Westonka Public Schools
Westonka Public Schools

WESTONKA News ~ November 16, 2012  

The Westonka Edge: Small school advantages, big school opportunities, real-life success stories!™
This Week's News
AP District Honor Roll
Hilltop Blue Ribbon Celebration
Grandfriends Day
Free and Reduced Lunch
State Swimmers
"My Fair Lady"
"Jeopardy!" Teen Challenge
Minnesota College Application Week
November Feature Teacher
Westonka in the News
Sports Highlights
Upcoming Events
Quick Links





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Westonka Makes AP® District Honor Roll--
For Significant Gains in AP Access and Performance
AP Honor Roll
The Westonka School District is one of only 11 districts in Minnesota honored by the College Board with placement on the 3rd Annual AP District Honor Roll.
 
Westonka was recognized for simultaneously increasing access to Advanced Placement coursework and increasing the percentage of students earning scores of 3 or higher on AP Exams.

[Honors District]
'We've Got Blue, Yes We Do!'--
Hilltop Celebrates Blue Ribbon Award
The gym at Hilltop Primary School was a sea of blue Nov. 9 as students, teachers, parents and community members celebrated the school's 2012 National Blue Ribbon award.
 
Students said bon voyage to Hilltop Principal Nancy Benz and teacher Kathy Ireland before they headed to Washington, D.C. to collect the Blue Ribbon at a special ceremony. 
 

[Seeing Blue]

Special Tradition at Shirley Hills--
Honoring Grandfriends, Veterans 
The halls at Shirley Hills Primary School were a little crowded Nov. 9, as over 500 older visitors joined the students for the annual Grandfriends Day. 
 
Visitors gathered in the gym to enjoy a special music performances put on by each grade level. In honor of Veterans Day, the school also put up a monument featuring students' relatives who have served or are currently serving in the military. 
 

[Grandfriends Gather]

Free and Reduced Lunch--
Your Family May Qualify
Westonka Public Schools provides healthy meals every day to all students, but paying for lunch and breakfast for your children can be costly. Did you know that your child could qualify for free or reduced priced meals?
To apply, simply complete the Application for Educational Benefits that can be accessed from the food services website or by clicking the link below. We encourage families to apply for this service. Your participation helps our schools qualify for additional education funds and discounts.

In these uncertain times, financial circumstances can change unexpectedly. Keep in mind that families may apply for free or reduced priced meals at any time throughout the school year, even if families have been denied services in the past.

[Application for Educational Benefits]
White Hawks Swim to State!--
Record Number of Events Qualify

Swim State Qualifiers  

State qualifiers (from left to right) Daly, Ryann Beyer, Polusny and Paige Beyer

 

The MWHS swim and dive team completed the Section 3A competition Nov. 10 with a record number of state qualifying events. Senior captains Grace Polusny and Paige Beyer, sophomore Hannah Daly and eighth-grader Ryann Beyer qualified for state in both the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relays.   

 

[State Swimmers]

'My Fair Lady' Delights Audiences--
Four Loverly Shows

Time hasn't diminished the charm of the Broadway musical "My Fair Lady," and Mound Westonka High School delivered a loverly production of the 1956 classic Nov. 8-11. 

 

The story has it all: hilarious dialogue, a memorable score seasoned with witty lyrics and an endearing love story about an unlikely pair: a stuffy phonetics professor and an unrefined flower peddler. But the MWHS production would not have been a success if not for the hardworking team of directors, musicians and cast, starring Zach McDowell as tight-laced professor Henry Higgins and Monica Shukle as feisty and lovable Eliza Doolittle. 

 

[Loverly 'Lady']

'Jeopardy!' Teen Tournament Contestant from MWHS--
Who is Joe Vertnik?

After seven years of trying, Mound Westonka High School senior Joe Vertnik was recently chosen to compete in the "Jeopardy!" Teen Tournament. Vertnik will fly to Los Angeles Nov. 17 for the chance to compete for a top prize of $75,000 during the two-week tournament.

 

[This...is...JEOPARDY!]

Students Focus on the Future--
Minnesota College Application Week

 

Mound Westonka High School was proud to participate in the second annual Minnesota College Application Week Nov. 12-16. 

 

Throughout the week, the high school held activities to encourage seniors to complete their applications for post-secondary education and younger students to research, discuss and prepare for their college options. 

 

[Apply Yourself]

Westonka Congratulates Beth Harstad--
Lord Fletcher's November Feature Teacher

The Westonka School District's Feature Teacher for November is Beth Harstad, a fourth-grade teacher at Hilltop Primary School. Harstad has spent her entire 26-year teaching career in the Westonka District, where she has taught first, second and fourth grades.  

 

Outside of the classroom, Harstad has coached middle school girls basketball and has served on every Hilltop committee and curriculum lead at least once. She has also taught Community Ed. classes ranging from Snowshoeing to Movie Nights.

 

[Feature Teacher]

Westonka in the News
PHOTO: Packing meals for a cause
Volunteers Lisa Burnham, Reese Burnham, Lexi Zimmerman and Jace Olson pack lunches for the MobilePack Feed My Starving Children program.

Communities come together for drug program
Almost 200 residents of western Lake Minnetonka cities met at the Gillespie Center on Nov. 1.

Volleyball season ends in section quarterfinals
The Mound Westonka High School volleyball team's season ended abruptly on Thursday, Nov. 1 with a four set loss to Bell Plaine High School.

MWHS runner places 117 at state
MWHS runner Scott Harrison finished the 5 kilometer course at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. in 117th place.

Football season ends in section tournament
The White Hawks football season ended on Oct. 23 after a loss in the first round of the Section 5AAAA tournament to Delano High School.

Westonka Schools Puts Delicious into Nutritious with Chef 
Marshall O'Brien
Healthy Kids Living program will enhance school lunch with new, healthy recipes.

District 277 Foundation Grants Benefit Westonka Kids
The Westonka District 277 Foundation has awarded more than $100,000 in grants since 1997 to Westonka staff members seeking funds to enrich their curriculum...
Sports Highlights
High Expectations Pay Off--
At Section 3A Swim Championship
The MWHS and Holy Family swim and dive teams arrived at the Section 3A finals Nov. 10 with high expectations, and they were not disappointed. Combined, the White Hawks and Fire are sending seven individuals and four relays to state. Gretchen Rouse was also named Section Coach of the Year!
 

Nordic Ski Scott Harrison Let It Snow!--
Nordic Ski Team Prepares for Season

Encouraged by the recent dusting of snow, the Mound Westonka Nordic ski team is hoping for better skiing weather this year. "The season will be fantastic no matter how they ski, as long as we have snow!" head coach Sue Harrison said. The team will host a breakfast and silent auction fundraiser Dec. 9 at the Mound American Legion.

 

  

Wrestling Alumni Night is Back--

Current, Former White Hawks Take to the Mat

The White Hawks Wrestling Alumni Night is set for Friday, Nov. 23 at 7 p.m. at MWHS. White Hawks wrestling alumni will match up against current White Hawk wrestlers. Admission is free, and it should be a great night for all. Alumni should contact coach Todd Munsterteiger for a chance to get back on the mat at 952-491-8258 or munsterteigert@westonka.k12.mn.us.

 

Mound Westonka Bowling Club-- 

Competes in Conference Championships

For the first time in team history, the varsity bowling club had two members make the All-Conference team. Jaxon Helland and Carter Palm will join the other six members of the All-Conference team to bowl in a team state conference tournament Nov. 24.  

 

[Bowlers Strike]

Upcoming Events

Friday, November 16

Girls Swim & Dive State Tournament, U of M Aquatics Center, TBD

 

Saturday, November 17

Girls Swim & Dive State Tournament, U of M Aquatics Center, TBD

Girls Basketball Scrimmage at Jordan, TBD

Girls Hockey vs. Tartan, Mound Thaler Arena, 3:00

 

Monday, November 19

College Visit, Johnson and Wales, MWHS Guidance, 10:00

School Board Meeting, ESC Community Room, 7:00

 

Tuesday, November 20

Girls Hockey vs. New Prague, Mound Thaler Arena, 7:00

 

Wednesday, November 21

Explore Test, MWHS 8th-graders

 

Thursday, November 22

Thanksgiving Day - No School

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Friday, November 23

Thanksgiving Break - No School

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

 

Saturday, November 24

Boys Hockey vs. Hibbing, Mound Thaler Arena, 5:00

 

Monday, November 26

Hilltop Book Fair Begins

Hilltop Toy, Hat and Mitten Drive Begins

College Visit, St. Cloud State University, MWHS Guidance, 9:00

 

Tuesday, November 27

Nordic Ski at Elm Creek Park Reserve, TBD

Girls Hockey vs. Bloomington Kennedy, Mound Thaler Arena, 7:00

Girls Basketball vs. Norwood-Young America, MWHS gym, 7:30

 

Wednesday, November 28

ACT Practice Test Results Meeting for Parents, MWHS Theater, 7:00

 

Thursday, November 29

Distinguished Student Breakfast Grades 8 and 9, MWHS, 7:15

Hilltop Family Fun Night and Science Fair

Girls Hockey vs. South St. Paul, Mound Thaler Arena, 7:00

Girls Basketball vs. Mayer Lutheran, MWHS gym, 7:30

 

Friday, November 30

Distinguished Student Breakfast Grades 10 through 12, MWHS, 7:15

GMS Toy Drive begins

Gymnastics at Litchfield, 6:00

Boys Hockey at Warroad, 7:00

 

Saturday, December 1

Dance Team Invitational at Chaska, TBD

Wrestling at Fridley, 9:00

Boys Hockey at Lake of the Woods, 12:00

 

Looking Ahead

 

December 6

Hilltop Toy, Hat and Mitten Drive Ends

 

December 8

GMS Barnes & Noble Media Center Fundraiser

 

December 10

MWHS Winter Band Concert

 

December 11

GMS Choir Concert

 

December 14 and 15

Pop Singers Holiday Shows

 

December 17

MWHS Holiday Choir Concert

 

December 18

Shirley Hills Grades 2 and 3 Music Concerts

 

December 21

Last day of school before winter break

Westonka News Contact

Feel free to contact me with suggestions or questions heistadb@westonka.k12.mn.us.

Becca Heistad, Communications Coordinator
Community Relations/Community Education  
Westonka Public Schools

5901 Sunnyfield Rd E   

Minnetrista MN 55364

952.491.8003 | www.westonka.k12.mn.us  
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