With Homecoming taking place later than usual this year, students at Mound Westonka High School are more than excited for the week to come, along with all of its festivities! 

The Homecoming Court (pictured left) has been chosen. Homecoming Week begins with coronation on Sunday and continues with a week of dress up days and fun events. 

Next Friday, the entire Westonka community is invited to take part in the annual Homecoming parade (at 5 p.m.) and the mini carnival before the White Hawks face off against the New London-Spicer Wildcats at 7 p.m.

[Homecoming Week]

Two Westonka School District schools were once again recognized among Minnesota's highest-performing Title I schools, as indicated by the state's Multiple Measurements Ratings (MMR).

In the 2014-2015 Reward Schools list, released this week by the Minnesota Department of Education, Shirley Hills Primary School is rated No. 1 in the state based on its elementary school MMR of 95.34 percent. Grandview Middle School also earned a No. 1 rating, with a 90.87 percent MMR for middle schools.

"Westonka's approach to student learning and our focus on college and career readiness are paying off and are reflected in our MMR," said Mark Femrite, assistant superintendent for teaching and learning.
  

Absentee voting is now open for the Nov. 4, 2014 election. Early voting is not only for people who will be away from home on Election Day; anyone can vote early under a new state law.  

There are two questions on the ballot related to school funding:

• Question 1: a no-tax-increase renewal of an expiring operating levy
• Question 2: a renewal of an expiring capital projects levy for technology

Area families are invited to join Westonka Early Childhood in the Fifth Annual Stroll-a-Thon on Saturday, Oct. 11. Walk, run, bike or stroll in and around the "trail" at Shirley Hills Primary School.

Check-in, registration and children's activities begin at 9:30 a.m., with the kick-off slated for 10 a.m. Food, prizes and a raffle drawing will follow at 11 a.m. The family registration fee, which includes all activities, is $25.

To register, call the Early Childhood office at (952) 491-8048.  

Grandview Middle School teacher Jessica Lunski has been named the Lord Fletcher's Feature Teacher for October. Lunski is in her 15th year at Westonka, where she currently teaches sixth-grade language arts.

"Mrs. Lunski is an amazing and innovative teacher who is always working to improve her practice. Her lessons are always engaging, and she creates a class in which students always feel safe and welcome," said Grandview Principal Christy Zachow. "Her students always make tremendous gains and leave sixth-grade loving her!"