off guard by the

presentation. “I love these kids like

they’re my own,” she said. “It was my

grandmother who pushed me and said

this is what you’re meant to do. It’s

truly the relationship with kids that I

love.”

Erichsrud currently teaches 3rd grade,

but takes part in looping – meaning

she’s had the same group of students

since 2nd grade. Next school year, she

will start with a new class of 2nd

graders and see them through 3rd grade

again.

Congratulations, Andrea!

Fridley High

School is one

of two

schools from

Minnesota

that will be

represented

at the Inter-

national Bac-

calaureate

World Stu-

dent Confer-

ence in London, England.

Fridley High School junior Nicolas

Fite was chosen by the Minnesota As-

sociation of International Baccalaure-

ate World Schools (MNIB) as one of

two Minnesota representatives. MNIB

will cover his travel and lodging, along

with others costs associated with the

trip. In addition, Fite will be speaking

at the first annual MNIB Association

meeting in September about his expe-

riences.

On finding out that his application was

accepted, Fite immediately ran to the

high school’s IB office where coordi-

nator Jessica Baker celebrated with

him.

“I got an email saying

‘Congratulations, we’d like to inform

you your application has been accept-

ed,’” Fite said. “I was excited. I was

frantic!”

The application process included infor-

mation about community service

hours, awards received, a parent state-

ment and a letter or recommendation

from Baker.

Baker noted how the MNIB scholar-

ship is becoming more competitive. In

her letter of recommendation, she

highlighted Fite’s history of leader-

ship, including serving as student

council vice president, captain on three

athletic teams since his sophomore

year, sitting on the panel to choose the

new high school principal, and ap-

pointment in a leadership position with

Youth in Government for the past

three years. His grade point average,

as well, is an exceptional 4.19.

“He models the IB learner profile,”

said Baker. “He’s engaged in service,

works hard academically, is motivated,

cares about people… and he’s inclu-

sive. He wants everyone to be part of

things.”

The IB World Student Conference will

take place August 6-12, 2017 at King’s

College London. The theme for this

year’s conference is ‘Well-being in a

healthy world: personal responsibility

and global health.’ Students from

around the globe will explore and dis-

cuss how individual actions define

their own selves, affecting mind and

body, and impacting the health of peo-

ple across the globe with a focus on

how to work together and improve the

well-being of the world’s most vulner-

able people.

To that end, Fite said, “I’m excited to

learn and get perspectives from people

around the globe. I think it will be an

amazing experience to meet all these

different people, hear the speakers and

explore a new world.”

Fite’s parents will be traveling to Lon-

don to join him for a family vacation

the week after the conference.

Congratulations, Nic!

STEVENSON TEACHER NAMED ’EXCELLENT EDUCATOR’ BY LOCAL NEWS STATION






HISTORY DAY AT MIDDLE SCHOOL MARKS CULMINATION OF PROJECTS Fridley Middle School’s annual History Day took place February 16, 2017. Eighth grade students displayed their history re-

search projects for family, friends and staff to see. The students then gave presentations on their topic to volunteer judges.





Younger athletes stepped up this year

for Fridley High School’s swimming

and diving program, and will continue

to build on what they gained this year

for next season.

Daunte Williams, a sophomore, took

Section 4A Diving Champion recogni-

tion with a score of 333.95. He went

on to place 18th in his first run at a

state title. Williams’ highest 6-dive

list score this season was 233.6, and a

highest 11-dive list score of 378.75 at

True Team.

“Daunte is so

naturally able

to complete

his dives and

what he’s

asked to do,”

said Kari

Reiter, diving

coach.

“We’re

working on

getting closer

to the board, which has improved dra-

matically this year. And finding the

bottom of the dive; getting in clean

and vertical. But he absolutely be-

longs at the state level.”

On the swimming side, coach Greg

Pokorski noted the influx of freshmen

and sophomores in pivotal roles. “The

greatest success as a team was we had

a lot of younger athletes, who had not

previously seen themselves as great

contributors in terms of scoring points

or team success, move into the section

roster, score points and realize the

possibility that in the next couple years

they could be participants at the state

level,” Pokorski said. “The sopho-

mores, in particular, saw a lot of

growth as leaders.”

In state competition, sophomore An-

drew Akermann came in 13th for the

100-year butterfly and 12th for the 200-

yard freestyle; Ivan Pugachov, also a

sophomore,

placed 11th in

the 500-yard

freestyle;

Farrque Hus-

sein, a junior,

took 9th in the

100-yard

breaststroke

and 16th in the

200-yard in-

dividual med-

ley. Hussein

also set a

team record

in the 100-yard backstroke.

Competing in team relays were An-

drew Akermann, Ivan Pugachov, Gra-

ham Hoglund, Farrque Hussein, Chad

Haugstad, Jake Johnson and Colton

Bielawski. The 200-yard medley relay

team placed 14th and set a team record.

“Being a member of the swim team

provides the boys an opportunity to

use their energy in a productive way

that helps them maintain focus during

the day and evening,” said Pokorski.

“It provides them with a competitive

outlet to channel efforts toward a tan-

gible goal and see those results quick-

ly.”


DIANE POLSKI NAMED MARCH 2017 DISTRICT EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH

Fridley Pub-lic Schools March 2017 Employee of the Month is Diane Pol-ski, assistant to the prin-cipal at Fridley Mid-dle School.

Over her tenure as assistant to three

principals, Diane has become the foun-dation upon which the middle school thrives. Her selfless service and com-mitment is abundantly appreciated by all who work with her - students and staff alike. The calming force at the middle school, she supports all who come to the office. She never says ‘no’ to those who need help, and always helps in a positive way. She cares about every-one in the building and takes time to

check in. She is warm and friendly at all times. “She is the first person many people go to when they have a need or question,” said Principal Matthew Boucher. “She has a seemingly unflappable compo-sure, and a demeanor that welcomes all questions.”

Congratulations, Diane!

DIVER, SWIM TEAM ENJOY SUCCESSFUL YEAR OF MOVING UP TO STATE COMPETITION LEVEL

Daunte Williams

Front row, left to right: Ivan Pugachov, Mike Yocum, Colton

Bielawski, Andrew Akermann and coach Kari Reiter. Back

row, left to right: Coach Greg Pokorski, Chad Haugstad, Gra-

ham Hoglund, Jacob Johnson and Farrque Hussein.

STUDENT SUCCESS EXPO

FRIDLEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 2017 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM FRIDLEY HIGH SCHOOL. 6000 WEST MOORE LAKE DR., FRIDLEY, MN

Join us and learn more about:

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING: Raising social emotionally well adjusted children.

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT: Increasing academic achievement for your child through parental involvement.

TRANSITION: Helping your child transition successfully from one school level to another.

JOBS & INTERNSHIPS: Is your child ready to work this summer?

For elementary school, middle school and high school students

and their families. All Fridley Public Schools parents and

families are welcome to attend! No registration required.

FRIDLEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Invites all parents and families to a district-wide

STUDENT

SUCCESS EXPO

Information Resources Opportunities For parents of our elementary school, middle school & high school stu-dents.

Parents can choose and attend as many sessions as they would like.

Great opportuni-ty for high school students too!

All are welcome!

SESSION I: 9:00 – 10:00 AM

Raising socially-emotionally well-adjusted children

(for parents of elementary school-aged students)

Transition: helping middle school students transition

successfully to high school (middle/high school)

Increasing student achievement through parent engage-

ment (high school)

Fridley’s student support system (all schools)

SESSION II: 10:00 – 11:00 AM

Increasing student achievement through parent in-

volvement (elementary school)

Raising socially-emotionally well-adjusted children

(middle school)

Ready for a job or internship? Resume, application

process, and interviewing to get hired. (high school)


SESSION III: 11:00 AM – NOON

Transition: Helping elementary school students transi-

tion successfully into middle school (elementary/

middle school)

Increasing student achievement through parent engage-

ment (middle school)

Raising social-emotionally well-adjusted children

(high school)


9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Early Childhood Screening – (Children ages 3-5 years old)

STUDENT SUCCESS EXPO

Saturday, April 22, 2017 | 9 AM - 12 PM

High school clubs will be on hand to share more infor-

mation about their activities! Plus community resources

available to our students as they prepare for summer!

a rundown of news and events from fridley public …...2017/04/17 · fridley public schools phone:...

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