WESTONKA News ~ January 17, 2014  

The Westonka Edge: Small school advantages, big school opportunities, real-life success stories!™
This Week's News
Letters to Legislators
Kindergarten Round-Up
Dorian Vocal Festival
ECFE Happenings
WCC Honor Band and Choir Festival
TakeDown Cancer Night
Westonka in the News
Sports Highlights
Community Ed. Classes
Upcoming Events
Quick Links





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Congressman Paulsen Weighs In--
On Grandview Students' Questions
 
Students in Jessica Rashleger's sixth grade history class at Grandview Middle School became active participants in the democratic process when U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen publicly answered some of their questions earlier this month. In the congressman's regular video series, "Erik's Correspondence Corner," he responded to two letters sent to him by Rashleger's students.
 
It's Kindergarten Round-Up Time!--
Visit the Award-Winning School in Your Neighborhood

 

Westonka is home to two National Blue Ribbon primary schools, recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as "Exemplary High Performing." Families with children entering kindergarten next fall are invited to choose from two Kindergarten Round-Up sessions at the primary school in their neighborhood:


Shirley Hills Primary: Tuesday, Jan. 21, 4-5:30 p.m. or 6-7:30 p.m.
Hilltop Primary: Thursday, Jan. 23, 4:30-5:30 p.m. or 6-7 p.m. 

 

Westonka Students Travel to Iowa--
For Prestigious Vocal Festival

 

Four Mound Westonka High School seniors were invited to take part in this year's prestigious Dorian Vocal Festival, hosted by Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, on Jan. 12 and 13. Nate Barnes, Elle Montgomery, Mackenzie Jansen and Shelby Stahl (pictured above with MWHS choir director Kate Larson) were chosen to perform with over 1,200 singers from approximately 360 schools in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and South Dakota. 

 

Early Childhood Happenings--
Coming Up Next Week
Preschool Registration 
Opens Jan. 22 
Westonka Community Preschool registration begins on Wednesday, Jan. 22, at 8 a.m. Registration packets can be picked up at the Early Childhood Center at 5241 Shoreline Drive in Mound. Preschool options are available for children three years of age to kindergarten. For questions or to schedule a tour, call (952) 491-8048.
 
 

Join Us for 'Sesame Street Live' 

On Jan. 24 

Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) invites you to join them for a "Sesame Street Live" field trip on Friday, Jan. 24, 9:10 a.m.-1:20 p.m. The cost is $10 per person over age 1. The event will be held at the Target Center in Minneapolis. 

 

[Sesame Street]

Sixteen MWHS Students Chosen--
For WCC Honor Band and Choir Festival

 

The Third Annual Wright County Conference Honor Band and Honor Choir Festival was held Jan. 11, at Glencoe-Silver Lake High School. Sixteen band and choir students from Mound Westonka High School were among the approximately 150 students from nine school districts chosen to participate in the event, which featured some of the top music students in the conference.

 

Jan. 24 is 'TakeDown Cancer' Night--
Hosted by Westonka Wrestling

 

The Mound Westonka Wrestling program will host "TakeDown Cancer" night on Friday, Jan. 24, to help raise funds for the Randy Shaver Cancer Research and Community Fund.

 

Westonka in the News
White Hawks boys hockey sees wins and losses on the road
The White Hawks hockey team went into the Little Falls tournament looking for three wins, but the boys came up with just one goal and one game short. 

Hawkettes kick off new year with strong showing at Belle Plaine
The Mound Westonka Hawkettes dance team started off the new year with a competition at Belle Plaine High School on Jan. 4.

Bye, Donna, bus driver of school bus 10
On Friday, Dec. 20, Donna Johnson rode school bus 10 as usual to transport kids to Grandview, the High School Our Lady of the Lake and Shirley Hills schools.

Mesabi East Invite: Harrison excels for White Hawks
Mound Westonka only sent two skiers to the meet, but seniors Scott Harrison and Kole Retterath both performed well in the freestyle race.

Skippers wrestlers place second at home invite; White Hawks take fourth
The Mound Westonka wrestling team finished in fourth place at the tournament, despite the fact that they competed without three of their top wrestlers.
Sports Highlights
Two in Top 20 for White Hawks--
At Mesabi East Invite

On Jan. 11, Mound Westonka High School varsity cross-country skiers competed in the Mesabi East Invite, which is the largest high school Nordic ski race in the country. MWHS senior Scott Harrison finished in fourth place, and senior Kole Retterath finished 19th.

 

[Mesabi Skiers]

 

Anderson, Berger Reach 1,000 Career Points--

As White Hawks Defeat Panthers

The evening of Jan. 10 was a special one for the Mound Westonka High School girls basketball team. Not only did the White Hawks handily beat the Glencoe-Silver Lake Panthers, 53-41, but seniors Tori Anderson and Brooke Berger each reached the 1,000-point career scoring mark in the game.

 

[Milestone Moment]

  

Boys Hockey Loss to Delano--

Marks Tough Return to Conference Play

A road game in Delano on Jan. 9 against the always-tough Tigers didn't end well for the Mound Westonka High School boys hockey team. The White Hawks lost the game 3-0, which dropped them to 6-7-1 on the season and 1-3 in the conference. 

 

[Rink Rivalry]

 

White Hawks Wrestlers Win Two More Duals--

Place Fourth at Minnetonka Invite

The Mound Westonka White Hawks wrestlers traveled to Waconia on Jan. 9, and picked up two more victories in a triangular meet with Waconia and St. Peter. They were back in action the next night, competing in an individual tournament in Minnetonka.

  

[Mat Action]

  

Hockey Mites Take the Ice-- 

At Skate with the Varsity Event  

Some of the littlest fans of the Mound Westonka High School boy's hockey team had the opportunity to skate with the their favorite White Hawks on Jan. 11, during the team's Skate with the Varsity event.

 

[Future White Hawks] 

  

U12A Girls Hockey-- 

Brings Home Third Straight Trophy 

The Delano/Mound U12A girls hockey team won its third consecutive tournament on Jan. 12, when they brought home the championship trophy from the Grand Rapids Star of the North tournament. 

  

[Three-Time Champs] 

 

White Hawks Youth Wrestlers-- 

Participate in Area Tournaments 

The Mound Westonka White Hawks youth wrestlers have been busy wrestling in area tournaments over the past few weekends. On Jan. 5, they traveled to Norwood Young America for the first-ever NYA Youth Duals and earned a third-place trophy.

 

[Tourney Tykes]  

Upcoming Community Ed. Classes
Check out the Westonka Community Education classes starting next week! 

For more information, visit www.westonkace.org or call 
(952) 491-8040.

1/21

Microsoft Word 2010, Part 1

NEW Hummus & Pita Chips - Shirley Hills (grades 1-4)

1/22

NEW Hummus & Pita Chips - Hilltop (grades 1-4)

1/23
Private Violin/Viola Lessons (ages 5+)

Fencing for Kids - Winter (grades 2-5)

Prepare Your Own Will

1/24

Sesame Street Live presents "Make a New Friend" (ages under 1-adult)

Open Gym Playtime

1/25

Czech Kolaches


Upcoming Events

Friday, January 17

GMS Winter Blast, 5:30 - 8:00

Wrestling Triangular at Buffalo, 5:00

Boys Basketball at Dassel-Cokato, 6:00

Girls Hockey at Orono, 7:00

Girls Basketball at Dassel-Cokato, 7:30

 

Saturday, January 18

Dance Team Conference Tournament at Delano, 1:00

 

Monday, January 20

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Teacher Workshop, no school

Dance Team Invitational at Orono, 7:00

 

Tuesday, January 21

Shirley Hills Kindergarten Round-Up, 4:00 & 6:00

Nordic Skiing at Como Park, TBD

Gymnastics at Watertown, 6:00

Girls Hockey vs. Orono, Thaler Arena, 7:00

Boys Hockey at Orono, 7:00

Girls Basketball at Hutchinson, 7:15

Boys Basketball vs. Hutchinson, MWHS, 7:15

 

Thursday, January 23

Hilltop Kindergarten Round-Up, 4:30 & 6:00

Wrestling Double Dual at Litchfield, 6:00

Boys Hockey vs. St. Louis Park, Thaler Arena, 7:00

Girls Basketball at Rosemount, 7:15

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

 

Friday, January 24

Nordic Ski Conference Meet at  Baker Park, TBD

8th/9th Grade Link Night, 6:15 - 10:00

Girls Hockey at Willmar, 7:00

Wrestling vs. Hopkins, MWHS, 7:00

 

Saturday, January 25

Dance Team Invitational at Simley, TBD

Wrestling Invitational at South St. Paul, 10:00

Boys Hockey at Litchfield, 3:00

 

Looking Ahead

 

January 27

MWHS Student Senate Dodgeball Tournament

School Board Meeting

Eighth Grade Parent Night

 

January 29

MWHS Student Senate Dodgeball Tournament

 

January 31

MWHS SnoDaze Pep Fest and Dodgeball Finals, 2:15

 

February 1

Section Dance Tournament, MWHS, 11:00 - 3:00

SnoDaze Dance, MWHS Cafeteria, 8:00 - 11:00

 

February 3

Seventh Grade Parent Night

 

February 6

Shirley Hills Imagination Fair

 

February 8

ACT Test

Hilltop Frigid Frolic

SnoDaze Dance

 

February 10

Grade 5 Orientation

 

February 14

No School

Teacher Workshop Day

 

February 17

No School

Presidents' Day

Westonka News Contact

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

Becca Neuger
Communications Coordinator 
Westonka Public Schools

5901 Sunnyfield Rd E   

Minnetrista MN 55364

952.491.8003 | www.westonka.k12.mn.us 
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