WESTONKA News ~ January 8, 2016  

The Westonka Edge: Small school advantages, big school opportunities, real-life success stories!™
This Week's News
Quick Links
Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook View our videos on YouTube 
Celebrating the Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.--
In School on Jan. 18
Martin Luther King Jr. had a lasting impact on the world. His dream challenged a divided society to discover within itself the redemptive possibilities of social justice, brotherhood, acceptance and equality. On Monday, Jan. 18, students and staff at Westonka Schools will spend the school day in the spirit of Dr. King.

Please read the Borg Report to learn about the Martin Luther King Jr. Day activities planned at each school.

It's Kindergarten Round-Up Time!--
Tour Our Blue Ribbon Primary Schools
You and your kindergarten-age child (fall 2016) are invited to join the principals, teachers and staff of Westonka's National Blue Ribbon primary schools at Kindergarten Round-Up Jan. 12 and 14. 

Shirley Hills Primary School
Tuesday, January 12
4-5:30 PM or 6-7:30 PM
2450 Wilshire Boulevard, Mound
952.491.8400

Hilltop Primary School
Thursday, January 14
4-5:30 PM or 6-7:30 PM
5700 Game Farm Road, Minnetrista
952.491.8500

Westonka DECA Spreads The Truth--
About Teens and Tobacco

"How can we change the world?" This simple question was the beginning of Westonka DECA's creative marketing project, The Truth.

This year, DECA students at Mound Westonka High School decided to tackle the single most preventable cause of disease, disability and death in the United States: smoking. The Truth Initiative is an independent public health nonprofit organization that uses rigorous science to expose the truth behind tobacco and inspire teens to be the generation that ends smoking. 

Westonka Band Students Delight Children--
With Holiday Tunes
About 30 Mound Westonka High School band students were invited to play for Westonka Head Start children at St. John's Lutheran Church of Mound on Dec. 17. 

The event featured small ensembles of students, who also played for the Holiday Boutique fundraiser in November, playing many holiday favorites.

Shirley Hills Students Earn 'Sweet Reward'--
With Big Effort for WeCAN
Shirley Hills Primary School students and staff gathered just before the winter break to douse Principal Scott Eidsness and gym teacher Jim Halvarson in chocolate and strawberry syrup, whipped cream and other favorite sundae toppings. 

During the annual WeCAN collection drive in December, Eidsness challenged his students to collect 500 cleaning supply items. In return, he offered to become a "human sundae" during a school assembly.

Students Set Afloat Tuesday at MWHS--
In Second Annual Engineering Regatta
Westonka students, staff, families and community members are invited to escape the cold and attend the Second Annual Engineering Regatta on Tuesday, Jan. 12 at Mound Westonka High School. 

Admission is free to this exciting competition, which will take place 12-1 p.m. in the high school pool area.

Westonka in the News
Prep sports highlights of 2015 in the Twin Cities west metro
The switch from a conference-based regular-season football schedule to one based on districts turned out to be just what some programs needed.

Orono, Westonka teachers recognized at tech conference
Bailey Nett and Christine Gagnon from Orono Public Schools, and Scott Lhotka and Eric Rodelius from Westonka Public Schools, were recognized as TIES Exceptional Teachers at the TIES 2015 Education Technology Conference Dec. 15.

Spring referendum possible in Westonka district
Voters in the Westonka School District will soon find out if they'll be asked to head to the polls this spring.

Year in review: Sports part two
Mound Westonka football plays best season in years

Laker 2015 in review: Education
In January, MWHS engineering students got to test out what they were learning at the first ever MWHS Engineering Regatta. 

Westonka school board approves the 2016 levy
The Westonka School Board held their Truth in Taxation presentation and approved the 2016 levy at the their Dec. 7 meeting.
Sports Highlights
Nordic Ski Season Now Underway
With snow finally on the ground, the Mound Westonka High School Nordic ski team's season is now underway. The team attended the Maplelag High School Ski Camp Dec. 18-20 and had its first meet Jan. 5 at Como Park.
 

Girls Gymnastics Wins Home Invite
The Watertown-Mayer/Mound Westonka gymnastics team defeated six other teams to win the 41st Annual Watertown-Mayer Gymnastics Invitational on Jan. 2.  

Boys Hockey Gets Road Win at Ice Garden
The White Hawks boys hockey team played an away game Dec. 22 against the Bloomington Kennedy Eagles. The final score was 4-1 in favor of the White Hawks.


White Hawks Wrestlers Pick Up Win Before Break
The Mound Westonka High School wrestling team hosted a quad with Chaska/Chanhassen, Norwood-Young America and Champlin Park on Dec. 22.

Upcoming Community Ed. Classes
Check out the Westonka Community Education classes starting in the next couple of weeks!

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

1/11
Middle School Dance Team
1/12
Chef's Academy: Marvelous Muffins - Shirley Hills (grades 1-4) 

Individual Guitar Lessons (ages 6+)
1/13
Chef's Academy: Marvelous Muffins - Hilltop (grades 1-4) 

Individual Piano Lessons (grade 2-Adult)
1/14
GMS Chef's Academy Once-A-Month Cooking Club: Lasagna Dinner To-Go

Private Violin/Viola Lessons (grades 1+)
1/15
Family Dive-In Movie Night
1/16
Paint on Canvas
Upcoming Events
Friday, January 8
Nordic Ski trip to Giants Ridge
Boys Basketball at Dassel-Cokato, 7:00
Girls Basketball vs. Dassel-Cokato, MWHS, 7:00
Girls Hockey at Orono, 7:00

Saturday, January 9
Honor Band and Choir at Dassel-Cokato, 8:30
DECA District Competition
Nordic Ski trip to Giants Ridge

Sunday, January 10
DECA District Competition

Monday, January 11
Shirley Hills Caring for our Community Kick-Off
Hilltop PTA Meeting, 6:30
School Board Meeting, ESC, 7:00
PLAN Test Results Parent Night, MWHS, 7:00

Tuesday, January 12
MWHS Engineering Regatta, 12:00
Nordic Ski at Baker Golf Course, 3:45
Shirley Hills Kindergarten Round-Up, 4:00-5:30 & 6:00-7:30
Boys Basketball vs. Breck, MWHS, 7:00
Girls Hockey at Hutchinson, 7:00
Boys Hockey vs. Holy Family, MWHS, 7:00

Thursday, January 14
Hilltop Kindergarten Round-Up, 4:00-5:30 & 6:00-7:30
Wrestling Triangular at Rockford, 6:00
GMS PTO Meeting, 7:00
Girls Hockey vs. Hutchinson, MWHS, 7:00

Friday, January 15
Shirley Hills Pastries for Parents, 8:00-8:45
GMS Winter Blast, 6:00-8:00
Gymnastics at Dassel-Cokato, 6:00
Boys Basketball vs. Rockford, MWHS, 7:00
Girls Basketball at Rockford, 7:00
Boys Hockey vs. New Prague, MWHS, 7:00
Girls Hockey at Long Prairie, 7:00
Wrestling at Maple Lake, 7:00

Saturday, January 16
Dance Team Conference Tournament at Litchfield, 12:00
Girls Basketball vs. New London-Spicer, MWHS, 6:00
Boys Basketball vs. New London-Spicer, MWHS, 7:30


Looking Ahead

January 19
Coffee with the Principal, MWHS

January 22
NO SCHOOL - Teacher Professional Day

January 25
School Board Meeting

January 26
Shirley Hills PTA Meeting

February 15
NO SCHOOL - Presidents' Day


Click here for the full 2015-2016 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 
To unsubscribe use the UNSUBSCRIBE OPTION BELOW. 
To forward to a friend use the Forward email link below.

 

Note: Email filters that are designed to prevent unwanted emails or spam may prevent you from receiving email communications from the Westonka School District. In order to prevent this, please add westonka.k12.mn.us to your Approved Senders List.