On Sat, Jan 7 the MWHS DECA Club competed in their District DECA competition at Minnetonka High School. The club had a very successful district competition. Of the 106 Westonka students that competed-95 are advancing to state. Westonka is part of Minnesota District 3 DECA. Other school districts competing in this district are Minnetonka, Edina, Brooklyn Center, Cooper, Bloomington Kennedy, Bloomington Jefferson, and Richfield.

[DECA Dominates]

On November 8, 2011, Westonka School District voters approved two 15-year maintenance bonds to fund deferred maintenance of district buildings ($23.3 million) as well as fund additional improvements to the learning environment, safety and accessibility ($6.6 million).  

These funds will be used to help address Goal 6 of Westonka's strategic plan: "Provide school facilities that strengthen the educational program, including co-curriculars."

The school board and district leadership are committed to keeping the community informed as these bond funds are used.  

While most of the actual work will take place over the next three summers, there are planning steps that have already begun.

[Steps] 

Eleven Westonka musicians were chosen to take part in the first annual Wright County Conference Honor Band on Jan. 14 in Hutchinson. Directors from each school in the conference nominated at least 10 of their best students to take part in the event.

Representing Westonka front left:
Hannah Randklev on clarinet; Abbey Woods on bass clarinet; Ashley Krajewski on clarinet; Mary Kate Smith on flute;
Back row: Ms. Gretchen Chilson Direcor; Timmy Levens on horn; Chris Empey on alto sax; Hanna Brustad on tuba; Nick Battis on percussion; Kristen Holmberg on horn. Not pictured: Leah Pinault on flute & Anna Pinault on alto sax.

[Honored]

Westonka District 277 Foundation President Julie Johnson and Vice President Donna Smith attended the first school board meeting of 2012 to "Share the Success" by announcing the recipients of the 2011-2012 grants.

"Each year our Foundation Board is surprised by the diversity of the needs of staff members that are not covered by the annual school budget; and recipients of our awards are so grateful," said Vice President Smith. "This year we were especially pleased to partner with the district in providing funds for new K-4 science curriculum. The teachers will receive training for the 'Engineering is Elementary' curriculum from the Science Museum of MN."

[Granted]

Westonka 7th-Grade Parent Information Night is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 23, at 7PM in the high school gym. Families will participate in one of four groups that rotate to different sites where they will receive specific information relative to Administration, Advisory/Link Crew Programs; Activities, and Registration. 

[Get Schooled]

It is time to begin preschool registration for the 2012-2013 school year-a limited number of registrations will be offered online.  

Preschool 2011-12 Registration-- 
Still openings for this year's preschool classes 

[Pre-School Time]

Westonka in the News

Boys Basketball Jan Highlights--

 

Boys Hockey Takes on Two Top-Twenty Teams--
Loses All Three Games   

 

It was a tough week for the Hockey Boys with games against two top-20-ranked teams and a Lake conference AA team the week of Jan.9.  

[Tough]   

Lack of Snow Tough for Nordic Ski--

Boys Take 3rd at Wirth; 2nd at Skate Meet

 

On Jan 3, the White Hawks skate-skied in a Twin Cities Nordic Ski Conference meet at Wirth Park: senior Captains Jack Inglis and Bjorn Larson finished the varsity boys 4K in 10th and 12th place out of 91 skiers, sophomore Scott Harrison finished between the two in 11th. 

 

[Enough]

  

 

Boys Swim & Dive Relay--  

Smashes 6-year Standing Team Record

 

Friday, January 20

Alpine Ski at Mankato West, TBD

Wrestling vs. Waconia at MWHS gym, 5:00

Gymnastics Triangular at Glencoe-Silver Lake, 6:00

Wrestling vs. Dassel-Cokato, MWHS gym, 6:30

Wrestling vs. Orono, MWHS gym, 8:00

Saturday, January 21

Dance Team Invitational at Totino Grace High School, TBD

Boys Swim & Dive State True Team, TBD

Gymnastics Invitational at Jackson County Central, 11:00

Girls Hockey vs. Rochester-Mayo, MWHS Arena, 3:00

Monday, January 23

7th-Grade Parent & Student High School Info Night, MWHS, 7:30

Shirley Hills Reading & Math Fun Club begins

Tuesday, January 24

Boys Swim & Dive at Simley, TBD

Nordic Ski at Como Golf Course, 3:45

Boys Hockey at Orono, 7:00

Girls Hockey at Rogers, 7:00

Boys Basketball vs. Waconia, MWHS, 7:30

Girls Basketball at Waconia, 7:30

Wednesday, January 25

Shirley Hills Culver's Night, 4:00 - 8:00

Thursday, January 26

Gymnastics at Maple Lake, 5:00

GMS Winter Blast, 5:30

Boys Swim & Dive vs. Litchfield-DC, Orono Ed Link Pool, 6:00

Wrestling at Delano, 6:30

Girls Hockey vs. Chaska, Mound Thaler Arena, 7:00

Friday, January 27

Teacher Workshop - No School

No Westonka News

Nordic Ski, Baker National Golf, 8:00

Boys Hockey vs. Litchfield-DC, Mound Thaler Arena, 7:00

Boys Basketball vs. Orono, MWHS gym, 7:30

Saturday, January 28

Dance Team Invitational at Mounds View, TBD

Wrestling Invitational at St. Paul Park High, 10:00

Girls Hockey vs. Dodge County, Mound Thaler Arena, 2:00

Monday, January 30

GMS Penny Wars Begin

GMS Winter 6th-Grade Reward Field Trip, Afton Alps

Alpine Ski vs. Benilde-St. Margaret's, Hyland Hills, TBD

Sno Daze Dodgeball Tournament, MWHS gym, 7:00

Hilltop Culver's Night

Tuesday, January 31

Nordic Ski at Como Golf Course, 3:45

Boys Swim & Dive vs. Princeton, Orono Ed Link Pool, 6:00

Wrestling at Glencoe-Silver Lake, 6:00

Girls Hockey vs. Cambridge, Mound Thaler Arena, 7:00

Boys Hockey vs. Holy Family, Victoria Ice Arena, 7:00

Girls Basketball at Litchfield, 7:30

Boys Basketball vs. Litchfield, MWHS, 7:30

Wednesday, February 1

Sno Daze Dodgeball Tournament, MWHS gym, 7:00

Thursday, February 2

GMS Book Fair Begins

Girls Hockey vs. Orono, Mound Thaler Arena, 7:00

Friday, February 3

Girls Basketball at Hutchinson, 7:30

Boys Basketball vs. Hutchinson, MWHS, 7:30

GMS Winter 5th-Grade Reward Field Trip, Brunswick Zone

GMS Winter 7th-Grade Reward Field Trip, Thaler Ice Arena

 Looking Ahead

February 4

Sno Daze Dance

February 9

GMS Talent Showcase & Book Fair

February 13

Hilltop Food Drive Begins

February 20

President's Day - No School

February 21

Teacher Workshop - No School

February 23

Shirley Hills Book Fair Begins