Westonka Public Schools
Westonka Public Schools

WESTONKA News ~ January 11, 2013  

The Westonka Edge: Small school advantages, big school opportunities, real-life success stories!™
This Week's News
Borg Report
Feature Teacher
Metzger Goes to Washington
Holiday Band Concerts
Westonka's Online Auction
Sweet Experiment at MWHS
Westonka in the News
Sports Highlights
Upcoming Events
Quick Links





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Our Safe Schools Commitment--
Westonka's Security Upgrade Plans

In the days and weeks following the tragedy in Newtown, Conn., we have had several conversations with Westonka parents, staff and community members about school security. During these conversations, people have expressed gratitude for our safe schools and caring community but have also asked about ways to help make our schools even safer places to learn and work. 

  

As a fellow parent of Westonka kids, I share the thoughts and emotions that revolve around tragic events involving children. I want to assure you that the district and school board are committed to ensuring our schools are safe learning environments.   

 

While our ongoing facilities bond project deals largely with building maintenance, it also includes a range of school safety and security items. We have been reviewing these items to determine which should be installed first and what additional improvements should be made. 

 

Read the Borg Report for important updates to our construction timeline, including installation of secured entryways at both primary schools this summer.

 

[Borg Report]

Westonka Congratulates Jodie Rasicot--
Lord Fletcher's December Feature Teacher

 

Jodie Rasicot, a kindergarten teacher at Shirley Hills Primary School, has been named Lord Fletcher's December Feature Teacher for 2012. 

 

"Jodie is a creative, fun and kind teacher at Shirley Hills," Principal Ann Swanson said. "And she sure looks great as a Snow White! She teaches two, half-day classes, so she spends a lot of time building relationships with students and parents. She falls in love with each of her students."

 

[Feature Teacher]

Metzger Goes to Washington--
To Help Shape School Nutrition Policy
Metzger

Westonka's Director of Food and Nutrition Services Laura Metzger was chosen for an all-expenses paid trip to the School Nutrition Association Legislative Action Conference (LAC) in Washington, D.C., March 3-6. 

 

The conference provides Metzger the opportunity to stand up for students in the Westonka School District and across the country by educating elected officials about the issues that matter most to children's nutrition.  

 

MWHS Band Students--
Make Spirits Bright

 

 

About 30 Mound Westonka High School band students participated in a pair of concerts during the holiday season. 

 

Small groups in duets, trios and quartets performed prelude music as audience members entered the MWHS Holiday Choir Concert at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church on Dec. 17. The same musicians were invited on a field trip to play for Westonka Head Start and ECFE children at St. John's Lutheran Church of Mound on Dec. 20. 

 

[Jingle Bells]

Westonka is Cleaning House--
Hosts January Online Auction
Westonka schools and offices are cleaning house. There are 109 different items listed on K-Bid, an online auction. 
 
 
Auction items include: kitchen equipment, projection screens, computer carts, desks, cabinets, folding tables, table tops, work tables, wood platforms, woodworking eqipment, an air compressor, a generator, power tools, hardware, anvils, a digital sign, heaters, lawn and garden equipment, sewing machines, tools, wheeled carts, vacuums, floor fans and MUCH more.
 
 
Interested parties can browse the pictures and descriptions here. Bidding starts at $2. The auction is open through 6 p.m. on Jan. 22. 

 

[Cleaning House]

A Sweet Experiment--
For MWHS Chemistry Students
 
 
 
Students in Sarah Morinville's high school chemistry classes spent the last day of school before winter break on a sweet experiment -- making ice cream. 
 
 
 
 
Using a coffee can, snow, salt, a plastic sealable bag and ice cream ingredients, the students learned about colligative properties and how to essentially lower the melting point of snow to allow the ice cream to freeze.
Westonka in the News
Big begets better at Mound Westonka
Late bloomers Jack Brandstetter and Ben O'Borsky are getting looks from hockey scouts as their play has helped lift the White Hawks.

Orono Mound Westonka Boys Swim and Dive Continues Strong Season
In two Class AA dual meets before winter break, the Orono Mound Westonka (OMW) co-op boys swim and dive team split ...

White Hawks Wrestlers Earn First Conference Victories of the Season
The White Hawks have evened up their conference record at 2-2, and are 4-3 overall heading into the prestigious Hibbing Duals ...

The Laker 2012 in review
The Laker reviews an eventful year in western Lake Minnetonka.

MWHS nordic ski competes at Holiday Relays
The season was underway for MWHS nordic skiing as they competed at a relay race at the Trollhaugen Ski Area.

Wrestling picks up two conference victories
The Mound Westonka High School wrestling team was able to pick up their first two victories against conference opponents ...

White Hawks win two games in Little Falls
The Mound Westonka High School boys hockey team finished with two wins out of three games at a tournament in Little Falls on Dec. 27 through 29.

OMW swim and dive boys continue strong performances
In two Class AA dual meets before winter break, the Orono Mound Westonka (OMW) co-op boys' swim and dive team split ...

MWHS loses to Waconia
In rounding out 2012, the Mound Westonka High School girls basketball team lost a game against Waconia High School ...

District responds to school shootings
The superintendent of the Westonka Public School District has sent an email out to parents in the wake of last week's Connecticut school shooting.

Politicians visit MWHS
Mound Council Member David Osmek, Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson and Rep. Erik Paulsen spoke to MWHS students on Friday, Dec. 14. 

MWHS holiday concert at Our Lady of the Lake
On Monday, Dec. 17 the Mound Westonka High School Concert, Varsity and White Hawk choirs, along with the school's Madd Jazz club, performed their annual holiday concert ...

Holiday luncheon
Those in attendance for the annual Community Holiday Luncheon observed a holiday performance from the Westonka Pop Singers ...

Schepers spoiled upset bid
In a rematch of last year's Section 2A final, Hutchinson hung with Mound-Westonka through two periods until Liz Schepers took over in the third ...

Estrada, Haataja score twice in 7-5 loss
Mound-Westonka scored six consecutive goals, turning a 2-0 deficit into a 7-5 victory over the Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato boys hockey team ...

White Hawks stop Eagles

Bigger, faster and stronger. Those are three words used by New Ulm boys hockey coach Erik Setterholm to describe the Mound Westonka hockey team ...

New Ulm Journal

Sports Highlights
Girls Hockey Defeats Hutch--
Four Goals for Schepers
Solid team and individual standout performances gave the White Hawks a 6-3 win over Hutchinson on Jan. 5. Eighth-grader Liz Schepers had four goals in the game-including a hat trick in the third period. 
 

Boys Swim and Dive--

 

Takes Third at Simley Invite

The Orono Mound Westonka (OMW) co-op boys swim and dive team took third at the Jan. 5 Simley Invitational. OMW claimed first place in diving, the 50 Free and the 100 Fly, with second-place finishes in two of the three relay events. OMW's current dual meet standing is 3-1.

  

[Top Three]


White Hawks Wrestlers--

 

Place Fourth at Hibbing Duals

The White Hawks wrestling squad placed fourth at the tough Hibbing Duals Jan. 4-5. They will travel to Minnetonka on Friday, Jan. 11 for an individual tournament, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

 

 

 

White Hawks PeeWee A Hockey--

  
 
Takes Second in Edina Holiday Tourney   

 

The PeeWee A White Hawks boys hockey team captured second place in the 44th Edina Holiday Invitational Tournament Dec. 29-Jan. 1. 

 

[Holiday Hockey]

  

 

Nordic Ski Celebrates Success-- 

Harrison is No. 6 in State

After finding success against tough competition, the White Hawks will compete Jan. 12 in the largest high school Nordic ski meet in the country. Junior co-captain Scott Harrison is currently ranked sixth in the state. 

 

[Trollhaugen Trailblazers]

 

White Hawks Boys Hockey-- 

Skates into New Year

The MWHS boys hockey team wrapped up 2012 by taking two of three games at the Dec. 29 Little Falls Tournament. On Jan. 3, the White Hawks defeated Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato at home 7-5. Two days later, they lost a hard-fought battle to Wayzata 5-2. 

  

[Goal Makers]

 

 

White Hawks Boys Basketball--

Falls to St. Cloud Apollo

The White Hawks boys basketball team lost a home game to St. Cloud Apollo High School on Jan. 5. The final score was 81-72. The next home game for the White Hawks is Friday, Jan. 11 at 6:30 p.m.

  

[Photo Slideshow by John Haug]  

 

Upcoming Events

Friday, January 11

Cap and Gown Information Day, MWHS, 11:45

Shirley Hills "Caring for Our Community" Drive continues

Alpine Ski, Buck Hill, TBD

Wrestling Invitational at Minnetonka, 5:00

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

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

 

Saturday, January 12

DECA District Competition, MWHS, 8:00

WCC Honor Band Competition

Dance Team Invitational, Minnetonka High School, TBD

Gymnastics Meet, Princeton High School, 12:15

Boys Swim & Dive at Watertown-Mayer, 1:00

 

Monday, January 14

Alpine Ski, Hyland Hills, TBD

School Board Meeting, ESC Community Room, 7:00

 

Tuesday, January 15

Girls Hockey vs. Mankato East, Mound Thaler Arena, 5:15

Boys Swim & Dive vs. Buffalo, Orono Ed Link Pool, 6:00

Boys Hockey vs. Delano-Rockford, Mound Thaler Arena, 7:00

Girls Basketball vs. Holy Family, MWHS, 7:30

 

Wednesday, January 16

Nordic Ski, Baker National, TBD

 

Thursday, January 17

Dodgeball Tournament Registration Closes, MWHS Activities Office, 3:00

Wrestling Triangular at Hutchinson, 5:00

Gymnastics, Watertown-Mayer, 6:00

Boys Swim & Dive vs. Buffalo, Orono Ed Link Pool, 6:00

Boys Basketball at Dassel-Cokato, 7:30

Girls Basketball vs. Dassel-Cokato, MWHS, 7:30

Wrestling Triangular, Hutchinson, 8:00

 

Friday, January 18

Alpine Ski, Mount Kato, TBD

Wrestling Quad Meet, MWHS, 5:00

GMS Winter Blast, 5:30-8:00

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

 

Saturday, January 19

Gymnastics Invitational, Jackson County Central, TBD

Boys Swim & Dive at Spring Lake Park, TBD

Dance Team Conference Tournament, MWHS, 1:00

Boys Hockey vs. St. Cloud Cathedral, Mound Thaler Arena, 3:00

 

Monday, January 21

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Teacher Workshop, no school

 

Looking Ahead

 

January 22

Shirley Hills Kindergarten Round-Up

 

January 24

Hilltop Kindergarten Round-Up

 

January 28

Afton Alps reward day field trip, GMS 6th graders

MWHS Student Senate Dodgeball Tournament

 

January 30

MWHS Student Senate Dodgeball Tournament

 

February 1

Brunswick Zone reward day field trip, GMS 5th graders

Courage retreat, GMS 6th graders

Skating & winter Olympics at Thaler Sport Center, GMS 7th graders

 

February 4

GMS "Have a Heart for Cancer" drive begins

 

February 7

Shirley Hills Imagination Fair

 

February 18

President's Day, no school

 

February 19

Teacher workshop, no school

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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