14,000 students participated in the 2012 DECA International Career Development Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah on April 28-May 1. Brenna and Callie Mack, juniors at Mound Westonka High School took first place over 200 contestants in their category.

Ten other students--Connor Hanson, Spencer Smith, Walter Lewis, Evan Bailey, Katie Jo DeLisle, Kia Johnson, Kaitlyn Tierney, Maya Reinholdz, Abe Thaler and Kelsea Kern--earned top-ten honors and six students--Alek Weltin, Luke Loken, Kayla Schultz, Connor Murphy, Lanie Meese, and Ellie Kalgren--earned honorable mention. All 18 students qualified for the national conference by placing at the Minnesota DECA State Competition.

[DECA Does It]

According to a recent ranking just published by U.S. News and World Report, Mound Westonka High School has been named one of America's Best High Schools.

Mound Westonka ranks 17th of 786 high schools in Minnesota and 668th of 21,776 high schools nationally according to the May 8 release of the 2012 online ranking. The ranking includes data on nearly 22,000 public high schools from 49 states and the District of Columbia.

[Borg Report]

On Wednesday, May 9, 46 members of the graduating class received over $55,000 worth of local scholarship money from 36 different scholarship donors (including service organization, business, families and high school groups).

"The generosity and thoughtfulness of our local businesses, community organizations, individual donors, and school organizations cannot be understated," said MWHS Principal Keith Randklev. "I can safely speak on behalf of the senior students and families honored at the scholarship night to offer a sincere, genuine 'Thank You!' to all who continue to invest in our youth."

[Awarded]

Brandee Smith, a MWHS graduate and freshman at the University of Minnesota, recently received her $1,000 Anderson Family DARE scholarship after being an essay award winner while she was a Grandview Middle School student in 2006. She is interested in becoming a doctor.

[Winners]

Arie Bogaard and Mikayla Gierszewski were crowned the first ever king and queen of the MWHS prom on Saturday, May 5. The junior class transformed the high school gym into an exciting cityscape in the beautiful city of Paris! The "Midnight in Paris" theme included an elegantly lit nighttime cityscape punctuated with an Eiffel Tower that the prom goers walked underneath as they processed in the Grand March. The Grand March was followed by the coronation ceremony and then by a dinner and dance at the Lafayette Club.

[The Glitz]

Shirley Hills plans for Teacher Appreciation Week went along with this year's "TEAM Shirley Hills" theme. Principal Ann Swanson says, "We made a 'trading card' of each of the teachers and they were on display for the students and parents to see in the hallway. Look at the great 'Stats' on every teacher. There were a couple special food days and we are always treated to Al & Alma's breakfast on Thursday morning by our PTA."

[Appreciated]

The annual Grandview Middle School Art Gala was held Thursday, May 3, featuring a theme of "Art in Oz." This event was a great opportunity for students to show off some wonderful works of art as well as their musical and dramatic talents, according to art teacher Pam Veilleux. The event included actors portraying the Oz characters, both vocal and instrumental music and a fabulous visual arts presentation.

[Art Wizards]

Students at Hilltop Primary School recently celebrated Earth Day with a variety of environmental activities. Here is a "snapshot" of some of the day's activities:

Agate Hounds - The students learned about agates and how agates are formed.  They used the playground area to find agates and were truly amazed that we have agates all over Hilltop. A special thank you goes to Tom Osborn, a retired teacher from Hilltop and Wolf Ridge Board Member, for volunteering for the day to teach the session. 

[Mother Earth]  

The Westonka Pop Singers Spotlight Spectacular Shows will feature solo and duet performances by 2012 MWHS seniors Margot Anderson, Gabe Bergmann, David Bingham, Jonathan Goodrich, John Hunt, Ashley Kershaw, Connor Murphy, Riley Peterson, Erin Rasmussen, Katie Rasmussen, Valory Schoenecker and Parker Wharram.  

When: Fri & Sat May 18-19, 7:30

Where: MWHS Little Theater

Tickets: General admission $5 students/seniors; $7 adults at the door

[Spotlight] 

Congratulations to Jim Halvarson, the April Lord Fletcher's Feature Teacher. Halvarson is a physical education teacher at Shirley Hills Primary School. He graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College with degrees in physical and health education and subsequently earned his Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of St. Thomas.

[Featured]

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[Westonka Edge on Facebook]      

Mound Westonka Hangs Tough, Downs Annandale in Late-Inning Drama
After a few days off to allow several players to go to DECA Internationals in Salt Lake City, the Mound Westonka White Hawks Softball team got back into ...

Lake Minnetonka Patch

PHOTOS Mound Westonka Dances the Night Away  
Prom goers head to the Lafayette Club for this year's dance.
Lake Minnetonka Patch

Westonka Public School District | Minnesota | Best High Schools ...
Minnesota's Westonka Public School District contains 1 high school, and it received a silver medal. All Schools in District ...

U.S. News 

Hawks ground Cardinals, 5-2
Becker and Beidacki took the first set by a 6-2 decision, but Mound Westonka's David Bingham and Johan Sjokvist came back to win the second set, 6-1.

FairmontSentinel.com   

Mound Westonka H.S. Alum Honored by Faculty Peers 
A Mound Westonka High School alum was honored last week by faculty and staff from the College of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph and Saint John's University at ...

Lake Minnetonka Patch 

Boys Tennis Mound-Westonka 7, LHS 0
Singles (1) Luke Moorhead, M, def. Colin Maine 6-0, 6-0 (2) Arend Turner, M, def. Alec Scofield 6-0, 6-0 (3) Sander Lee, M, def. Josh Prahl 6-1, 6-0 (4) J.

KLFD.com   

Boys Golf: Dragons on target for WCC crown
The Wright County finale is Thursday a Burl Oaks hosted by Mound Westonka. The Dragons will go in with a 26-stroke cushion.

West Central Tribune

Photos: Meet Lake Minnetonka's Academic All-State Wrestler
Junior wrestler Tyler Hebig of Mound Westonka High School Tyler Hebig picked up six points and won his match over ...

Lake Minnetonka Patch 

Mound College Student Recognized for Academic Achievement
Casey Simonson is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Philip G. Simonson of Mound.
Lake Minnetonka Patch

Girls Lacrosse: Mound-Westonka 10, Chaska/Chanhassen 9
The White Hawks score with 40 seconds remaining for final difference. Michele Mahoney and Kayla Schultz each with three goals for Mound Westonka. Kia Johnson also had two goals for MW.
Chanhassen Villager

Friday, May 18

Hilltop NWEA Testing, 3rd & 4th Grades

Baseball at Glencoe-Silver Lake, 4:30

Softball Sections vs. Patrick Henry, MWHS, 5:00

Pop Singers Senior Spotlight Shows, Little Theater, 7:30

$7 for adults, $5 for seniors & students

Student Senate Bonfire, MWHS, 8:00-11:00

Saturday, May 19

Pop Singers Senior Spotlight Shows, Little Theater, 7:30

$7 for adults, $5 for seniors & students

Monday, May 21

Hilltop 4th Grade to Wolf Ridge

MWHS Choir Concert, Little Theater, 7:30

Concert Choir, Madd Jazz & awards

Tuesday, May 22

Softball Section Semis at Delano, TBD

Baseball at Litchfield, 4:30

GMS 5th-& 6th-Grade Band Concerts, 6:15

Wednesday, May 23

Girls Golf Invitational vs. Chanhassen, Ridges at Sand Creek, Jordan, TBD

Boys Tennis Sections at Gustavus Adolphus, TBD

Boys Golf Tournaments, Cokato Town & Country Club, 12:00

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

Thursday, May 24

Softball Section Finals, Delano, TBD

Boys Tennis Sections, Individual, at Gustavus Adolphus, TBD

Girls Golf Conference Meet, Annandale Southbrook Golf Course, 4:30

MWHS, Choir Concert, 7:30

Varsity & White Hawks Choirs

GMS 7th-Grade Band Concert, 7:00

Friday, May 25

Shirley Hills Super Team Day

Boys Tennis Sections, Individual, at Gustavus Adolphus, TBD

Looking Ahead

May 28

Memorial Day, No School

May 29

4th & 5th-Grade Orientation   

May 30

MWHS Band Concert

May 31

MWHS Fusion Performance

GMS Choir Concerts

June 1

Graduation Practice

June 3

Graduation

June 6

Last Day of School