WESTONKA News ~ April 17, 2015  

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2015 Honorees Selected--
For First Annual Community Award
Staff Kevin Borg Superintendent
On April 13, a committee made up of Westonka School Board members and Westonka School District staff selected the first three recipients of the district's annual community award: Sharon Thaler, Bill LaTour and Randy Lee. The purpose of this award is to recognize exceptional service to Westonka Schools.

Please read the Borg Report for more details on the community award.

[Borg Report]

MWHS Musicians Earn Three 'Best in Site' Awards--
At Solo-Ensemble Contest

Mound Westonka High School vocal and instrumental musicians had a great showing at the Region 2AA Solo-Ensemble Contest at Buffalo High School on April 10. MWHS students earned three "Best in Site" recognitions, and two performers earned perfect scores.

[Best of the Best]

MWHS Film Editor Nominated--
For NATAS Student Production Award
Mound Westonka High School senior Siena Boser was nominated for a 2015 National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences student production award in editing for her short film, Money Trip

Boser was honored, along with the other nominees, at a ceremony April 12 at the Mall of America.

Annual Celebration for Young Musicians--
Features 12 from Shirley Hills

Twelve fourth-grade students represented Shirley Hills Primary School at the Celebration for Young Musicians music festival, held April 11 in Rockford, Minnesota. Students were chosen to participate in the 25th annual festival, presented by the Minnesota Music Educators Association, because they have demonstrated a high level of interest, skill and participation in music class.

[Musical Celebration]

Three Westonka DI Teams--
Advance to Global Finals
Three of Westonka's Destination Imagination teams have earned the right to compete at the Global Finals of the international competition. After sending four of the district's five DI teams to the state competition at Champlin Park High School last weekend, three of the teams advanced to the Global Finals May 20-23 in Knoxville, Tennessee.

[Imagine That!]

National Honor Society--
Welcomes 32 New Members
A total of 32 Mound Westonka High School students were inducted into the National Honor Society at a special ceremony for students and their families on April 12. Another 29 seniors, who were inducted into the program last year, were also on hand for special recognition. 

[NHS Induction]

Jazz Band Earns Best Scores Ever--
In Regional Contest
The 22-member Mound Westonka High School Jazz Band performed at the Region 2AA Jazz Band Contest April 13 at Hutchinson High School. 

The band earned its best ever scores from the three judges for an overall Superior rating, the highest awarded.

[All That Jazz]

Congratulations to Reid Dahl--
Westonka Athletic/Activities Student of the Week
The Westonka Activities Department is proud to name Mound Westonka High School senior Reid Dahl Westonka Athletic/Activities Student of the Week for the Week of April 13, 2015.

As of April 14, Dahl is leading the state in hitting with a .700 batting average.

[Star Student]

MWHS Music Students Chosen--
For MBDA Honor Band
Mound Westonka High School sophomores Adam Fish and Zach Gahl have been selected for membership in the Minnesota Band Directors Association Grades 9-10 Honor Band for the 2014-2015 school year. They are two of 80 students selected from 222 students statewide who auditioned this winter for a position in this group.

[Honored Bandies]

School Nutrition Association Recognizes Mari Peters--
As Employee of the Year
Mound Westonka High School Food Service Assistant Cook Mari Peters was selected as both the Minnesota and Midwest School Nutrition Association Employee of the Year.  

Westonka Food and Nutrition Services Director Laura Metzger nominated Peters for her "continued efforts to improve herself and the program, along with her positive attitude."

[Top Employee]

Westonka in the News
VIDEO: Westonka Tech Interns to the digital rescue
Move over Geek Squad! The Westonka Tech Interns are taking over.

MWHS student Aaron Cashman wins USAW Cliff Keen Folkstyle Championship
Aaron Cashman, MWHS freshman, captured the USAW Cliff Keen National Folkstyle Championship in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on April 2-3.

Giving a basket of Easter goodness
Boy Scouts from Troop 569, Westonka Food Shelf volunteers and community members gathered on Saturday, April 4 at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School ...

Alumna in the news: 
Learning and building friendships in Ireland
Quinn Leonard, a sophomore at the College of Saint Benedict, is spending her spring semester learning about Irish culture and heritage at the University College Cork.

2015 softball season about to start
The 2015 high school softball season will begin in earnest this week with a full schedule of games for all area teams. Here is what to look for from your favorite team ...
Sports Highlights
Boys Varsity Tennis Falls to Saints, JV Wins

The Mound Westonka High School boys varsity tennis team took on St. Peter in an away match April 10. The White Hawks fell 5-2 to the Saints after several close games.  The JV team came out ahead, winning 5-2.

 

[Tennis Falls]

 

Girls Lacrosse Defeats Shakopee in Season Opener

The White Hawks girls lacrosse team opened its season in brilliant fashion Tuesday, defeating Shakopee 14-2 on their home turf.

 

[Opening Day Win]

 

White Hawks, Cardinals Split U of M Doubleheader

Senior Reid Dahl paced the White Hawks in an 8-2 win over the Annandale Cardinals at the University of Minnesota's Siebert Field April 11. The Cardinals rebounded in game two with a 7-6 walk-off win to earn the split against the White Hawks. 

 

[U of M Split]

 

MWHS Alumna Named ACHA Coach of the Year

Mound Westonka High School alumna Ellie Dahl was recently named the 2015 American Collegiate Hockey Association Women's Division II Coach of the Year. Dahl is a coach for the North Dakota State University women's hockey team.

 

[Top Coach]

 

Junior Olympic Volleyball Returns to Westonka

For the first time in a long time, Westonka is home to a Junior Olympic volleyball team. A group of 11 seventh- and eighth-grade girls are representing the Westonka community in four area tournaments.

 

[J.O. Returns]

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.

4/21
NEW Chocolate Lovers - Shirley Hills (grades 1-4)
4/22
Make Your Own Fried Rice

Oops a la Mode Art Class with Kidcreate Studio - Shirley Hills (grades K-4)

NEW Chocolate Lovers - Hilltop (grades 1-4)

Prepare Your Own Will
4/23
Oops a la Mode Art Class with Kidcreate Studio - Hilltop (grades K-4)

Virtual Parenting Discussions - Kindergarten Readiness
4/25
Let's Get Buggy with Mad Science of MN - ECFE (ages 3-5)

 

   

Upcoming Events

Friday, April 17

10th-12th Grade Distinguished Student Breakfast, 7:15

Baseball vs. Providence Academy, MWHS, 4:30

Softball at New Prague, 4:30

Grandview Musical, Wizard of Oz, 7:00

 

Saturday, April 18

ACT Test, MWHS, 8:00

Baseball vs. Fridley, MWHS, 1:00

Grandview Musical, Wizard of Oz, 2:00

Baseball vs. Providence Academy, MWHS, 4:00

 

Sunday, April 19

Grandview Musical, Wizard of Oz, 2:00


Monday, April 20

Baseball vs. Dassel-Cokato, MWHS, 4:30

Softball vs. Dassel-Cokato, MWHS, 4:30

Track & Field at Annandale, 4:30

Lacrosse vs. Chaska, MWHS, 6:30


Tuesday, April 21

Boys Golf at Burl, 3:30

Girls Golf at Becker, 4:00

Tennis vs. Hutchinson, MWHS, 4:15

Baseball at Glencoe-Silver Lake, 4:30

Softball vs. Glencoe-Silver Lake, MWHS, 4:30

Lacrosse vs. Hutchinson, MWHS, 6:30

Shirley Hills PTA Meeting, 6:30


Thursday, April 23

DECA Internationals Begin

Lacrosse at Orono, TBD

Girls Golf at Annandale, 3:30

Softball at Litchfield, 4:00

Tennis at New London-Spicer, 4:15

Baseball vs. Litchfield, MWHS, 4:30

Softball at Litchfield, 6:00

Hawk Talk with Superintendent Borg

 

Friday, April 24

Boys Golf at Annandale, 3:30

Grandview Spring Fling, 6:00-8:00


Saturday, April 25

Softball Tournament at Maranatha Christian Academy, TBD

 

Looking Ahead 

 

April 28

State ACT Test, 11th grade


April 30

Shirley Hills Parent Education Session

Hilltop PTA Meeting

 

May 2

MWHS Prom


May 4

School Board Meeting

 

May 8

No School - Teacher Workshop 

Coffeehouse Jazz

 

May 9

Coffeehouse Jazz


May 11

MWHS Spring Band Concert


May 13

Senior Athletic Recognition

Senior Scholarship Night

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

 

Westonka News Contact

Feel free to contact me with suggestions or questions [email protected].

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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