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School News
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Noble and SEA Participate in CenterPoint Energy Project
 CenterPoint Energy embarked on a wonderful community service activity, and students at Noble and SEA helped. CenterPoint connected with Metro Meals on Wheels (MOW), an organization that leads the effort to make sure people in our community receive the nutritious meals and the human connection they need to help them live independently. CenterPoint Energy retirees (MARS volunteers) packed 700 bags that included energy assistance messages and handmade cards with holiday greetings from students at Noble and SEA elementary schools for MOW homebound clients to enjoy. Volunteers In Partnership (VIP) coordinated the cardmaking project in the district on behalf of CenterPoint Energy, which has been a supportive corporate partner providing dedicated volunteers and financial gifts to the district through VIP. What a great way to get students involved and to spread some holiday cheer!
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Equity Minute
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Young People's Ofrendas: Expressions of Life and Remembrance
 On Friday November 16, Robbinsdale Cooper High School students, accompanied by Robbinsdale Latino Cultural Liaison Maria Vallejo, attended an exhibit at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts called Young People's Ofrendas: Expressions of Life and Remembrance. The exhibit shows the cultural tradition of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), celebrated throughout Mexico and in many parts of Latin America. Students from different high schools in the Twin Cities participated in this exhibit, showcasing a person in their life that has passed on. The exhibit was very personal, with many students writing emotional descriptions of their ofrenda (offering). Asian American, African American, Native American and Latino American students all participated in the same activity and became familiar with this important tradition. Learning from one another is the best way to provide students with a different perspective of the various cultures that make up the fabric of our community. Students expressed gratitude for the opportunity to step out of their daily routine and to experience the artwork and cultural glimpse of other students.
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Community News
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Winter Clothing Drive
From November 12 - December 7, the New Hope Women of Today, along with Robbinsdale Area Schools, are holding a winter clothing drive. New and gently used coats, snow pants, boots, hats, mittens and scarves in sizes from birth to adult will be collected at area schools as well as New Hope Learning Center and New Hope City Hall. Your contributions are greatly appreciated. Thank you for making someone's winter warmer.
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Holiday Vendor Fair
Join the New Hope Women of Today on Sat., Dec. 1, from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Holy Nativity Church, 3900 Winnetka Ave N, New Hope, for their 1st Annual Holiday Vendor Fair. Featured vendors are Thirty-One, Tastefully Simple, Pampered Chef, Scentsy, Norwex and many more! ___________________ Holiday Shopping Night for ECFEGet all of your holiday shopping done in one night, in one place, and support Robbinsdale Area Schools ECFE Community members and their business ventures! Vendors are crafters with homemade items such as pottery, photography, and scarves along with home-based businesses such as Pampered Chef, Norwex, Miche and more. Vendors will be supplying items for a raffle as well. Join us on Wed., Dec. 5, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at New Hope Learning Center, 8301 47th Ave. N., New Hope. Get additional information by clicking here. |
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Spotlight on Robins P.I. Adapted Soccer Team
| Robins P.I. Adapted Soccer Team Earns Fifth Straight State Ti tle
The Robins P.I. soccer team from Robbinsdale/Hopkins/Mound-Westonka have secured a state-record fifth consecutive state title, defeating Mounds View 9-1 in the quarterfinals, St. Paul Humboldt 9-0 in the semifinals, and Dakota United Hawks 5-2 in a very physical state championship game.
"This championship is among the most rewarding of the nineteen we have won since I became head coach," explained Marcus Onsum, coach of the Robins. "I have never seen a group of kids work this hard...ever...to be good at what they do. I have been a part of this team for eighteen plus years, and have never seen anything like this. We all left feeling like our kids earned every bit of this amazing feat, and I couldn't be more proud of them." Read more about the Robins.
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District News
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Robbinsdale Area Schools to Open STEM Middle School Magnet Program
On November 20, the Robbinsdale Area School Board approved the creation of a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) middle school magnet program, which will be housed at Robbinsdale Middle School. The program, which will be a natural progression for the students at the School of Engineering and Arts (SEA), will begin in the fall of 2013 for incoming sixth grade students from around the district and beyond. Each year the program will add a grade: sixth and seventh grade students will be able to participate in 2014-2015, and the program will be open to all three grade levels at Robbinsdale Middle School beginning with the 2015-2016 school year. Read more about the STEM middle school program.
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Magnet School Application for RSIS and SEA Available December 1
Kindergarten magnet school lottery applications for Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion School (RSIS) and the School of Engineering and Arts (SEA) at Olson Elementary School will open Saturday, December 1, 2012. Families of incoming kindergartners will be able to access the magnet application online this year by going to https://magnetlottery.rdale.org/. Access to the magnet application will begin on December 1, 2012. Paper copies of the magnet applications will also be available at all schools and at the Education Service Center, 4148 Winnetka Avenue North, New Hope beginning on Monday, December 3, 2012. Families who currently have students attending either school, and wish to have their incoming kindergarten student attend that school as well, must fill out an application and submit it before the deadline of 4:00 p.m., February 28, 2013. Families of students who are currently in grades K-4 and wish to transfer to RSIS or SEA need to fill out either an in-district transfer form or an open enrollment form. Both forms are currently online at www.rdale.org, by clicking on "Families" or "New Families". Families will be notified by March 15, 2013 of their status in the lottery. Read more and access links.
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Robbinsdale Area Schools See Increase in Academic Growth at Elementary and Middle Schools  The overall percentage of middle schools students in Robbinsdale Area Schools who are making academic growth in reading and math increased, with substantial increases in some areas. In addition, the percentage of elementary students making high growth (1.5 times average growth or more) also increased. The percentage of sixth and seventh grade students making average growth in reading increased by ten percentage points from fall 2011 to fall 2012, as evidenced by recent achievement on the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) tests, and the district continues to be above average in reading growth at the middle level. Growth for elementary students is studied from fall to spring, and the percentage of elementary students making high growth increased from 2010-11 to 2011-12 across achievement levels and subjects. The district continues to implement Response to Intervention (RtI) and Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), where data is studied carefully and helps to drive instruction. Read more about increased growth.
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We're Proud
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Volunteers and Honeywell Provide Thanksgiving Dinners
 Honeywell donated 96 complete Thanksgiving dinners to families of first grade students at Forest Elementary. The dinners were very much appreciated by the families. Twenty volunteers from Honeywell and Cooper High School packaged the food. The owner of Almsted's New Market, who supplied much of the food, stopped by to thank Honeywell and Forest. Honeywell retirees come in to Forest regularly to have lunch with the first grade students, in a program called Everybody Wins, and the Thanksgiving idea grew out of that partnership. The retirees wanted to provide some Thanksgiving dinners to children for whom a Thanksgiving dinner would not be a reality. They would have been able to provide 50 baskets (including turkey, potatoes, vegetables, baby carrots, butter, rolls, gravy mix, desserts, stuffing, whipped topping, etc. in each basket). When Honeywell Corporation heard about what the volunteers were doing, the company stated that it would match what the retirees were doing, and hence, the 96 complete dinners became a reality. Thanks to Honeywell for providing a beautiful example of the spirit of giving.
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Upcoming Events
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 Robbinsdale Cooper Theater Presents My Country Tis...???
When you think about our American culture, what comes to mind? How do you think other countries view America? Cooper Theater will explore the multiple aspects of American culture and illustrate them through dance, music, and poetry in this not-to-be-missed fall production. Performances will be November 29 - December 1 at 7 p.m. Ticket prices are $6 Students/Seniors; $8 Adults.
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Plymouth Middle School Presents The Wizard of Oz Sixty students at Plymouth Middle School will be acting, singing and dancing in the popular musical The Wizard of Oz. This wonderful show is double-cast and will be performed on the stage of Robbinsdale Middle School Nov. 30, Dec. 1, 7, and 8. All performances at 7 p.m.
Tickets $6/Adults, $4/Students.
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 Robbinsdale Middle School Theater Presents Andy Jr.
A new interpretation of the classic Annie Jr. which features the music from the musical Little Orphan Annie. Follow the wide-ranging adventures of Andy, his dog Sandy, and "Daddy" Warbucks. Performances will be December 13 and 14, 7:30 p.m. and December 15 at 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets $5 general admission; $3 students.
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Meadow Lake Barnes & Noble Bookfair
Start your holiday shopping early at the Meadow Lake Barnes & Noble Bookfair. Shop Thurs., Dec. 6 at the Maple Grove Barnes & Noble, 8040 Wedgewood Lane and a percentage of purchases will benefit Meadow Lake Elementary School. Mention you are with the bookfair when you check out. Stop by from 6 p.m. on for some fun activities! Click here for more information.
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School Board News
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Robbinsdale Area School Board Meetings Follow us on Twitter and Facebook to get important votes and other news live during the regular and business meetings. For up-to-date School Board news, click on Minutes, Podcast and Webcast below. School Board Resources:
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