Westonka Public Schools
Westonka Public Schools

WESTONKA News ~ February 1, 2013  

The Westonka Edge: Small school advantages, big school opportunities, real-life success stories!™
This Week's News
Borg Report
Facilities Update
Kindergarten Round-Up
Westonka Youth Baseball Association
Joe on 'Jeopardy'
2013-2014 Calendar
January Feature Teacher
Westonka in the News
Sports Highlights
Upcoming Events
Quick Links





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Building on a Strong Foundation--
Westonka District Financial Update

Staff Kevin Borg Superintendent

Over the past month, I have had the pleasure of meeting with various stakeholder groups during the development of a new strategic plan for Westonka Public Schools. Five years ago, when our last strategic plan was created, the district was struggling to operate under a fund deficit. Therefore, one of the central aims of that plan was establishing a strong financial foundation that could support the achievement of our students.

 

Westonka has made huge strides over the past few years to achieve its current strong financial standing. Read the Borg Report for more about what having a 15% unassigned fund balance means for our district and how we will continue making budget adjustments going forward to ensure healthy district finances.

Sincerely,

 
Kevin Borg
 
Kevin Borg
Superintendent

Westonka Facilities Update--
Progress Report Jan. 2013

As summer 2013 approaches, designs are being finalized for Shirley Hills and the high school. Projects for these facilities will be bid in late March, and construction will begin shortly after the end of the school year, with some projects starting earlier. Although design work is also underway for Hilltop and Grandview, these buildings will not see significant construction until summer 2014.

 

Artistic rendering of MWHS design possibilities

Read the Facilities Update for information on upcoming projects, including a centralized air handling system with air conditioning at Grandview, secure entryway installation at the primary schools and the high school locker room renovation.

Future White Hawks Flock to Primaries--
For Kindergarten Round-Up

 

Prospective members of the Class of 2026 and their parents visited Shirley Hills and Hilltop primary schools in January for Kindergarten Round-Up. A total of 56 families attended Hilltop's event, while 49 families visited Shirley Hills this year.

 

Westonka Youth Baseball Association--
Announces New Structure for 2013
The Westonka Youth Baseball Association recently announced a new structure for 2013 in which baseball players ages 3-19 will be united under one organization.
 
The hope is to develop a sense of pride for White Hawks baseball, improve the skill level of players and coaches through all age levels, provide a roadmap for all players during their Westonka baseball career and, most importantly, give kids in the community an opportunity for fun, learning, sportsmanship and lifelong friendships.

  

[WYBA]

Tune in Tuesday--
To Watch Vertnik on 'Jeopardy!'

 

Tune in to KARE-11 on Tuesday, Feb. 5 at 4:30 p.m. to see Mound Westonka High School senior Joe Vertnik compete in the "Jeopardy!" Teen Tournament.

 

The tournament runs through Feb. 12. 

Ready to Start Planning Next Year's Vacation?--
Board Approves 2013-2014 Calendar
The Westonka School Board approved the 2013-2014 school calendar at the Monday, Jan. 28 meeting. The calendar can be viewed and printed from the district website. The last day of school for students will once again fall on May 30 to accommodate work associated with the facilities construction projects. 
 
Winter Break 2013: Dec. 23-Jan. 1
Spring Break 2014: March 17-21
Westonka Congratulates Krista Fisher--
Lord Fletcher's January Feature Teacher

The Westonka School District's Feature Teacher for January is Krista Fisher, a special education teacher at Mound Westonka High School. Fisher has taught Small Group English and Small Group Guided Studies for 11 years in the district.

 

"Krista Fisher is a very important part of our Special Education Department," MWHS Assistant Principal Marty Fischer said. "Ms. Fisher works with students who simply need a little more support to be successful in mainstream classes. And she goes above and beyond."
Westonka in the News
Westonka U10 Girls Team Lights the Lamp in Duluth

The Mound Westonka U10 hockey team is having a great season with an overall record of 12-6 with two ties.  

Lake Minnetonka Patch

Mound Westonka H.S. Musicians Selected for Elite U of M Honor Band
For the first time in recent memory Mound Westonka High School has had a musician--three, actually--selected for the University of Minnesota High School Honor Band.

Creativity of Mound Westonka H.S. Artists Earns Honors at Minnesota Scholastic Art Awards
Once again, Mound Westonka High School was well represented at the Minnesota Scholastic Art Awards.

Will A Local Teen Win Jeopardy?
The episodes featuring the teens begin airing Jan. 30 with a local girl and boy competing.

Minnesota ahead of the game in ruling over sports and disabilities
New national guidelines say disabled students should have a shot at playing on traditional teams or have parallel programs, something many Minnesota schools already do.

Gymnastics Teams Kick Off Big Weekend With Hall of Fame Banquet
The women's gymnastics Lifetime Service Award recipient is MWHS alumna Deb Hertzenberg, director of North Shore Gymnastics Association in Maple Plain ... 

MWHS basketball picks up two WCC wins
The Mound Westonka High School basketball team has increased their conference record to 4-1 after victories against Dassel-Cokato and Hutchinson high schools.

MWHS boys hockey wins two games on week
The Mound Westonka High School boys hockey team won two of their three games over the week ...

MWHS girls hockey wins four straight
The White Hawks won three games on the week and celebrated Senior Night on Jan. 18.

MWHS DECA competes in district
The Mound Westonka High School DECA club competed at the district competition at Minnetonka High School on Saturday, Jan. 12 ...

State girls hockey polls
The Associated Press poll for Minnesota girls high school hockey, provided by Let's Play Hockey newspaper. 
Sports Highlights
Harrison Heads to Alaska--
For Cross-Country Junior Nationals
MWHS junior Scott Harrison was recently named to the 2013 Midwest Junior National Ski Team. The team will compete in the USAA Marriott Junior Nationals March 7-17 in Fairbanks, Alaska. Harrison also moved up to second in the state rankings this week. 

  

White Hawks Wrestlers Snake-Bit--
In Three Close Losses
The MWHS wrestling team closed out the conference dual meet season with three close but disappointing losses. They will be back in action today, when they head to Delano for the Wright County Conference Tournament. Start time is 3:30 p.m.
 

Girls Basketball Loses to Spartans-- 
In Tough Home Battle
The White Hawks girls basketball team lost a tough battle Jan. 29 at home against the Spartans from Orono High School. Orono defeated MWHS 72-51.
 

OMW Divers Shine--
At First True Team State Meet
The boys swim and dive team won two home dual meets to secure an 8-2 overall record and a 3-0 conference record. Then on Jan. 26, they competed in the Class A Boys True Team State. OMW was the only team to have four divers advance to the finals, and MWHS senior Tyler Jordahl took top honors 
 


Nordic Ski Conference Championship-- 
Two Skiers are All-Conference
The MWHS Nordic ski team competed in the conference championship meet on Jan. 25. The boys team finished in fifth place, and the girls team took ninth.



Pee Wee A Hockey Takes Second in Tourney-- 
First in Hot Dog Eating
The White Hawks took second place in the Inver Grove Heights Pee Wee A Tournament Jan. 25-27, but they came away hot-dog-eating champions. This was the team's third tournament at the PeeWee A level and its third championship game.

Upcoming Events

Friday, 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

SnoDaze Pep Fest and Dodgeball Finals, MWHS Gym, 2:10

Wrestling Conference Tournament, Delano, 3:30

Gymnastics Meet, Glencoe-Silver Lake, 6:00

Girls Basketball vs. New London-Spicer, MWHS, 7:30

Boys Basketball at New London-Spicer, 7:30

 

Saturday, February 2

Dance Team Sections, Waconia, TBD

Wrestling Invitational at Rogers, 10:00

Girls Hockey vs. Holy Family, Mound Thaler Arena, 3:00

Link Night, Boys Hockey vs. Holy Family, Mound Thaler Arena, 5:00

Link/SnoDaze Blacklight Dance for grades 8 and 9, MWHS Cafeteria, 6:30-8:00

free of charge

SnoDaze Blacklight Dance, 10th-12th grade, MWHS Cafeteria, 8:30-11:00

Tickets $8 in advance, $10 at the door

 

Monday, February 4

GMS "Have a Heart for Cancer" drive begins

7th-Grade Parent Information Night, MWHS Theater, 7:00

 

Tuesday, February 5

Boys Basketball vs. Waconia, MWHS gym, 7:30

Girls Basketball at Waconia, 7:30

 

Thursday, February 7

8th and 9th Grade Distinguished Student Breakfast, MWHS B-106, 7:15

Shirley Hills Imagination Fair, 5:00-7:00

Alpine Ski Sections, Afton Alps, TBD

Nordic Ski Sections, Wirth Park, TBD

Gymnastics at Dassel-Cokato, 6:00

Girls Basketball at Delano, 6:00

Boys Basketball at Delano, 7:45

Girls Hockey Sections, TBD, 7:00

 

Friday, February 8

10th through 12th Grade Distinguished Student Breakfast, MWHS B-106, 7:15

Wrestling Invitational, MWHS gym, 5:00

Boys Hockey at Delano, 7:00

 

Saturday, February 9

ACT Test, MWHS, 8:00

Girls Hockey Varsity Sections, TBD

Boys Swim & Dive Conference Tournament, Hutchinson, 10:00

Girls Basketball at Glencoe-Silver Lake, 6:00

Boys Basketball at Glencoe-Silver Lake, 7:30

 

Looking Ahead

 

February 11

4th to 5th-Grade Orientation

 

February 14

MWHS Celebrations Assembly

 

February 18

President's Day, no school

 

February 19

Teacher workshop, no school

 

February 20

Shirley Hills Book Fair Begins

 

February 22

Shirley Hills Read-A-Thon

Hilltop Soiree

 

February 24

All-District Band Concert

 

March 1

No School, Teacher Workshop and Parent Conferences

Pop Singers Broadway Revue

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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