WESTONKA News ~ January 30, 2015  

The Westonka Edge: Small school advantages, big school opportunities, real-life success stories!™
This Week's News
Borg Report
Engineering Regatta Video
Pennies for Patients
Donation Options
Jazz Blast
MWHS Photography Video
Dodgeball Tournament
Westonka in the News
Sports Highlights
Community Ed. Classes
Upcoming Events
Quick Links



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School Board Approves Revised Budget--
Works to Align Revenues, Expenditures
Staff Kevin Borg Superintendent
At the Jan. 26 meeting, the Westonka School Board approved the revised 2014-2015 budget and reviewed a projection for next year's budget. As has been the case in previous years, the projected increase to state funding is not keeping up with inflationary increase to expenses; therefore, the school board set a goal of $300,000 in increases of revenues or reductions of expenditures for the 2015-2016 budget.

Please read the Borg Report for information on our budgetary alignment.

[Borg Report]

Relive the Regatta--
With Video Highlights
Relive the excitement of the First Annual MWHS Engineering Regatta, held Jan. 13 at Mound Westonka High School, with a video by senior Brock Locker.
Mound Westonka High School Engineering Regatta 2015
Mound Westonka High School Engineering Regatta 2015
Principal Eidsness Faces Clippers--
Shirley Hills Doubles Donation Goal
Principal Scott Eidsness told Shirley Hills Primary School students that if they raised $2,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society during the first two weeks of the three-week Pennies for Patients campaign, then he would draw names and let students shave his head in front of the entire school. The students must have decided that their principal needed a haircut because they more than doubled their goal, raising $4,382.05 in the first two weeks. 

[New 'Do]

Stock Gifts Added to List of Options--
For Westonka Schools Donors
Mound Westonka High School parent Jeffrey Fish contacted the school earlier this school year with an unprecedented request: he wanted to donate shares of stock to the high school band program. Thanks to Fish's generosity and forethought, donating stock is now an option for those wishing to give to Westonka Schools.

There are a number of great ways to donate to Westonka Schools, whether it is through time, money, resources or talents. Click the link below to learn more about how to give.

[Ways to Give]

MWHS Performs--
At McNally Smith Jazz Blast
The Mound Westonka High School Jazz Band attended the Third Annual Winter Jazz Blast at McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul on Jan. 24. Director Gretchen Chilson said her favorite part of the event was listening to and learning from bands from around Minnesota and Wisconsin. 

"Although we went in expecting to be a little fish in a big pond, we certainly held our own next to bands from much larger schools," Chilson said.

[Jazz Blast]

Surprise Video for MWHS Photography Students--
Highlights Semester's Best Work
On the last day of class in the fall semester, Mound Westonka High School teacher Laura Hensley surprised her photography students with a special video. The video is a compilation of the students' best work from the semester in the format of the their final projects. 


Team Abegglen Dodges Its Way to Victory--
In Annual Student Senate Dodgeball Tournament
The Mound Westonka High School Student Senate hosted its annual Charity Dodgeball Tournament Jan. 28. A total of 15 teams participated and raised $328.50 for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. 

The Dodgeball Champion was Team Abegglen, which also earned the Best Dressed title.

[Dodgeball Tourney]

Westonka in the News
Laker student news

Hilltop celebrates milestone
Current and former members of the Hilltop Primary School community came together to celebrate the school's 50th anniversary last month. 

Club promotes soccer through donation
Westonka Soccer Club recently donated goals and soccer balls to Shirley Hills and Hilltop Primary Schools as part of an outreach program ...

Brustad and Levens to represent MWHS in Triple 'A' competition
Mound Westonka High School seniors Abby Brustad and Timothy Levens have been selected to represent the school at the regional Triple "A" Award banquet ...

Shirley Hills PTA plans for carnival; The long-time tradition is earlier this year
A festive night of games, food, a silent auction and more is coming earlier than normal this year (Jan. 30) at Shirley Hills Primary School in Mound.
Sports Highlights

Abegglen is Nordic Ski Conference Champ

The MWHS boys Nordic ski team competed in the Twin Cities Nordic Ski Conference Championships Jan. 23. Junior Samuel Abegglen was the overall Conference Champion, finishing 37 seconds ahead of his closest opponent. 

 

[Nordic Champ] 


White Hawks Captains Join 150 Win Club

White Hawks wrestling senior captains Sam Bennyhoff and Luke Schmalz have both eclipsed the 150 win mark this year. This is the first time in Mound Westonka history that teammates have reached that level. 

 

[150 Wins]

 

Boys Hockey Avenges Loss to Tigers

The White Hawks boys hockey team took to the road again on Jan. 24, to square off in another conference match against Hutchinson. After losing a close game to the Tigers in December, the White Hawks found redemption in a 5-3 win.

 

[The Avengers] 

 

White Hawks Wrestlers Pick Up Conference Win

The Mound Westonka White Hawks wrestling team earned its first Wright County conference win of the year, edging Glencoe-Silver Lake 35-34 on Jan. 22.

 

[WCC Win]

 

Johnson Commits to Play Football at UST

Mound Westonka White Hawks senior football player Kyle Johnson recently committed to continue his education and football career at the University of St. Thomas.

 

[Johnson Commits]

 

Thanks, Coach! Runke Cheers on Future White Hawks

Mound Westonka Hockey Association players and their families thanked White Hawks boys varsity hockey coach Doug Runke for going "above and beyond." Runke recently stayed after a varsity practice to watch two Squirt-level teams play, visiting the locker room to give "pep talks" to the youth players before their games. 
 

[Thanks, Coach!]

 

Wrestling Hall of Fame Inducts Class of 2015

Four Mound Westonka alumni were inducted into the Mound Westonka Wrestling Hall of Fame on Thursday, Jan. 22: John Condon, Joe Anderson, Hector Morales and Bill Koch.

 

[Hall of Fame] 

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.

2/2
Prairie Fire Theater Presents "Snow White"

Continuing to Play Bridge

Learn to Play Bridge for Beginners

Truffles: Chocolate Candies for all Occasions!

NEW Building a Chemical Free Lifestyle in the Home - Essential Oils - Make 'N' Take
2/3
Cupcake Wars - Shirley Hills (grades 1-4) 

Tae Kwon Do (ages 7+)

Tae Kwon Do - Kumdo Only (ages 7+)

Kindergarten Readiness Class
2/4
Lego Star Wars Art Class with Kidcreate Studio - Shirley Hills (grades K-4)

Cupcake Wars - Hilltop (grades 1-4) 
2/5
Tae Kwon Do - Hapkido Only (ages 7+)

Lego Star Wars Art Class with Kidcreate Studio - Hilltop (grades K-4)

NEW Caring for Your Family Member with Memory Loss - Part II
2/6
NEW Ultimate Video Game Design - Hilltop (grades 3-4)

 

   

Upcoming Events

Friday, January 30

Shirley Hills Winter Carnival

Wrestling Tri Meet, MWHS, 5:00

Boys Basketball at Litchfield, 7:00

Boys Hockey at Orono, 7:00

 

Saturday, January 31

Section 2AA Dance Tournament

Wrestling Invitational at Orono, 9:00

Girls Hockey vs. New Prague, Thaler Arena, 7:00

Senior Night, GMS Choir will sing National Anthem

 

Monday, February 2

Nordic Ski at Theodore Wirth Park, TBD

7th to 8th Grade Orientation, MWHS, 7:00

 

Tuesday, February 3

Nordic Ski at Theodore Wirth Park, TBD

Boys Hockey vs. Litchfield-DC, Thaler Arena, 7:00


Wednesday, February 4

Nordic Ski at Theodore Wirth Park, TBD


Thursday, February 5

8th-9th Grade Distinguished Student Breakfast

Nordic Ski at Theodore Wirth Park, TBD

Hilltop Science Fair, 5:00-7:00

Girls Basketball at Dassel-Cokato, 7:00

Boys Basketball vs. Dassel-Cokato, MWHS, 7:00


Friday, February 6

10th-12th Grade Distinguished Student Breakfast

Shirley Hills Read-a-Thon Kick-Off

Leopold-Haglund Wrestling Invitational, 5:00


Saturday, February 7

ACT Test, MWHS, 8:00

Wrestling at Dassel-Cokato, 10:00

Boys Hockey at New Ulm, 3:00

Boys Basketball at Coon Rapids, 7:00

Looking Ahead 

 

February 9

Hilltop PTA Meeting

Hilltop Parent Teacher Conferences

School Board Meeting


February 10

Grandview, Shirley Hills Parent Conferences


February 12

Parent Teacher Conferences at All Schools

 

February 13

NO SCHOOL - Parent Conferences

 

February 16

NO SCHOOL - Presidents' Day

 

February 17

NO SCHOOL - Teacher Workshop

MWHS Parent Teacher Conferences


February 19

Shirley Hills Parent Education Session


February 23

Grandview Food Drive Begins

MWHS Large Group Choir Contest

Shirley Hills Culver's Family Night


March 1

All District Band Concert

 

Click here for the full 2014-2015 Westonka School District Calendar 

 

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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