This spring has been a busy one in the Westonka Schools. In addition to the usual year-end projects, much progress is being made on the Facilities Update plan.

With the selection of Wold as the architect and engineer, the full facility management team is now in place. A project timeline has been developed for this summer and one is in the works for the summers of 2013 and 2014.  

The 94th Annual Commencement Ceremony at Mound Westonka High School on June 3 marked the culmination of years of hard work and dedication for the 168 members of the Class of 2012. The ceremony opened with "Fanfare and Processional" by Edward Elgar, better known as "Pomp and Circumstance" performed by the Wind Ensemble. The processional was led by the high school faculty.

[Grads]  

This summer the Westonka Summer Institute, now in its fourth year, will make its third visit to China. The WSI China Experience lll promises to be the most diverse so far with students visiting four major cities in China.

"We are excited to include Nanjing in our itinerary this year. Not only is it the location of the Five Start headquarters in China, it also is a location that gives another perspective of China that is different than the other cities we visit," says WSI Lead Teacher Ann Baumann.  

[China lll]

In what has become a long-standing tradition at Westonka, fourth-graders throughout the district made the annual spring trip to Wolf Ridge in May. Shirley Hills students visited Wolf Ridge May 14-18, while Hilltop fourth-graders made the trip May 21-25.

A bit of history was honored during Hilltop's trip, when Tom Osborn, Doug Hage, and Beth Harstad were awarded Years of Service Plaques at Wolf Ridge. Osborn and Hage received the 30+ Years of Service plaque and Harstad received the 20+ Years of Service plaque.

[A Howling Good Time]

The Westonka Secondary Level Destination Imagination (DI) Team earned a trip to the Global Finals, held May 23-26 in Knoxville, TN, after finishing in second-place at the state level in April. At Globals, ninth-graders Connor Born, Conner Demchuk, Zach Hoh, Nick Battis, Zach Martin and Trey Peterson placed 22nd of 60 teams, missing the top 20 by only five points.

[Global]

Spring Band Concert--

Spirit-filled Music; Heartfelt Goodbyes

This year's annual Spring Band Concert truly showed off the ever increasing talents of MWHS band musicians from Concert Band to the auditioned Wind Ensemble. The program was the perfect mix of traditional, classical music and big band signatures, with rousing standouts--like the Olympic Spirit, Amen!, Joyous Alleluias, and Stars and Stripes Forever--thrown in for good measure.

[What a concert!]

Fine Arts Fusion--

Collaboration of Arts, Music & Creative Writing

Dozens of Westonka students participated in the MWHS Fine Arts Department's "Fusion: An Evening of Fine Arts" on Thursday, May 31, in the MWHS Theater. 

This event featured collaborations by Westonka visual art students, music students, media art students, and creative writing students. It's not a concert, and it's not an art show-it's a program unlike anything you've ever seen! The show featured many original artworks, children's books written and illustrated by students, original song compositions, and more.

[Fused]

The Westonka District is happy to announce the hiring of three new directors to fill the positions of three retiring employees. Joel Dahl will replace Mary Hughes as Director of Community Education and Services. Laura Metzger will succeed Pat Berg as Director of Food Services and Nutrition. Cory Wolf just started his new job as Director of Technology following Tom Ireland's retirement.

[Trio]

This summer Westonka Public Schools is thrilled to offer a summer food service program.

KIDS CAN EAT BREAKFAST & LUNCH FREE

When:            June 13-Aug 24, 2012

                   Mon-Fri                

             Closed 4th of July Holiday              (July 2, 3, 4)   

Where:           Mound Westonka High School

                   Cafeteria-Enter building through North

                   Doors (student parking lot)

Daily Meal Serving Schedule

Breakfast Served:     7:45 - 9:00 am

Lunch Served:          11:15 - 1:15 pm

[Free Lunch]

Don't forget to register to attend the Best of 2012 event sponsored by Lake Minnetonka Magazine. Come cheer for MWHS English Teacher Corey Bulman who is a finalist for Best Teacher in the Lake Minnetonka area. Winners of the annual readers' choice survey will be revealed that evening.

Bulman is a finalist along with Sonja Saunders, Minnetonka High School, and Lori Wooley, Orono High School. Let's cheer Corey on! 

Tickets to the event cost $10 and include drink ticket and appetizers, as well as the opportunity to bid on exclusive silent auction items. All proceeds from the silent auction will benefit local nonprofits Feed My Starving Children and ICA Food Shelf.

WHEN: Tuesday, June 19, 5:30-8
WHERE: BayView Event Center, 687 Excelsior Blvd., Excelsior
TICKETS: $10

[Back Story] 

School's out and the Westonka area's biggest celebration of the summer is only weeks away. This year the celebration is even bigger because it includes the City of Mound Centennial. Mound was incorporated in 1912. The expanded celebration this summer will last from July 13 through 22 and organizers say they have something for all ages. The Festival is planned by the Spirit of the Lakes Committee.

Westonka Schools will be represented in the celebration in several ways. Among the groups from Mound Westonka High School planning to participate in the parade on July 21 are the high school band, the Hawkettes Dance Team, the Cheer Team and the Westonka Pop Singers.

[100 Years]

Coach administered, team oriented, intense lifting and conditioning workouts for high school and middle school girls and boys at the MWHS weight room. Objectives of the program are to increase strength and speed, prevent injury, increase flexibility, improve endurance, become healthier, increase confidence, have fun and develop a team mentality. The program combines ground-based lifts like bench, squat, and cleans, cave-man training like battle ropes, tires, Iron Man/Woman competitions, sprint mechanics and agility development. The focus is on learning to compete as a team, and most importantly to develop mental and physical toughness.

WHO: Any MWHS Athlete 6th-12th Grade

WHEN: First Day Check-in June 18 & 19

9-12 Grade Girls: M, T, Th 9-10:30

9-12 Grade Boys: M,T,Th 10:30-NOON

6-8 Grade Boys: T, Th 8-9

6-8 Grade Girls: T, Th 8-9

WHERE: MWHS gym

FEE: $75 summer

[Super Strong]

Westonka Community Education and Services is sponsoring the Westonka Health & Wellness Fair as a part of the 2012 Spirit of the Lakes Festival and the Mound Centennial. The goal is to raise awareness about living a healthy lifestyle and to provide our community with information about local health and wellness professionals. Look for a fun, interactive event.

WHEN: Sat, July 14, 8-2

WHERE: Mound Greenway & Pier

Look for additional information closer to the date of the event with details about the vendors and the healthy seminars schedule. Find the information at www.communityed.westonka.k12.mn.us.

This is the last issue of Westonka News for the school year but you can still stay in touch with district news and events over the summer by following us on Twitter and liking us on Facebook.  

Take a peek and see what everyone's talking about--follow us on Twitter and sign up for Facebook updates.

Click our Facebook and/or Twitter links above and sign up today!

[Westonka Edge on Facebook]      

Westonka Schools Upcoming Building Improvements    

This video was created to inform interested parties of the plans for upcoming building improvements in the Westonka school district.

YouTube 

State tennis: Eagan takes down defending champion Rochester Mayo
Mound Westonka will face Rochester Lourdes in the other semifinal at 10 am Mound Westonka defeated Fergus Falls 4-3, and Lourdes cruised past Luverne 7-0.

Pioneer Press

Equipment Fitting Night - June 13 - Westonka Youth Football
We are holding a fitting night on Wednesday, June 13 from 6-8 p.m. at the Educational Service Center (next to the Mound Westonka High School). www.westonkayouthfootball.org

White Hawks softball wins first two section games    
The Mound Westonka White Hawks Softball team began playoffs as the number two seed against seventh seeded Minneapolis Patrick Henry at home on Friday May 18 ...
Waconia Patriot

Bloomington Jefferson's back to 'take it all' 
In the quarterfinals of Class 2A on Thursday, Mound Westonka (16-9) takes on Cloquet (13-9) in the White Hawks' first state game at Caswell Park since 2009.  
Star Tribune

Otters lose opener, win consolation match
The Otters played a tough round of matches against Mound Westonka, but saw a decisive singles game go the other way as they lost 4-3.

Fergus Falls Daily Journal

Breck edges Blake 4-3 in 1A tennis semifinal
Breck's boys' tennis team defeated Blake 4-3 Wednesday morning in the Class 1A semifinals and will meet the winner of the Mound Westonka-Rochester Lourdes match this afternoon for the championship.

Star Tribune  

Wayzata scraps its way past Eden Prairie
On the other side of the bracket, Mound Westonka downed Fergus Falls 4-3 on the strength of three-set singles victories by Arend Turner and Sander Lee. The White Hawks will face Rochester Lourdes, which routed Luverne 7-0, losing a total of only seven ...

Star Tribune

Tough draw for Prowlers   
The others are Mound Westonka, Fergus Falls and Luverne. The problem facing the Prowlers is that three of the four private schools are in their bracket: first round opponent The Blake School of Hopkins, Breck School of Minneapolis and Marshall School ...

Thief River Falls Northern Watch   

Section 5AA: Fire golf teams place fourth
Balm lost a playoff against Mound Westonka's Brady Beauchamp for the final spot to state. Sophomore Jack Cummings had an impressive first round with a top-10 score of 78 and a two-day score of 161 to tie for 14th place. Zack Lierdahl (84-78-162, ...
Chanhassen Villager

Cloquet to face MoundWestonka in quarterfinals | Topics
Returning to the state tournament for the first time since their ...

Pine Journal   

Royal softball team falls to Mound Westonka in playoffs  Watertown-Mayer catcher Ashley Anfinson catches a pitch during last week's playoff loss to Mound Westonka in Delano.

Waconia Patriot  

School's Out! Have a fun, safe summer!

Thursday, July 12

Registration for high school (grades 7-12) fall sports opens

Monday, August 13

First day of fall sports for 9th-grade through Varsity

Wednesdays, August 15 & 22

MWHS Fast Start Days, 4:00-8:00

Monday, August 27

First day of 7th-& 8th-grade fall sports

Tuesday, August 28

GMS Open House, 5:30 - 8:30

Wednesday, August 29

School Open Houses at Hilltop & Shirley Hills, 4:00-6:00

MWHS Link Crew 8th-Grade Orientation, 8:00 - noon

GMS WEB 5th-Grade & New Student Orientation, 8:00-NOON

MWHS 8th-Grade, New Student, & Parent Orientation, 7:00

Tuesday, September 4

First Day of School

Thursday, September 6

First Day of School for Kindergarteners