WESTONKA News ~ April 11, 2014  

The Westonka Edge: Small school advantages, big school opportunities, real-life success stories!™
This Week's News
Borg Report
State Speech
Shark Tank at Grandview
Hilltop Weather Station
Kids' Stuff Sale
Grandview Musical
School Nutrition National Leadership Conference
Westonka in the News
Sports Highlights
Community Ed. Classes
Upcoming Events
Quick Links





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Westonka Wins 2014 School Finance Award--
From Minnesota Department of Education
Staff Kevin Borg Superintendent

The Minnesota Department of Education has once again honored the Westonka School District with its annual School Finance Award.

 

The award is given each year to districts that meet submission deadlines for audited fiscal financial data and reporting criteria. It also evaluates fiscal health and honors schools that have a zero or positive aggregate fund balance.

 
MWHS Senior Claire Erickson--
Advances to State Speech Tournament
Mound Westonka High School senior Claire Erickson advanced to the 2014 Minnesota State High School League State Speech Tournament--held today, Friday, April 11, at Blaine High School--after placing third at the Section 2AA Tournament April 5.
 
Erickson is competing against 23 other boys and girls in the Serious Interpretation-Poetry event. 
 
Young Entrepreneurs Plunge Into 'Shark Tank'--
At Grandview Middle School
Earlier this week, a class of Westonka middle school students anxiously awaited the first pitch--not at the Minnesota Twins home opener but at the "Shark Tank" at Grandview Middle School.

 

Julie Thomas' seventh-grade language arts students spent over two weeks preparing to pitch creative business ideas to a panel of "sharks," five senior DECA students from Mound Westonka High School.
 
New Weather Station at Hilltop--
Provided by Toshiba Grant
Thanks to a grant from the Toshiba America Foundation, Hilltop Primary School now has a school weather station mounted on the roof of its building. The sensor on the roof relays information to a small monitor, which can record and track wind speed, temperature, wind chill and more.
 
"It's another connection with outdoor education," said phy. ed. teacher Mike Wallace, who applied for the grant with the help of Principal Nancy Benz. "This will help bring the outside indoors."
 
Westonka Early Childhood Presents--
19th Annual Kids' Stuff Sale
The Westonka Early Childhood Kids' Stuff Sale is this Saturday, April 12 from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. at David M. Thaler Arena. 
 
Items for sale include:
  • Clothing (infant to size 14)
  • Baby supplies & equipment
  • Toys/games/puzzles
  • Books/DVDs/CDs
  • Maternity clothes
  • Costumes
  • Shoes
  • Kids' outdoor toys
  • Kids' furniture
  • Bedding
  • Sporting equipment
  • Electronics

[Kids' Stuff Sale]

Grandview Thespians Present--
'High School Musical, Jr.'
You are invited to take part in a singing and dancing extravaganza when Grandview Middle School presents Disney's High School Musical, Jr. on the Grandview stage April 24-27.
 
Performances will be April 24, 25 and 26 at 7 p.m. and April 27 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for seniors/students.  
 
Westonka Food and Nutrition Services Director--
Attends National Leadership Conference
MetzgerWestonka Food and Nutrition Services Director Laura Metzger has been invited to attend the 2014 School Nutrition National Leadership Conference, which is being held April 10-12 in St. Louis. 
 
The invitation-only conference is designed specifically for incoming state leaders in nutrition. Metzger serves as vice president on the board of directors for the Minnesota School Nutrition Association, which is financing her trip. 
 
Westonka in the News
Hands-on innovation fuels creativity
Engineering program across Westonka Schools gets students excited to learn.
 
Focusing on 'Good Power' with community support 
Benefits to help resident Molly Bailey as she battles stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
 
Westonka stuffs the bus with more than 15,000 pounds
More than 15,000 pounds of food was raised in the "Stuff the Bus" challenge during Minnesota Food Share Month. 
 
Hilltop teacher surprised with top award
What started as normal morning school assembly at Hilltop Primary School on Friday, March 28, turned into a surprise for second-grade teacher Mara Drill ...
 
High school boys' tennis story lines
Can anyone challenge Charlie? 
 
Prep football all-star game tackles cancer, too 
The Minnesota Football Coaches Association (MFCA) has expanded its partnership with the Randy Shaver Cancer and Community Fund ... 
Sports Highlights

Boys Tennis Opens Season with Two Wins--

Ranked Third in Preseason Poll

The Mound Westonka High School boys tennis team is looking forward to another competitive season after earning the Section 2A trophy and a third-place finish at state last year. The White Hawks were ranked third in Class 1A in the Minnesota State High School Tennis Coaches Association 2014 preseason poll and won their first two contests of the season.

 

[Boys Tennis]

 

Remember to Submit--

Your Spring Sports Stories!

Coaches, parent PR volunteers and students are encouraged to help Westonka News publish the most up-to-date White Hawks news by submitting team highlights and photos each week.

 

[Submission Guidelines]

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.

4/14

NEW The Sugar Blues


NEW Chess Club - Shirley Hills (grades K-5)
4/15

Conversational Etiquette for Kids (grades K-4)

Spring Cut-Out Cookies - Shirley Hills (grades 1-4)

4/16
Spring Cut-Out Cookies - Hilltop (grades 1-4)

Easter Bunny Art on Canvas with Kidcreate Studio - Shirley Hills

Zumba Dance & Fitness
4/17

Easter Bunny Art on Canvas with Kidcreate Studio - Hilltop

4/19

Artistic Photography


Soccer (age 3-grade 3)

Upcoming Events
Friday, April 11

Baseball vs. Glencoe-Silver Lake, 4:30

Softball at Glencoe-Silver Lake, 4:30

 

Saturday, April 12

ACT Test, MWHS, 8:00

Early Childhood Kids' Stuff Sale, Thaler Arena, 8:00-2:00

Baseball at Fridley, 2:30

 

Sunday, April 13

NHS Induction Ceremony, MWHS, 2:00

 

Monday, April 14

Jazz Band Contest

Grandview BOGO Book Sale Begins

Girls Golf at Delano, 4:20

Boys Golf at Delano, 4:20

Softball vs. Orono, MWHS, 4:30

Track & Field at Hutchinson, 4:30

 

Tuesday, April 15

Senior Retreat

Tennis at Orono, 4:15

Baseball vs. Holy Family, MWHS, 4:30

Softball at Holy Family, 4:30

Lacrosse vs. Delano, MWHS, 6:30

 

Wednesday, April 16

Boys Golf at Pebble Creek, 1:00

 

Thursday, April 17

Girls Golf at Dahlgren, 3:00

Tennis vs. Hutchinson, MWHS, 4:15

Baseball at Hutchinson 4:30

Softball vs. Hutchinson, MWHS, 4:30

Lacrosse at St. Michael-Albertville, 6:30

 

Looking Ahead

 

April 24 - 27

Grandview Musical, "High School Musical, Jr."

 

April 26

Shirley Hills Carnival

 

May 3

MWHS Prom

 

May 6

Shirley Hills Grade 1 and Grade 4 Concerts

 

May 8

Hilltop Imagination Celebration

 

May 9

Regular School Day

 

May 9 - 10

Coffeehouse Jazz

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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