WESTONKA News ~ January 29, 2016  

The Westonka Edge: Small school advantages, big school opportunities, real-life success stories!™
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Board Approves Referendum for May Ballot--
To Address District Space Constraints
On Jan. 25, the school board voted unanimously to hold a single-question special election bond referendum on May 10, 2016. This decision was made after a thorough examination of districtwide facilities and input from the general public indicating a need for additional indoor athletic and recreational spaces and a properly-sized performing arts center.  

Please read the Borg Report to learn more about the bond referendum.

MWHS Students Earn Trips to Kenya--
With Girls Design the World
 
Ask Mound Westonka High School junior Breanna Hrkal or sophomore Amy Howarth about their spring break plans and watch their eyes light up with excitement. Instead of spending the last week in March sleeping in or relaxing on a beach, the pair will be traveling over 8,000 miles to meet their new friends in Nairobi, Kenya.

Hrkal and Howarth were two of five students who earned expenses-paid trips to Kenya through a cross-cultural exchange program called Girls Design the World: Supporting Green Communities with STEAM. 

MWHS Students Perform--
At Winter Jazz Blast
The Mound Westonka High School Jazz Band attended the Fourth Annual McNally Smith College of Music Winter Jazz Blast on Jan. 23. 

MWHS joined 16 bands from Minnesota and Wisconsin for a full day of performances.

MWHS Musicians Among Best In State--
Selected for University of Minnesota Honor Band

Four students represented Mound Westonka High School during the University of Minnesota High School Honor Band Weekend Jan. 22-24. A total of 95 students representing 29 high schools from around the state were selected for the Honor Band. MWHS representatives included senior Claire Rude and juniors Adam Fish, Zach Gahl and Max Taggart.

It's Carnival Time at Shirley Hills!--
Join the Fun Next Friday
Shirley Hills Primary School invites the Westonka community to participate in one of the school's biggest fundraisers of the year! The Shirley Hills Carnival and Silent Auction will take place Friday, Feb. 5, from 5 to 9 p.m.

MWHS Student Bonds with Fellow Female Musicians--
At 'Brass Chix' Event
Ninth-grader Samantha Osmek represented Mound Westonka High School Jan. 24 at "Brass Chix," an event for female musicians sponsored by the University of St. Thomas. It was an inspirational day of networking, mentoring, learning and music making for high school girls and women brass players, who are often outnumbered by their male brass-playing counterparts.  

Vote Polusny Starting This Sunday--
For ASPIRE Athlete of the Week
Mound Westonka High School junior Emma Polusny is one of three semi-finalists for the 17th week of the 2015-2016 ASPIRE Athlete of the Week program. She is the starting goaltender for the 16-5-3 White Hawks girls hockey team. 

Online voting, which opens Sunday, will determine the winner. 

Westonka in the News
Prep athletes of the week: Mound Westonka goalie's shutouts instill confidence
A look at this week's selections from recent top performances. 

DECA sends 97 students to State
In another extraordinary showing, Westonka is advancing 97 students to the state DECA competition ...

MWHS musicians attend Dorian Festival
Five Mound Westonka High School seniors were invited to take part in this year's prestigious Dorian Vocal Festival ...
Sports Highlights
White Hawks Wrestlers Win Three Duals
The Mound Westonka White Hawks wrestling squad picked up three more dual meet victories over two days of action, raising their overall record to 8-9 entering the final two weeks of the regular season.


Gymnasts Place Sixth at True Team State
The Watertown-Mayer/Mound Westonka varsity gymnastics team competed Jan. 23 in the Class A State True Team meet in Willmar against the best teams in Minnesota.
 

Nordic Earns Hardware at Conference Meet
It was a great week for skiing, with the MWHS Nordic team pulling off an impressive performance at Friday's Twin Cities Nordic Ski Conference meet after having a strong showing at the Finn Relays earlier in the week.

Girls Basketball Drops Two on Week
The White Hawks girls basketball team played Wright County Conference games against Glencoe-Silver Lake and Annandale last week.


Boys Hockey Plagued by Injuries, Tough Opponents
The MWHS boys hockey team faced conference opponent Delano/Rockford on Jan. 19 at Thaler Sports Center. This was another tough matchup for the White Hawks. 

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.

2/1
Westonka Flyers Swim Club, Open Pool (ages 13 & 14)

Westonka Flyers Swim Club, Junior Swimmers (ages 8-12)

Prepare Your Own Will

Westonka Flyers Swim Club, Intermediate Swimmers (ages 10+)
2/2
Introduction to the iPad

Martial Arts - Tae Kwon Do (ages 7+) - Session II

Strength Training

Chef's Academy (grades 1-4) Cupcake Wars - Shirley Hills
2/3
Learn How to Paint

Chef's Academy (grades 1-4) Cupcake Wars - Hilltop
2/6
Chalky Paint 101

Yoga Flow for Kids (ages 6-11)

Paint on Canvas
2/7
Match Play Days - Rising Stars & Future Stars
Upcoming Events
Friday, January 29
Speech Team at Marshall
Alpine Ski at Mount Kato
Wrestling Triangular, MWHS, 5:00
Boys Basketball at Watertown 7:00
Boys Hockey vs. Orono, MWHS, 7:00

Saturday, January 30
Speech Team at Marshall
Dance Team Section Finals, MWHS, 9:00
Wresting Invitational at Orono, 9:00
Girls Hockey vs. Duluth Denfeld, MWHS, 3:00

Monday, February 1
Nordic Ski at Wirth Park, 10:00
7th to 8th Grade Orientation, MWHS, 7:00

Tuesday, February 2
Wrestling Double Dual at Litchfield, 5:00
Girls Basketball vs. Holy Family, MWHS, 7:00
Boys Hockey at Litchfield, 7:00

Thursday, February 4
Alpine Ski at Afton Alps
Hilltop Science Fair/Family Fun Night
Girls Basketball at Dassel-Cokato, 7:00
Boys Basketball vs. Dassel-Cokato MWHS, 7:00

Friday, February 5
Shirley Hills Winter Carnival, 5:00-9:00
Wrestling Leopold-Haglund Invitational, MWHS, 5:00
Nordic Ski at Wirth Park, 6:00

Saturday, February 6
ACT Test at MWHS
Speech Team at Dassel-Cokato
Wrestling Invitational at Dassel-Cokato, 10:30
Gymnastics Invitational at Minnetonka, 12:00
Boys Hockey vs. New Ulm, MWHS, 3:00
Boys Basketball at New London-Spicer, 6:00
Nordic Ski at Wirth Park, 6:00
Girls Basketball at New London-Spicer, 7:30

Looking Ahead

February 8
4th to 5th Grade Orientation
Hilltop PTA Executive Committee Meeting
School Board Meeting

February 15
NO SCHOOL - Presidents' Day

February 16
Coffee with the Principal, MWHS

February 18
Shirley Hills Grades 2 and 3 Music Concerts

February 19
Shirley Hills Read-a-Thon Kick-Off

February 26
NO SCHOOL - Student/Parent Conferences

March 13
All District Band Concert

March 21
All District Choir Concert

March 25
NO SCHOOL Teacher Professional Day

March 28 - April 1
NO SCHOOL - SPRING BREAK

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 
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