Westonka Public Schools
Westonka Public Schools

WESTONKA News ~ December 14, 2012  

The Westonka Edge: Small school advantages, big school opportunities, real-life success stories!™
This Week's News
Borg Report
Xcel at Shirley Hills
USDA Regulation Changes
Holiday Choir Concert
Hilltop Toy, Hat & Mitten Drive
GMS Book Fair
Winter Band Concert
Westonka in the News
Sports Highlights
Upcoming Events
Quick Links





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We've Had an Exciting Start to the School Year--
With Much More to Come!

Staff Kevin Borg Superintendent

The Westonka School District has made a commitment to its students and community to deliver The Westonka Edge: small school advantages with big school opportunities for real-life success stories.

 

Already this year, Westonka has celebrated a great deal of success--everything from a National Blue Ribbon award to the lowest effective tax rate in Hennepin County.

 

Our district has many exciting things currently in the works. This fall marked the beginning of our new strategic planning process. We are also in the process of reviewing the effectiveness of our technology infrastructure and creating a technology plan that will benefit our students' learning. Westonka's Facilities Update project is also well underway, with several projects completed last summer and the next two construction phases now in the planning stages. 


Read the Borg Report for more on what's ahead for Westonka.

 

[Borg Report]

Shirley Hills Students Have Power at Fingertips--
Study Electricity, Engineering

Fourth-graders at Shirley Hills Primary School had power at their fingertips when their classroom welcomed two professionals from Xcel Energy Dec. 6. 

 

Students learned about electricity and engineering through a variety of hands-on activities, including simulations using powerful magnets, light bulbs and hand generators.

 

USDA Loosens Regulations on Grains, Proteins--
Maintains Calorie Limits

The USDA has relaxed the rule on maximum grains and proteins for school lunch for the remainder of this school year; however, they didn't relax the calorie maximum limit allowed for each grade level. 

 

Westonka's meals are currently planned very close to the maximum calorie limit to ensure adequate nutrition for our students. Nevertheless, you may see some slight changes in the lunch line in the near future.   

 

[Lunch Additions]

MWHS Vocal Music Department Presents--
Holiday Choir Concert

The high school's vocal music department will present its annual Holiday Choir Concert Monday, Dec. 17, at 7:30 p.m. at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Mound. 


The MWHS Concert, Varsity and White Hawk choirs and the MaddJazz vocal group will perform seasonal and international music selections.

 

What: MWHS Holiday Choir Concert

When: Monday, Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m.

Where: Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, Mound

 

['Tis the Season]

Hilltop Students Collect--
Toys, Hats, Mittens for Local Families
Hilltop Primary students collected 335 items during the annual Toy, Hat and Mitten Drive, which ended last week. The Hilltop Student Council sponsored the annual drive. Each classroom collected items for needy families in the Westonka area, which were delivered to WeCAN.

 

[Hilltop Helps]

Holiday Shopping Raises Funds--
For Grandview Media Center
"Thank you to all of you who took the time to shop at our annual Barnes & Noble Book Fair!" said Grandview Middle School Principal Christy Zachow.  
 
Shoppers who used a special voucher at the Ridgehaven Barnes & Noble store on Dec. 8 had a portion of their sale go toward the Grandview media center.
 
MWHS Winter Band Concert--
Offers Warm Escape
Despite the cold blustery conditions outside, the MWHS gym was warm and inviting when the high school bands provided sounds of the season at the Dec. 10 Winter Band Concert. 
 
Each band ended its portion of the program with a holiday medley. The rest of the concert was made up of some classics of the band repertoire, as well as modern educational selections.
 
Westonka in the News
Girls basketball hopes for improved season
With a new head coach, the Mound Westonka High School girls basketball team hopes for better 2013.

MWHS wrestling takes second in Fridley invite
The Mound Westonka High School wrestling team started their season by taking second place at their first tournament of the season in Fridley, Minn. on Saturday, Dec. 1.

White Hawks boys basketball starts season with victory
The Mound Westonka High School boys basketball team has started their season with a 60-55 away victory against nonconference opponent Monticello on Nov. 29.

Girls hockey goes 7-0 on season
The Mound Westonka High School girls hockey team has started the season 7-0 after winning two nonconference games against South Saint Paul and Prior Lake.

Westonka Peewee victory
The Mound Westonka Peewee A team captured a Brainerd tournament championship with a come from behind overtime shoot-out victory.

Rotary event to benefit Pop Singers
The Community Holiday Luncheon sponsored by the Mound Westonka Rotary is set for Tuesday, Dec. 18 at 11:45 a.m. at the Lafayette Club.

Distinguished Students Honored at Mound Westonka High School
Parents invited to breakfast recognizing outstanding effort, citizenship and academic achievement for the first quarter of the 2012-2013 school year.

A program-first for Wildfire hockey
Holy Family Catholic/Waconia first met Mound-Westonka in its inaugural season of 2008-09, losing a 7-1 decision. It was one of 21 losses in the first season.

Amid personal loss, Mound-Westonka skater fueled a team win
Following the death of his grandfather the previous day, Mound Westonka defenseman Charlie Curti focused all of his energy on the ice Thursday ...

Mound-Westonka mat 'oddball has grasp on three sports

Mound-Westonka's Tyler Hebig is a wrestling rarity. The senior, ranked No. 7 in Class 3A at 152 pounds, doesn't wrestle in the spring. Or the summer. Or the fall, even.

Star Tribune

 

Prep sports roundup: Boys hockey
Robbie Stromme scored the lone goal of the game for Monticello/Annandale/Maple Lake in a loss to Mound-Westonka at Thaler Sports Center.
Sports Highlights

White Hawks Boys Basketball--

 
Decisive Win Over Legacy Christian   

 

The MWHS boys basketball team won a home non-conference game against Legacy Christian Academy on Dec. 8. The White Hawks overwhelmed the Saints on offense, winning 104-39. 

 

[Big Winners]

 

White Hawks Wrestlers-- 

Place 10th at Paul Bunyan Invite

MWHS freshman Drake Heath had an impressive performance at the Paul Bunyan Invitational Dec. 7 and 8 in Brainerd, overcoming an opening round overtime loss by winning four straight for a third-place finish. The White Hawks placed 10th overall.

 

[Bunyan Battle] 

  

 

Hawkettes Place Third in First WCC Meet-- 
Excited to Compete in New Year

The Hawkettes dance team took the floor at Litchfield on Dec. 6 for their first conference meet of the season. The Hawkettes came in third, behind Delano in second and Hutchinson in first. They will compete at the Holy Angels Invitational Dec. 15, which will wrap up their meets for the month of December. 

 

[Dedicated Dancers]  

 

MWHS Gymnastics-- 

Double Win Opens Season

The White Hawks started the 2012-2013 gymnastics season with a double win against Wright County Conference teams Litchfield and Orono in a triangular on Nov. 30 at Litchfield High School. This promises to be a good season for the team, with a whole new coaching staff and many returning athletes. 

 

[Double Winners]

 

White Hawks Boys Hockey-- 

Pair of Non-Conference Wins

Senior defenseman Charlie Curti led the way for the White Hawks with a hat trick in a 6-3 win over Chaska on Dec. 6. The White Hawks added another win in a home game against Monticello High School on Dec. 8. They defeated the Magic 4-1.

 

[Hockey Boys]

Upcoming Events

Friday, December 14

Wrestling Quad Meet, MWHS full gym, 5:00

Pop Singers Holiday Show, MWHS Theater, 7:30

Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors at the door

Please bring a non-perishable food item or cash donation for the food shelf

 

Saturday, December 15

Dance Team Invitational at Academy of Holy Angels, TBD

Gymnastics Invitational at Annandale, 11:30

Boys Swim & Dive at Woodbury, 12:30

Boys Hockey vs. Providence Academy, Mound Thaler Arena, 3:00

Boys Basketball at Watertown-Mayer, 6:30

Pop Singers Holiday Show, MWHS Theater, 7:30

Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors at the door

Please bring a non-perishable food item or cash donation for the food shelf

Girls Basketball at Watertown-Mayer, 8:00

 

Monday, December 17

Alpine Ski at Hyland Hills, TBD

MWHS Holiday Choir Concert, Our Lady of the Lake Church, 7:30

 

Tuesday, December 18

Nordic Ski, Wirth Park, TBD

Boys Swim & Dive vs. St. Michael-Albertville, Orono Ed Link Pool, 6:00

Shirley Hills Grade 2 "Happy Holidays" Concert, Auditorium/Gym, 6:30

GMS 7th Grade Band Concert, Cafeteria, 7:00

Girls Hockey at Litchfield, 7:00

Shirley Hills Grade 3 "Celebrate" Concert, Auditorium/Gym, 7:30

Girls Basketball vs. Waconia, MWHS, 7:30

 

Thursday, December 20

Boys Swim & Dive at Cambridge-Isanti, 6:00

Wrestling vs. Orono, Waconia Gym, 6:00

Boys Hockey at Hopkins, 7:00

Girls Hockey at Orono, 7:00

Girls Basketball at Big Lake, 7:15

Wrestling vs. Delano, Waconia Gym, 7:45

 

Friday, December 21

Last day of school before winter break

Shirley Hills Classroom winter parties

Boys Basketball vs. North Lakes Academy, MWHS, 7:30

 

Saturday, December 22

Boys Hockey at New Ulm, 1:00


Looking Ahead

 

January 2

School resumes

Westonka News Contact

Feel free to contact me with suggestions or questions [email protected].

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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