WESTONKA News ~ October 23, 2015  

The Westonka Edge: Small school advantages, big school opportunities, real-life success stories!™
This Week's News
Borg Report
Long-Range Facilities Planning
Girls Design the World
Centennial Celebration
Teacher of the Week
Memorial Playground Dedication
Hilltop Octoberfest
WeCAN Empty Bowls Fundraiser
Karate Kid
Westonka in the News
Sports Highlights
Community Ed. Classes
Upcoming Events
Quick Links




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Auditors Deliver Good News--
District Finances Remain Healthy
Auditors at the Oct. 12 Westonka School Board meeting gave the district an unqualified or "clean" opinion - the best opinion a district can receive.

The auditors reported that our district's revenue and expenses came in slightly better than projected last year. This is the result of our community's generous support of our local levies and the hard work and decisions made by our staff and school board.

Please read the Borg Report for more information on the annual audit.

Join the Westonka School Board Monday Night--
For a Discussion of Long-Range Facilities Plans
The Westonka School Board Facilities Committee has identified a list of the district's space constraints and has outlined short-term and long-term steps for addressing them. 

If one or more of the topics listed below are important to you, please join the Westonka School Board next Monday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. in the Mound Westonka High School theater:
  • Grade reconfiguration
  • Parking at Grandview Middle School
  • Outdoor activities space
  • Early childhood space
  • MWHS theater
  • Indoor activities space
Westonka Girls Work to 'Design the World'--
In Mia's Global Problem-Solving Cohort
Experts in the STEAM fields (science, technology, engineering, art and math) are seeking creative solutions to environmental problems facing communities at home and around the world. Three young women from Mound Westonka High School are up to the challenge.

MWHS sophomores Joelle Hoernemann and Amy Howarth and junior Breanna Hrkal were among 20 Minnesota high school students selected to participate in an international problem-solving cohort called Girls Design the World: Supporting Green Communities with STEAM. The yearlong program is presented by the Minneapolis Institute of Art and the National Museums of Kenya and includes students from the Twin Cities and Nairobi.

Westonka Kicks Off Centennial Celebration--
With Help from Westonka Historical Society


This month marked the 100th anniversary of the forming of a consolidated school district in the area we now know as Westonka.

On Oct. 11, 1915, the first school board meeting of Hennepin County Independent School District 85 was held in the Little Red Schoolhouse, which sat at the corner of  Lynwood and Commerce Boulevards in downtown Mound. A hundred years and one day later, Dr. Pamela Myers of the Westonka Historical Society shared some early history of the school district with current and former board members and guests at the Westonka School Board meeting on Oct. 12, 2015.

Shirley Hills' Jodie Rasicot Gets Goosebumps--
Over KS95 Teacher of the Week Award
Shirley Hills Primary School kindergarten teacher Jodie Rasicot "got goosebumps" last week when she was surprised with the KS95 Teacher of the Week Award. Shannon Holly from the radio morning show delivered a Teacher of the Week engraved plaque to Rasicot's classroom on Oct. 13, to the delight of her kindergarten students.

Rasicot said, "I was so surprised! [Student Ellie Cordahl] wrote and told the station that I get goosebumps when she reads to me ... Ellie gave me goosebumps again!"

Please Join us for a Playground Dedication--
In Memory of Kelly Brady Nafus
Westonka Community Education and Services invites members of the community to attend a dedication ceremony for the Kelly Brady Nafus Memorial Playground at Shirley Hills Primary School on Monday, Oct. 26. 

The dedication will begin at 4 p.m., followed by a reception in the school cafeteria.

Community Comes Out for Fall Fun--
At Hilltop Octoberfest
Hilltop Primary School hosted its annual Octoberfest on Oct. 10. It was a beautiful autumn Saturday that brought Hilltop families and the community together for a fun afternoon, while raising nearly $25,000 to support the education of Hilltop students.

"Once again, Octoberfest brought out the community to celebrate fall fun," said Hilltop Principal Michael Moch. "It was wonderful to see so many smiling faces having a great time while raising funds for our school. I especially loved my many dunks in the dunk tank."

Student, Staff Potters Contribute--
To Upcoming WeCAN Empty Bowls Fundraiser
Western Communities Action Network is hosting an "Empty Bowls" fundraiser on Sunday, Oct. 25, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the MainStreet Gathering Place, next to the WeCAN office. Funds raised will support the WeCAN Mobile Market. A simple soup and bread meal has been generously donated by Scotty B's Restaurant in Mound.

The event will include a silent auction featuring many bowls crafted by local artists, including some Westonka students and staffers.

Grandview Student Shows Discipline--
Earns Second-Degree Black Belt
Olivia Gable, a seventh grader at Grandview Middle School, earned her second-degree black belt Sept. 26 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Gable plans on continuing to work for her third-degree black belt, which will take her three more years.

Four White Hawks Athletes Recognized--
As Students of the Week
The Westonka Activities Department is proud to recognize four Mound Westonka High School student-athletes as Westonka Athletic/Activities Students of the Week for the weeks of Oct. 12 and Oct. 19, 2015. 

MWHS sophomore Owen Mather, juniors Christi Wanous and Skyler Wallisch and senior Joe Duffy were recognized by their coaches for demonstrating the White Hawks core values of Teamwork, Leadership, Respect, Integrity and Excellence. Congratulations!

[Owen Mather & Christi Wanous - Soccer]


Westonka in the News
School Lunch Week promotes healthy trends in cafeterias
School cafeterias across the state recently encouraged students, parents and communities to learn more about healthy school meals and nutrition through National School Lunch Week.

Girls from Twin Cities and Nairobi, Kenya to redesign the world
Twenty-two girls from Twin Cities-area high schools are collaborating with counterparts in Nairobi, Kenya in an environmental and educational project co-sponsored by the Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA)  and the National Museums of Kenya in Nairobi. 

Board hears results of audit
At the Westonka School Board's Oct. 12 meeting, Matt Mayer, CPA with the district's audit firm Bergan KDV, discussed the results of the audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015.

MWHS seniors recognized as commended students
Two Mound Westonka High School seniors have earned "Commended Student" recognition in the National Merit Scholarship Program. 

Westonka marks a century of meetings
It's been 100 years since the first meeting of the school board of what would become the Westonka School District.

Sports Highlights
Abegglen Earns Top Honors at WCC Championship
The MWHS boys cross country team placed an incredible five runners on the All-Conference team at the Wright County Conference West Division Championships at New London-Spicer on Oct. 20. Leading the way for the White Hawks was WCC Champion senior Samuel Abegglen, who became the third first-place finisher in school history.
 

White Hawks' Cinderella Season Ends in OT
The clock finally struck midnight on Mound Westonka High School's Cinderella season as the Richfield Spartans eked out a 23-22 overtime victory in the first round of Section 5AAAA football playoffs Oct. 20.

Sensational Seniors Prove Power in the Pool
Tuesday, Oct. 13 was the last home swim meet for the White Hawks and the last chance for the three Holy Family seniors--Shea Braden, Brie LaVelle and Clare Simon--to compete in their home pool at Mound Westonka High School. 


Spartans End White Hawks' Section Run
With a No. 8 seeding, MWHS boys soccer paired off against ninth-seeded Waconia in the first round of section playoffs Oct. 13. A dramatic shootout victory gave the White Hawks a shot at Orono in the section quarterfinals, but the season ended in a lopsided 5-0 loss.

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

For more information, visit westonka.ce.feepay.com or call 
(952) 491-8040.

10/27
Microsoft Word 2010, Part II

Chef's Academy: Spooky Treats & Eats - Shirley Hills (grades 1-4)
10/28
Kidcreate Studio: Glow in the Dark Halloween Art Class - Shirley Hills (grades K-4) 

Chef's Academy: Spooky Treats & Eats - Hilltop (grades 1-4)
10/29
Kidcreate Studio: Glow in the Dark Halloween Art Class - Hilltop (grades K-4) 

Wrestling Warm-Up (grades 2-6)
10/30
NEW Minecraft Digital Animation (grades 1-5)
11/1
Learn-to-Skate Lessons (ages 4-13)
Upcoming Events
Friday, October 23
Daddy Daughter Dance at Grandview, 6:15-7:45

Monday, October 26
School Board Long-Range Facilities Meeting, MWHS Theater, 7:00

Friday, October 30
Hilltop and Shirley Hills Halloween Parties

Saturday, October 31
Girls Hockey Scrimmage Fest, Thaler Arena, 9:00
Girls Swim & Dive at Hutchinson, 10:00
 
Looking Ahead

November 2
MWHS Volleyball Spiketacular

November 3
School Board Election

November 5
MWHS Volleyball Spiketacular

November 6
Shirley Hills Grandfriends' Day

November 8
Shirley Hills Family Skating Night

November 9
NO SCHOOL - Teacher Workshop
School Board Meeting

November 11
8th Grade Explore Test

November 12
MWHS Fall Musical

November 13
Student Senate Staff Appreciation Breakfast
MWHS Fall Musical

November 14-15
MWHS Fall Musical

November 16
Hilltop PTA Meeting

November 17
Grandview PTO Meeting

November 26-27
NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving

Click here for the full 2015-2016 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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