Westonka Public Schools
Westonka Public Schools

WESTONKA News ~ December 21, 2012  

The Westonka Edge: Small school advantages, big school opportunities, real-life success stories!™
This Week's News
Westonka Facilities Update
MWHS Holiday Choir Concert
TIES Technology Conference
Hilltop Frigid Frolic
MWHS Political Round Table
GMS Geography Bee
SpotLight Awards
Westonka in the News
Sports Highlights
Upcoming Events
Quick Links





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Westonka Facilities Update--
Progress Report Dec. 2012

Progress continues on the Westonka School District facilities update project, made possible by the passage of the November 2011 referendum. 

 

Since the completion of the summer 2012 projects, design work has been underway for Hilltop and Shirley Hills primary schools, Grandview Middle School and Mound Westonka High School, as well as for the district office and transportation building.

 

Read the Facilities Update below for a summary of projects awaiting board approval, and visit the Facilities Update web page for more information. 

 

[Facilities Update]

High School Singers Perform--
Holiday Choir Concert

 

Modern and traditional seasonal tunes rang out at Our Lady of the Lake Church in Mound on Dec. 17 when the Mound Westonka High School choirs presented their annual Holiday Concert.   


Television airdates for the MWHS Holiday Choir Concert:
12/22, 12/23, 12/25, 12/29 and 12/30 @ 7 p.m. (LMCC Channel 12)
12/27 @ 7 p.m. (LMCC Channel 21)
12/24 @ 9 p.m. (LMCC Channel 21)
12/31 @ 9 p.m. (LMCC Channel 12)

 

[Season's Singers]

Westonka's Tech Leaders--
Attend TIES Technology Conference
Twenty-two Westonka staff members represented the district at the TIES 2012 Education Technology Conference Dec. 10 and 11. Although district staff have attended previous TIES conferences, this was the first year that Westonka TILT team members were among the presenters.

 

Additionally, Hilltop kindergarten teacher Chantelle Jordahl and MWHS chemistry and physics teacher Sarah Morinville both received the TIES Exceptional Teacher award, which recognizes teachers who model best practices in their classroom and engage students in learning. 

 

It's Cold Outside--
Time for Hilltop Frigid Frolic

 

The Hilltop PTA is excited to announce that this year's Frigid Frolic casino night will be held Friday, Feb. 22 at the Bayview Event Center in Excelsior. The second annual event, which raises funds to support Hilltop's technology needs, will feature dancing, food, a silent auction and much more! 

 

Event organizers are currently accepting auction items and volunteers. 'Like' the Hilltop PTA on Facebook today for more details and email hilltoppta@hotmail.com to donate or volunteer.  

MWHS Welcomes Political Trio--
To 'Round Table' Discussion
Left to right: Paulsen, Osmek and Johnson

On Friday, Dec. 14 a trio of political leaders addressed Bob Kuehl's senior advanced American government classes at Mound Westonka High School. The three guest speakers were David Osmek, longtime Mound City Council member, who will soon start his first term as Minnesota state senator; Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson; and U.S. Congressman Erik Paulsen.

 

Discussion topics at the latest MWHS political "round table" included college tuition costs, stadium costs and fees, government reform, lobbying, earmarks and the looming fiscal cliff. 

 

[Political Trio]

Madsen Wins GMS Geography Bee ... Again!--
Moves One Step Closer to $25,000 Scholarship
Left to right: Kohls, Madsen and Warolin
Connor Madsen, a Grandview Middle School sixth-grader, won the school-level competition of the National Geographic Bee for the second year in a row. 

 

Seventh-graders Louis Warolin and Reed Kohls finished in second and third place, respectively. Madsen now has the chance to win a $25,000 college scholarship. 

 

[Geo Bee]

SpotLight Shines on 'My Fair Lady' Cast--
Six Individual Award Winners
 
Following a very successful run in November, this year's fall musical production, "My Fair Lady," was awarded Honorable Mention for Overall Performance of a Musical by the Hennepin Theatre Trust's SpotLight Musical Theatre Program.

 

Six cast members also earned individual SpotLight awards and are invited to perform in medleys with other talented students from across the state at the SpotLight Showcase on June 3, 2013.
Westonka in the News
Westonka Superintendent 'Shocked and Deeply Saddened' by Newtown Shooting
Kevin Borg says passage of bond request by voters last year will allow district to make security improvements to our facilities

Looking at success in the Westonka School District
Column by Kevin Borg - Westonka Superintendent

Westonka board approves lower 2013 tax levy
The Westonka School Board has approved a preliminary tax levy in 2013 that will be a slight decrease from 2012.

MWHS wrestling takes 10th in invitational
Several White Hawks wrestlers placed in the Brainerd tournament that featured many state ranked teams.

MWHS girls hockey loses first game of season
After going undefeated in seven games, the Mound Westonka High School girls hockey team lost their first conference game of the season 4-2 ...

Photo: MWHS boys go 3-1
White Hawks center Joe Herder attempts to box out his Norwood-Young America High School opponent on Thursday, Dec. 6. 

MWHS girls basketball picks up two more wins
The Mound Westonka High School girls basketball team picked up two wins last week against nonconference opponents to bring their season record to 2-2.

MWHS boys hockey defeats Chaska, Monticello
The Mound Westonka High School boys hockey team improved to 3-2 on the season ...

MWHS honors distinguished students
A total of 20 MWHS students who exhibited outstanding effort, citizenship and academic achievement for the first quarter of the 2012-2013 school year were honored ...

Mix of youth, experience help White Hawks
With a senior forward leading the way offensively, and an eighth-grader playing beyond her years in goal, the Mound Westonka girls' hockey team will enter play this week with a 7-1 record.
Sports Highlights

White Hawks Wrestlers--

 
Open Dual Meet Season   

 

The MWHS White Hawks wrestling squad opened the dual meet season with five matches Dec. 13 and 14, going 2-3 and picking up two section wins. Freshman Noah Byers had a big night Dec. 14, going 3-0 for the White Hawks in their first home meet.

 

[Season Opener]

 

  

 

Boys Swim & Dive-- 

Ranked Fourth in State

The Orono Mound Westonka co-op boys swim and dive team is off to an impressive start this season. The squad was ranked fourth among Class A teams by the Minnesota Swim Coaches Association for the week of Dec. 17. 

 

[Swim Stars] 

 

Spreading Holiday Cheer-- 
From Wrestling Mat to Santa's Lap

The MWHS wrestling cheerleaders have been keeping busy before the holidays. Besides practices and cheering for the White Hawks wrestling team, the team has spent time fundraising, volunteering and spreading holiday cheer around town.

 

[Holiday Cheer]  

 

Boys Hockey at Home-- 

One Win, One Loss

The White Hawks faced two tough opponents in away games Dec. 13 and 15. They defeated St. Michael-Albertville 5-4 but fell to Providence Academy 3-2 in overtime. The White Hawks take on New Ulm on Dec. 22 at 1 p.m. at the New Ulm Arena.

 

[Home Hockey]

 

 

White Hawks Gymnastics Team--

Falls to Waconia

The MWHS gymnastics team faced Waconia in an away contest on Dec. 11. Both teams were undefeated going into the meet, but the White Hawks came up short, scoring 128.825 to the Wildcats' 134.875. After winter break, the White Hawks will travel to Watertown-Mayer High School for an invitational on Jan. 5. 

 

[Gymnasts Fall]

 

 

 

Westonka Alpine Ski Team--

Hits the Slopes

The Westonka Alpine ski team faced tough competition from the Minneapolis Alpine Ski Team (MAST) and Benilde-St. Margaret's (BSM) at their first race of the season Dec. 17. 

 

[Alpine Athletes]

Upcoming Events

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

 

Tuesday, December 25

Christmas Day

 

Thursday, December 27

Girls Hockey Tournament, Schmitz-Maki Ice Arena, TBD

Boys Hockey Tournament, Little Falls, 2:00

 

Friday, December 28

Girls Hockey Tournament, Schmitz-Maki Ice Arena, TBD

Boys Hockey Tournament, Little Falls, 2:00

                 

Saturday, December 29

Girls Hockey Tournament, Schmitz-Maki Ice Arena, TBD

Boys Hockey Tournament, Little Falls, 7:00

 

Tuesday, January 1

New Year's Day

Last Day of Winter Break

 

Wednesday, January 2

School resumes

Dodgeball Tournament Registration Opens, MWHS Activities Office

 

Thursday, January 3

Nordic Ski, St. Paul, TBD

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

Girls Basketball at St. Louis Park, 7:15

 

Friday, January 4

Wrestling Invitational at Hibbing, 4:00

                 

Saturday, January 5

Boys Swim & Dive Tournament, Simley High School, TBD

Wrestling Invitational at Hibbing, 1:00

Gymnastics Invitational, Watertown-Mayer, 1:00

Girls Hockey vs. Hutchinson, Mount Thaler Arena, 3:00

Speech Mini-Meet, MWHS, 5:00

Boys Basketball vs. St. Cloud Apollo, 6:00

Boys Hockey vs. Wayzata, Mound Thaler Arena, 7:30

 

Monday, January 7

Shirley Hills "Caring for Our Community" Kick-off

 

Tuesday, January 8

Nordic Ski, Wirth Park, TBD

Gymnastics vs. New London-Spicer, Decision Hills Bible Camp, 6:00

Boys Basketball vs. Delano, MWHS, 6:15

Girls Hockey at Chaska, 7:00

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

Girls Basketball vs. Delano, MWHS, 7:45

 

Thursday, January 10

Shirley Hills Pastries for Parents, 7:45

Girls Hockey vs. Willmar, MWHS, 5:15

Boys Swim & Dive at Hutchinson, 6:00

Wrestling vs. Waconia, MWHS, 6:00

Dance Team Conference Tournament, Delano, 6:30

 

Friday, January 11

Next Westonka News

Cap and Gown Information Day, MWHS, 11:45

Alpine Ski, Buck Hill, TBD

Wrestling at Minnetonka, 5:00

Boys Basketball vs. Glencoe-Silver Lake, MWHS, 6:30

Girls Basketball vs. Glencoe-Silver Lake, MWHS, 7:45

 

Looking Ahead

 

January 12

DECA District Competition

WCC Honor Band Competition

 

January 17

Dodgeball Tournament Registration Closes

 

January 18

GMS Winter Blast

 

January 21

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Teacher Workshop, no school

 

January 22

Shirley Hills Kindergarten Round-Up

 

January 24

Hilltop Kindergarten Round-Up

 

January 28, 30

MWHS Student Senate Dodgeball Tournament

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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