Robbinsdale Area Schools and Robbinsdale Community Education are proud to partner with A+ Driving School to offer Driver's Education classes during the summer.  To register, go online or call:  www.APlusDrivingSchool.net at 763-559-5758.  Cost is $365.

Summer classes are held at Armstrong High School in the left Balcony of the auditorium. 
These classes are open to anyone in the area!
June 11-22, Class times: 9-12 noon or 12-3 p.m.
July 9-20, Class times: 9-12 noon or 12-3 p.m.
Aug. 6-17, Class times: 9-12 noon or 12-3 p.m.
 
Summer classes held at the Winnetka Learning Center are open to anyone in the area!
June 11-26, Class time: 5-8 p.m.

• Participate in teambuilding challenges
• Discover your personal leadership style
• Learn to set goals and achieve them
• Make a difference in your community (service hours available)

Singer, songwriter, and educator Bruce A. Henry and his band will join with Robbinsdale Middle School (RMS) student performers on March 16 to present a special concert performance titled "The Evolution of African-American Music."

The performance, which features music from 17th century Africa through modern times, will be the culmination of a week-long residency by Henry at RMS. Students will learn about the influence of African-American music on American culture and confront real issues of racism and prejudice through direct discussion and exploration.

"The Evolution of African-American Music" will take place on Friday March 16 at 7:00 p.m. in the RMS auditorium.  Call 763-504-4800 for more information.

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New Hope, Minn. – On Monday evening, March 5, the Robbinsdale Area School Board approved the recommendation to contract transportation services beginning July 1, 2012.  The vote came after nearly a year of careful analysis by the district.

The vote followed opening statements by Superintendent Aldo Sicoli and a presentation on the nearly year-long analysis by Jeff Priess, Executive Director of Business Services.  Had the board not voted to approve the recommendation, the district would have “seen deeper future cuts which would also result in the loss of jobs,” explained Superintendent Sicoli. 

The analysis compared the current system of transporting students, including routes to schools outside of the neighborhood attendance areas, with the same routes provided by contracted services.  The analysis used very conservative estimates and showed average increases of other districts using First Student Services, the company that provided the most favorable proposal to the district.  The district will continue to own the bus fleet for the first four years of the contract.

All Board members contributed statements explaining their vote.  The final vote was 5-2 in favor of contracting transportation services.

Click here to read Robbinsdale Area Schools Contracting Transportation Operations Frequently Asked Questions.

New Hope, Minn. – iPhone and iPad users will no longer be the only ones to take advantage of the Infinite Campus Mobile Portal app, as the app is now available for android users.

Infinite Campus is the communications tool that district families use for information about grades, attendance, assessments, schedules and more.  Families need to have an active Campus Portal account to access the data, and need a connection (WiFi or 3G) for the initial data download.  Once the data is downloaded, however, the app can be used without a network connection.

Notifications can be sent to devices as changes occur, such as updates to homework or grades.  It’s convenient, it’s private, and best of all, it’s free.

Parents can access directions on how to download the app by clicking on “Parent Portal” at the top of the page. 

A proposal has been brought forth to have the Robbinsdale Cooper High School Auditorium named after long-time Cooper High School educator Ert Jones-Hermerding, who spent nearly 30 years as the CHS theatre director.  After his death several years ago, several community members suggested naming the auditorium in his honor, and this year, CHS sophomore Stephanie Sikkila has resurrected that proposal as part of her Personal Project for the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme at Cooper.   The district formed a committee to consider naming requests, which ultimately are approved by the School Board.

A public email account has been created to solicit feedback on the proposal to have the CHS auditorium named after Mr. Jones-Hermerding.  You can weigh in on the proposal by emailing Key_Communicators@rdale.org and give your opinion on this naming, or you can suggest a name to be considered as well.  The district will be taking feedback on this until March 17th, and any action on the naming of Cooper High School would take place later in the spring.

Armstrong Wrestlers and Diver Head to State Meets

Three Robbinsdale Armstrong High School students are headed to the state meet in their respective sports after strong finishes at their sections over the weekend.  Max Mason finished third at sections in diving and qualified for the State meet on March 1st - 3rd at the University of Minnesota.

Wrestlers Justin Wheaton (220 pound) and Matt Koch (152 pound) won their sections and will compete at the state Wrestling meet, March 1st - 3rd at the Xcel Center.  Good luck!

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AHS Senior Named 2012 Triple A Winner

Anna Hjerpe, a senior at Robbinsdale Armstrong High School,has been honored by the Minnesota State High School League withthe Region 6AA Triple A (AAA) Award.  This is an award given to students for their outstanding accomplishments in academics, the arts, and athletics.
 
Anna will be honored as the Region 6AA Triple A Award winner during ceremonies at the Boys' State Basketball Tournament on March 24.

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Armstrong Quiz Bowl Team Headed to Nationals

Congratulations to the Robbinsdale Armstrong High School Quiz Bowl team.  Because of their strong fifth place finishes in both the University of Minnesota Quiz Bowl Invitational Tournament in December, and the Minnesota High School Quiz Bowl League Finals on February 16th, they are headed to the National Academic Quiz Tournament in Atlanta, Georgia, later this spring. Pictured from L-R: Dave Wixon, Duncan Mincks, Alina Dain and Patrick Palony

The fifth place finish in the League finals was out of 108 teams participating from 36 schools.

For the first time in its history, both Robbinsdale Armstrong and Robbinsdale Cooper high schools are sending students to the 2012 Minnesota State High School League Debate Tournament. 

Cooper junior Collin Brown finished fifth at the Section 4AA Tournament held on January 6th and 7th at Blaine High School.  This marks the third consecutive year that Collin has qualified for the tournament.  The Cooper team extended its streak to eight straight years of qualifying students to the tournament, and marks the fourth longest active streak of consecutive years that any school has qualified students.  In those eight years, Cooper has qualified twelve students, won the state tournament in 2007, was a runner-up in 2008, and finished in the top four three other times.  “The success over these past eight years has been remarkable and would have not been possible without the extremely dedicated students and assistant coaches I work with every day,” said Head Debate Coach DJ Brynteson.

Robbinsdale Armstrong sophomore Andrew Urevig showed his skill quite well through two days of debate and finished in third place to earn his spot at the tournament.  His qualification marks the first time in Armstrong High School history that a student has qualified for the MSHSL State Debate Tournament, but the program there is still young.  “This is an unbelievable accomplishment for Armstrong Debate,” explained Brynteson, who coaches teams at both schools.  “The program is still young and is still building, so to be able to accomplish so soon is fantastic for the school and for the program, and bodes well for the future.  It really is a team accomplishment.”  The Armstrong team is also coached by Chyenne Thibodo and Robert Cegla.

The tournament will be held on the campus of the University of Minnesota on January 13 and 14.  This will be the 110th anniversary of the tournament, which started in 1902.  For more information about the state debate tournament, contact DJ Brynteson at 763-458-4702, or www.armstrongdebate.com.

Grade 8 families and students are invited to Registration Night at Armstrong High School and at Cooper High School on Thursday, January 12, 2012, 7 p.m. 

 

Guidance counselors will be on hand to answer your questions.  Learn about course offerings for AVID, International Baccalaureate and Pre-Advanced Placement; understand the registration process. 

On Monday evening, the Robbinsdale Area School Board unanimously approved the creation of a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) elementary magnet school to open beginning with the 2012-2013 school year.  This magnet school will be located at Olson Elementary School in Golden Valley and will serve students in kindergarten through grade five.

The recommendation to the Board was made upon extensive work of the Magnets/Partnerships Sub-committee, which was convened from May 2010 through July 2011.  The work of this sub-committee was discussed at School Board Work Sessions on December 13, 2010; January 10, 2011; February 14, 2011; and August 8, 2011. 

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) is a very rigorous academic framework grounded in research and best practices in critical thinking and inquiry, two skills that are essential for success in the 21st century.  The district added the Arts (A) in STEAM to reflect its deep commitment to and recognition of the arts as a critical component of education.  Next steps will include the development of the STEAM model, and measures to promote a student body that is representative of the district’s enrollment.  The magnet school will have slots available for students outside of the district as well. 

The district has identified February 13, 2012 as the date for a parent information night regarding the STEAM magnet.  More information, including application forms, will be made available once they are finalized.  For more information, go to www.rdale.org or you can contact  Tia Clasen, Marketing and Communications Director, at 763-504-8029.

New Hope, Minn. – At the November 21st meeting, the Robbinsdale Area School Board approved changes to the School Board Calendar that will take effect beginning in January 2012.  The change in the meeting schedule will allow  more time for school board members to connect in various ways with the community.

Regular meetings will still be held on the first and third Mondays of the month.  However, the first Monday meeting will be shorter and a work session will follow.  On the third Monday of the month, the Board will host its public listening time, a change from the current schedule that has the first Monday of the month as a public listening time. 

To view the changes for the rest of the 2011-2012 school year, go to www.rdale.org and click on “District” and then “School Board”.

The Robbinsdale Federation of Teachers (RFT) announced that it will be seeking nominations for a district Teacher of the Year.  This is a program through Education Minnesota that leads to the National Teacher of the Year, and is designed to recognize the amazing work that teachers do every day in their classrooms.

Nominations will be accepted from November 15th  through December 14th, 2011, and anyone can nominate a teacher – students, parents, administrators, colleagues, and community members.  Self-nominations are also accepted.  The nomination form can be found at www.rftonline.org, and by clicking here.  Paper copies of the nomination form can be found in the main office of all elementary, middle and high schools and programs, including Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE), Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE), and Creative Play Preschool.  Paper copies of nominations can be submitted to Val Potter at the RFT office, which is at 2960 Winnetka Avenue North, Suite 100, Crystal, MN  55427. 

All teachers who teach pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, hold a Minnesota teaching license, have completed at least three full years of teaching by the nomination deadline and intend to teach in the 2012-2013 school year are eligible for this prestigious award.  This person will represent Robbinsdale Area Schools at the state Teacher of the Year program.  The winner of the state program is advanced to the national level, where the winner of the National Teacher of the Year is recognized by the White House and represents phenomenal teachers across the country.

Do you need information about your child’s school career at your fingertips?  Robbinsdale Area Schools has an app for that.  Infinite Campus, the communications tool that district families use for information about grades, attendance, assessments and more, has created the Infinite Campus Mobile Portal app.

Students and their families will now be able to access schedules, grades, assignments and attendance using the Infinite Campus Mobile Portal.  It’s a free, universal app that gives students and parents the same access to their data using an iOS device, such as  iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch.  Families need to have an active Campus Portal account to access the data, and you will need a connection (wifi or 3G) for the initial use of the application, including user authentication and initial data download.  Once you’ve downloaded the data, however, you can use the app without a network connection. 

“I hear from families all the time that they want their students’ information at their fingertips,” explained Tia Clasen, the district’s Marketing and Communications Program Director.  “Speaking as a parent myself, this is a wonderful and convenient way to keep connected with schools.”  Notifications can be sent to devices as changes occur, such as updates to homework or grades.  It’s easy for families with more than one student in the district; simply select the name of the child whose information they wish to see.  It’s convenient, and it’s private.

The access code can be obtained via the Infinite Campus Portal.  Right now the app is for iOS systems only;  Infinite Campus is looking into a possible app for android operating systems.  Go to www.rdale.org and click on the Parent Portal icon on the homepage for more information or by clicking here.

It’s not every day that one can play along with world-class performers, but students in Robbinsdale Area Schools will be doing just that.  On Tuesday, November 15th and Thursday, November 17th, the internationally acclaimed Dallas Brass will be performing at Robbinsdale Middle School.  Tuesday’s performance will feature students from Plymouth Middle School and Armstrong High School.  Thursday’s performance will feature students from Robbinsdale Middle School and Cooper High School.  Both shows begin at 7:00 pm.  For tickets, download the order form by clicking here.

In addition to the two performances, more than 400 band students from grades 7-9 in the Robbinsdale Area Schools, along with the All-District Band students, will work with the Dallas Brass during the two-day residency.  The original plans called for a one-day residency, but were changed to a two-day event so that the experience could be offered to more students.  “Going to the two day event allowed us to involve 200 more band students, and the opportunity for the Dallas Brass to perform for all fourth grade students district-wide,” explained Madeline Elmhirst, band instructor at Robbinsdale Middle School.  “Also, more community members will get the chance to see this great ensemble.” 

The Dallas Brass has become one of America’s foremost musical assemblies.  The Dallas Brass concert, American Musical Journey, incorporates a full complement of brass and percussion for an engaging musical travelogue through American history.  Music will be selected from the masters – Copland, Bernstein, Gershwin, Berlin, John Williams, Sousa; various American styles will be represented as well:  Dixieland, swing, folk, patriotic, and pop.

According to the founder of the Dallas Brass, Michael Levine, “a Dallas Brass concert is intended for the entire family.  Our goal is to entertain and enrich by playing great music.”  This prestigious band has played with premiere orchestras and at places such as Carnegie Hall, the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.; the band has also traveled overseas.  It has performed for presidents and shared the stage with the likes of Bob Hope and members of CBS’ “The Early Show”, and has released six recordings.  The members of the Dallas Brass has strong dedication to working with young musicians, publishing two books of original small ensemble music for middle school and high school students.  Inviting students to join them in concert for a selection has become a Dallas Brass trademark. 

Tickets are $15.00 each.  For more information about the Dallas Brass, visit www.dallasbrass.com.

Students currently in 8th grade, and their families, are invited to learn more about high school in Robbinsdale Area Schools in November.

Family Preview Nights are:

Thursday, November 3, 2011, 7:00 p.m.
Robbinsdale Armstrong High School
10635 36th Ave N, Plymouth, MN
763-504-8800, www.ahs.Rdale.org

Thursday, November 10, 2011, 7:00 p.m.
Robbinsdale Cooper High School
8230 47th Ave. N, New Hope, MN
763-504-8500, www.chs.Rdale.org

Family Preview Nights offer the opportunity to learn about rigorous course options – Advanced Placement at Armstrong and International Baccalaureate at Cooper – meet teachers, learn about AVID and other 9th grade support systems, athletics and activities, and have questions answered.

Both Armstrong and Cooper have historically been ranked as some of the top high schools in the nation because of their comprehensive and well-established International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement (AP) programs.

The 39th Cooper Arts and Craft Fair is set for Sat., October 29, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Cooper High School.  The craft fair, which is sponsored by the New Hope Women of Today, raises funds for the Lavon H. Cooper District 281 Scholarship Fund and other various district programs as well as the New Hope Women of today Community Programs.  For more information contact CooperCraftFair@NewHopeWT.org or got to www.NewHopeWT.org.

Preparing students for college and career is something Robbinsdale Armstrong High School takes seriously.   Over the last seven years, approximately 30 former Armstrong accounting students have gone on to major in either accounting or finance at colleges and universities across the country.  Recent graduates are finding a friendly job market for their skills.  Deloitte & Touche, one of the top four accounting firms in the world, has a former Armstrong alumni on staff, two alumni who have accepted jobs prior to their senior year in college, and another who has accepted an internship.  Other Armstrong alumni have gone on to work for Cargill, Medtronic, TCF Bank, and Piper Jaffray.

Tim Moreau, Armstrong High School Accounting teacher and certified public accountant (CPA), knows how important his subject matter is.  Ten years ago, he came to teaching from the corporate finance and accounting field, having spent ten years in that field as well.  “I think accounting class is essential for any student interested in business, particularly those pursuing a business degree,” stated Moreau.  “But there’s an often-overlooked benefit for students as well:  they learn the importance of working within a structure and paying attention to detail.  I’m very proud to see so many students following the accounting and finance path and experiencing success in what they are doing.”

According to Payscale’s 2010-11 College Salary Report, the average starting salary for college graduates with an accounting degree is $44,600.  Accounting jobs always land at or near the top on lists of best careers; the same occurred this year, with Yahoo! Jobs naming accounting as one of the best business jobs of 2011.

In an economically challenging time when schools are making hard decisions about what courses they can offer, Armstrong is on the right track.

Armstrong  High School was one of a select group of high schools across the country to earn the Global Education Excellence Award from the EF Foundation for Foreign Study.  This award is presented to schools that demonstrate a deep commitment to international understanding and global awareness.

Armstrong has a long-standing tradition of welcoming exchange students into the school, helping them become an integral part of the school and the community.  “Armstrong High School has shown an outstanding commitment to offering a global education.  By welcoming exchange students into the classroom, Armstrong has created new and unique learning opportunities not just for the exchange students, but for the American students and faculty as well,” stated Dan Sodervall, President of EF Foundation.

Local International Exchange Coordinator Terri Nacey presented this award to Jamie Dukowitz, who heads the exchange program at Armstrong.  “Our EF students have asked me personally to thank Jamie Dukowitz, for his dedication, guidance and concern shown throughout the year for all the exchange students. His caring attitude shown, helped make each and every student feel more comfortable in their new environment.  Jamie is a true ambassador.”

Since 1979, EF Foundation for Foreign Study has matched over 100,000 students from around the world with host families from the United States.

Robbinsdale Armstrong High School ranked in the top high schools nationally and ninth in the state of Minnesota on the High School Challenge List, recently published by the Washington Post. 

Jay Matthews, a columnist for the Washington Post, developed the criteria which Newsweek used since 1998 to prepare its “America’s Best High Schools” list.  After the sale of Newsweek by the Post last year, Matthews, who used the same criteria to develop the High School Challenge list for the Washington, D.C. area schools, moved the list to washingtonpost.com.  The list attracted 21 million page views in the first week of its appearance last year, and was anticipated to do the same this year.  The criteria take into account numbers of students taking Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. 

The list also posts an “Excellence and Equity Rate”, which is the percentage of all graduating seniors, including those who never took an AP course, who had at least one score of 3 or above on at least one AP exam sometime in high school.  This was a metric invented by the College Board, who oversees the AP program.  The Challenge Index is designed to identify schools that have done the best job in encouraging all students, not just the top students, to take college-level courses and tests.   “Students of all readiness levels can and will benefit from challenging curriculum and assessments that better prepare them for post-secondary success,” stated Superintendent Aldo Sicoli, “and our district is taking that belief seriously.  The payoff for students is tremendous.”

This past year, Robbinsdale Area Schools was named to  2011 National AP Achievement List, one of less than 400 districts nationwide to be named to that prestigious list, for both increasing the number of students taking AP exams and increasing the number of passing scores on those exams.

The Robbinsdale Area Schools is participating in the Summer Food Service Program. Meals will be provided to all eligible children free of charge. Students must be enrolled in the programs to qualify for summer meals.  Children who are part of households that receive foods stamps or benefits under the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) are automatically eligible to receive free meals.

Acceptance and participation requirements for the program and all activities are the same for all regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service. Meals will be provided at the sites and times as follows:

1. Forest Elementary—8:30am Breakfast/11:30am Lunch, (Monday-Friday), July 13- August 19, 2011
2. Neill Elementary—8:30am Breakfast/11:30am Lunch, (Monday-Friday), July 13- August 19, 2011
3. Meadow Lake Elementary—8:00am-9:00am Breakfast/11:30-12:30pm Lunch, (Monday-Friday), July 13- August 19, 2011
4. Eden Park--1:00pm Lunch/4:00pm Snack, (Monday-Wednesday), June 20-August 17, 2011
5. Noble Elementary—9:30-10:30am Snack, (Monday-Friday), June 18- August 12, 2011

Make a difference in our community by supporting a project to increase hunger awareness and raise money for local food shelves, NEAR and PRISM. The Seven Dreams Education Foundation (SDEF) First Annual Empty Bowls Event will be held May 12, 2011, at Plymouth Middle School from 5 to 7 p.m.  The SDEF is seeking business and community partnerships to participate in this event through financial contributions, product donations of soup and bread, and by donating ceramic and clay bowls for students to decorate.
 
Childhood hunger is a growing concern even in the Twin Cities suburbs.  Over 40% of the people served at food shelves are children. One in five Robbinsdale Area Schools (RAS) households simply don’t get enough to eat.  They often go whole days without food, skip meals, or eat smaller meals at some point during the year.  Hunger contributes to poor academic performance and disruptive classroom behavior.  Missed meals also increase tardiness and visits to the school nurse.

How does Empty Bowls help?  Empty Bowls is an international grassroots effort to fight hunger through events centered on a simple meal of soup and bread.  Initial participants, in this case RAS students and community members, create and donate ceramic bowls to be used for the meal.  Participants attending the event make a cash donation for the bowl and meal and are reminded of “empty bowls” in their community and around the world.

All proceeds will go to NEAR and PRISM food shelves.  NEAR and PRISM help families obtain the groceries they can’t afford to purchase on their own and work to feed low-income children in the summer when they don’t have access to meals at school.  During 2010, NEAR and PRISM food shelves together distributed 655,000 pounds of food to area families.

For more information on ways to participate, please contact Empty Bowls volunteer Sharon Plemling at
763-544-8182.  For more information about SDEF, visit our web site at www.sevendreamsfoundation.org.

Lauren Griffin, a junior at Luther College and 2008 graduate of Robbinsdale Armstrong High School, was one of ten students in the Lutheran College Consortium selected to be Nobel Peace Prize Scholars for Summer 2011.

She and her fellow nominees will participate in a summer study institute at the International Summer School of the University of Oslo in Norway. The Peace Scholars Program intersects with the work of several Norwegian peace organizations and is designed to deepen students' understanding of peace, justice, democracy and human rights.

Lauren was also a participant in the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize Forum on March 4, a unique annual event sponsored by the Norwegian Nobel Institute that brings diplomats, scholars, and the general public together to share in dialogue on the dynamics of peacemaking and the underlying causes of conflict and war.

The robotics team of Armstrong-Cooper High Schools competed in the North Star Regional robot competition at the University of Minnesota on April 1.  This competition is part of the U.S. FIRST Robotics program, with a mission is to inspire young people to become science and technology leaders.  The North Star Regional competition had 60 teams registered from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Missouri.

The international kick-off to this competition was on January 8th.  That’s when Chad Perkins, the Phoenix’s advisor, and his team of 15 students learned what they needed to design.  They got six weeks to design and build a robot, and one day to test it at the arena and make modifications before entering it into the competition.  “This is the fourth year we’ve had a team,” explained Perkins.  “We’re building this team slowly and deliberately in order to be successful.” 

In addition to Perkins, a mentor engineer is involved as well.  Mike Kniffer worked with the team, adding ideas and feedback to what the students were designing and ultimately building.  “His involvement is invaluable,” said Perkins.  “It’s great to have a mentor in the engineering world to work with our kids.”   The team is made up of students in grades 9-12, but most are underclassmen, and two are women, “which is wonderful,” added Perkins. 

The team has two sponsors this year, General Mills and SICK, a company that designs sensors.  The sponsors help financially with entrance fees and money for materials that go into building the robots.  The competition uses an exciting “sport-type atmosphere” to embrace science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).  The competition is intense, exciting and fun - and kids learn.  89% of the First Robotics Competition alumni reported an increased understanding of the role of science and technology in everyday life.  70% reported an increased motivation to do well in school.  88% of competitors went on to college.  Participants also learn skills that will lead to great career opportunities in a variety of exciting fields.  The team finished 19th this year, and that’s with a robot malfunction before the first match, which they were then unable to play.  They won five matches and lost three.  “The team did a great job,” reported Perkins.  “We look forward to next year.”

For more information on FIRST, go to www.usfirst.org.

(New Hope, Minn) - Robbinsdale Area Schools is one of fewer than 400 school districts in the United States being honored by the College Board with a place on its Advanced Placement (AP®) Achievement List for opening AP classroom doors to a significantly broader pool of students, while maintaining or improving the percentage of students earning scores of 3 or higher.  Only 388 public school districts across the nation were honored.  From 2008 to 2010, Robbinsdale Area Schools has increased the number of students participating in AP from 507 to 591, while still increasing the number of its AP students earning scores of 3 or higher, the score typically needed to earn college credit, from 63% to 64%.

The AP Achievement List is made up of all school districts that are simultaneously expanding opportunity and improving performance.  “This is exactly what we are doing,” stated Superintendent Aldo Sicoli.  “We are providing opportunity for students to both excel now and prepare for the future.  We are very proud of this accomplishment, and look forward to an even greater increase in the future.”

Many U.S. school districts have focused on expanding access to AP courses as part of a strategy for fostering college readiness.  Helping more students learn at a higher level and earn higher AP scores is an objective of all members of the AP community, from AP teachers to district and school administrators to college professors.  “Participation in college-level AP courses can level the playing field for underserved students, give them the confidence needed to succeed in college, and raise standards and performance in key subjects like science and math,” said College Board President Gaston Caperton.  “The AP Achievement List districts are defying expectations by expanding access while enabling their students to maintain or improve their AP Exam scores.”

Inclusion on the list is based on certain criteria, including examination of three years of AP data, from 2008 to 2010; increase in participation in and access to AP by at least 4  percent in large districts and 7 percent in medium districts; and a steady or increasing percentage of exams taken by African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Hispanic/Latino students.  “These districts are living proof that when access to AP is provided for the range and breadth of prepared and motivated students, districts can achieve even higher learning outcomes for their students – and the opportunity for so many more to earn college credit and placement,” said Trevor Packer, vice president of the College Board’s AP Program.

The complete AP Achievement List can be found at www.collegeboard.org

About the Advanced Placement Program
The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program® (AP®) enables students to pursue college-level studies while still in high school. Through more than 30 college-level courses, each culminating in a rigorous exam, AP provides willing and academically prepared students with the opportunity to earn college credit, advanced placement or both. Taking AP courses also demonstrates to college admission officers that students have sought the most rigorous curriculum available to them. Each AP teacher’s syllabus is evaluated and approved by college faculty from some of the nation’s leading institutions, and AP Exams are developed and scored by college faculty and experienced AP teachers. AP is accepted by more than 3,800 colleges and universities worldwide for college credit, advanced placement or both on the basis of successful AP Exam scores. This includes over 90 percent of four-year institutions in the United States. In 2010, 1.8 million students representing more than 17,000 schools around the world, both public and nonpublic, took 3.2 million AP Exams.

Just getting a piece of artwork into the High School Art Exhibition at North Hennepin Community College is quite an accomplishment for a student artist. The annual event showcases some of the best art from students across the northwest metro area. Art teachers from eleven northwest metro high schools submit no more than ten student artworks per school for the highly selective exhibition. Art faculty from North Hennepin then select one outstanding submission in each category.

As the category awards were announced, the strong focus on the arts in Robbinsdale Area Schools was evident: among the winners this year are unique works by Jade Marchiniak of Armstrong High School and Haley Pfeilsticker of Cooper High School.

The show includes art in a wide variety of media, including paintings, graphite pencil drawings, photography, ceramics, and more. Artwork is chosen for inclusion in the exhibit and for special recognition based on technical quality, originality, and creativity.
 
The NHCC High School Art Exhibition is currently open for viewing in the Joseph Gazzuolo Gallery at North Hennepin Community College, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. until March 4. Admission is free.

Robbinsdale Cooper High School senior Luke Balhorn and Robbinsdale Armstrong High School seniors Heather Anderson, Lyndsay Gusek and Reba Juetten have been named Finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program.

Luke, Heather, Lyndsay and Reba are among 16,000 Semi-finalists from across the country who will be considered for 8,400 scholarships worth a total of $36 million to be offered this spring. Less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors were selected as Semifinalists last fall.

The awards are presented by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), a not-for-profit organization that partners with businesses and colleges to honor the nation's scholastic champions and encourage the pursuit of academic excellence.

Beginning March 1, 2011, when you provide a check as payment, you authorize us either to use information from your check to make a one-time electronic fund transfer from your account or to process the payment as a check transaction.  When we use information from your check to make an electronic fund transfer, funds may be withdrawn from your account on the same day we receive your payment, and you will not receive your check back from your financial institution.

You have the right to opt out of the check conversion process by submitting a letter or e-mail to the address below.  You may request to apply this right to all checks involving your account.  To do so, you must clearly state this and provide the checking account number in your letter or e-mail.

Jon Norrbom, Controller
Robbinsdale Area Schools
4148 Winnetka Avenue North
New Hope, MN 55427
Email:  jon_norrbom@rdale.org

If you have any questions about this process, please contact Jon Norrbom at (763) 504-8042

Armstrong High School Theater Department presents Twelfth Night

Landing in the town of Illyria after a shipwreck, Viola pretends to be a man and begins working for Duke Orsino.  Orsino sends the disguised Viola to woo Olivia for him, but thinking Viola is a man, Olivia falls in love with her.  The disguised Viola, enamored with Orsino's strong emotions, falls in love with him.  Meanwhile, Viola's identical twin brother Sebastian comes to town looking for his sister and people begin to get the two people mixed up! 

Twelfth Night is a hilarious case of mistaken identities and love triangles featuring Samantha Spalding as Viola, Alyssa Laansma as Olivia,  Myles Majors as Orsino, Zachary Gibbs as Sebastian and a host of other talented actors in Armstrong High School's production of William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.

Performances are November 11, 12, and 13 at 7 p.m.  $4 for students and seniors.  $6 for adults.

Cooper High School Theater Department presents Thoroughly Modern Millie

A high-spirited musical romp that has all of New York dancing the Charleston. It's the zany new 1920's musical that has taken Broadway by storm! Taking place in New York City in 1922, Thoroughly Modern Millie tells the story of young Millie Dillmount, who has just moved to the city in search of a new life for herself. It's a New York full of intrigue and jazz - a time when women were entering the workforce and the rules of love and social behavior were changing forever.

Based on the popular movie, the stage version of Thoroughly Modern Millie includes a full score of new songs and bright dance numbers featuring Tawny Steinmeyer as Millie, Scott Ragan as Jimmy Smith, Jillian Higbe as Miss Dorothy Brown and a whole stage of talented actors, musicians, production and stage hands.

Performances are November 12, 13, 18, 19 and 20 at 7 p.m. with a 2 p.m. matinee on November 13.  $4 for students and seniors.  $6 for adults.  Box office 763-504-8535.


Robbinsdale Middle School Theater presents Agatha Rex

Based on the ancient Greek play Antigone, playwright Lindsay Price has moved the story from the city of Thebes and placed the characters at modern day Thebes High School.  And instead of ancient decrees and burial rights, Agatha Rex centers around a restrictive dress code and the ruthless principal, Dr. Creon (played by Aaron Dillard). Agatha Rex, a comedy in two acts, is about a student at a strict private school that has a military feel to it. Agatha (played by Layla Moehring) is a girl who stands up for her beliefs and for what is right, regardless of the consequences. The story takes a turn for the worse when Agatha's two brothers, Paul (played by Jordan Papenfuss) and Elliot (played by Bryce Tukes-Thompson) decide to violate the school dress code. As student council president at Thebes High, Agatha vigorously defends her brother Paul, who is unfairly punished while her brother Elliot is let off the hook. Based on her actions, she could be expelled, or worse: lose an important scholarship.

Thirty students have been working for the past month to bring Agatha Rex to life and another twenty five backstage technicians have been drawing up plans and gathering materials.

The play runs November 18, 19, 20 at 7 p.m., and a 3 p.m. matinee on Saturday, November 20 as well.

Tickets are $5 for the general admission and $3 for RMS students and can be purchased at the door.

Students currently in 8th grade, and their families, are invited to learn more about high school in Robbinsdale Area Schools in November.

Family Preview Nights are:

Thursday, November 4, 2010, 7:00 p.m.
Robbinsdale Armstrong High School
10635 36th Ave N, Plymouth, MN
763-504-8800, www.ahs.Rdale.org

Tuesday, November 9, 2010, 7:00 p.m.
Robbinsdale Cooper High School
8230 47th Ave. N, New Hope, MN
763-504-8500, www.chs.Rdale.org

Family Preview Nights offer the opportunity to learn about rigorous course options – Advanced Placement at Armstrong and International Baccalaureate at Cooper – meet teachers, learn about AVID and other 9th grade support systems, athletics and activities, and have questions answered.

Each school is ranked among the top 1500 schools in the nation by Newsweek Magazine because of the number of students taking college-level coursework. Robbinsdale Area Schools is one of the “Best 100 Communities for Music Education” in the nation because of its instruction in orchestra, band and choir.

Highview Alternative Program in Robbinsdale Area Schools is currently accepting applications for the 2010-11 school year which begins Tuesday, September 7.  Highview is an Alternative Program providing a smaller, supportive environment for up to 140 students. Highview offers a full curriculum for students who are 16 and older and have completed 12 credits. In addition to core classes, there are opportunities to participate in classes such as Leadership, Career Planning, Intro. to Mac and other computer classes. Highview is a 5 day a week, full day program.  Busing is provided for students who live in the Robbinsdale Area Schools district. 

Admission to Highview is a 2-step process.  Call 763-504-8700 to attend an Information Meeting on one of the following dates:  Mondays, August 16, 23, 30; Tuesday, September 7 and subsequent Mondays throughout the school year.

Please call 763-504-8700 for further information.

Congratulations to the following Robbinsdale Area Schools’ students who participated in state tournament events this spring.

Adapted softball
The Robins adapted softball PI (physically impaired) team won its third state championship in the past four seasons. The team is made up of students from Robbinsdale Armstrong and Cooper, Hopkins and Mound-Westonka.  Read more at the Star Tribune by clicking here. 

Varsity players include:

Robbinsdale Cooper High School Ethan Brenna Keith Breding Erin Nickell

Robbinsdale Armstrong High School Raymond Kennedy Joey Besner Andy Madson Michael Madson Alex Orozco

Andrew Dubisar, Plymouth Middle School, and Mariah Lilja, Cooper, are also participants.

Robbinsdale Armstrong High School - Boys’ Baseball
Head Coach: Brian Sobiech
Assistant Coaches: Grant Vann, Josh Johnson
Student Manager: Jake Gray

Team:

Dylan Jorgenson Daniel Peters Brian Vomhof Jackson Goihl Kurt Jantscher Ryan Hassler Tyler Johnson Erik Ruhland Jacob Damiani

Nicholas Brugnoli Wade Lindholm Michael Willman Matthew Ripka Dylan Barth Andrew Favaro Alexander Beers Josh Cisewski Joe Lewis

Robbinsdale Cooper High School - Track and Field
Colleena Coleman
Richard Wilhite
Larry Frazier
 
Robbinsdale Armstrong High School - Track and Field

Dominique Thompson Laura Begin SydRisha Floyd Brooke Riches Jazzmin Williams Sheridan Rasmussen Emily Danielson Suzanna Adams

Ryan Queenan Nathan Johnson Lars Egge Daniel Badhwa Paul DeSalvo Matt Wallin Patrick Hayden

Each year, each Minnesota high school in the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) is invited to nominate two student athletes, one boy and one girl, for the MSHSL Academics, Arts, and Athletics Award—better known as the Triple "A" Award.

The nominees this year for Robbinsdale Armstrong were Zachary Nelson and Lyndsay Gusek, both of whom compete on the Falcon Varsity Track Team. To qualify for the award, students must have a GPA of B or better and participate in MSHSL-sponsored athletic and fine arts activities. Rounding out the "A" for arts, Zach plays viola and Lyndsay plays flute in Armstrong ensembles.

Lyndsay, who has also been named a finalist in the National Merit Scholarship competition and a candidate for the United States Presidential Scholars Program, went on to win the 6AA Regional Triple "A" Award and will now advance to consideration for the Minnesota state award. Four students per year are selected for this honor, which includes a $1,000 annual scholarship for four years.

The state winners of the Triple "A" Award were announced at the Boys' State Basketball Tournament March 23-26 at Target Center and Williams Arena.

On May 7, after a rigorous application and review process, the Seven Dreams Education Foundation - supporting Robbinsdale Area Schools, delivered notifications to nine recipients of grant funding for the 2010-11 school year. Checks totaling over $20,000 were delivered to surprised grant authors in the following locations:

• Noble Elementary School for the Mathletes competitive mathematics program;
• Meadow Lake Elementary School to fund the Listen Up program;
• Forest Elementary School for a project using BrainPOP.com to enhance and support social studies and science curriculum;
• Robbinsdale Adult Academic Program for the Kindle Reading Project;
• Lakeview Elementary School to fund the Netbooks-based "Power Up" program;
• Robbinsdale Adult Academic Program for the STAR Enrichment and Expansion Program;
• Plymouth Middle School to fund improvements in technology in 7th grade math classrooms;
• Robbinsdale Cooper High School for the Peer Leadership Coaching Program;
• Early Childhood Family Education and Eden Park Apartment Community in Brooklyn Park to fund a community literacy program.

This year represents a record dollar amount of grants funded by the Seven Dreams Education Foundation, thanks in large part to donations by district employees to the annual Charitable Giving Campaign. “It’s amazing to see the teachers’ and students’ reactions when we surprise them to award their grant,” said Debbie Fitzsimmons, president of the Seven Dreams Education Foundation. “Students in the district will directly benefit through innovative, hands-on learning opportunities the teachers identified in their proposals.  On behalf of the board of directors, I’d like to thank all the staff who sent proposals, the grant committee that chose the winners and the community members who participated in the prize patrol.”  Grant recipients were later recognized at a reception on May 12 prior to the Seven Dreams Education Foundation’s annual meeting.

The Seven Dreams Education Foundation is an independent, non-profit education fund that supports Robbinsdale Area Schools.  It was founded by community members, parents and education professionals of the Robbinsdale school district.  The Seven Dreams mission is to help the learners of Robbinsdale Area Schools succeed by funding innovative education initiatives that enhance individual skills and experiences.  Funds are raised through individual donors, RAS employees, community organizations and businesses. Grants are awarded annually to teachers and other education professionals in our district who strive to cultivate student success through hands-on learning opportunities.

For more information about the Seven Dreams Education Foundation, visit www.sevendreamsfoundation.org or call Debbie Fitzsimmons at 763-504-4088.

Click here to see a picture slideshow of the recipients!

The Choral Music Department of Robbinsdale Armstrong High School will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a unique alumni reunion event and concert at the high school on Sunday, May 2.

The celebration features an alumni choir conducted by past AHS Choral Directors Richard Edstrom, Hal Wildung, Dennis Jewett and Bruce Becker. Cantori, Chamber Singers, and Concert Choir will perform for the alumni choir and join them in a combined performance.

Highlights of the choir's history include concert tours to Boston, Chicago, and Europe, a 2005 concert at Carnegie Hall, participation in several invitational choral festivals, and commissions and premieres of works by composers including David Dickau, Paul Oakley, Jerry Rubino, Dale Warland, and Tim Takach.

"This is a tremendous celebration of our heritage and our program’s legacy," said current Armstrong choir director Stephanie Trump, "but more than that, it will steer our future by keeping us mindful of our past successes."  Armstrong's choral success is one of the reasons why Robbinsdale Area Schools was named one of the "Best 100 Communities for Music Education" by the American Music Conference.

The day begins at noon with a social hour and welcome for alumni, followed by an alumni choir rehearsal.  The event will culminate with a 4 p.m. Grand Concert. Alumni will also have the opportunity to tour the school and view a slide show representing the program's 40-year history.

Tickets are $25 for alumni, $15 for concert and reception alone, and $15 for graduates from 2006-2009. Online payment at www.armstrongchoir.weebly.com using PayPal. Limited tickets for alumni at the door will be $30. For more information, contact Stephanie Trump at 765-504-8857.

The Theater Department at Robbinsdale Middle School (RMS) is proud to present Meredith Willson's musical comedy The Music Man April 29, 30 and May 1.

The story concerns a con man whose attempts to fleece the residents of River City, Iowa with promises of a boys' marching band are complicated when he falls in love with the town librarian.  Since the 1957 Broadway premiere and 1962 film adaptation, the show has seen thousands of professional and amateur productions nationwide.

Directed by Jeff Redman, the RMS production features Duncan Schulte as "Professor" Harold Hill; Anna Hendrix as Marian the Librarian; Tali Rose as Mrs. Paroo; Adam Brady as Marian's shy, lisping brother Winthrop; Hunter Froehlich as Charlie Cowell, the anvil salesman who tries to expose Hill's con; David Larson as the pompous Mayor; and Anna Kruskop as the Mayor's wife, Eulalie Shinn.
 
"Rehearsals have been going great," says director Redman. "This is the first musical of the newly-combined Robbinsdale Middle School and it has been a lot of fun. With a 51-member cast, we really fill that stage.  Students have been working hard for months, designing costumes and the sets as well as taking care of all the marketing and promotions for the show. The students never cease to amaze me with their commitment to theater."

The Music Man will be performed at the Robbinsdale Middle School auditorium on April 29, 30 and May 1 at 7 p.m. and May 1 at 3 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students. For more information, contact Jeff Redman at 763-504-4857.

You are invited to a "Diversity Listening Session" to be hosted at Armstrong High School on May 10th, 2010 from 7:00-8:30 PM. The purpose of this meeting is to obtain information that will be useful in our efforts to sustain and enhance a school culture of inclusivity and achievement at Armstrong High School. The meetings are designed to provide a space and process for parents to share their experiences and observations at Armstrong High School in relation to diversity and equity issues.

A consultant to the district will facilitate these meetings and no other school or district staff will be present. We hope you will take advantage of this important opportunity to give our school valuable feedback and ideas on how we can foster a school climate where all students and parents feel welcomed, valued, and safe. Please contact John Cook, Assistant Principal at Armstrong High School if you would like to attend. He can be reached at 763-504-8804 or by email at John_Cook@rdale.org

The students sprang into action, collecting donations to purchase supplies for the shelter. To promote their project during the week of March 22, they created announcements, made posters, and sponsored two "Hats and Hoods for Helping" Days during which PMS students could pay a dollar to wear a hat or hood during the school day.

Thanks to their dedication, six boxes of items and $300 in cash donations were presented to the shelter. “This all required looking outside of what was in it for them,” Sandi added. “There were no prizes other than the pride of helping out others just because it felt good.”

“Home Free was so impressed with the service project that the students did,” said Kari Hitchcock, volunteer coordinator for the shelter. “Caring for the community is so important, and these students set a great example.”

The larger message of empathy was not lost on the project participants. As one student said in the morning announcement, "You never know if it could be you living there someday."

A student essay contest sponsored by the Star Tribune, St. Paul Pioneer Press, and ThreeSixty Journalism to mark the 2010 Census drew 400 entries statewide. An amazing six of the 40 winners are students in Robbinsdale Area Schools.

Students were asked to describe in 200 words or less how they fit into the picture of what it is to be an American. Excerpts from their winning essays:

"I do not like the typical idea of what an American should be...I fit into America by being able to have the right to stand out." Tasha Johnson, junior, Armstrong High School (AHS)

"I represent the Hmong and will prove that we are part of something. Just a step through the dark night, just a short distance to go, we would step it, and reach to the moon.” Jangchee Vang, junior, AHS

"I will always be that African girl who came to America as an immigrant…I may look like any other black girl, but I'm not." Peaches Peah, junior, AHS

Wlegie Swen, AHS junior

"Being in America, I'm counted as a girl…who can grow up into a strong woman regardless of her past experiences." Wlegie Swen, junior, AHS

"Statistics say that since I'm 16 and African American that I should be pregnant and be on my way of dropping out of school…I refuse to be a statistic.” Sid'Reshia Floyd, junior, AHS

Alexia Martinez Avila, PMS 6th grader

“I consider myself to be half Mexican, half American because I was born in the United States. I speak two languages, Spanish and English, [and] sometimes help my parents with the English when they don’t understand.” Alexia Martinez Avila, sixth grader, Plymouth Middle School
 
The winning essays were published in the print or online versions of the two papers and at www.threesixtyjournalism.org on Census Day, Thursday April 1.

Click here to read the story in the Star Tribune.

Click here to read the story in the Pioneer Press.

More than 40 residents of the Robbinsdale Area School District advocated for public education with legislators at the Minnesota State Capitol February 23.

The legislative kick-off event was hosted by the district’s Legislative Action Coalition (LAC) and was held in a Capitol conference room with legislators stopping by to speak with the group. Legislators included Senators Ann Rest, Mindy Greiling, Ron Latz and Terri Bonoff and Representatives Sandra Peterson, Lyndon Carlson and Mike Nelson.

“We wanted to send the message that public education is critically important to our community,” said Kami Aho, co-chair of the LAC and a parent in the district, “And that our community wants the same opportunities available to our children that we had.”  Co-chair Jon Miners added, “These are difficult times for our state, but that should remind us even more that investing in our kids and our schools is a vital investment in our future, one we can't afford not to make.”

Residents asked the legislators to not cut education when balancing the budget this year. But legislators were careful to highlight the magnitude of the state’s $1.2 billion deficit. Balancing the budget “across the board” would require an 8.1 percent cut to all state services, according to Carlson, who chairs the Finance Committee in the House of Representatives, and a 14.5 percent cut if education was held to no increase or decrease next year.

“The pressure on the legislature needs to come from the public and from our constituents,” said Rest. Nelson said communication from constituents was vital, from e-mails and letters to attending legislator’s town hall meetings and speaking with legislative candidates who are campaigning.

Residents shared stories of their experience in the Robbinsdale district with legislators. About a half dozen parents with young children in tow, advocated for the importance of Early Childhood Family Education. Peterson agreed, saying, “We cannot shortchange our future.”

Some parents spoke about their students’ transition to new schools after the district reorganized last year. Jenny Holte’s daughter moved from Pilgrim Lane Elementary School to Sonnesyn Elementary School.  She said her daughter “immediately got excited about her new school, and was immediately embraced” by the Sonnesyn community. As a parent, Holte said the transition has been challenging, but the class sizes are much improved, and she hopes they won’t go up too high next year.  At a recent meeting, the Robbinsdale school board approved class sizes for next year that will increase by one student at the elementary level, on average, next year, and by 1.5 students at the secondary level. The board will also make significant adjustments to administration and districtwide services in order to balance the budget.

The Legislative Action Coalition is a group of community members established by the Robbinsdale Area School Board to be an advocate for the district and the learners, families and communities it serves. Information is at www.Rdale.org - click on Legislative Information, or contact Andrea Wiley at 763-504-4087 or andrea_wiley@rdale.org.

Final decisions on budget adjustments expected within a month

New Hope, Minn. (February 9, 2009) - The school board of Robbinsdale Area Schools narrowed the list of budget adjustments proposed for the 2010-11 school year at its Feb. 8 work session. The board preserved elementary programs including full day kindergarten; visual art specialists; instructional assistants; all-district choir, band and orchestra; and orchestra and band. At the middle school level, students will retain the ability to take two music options, such as choir and band, during the year.

Despite budget adjustments, increased efficiencies and additional revenue from an operating levy referendum, Robbinsdale Area Schools, like many school districts statewide, expects to make budget adjustments for the 2010-11 school year. Recent budgetary improvements have been offset by frozen state funding - the source of the majority of the district’s revenue, decreasing revenue due to declining enrollment and increased costs.

Superintendent Aldo Sicoli and Lonnie Smith, executive director of business services, presented a preliminary list of possible budget adjustments that could be adopted by the school board to balance the budget. After reviewing each of the items, board members indicated which of the items are priorities in keeping with the Strategic Plan and should be removed from consideration for reduction for next year.

The majority of budget adjustments will be in administration and other districtwide programs with some increase in average class size. Reductions at each level could be approximately:

• $3.3 million from districtwide services,
• $200,000 to $300,000 from the elementary school level,
• $500,000 to $800,000 from the middle school level, and
• $600,000 to $900,000 from the high school level.

Two Public Meetings on Robbinsdale Area Schools’ budget will be held to get citizen feedback on the proposed budget adjustments. 

• Wed., Feb. 10, 7 p.m. at Robbinsdale Middle School, 3730 Toledo Ave. N., Robbinsdale or
  
• Wed., Feb. 17, 5:30 p.m. at the Education Service Center 3rd floor board room, 4148 Winnetka Ave. N, New Hope.

The board is expected to make a decision on student-to-teacher ratio for the 2010-11 school year at its Feb. 17 meeting. The board could finalize additional budget adjustments by March 1.

More information is available at www.Rdale.org.

Budget Adjustment Proposal 2010-2011 (Feb. 9)

Cargill continues support of AVID program with new grant

New Hope, Minn. (February 2, 2009) –The Seven Dreams Foundation has received a two-year grant from Cargill, Inc. in support of the AVID academic success program of Robbinsdale Area Schools.  The $202,000 grant will support one classroom each at Robbinsdale Armstrong and Robbinsdale Cooper high schools and at Robbinsdale and Plymouth middle schools.

Currently in its fourth year in the district, AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is a program designed to help academically average middle and high school students prepare for and succeed in colleges and universities. Students in the program commit themselves to improvement and preparation for college through a rigorous program of instruction in academic "survival skills" and college level entry skills.

The AVID program started in Robbinsdale Area Schools in 2006-07 and currently serves students in grades 7-12. AVID targets academically average students (GPA of 2.0-3.5) and places them in advanced courses, while supporting them in the AVID elective.

This is not the first time Cargill has offered its support for the program.  In 2008, Robbinsdale's AVID program received a $130,000 two-year grant from the company.

“This grant signifies Cargill's ongoing commitment to AVID. It will allow Robbinsdale Area Schools to grow and strengthen its AVID programs so that all students are prepared for college eligibility and success,” said Erica Gullickson, AVID Coordinator at Armstrong and author of the grant.

For more information click here or contact Erica Gullickson at (763) 504-8784 or erica_gullickson@rdale.org.

Health experts warn that the H1N1 flu outbreak may resurge again this winter. If you haven’t been vaccinated yet, you’re encouraged to do so now.

Hennepin County and Minnesota Visiting Nurses Agency will be providing H1N1 flu shots to all children, youth and adults at the times and locations listed below.

Vaccinations will be given on a first-come, first-served basis. A parent or guardian must accompany any child and sign a consent form at the dispensing site. Booster doses will be available to children 6 months through 9 years of age who received initial doses at least three weeks prior. There will be no charge for these H1N1 flu shots. Those with health insurance should bring their policy cards so administrative costs may be billed to insurance.

For more information:
612-543-4161
www.hennepin.us/h1n1

Upcoming H1N1 flu shot clinics

Tuesday, Feb. 2
-- Minneapolis – Hennepin County Century Plaza, 330 S. 12th St., Room G101, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
-- Minnetonka – Hennepin County Ridgedale Service Center, 12601 Ridgedale Drive, 2 to 4 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 3
-- Minneapolis - Century Plaza, 330 S. 12th St., Room G101, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 4
-- St. Anthony - Community Center, 3301 Silver Lake Road, 3 to 6 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 5
-- Maple Plain - Orono Discovery Center, 5050 Independence St., 2 to 6 p.m.
-- Brooklyn Park - Community Activity Center, 5600 85th Ave. N., 5 to 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 9
-- Shorewood - South Shore Center, 5735 Country Club Road, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 10
-- Plymouth - Plymouth Creek Center, 14800 34th Ave. N., 10 a.m. to noon
-- Crystal - Community Center, 4800 Douglas Drive N., 2 to 5 p.m.
-- Hopkins - ResourceWest, 915 Main St., 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 11
-- Mound - Gillespie Center, 2590 Commerce Blvd., 1 to 3 p.m.
-- Orono - Long Lake Fire Station, 340 Willow Drive, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Monday, March 1
-- Rogers - Fire Station #1/Community Center, 21201 Memorial Drive, 4 to 7 p.m.

Public invited to forum on the state budget presented by John Gunyou

New Hope, Minnesota — Minnesota's budget woes continue this year due to fewer jobs and lower wages. The state’s revenues have dropped below previously forecasted levels, leaving a current deficit of $1.2 billion. These deficits are estimated to grow to $5.4 billion over the next biennium.
 
John Gunyou, former state finance commissioner for Gov. Carlson and current city manager for Minnetonka, will present a public forum titled "Facing our Fiscal Challenges" on Tuesday, April 27 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Hennepin County Brookdale library, 6125 Shingle Creek Parkway, Brooklyn Center. The event is FREE and hosted by the Legislative Action Coalition (LAC) of Robbinsdale Area Schools.
 
The Legislative Action Coalition is a group of parents and community members established by the Robbinsdale Area School Board to be an advocate for district students and families.
 
For more about the LAC, go to www.Rdale.org and click on Legislative Action Coalition, or contact Andrea Wiley at 763-504-4087 or andrea_wiley@rdale.org.

It may seem like a long and winding road from Vikings football to safer kids in Minnesota, but thanks to a FedEx NFL players award program, this improbable connection put vital safety improvements in place at two district schools in 2009.  This year, the same program may do the same – and it's just a click away.

Last year, Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was selected as FedEx Ground Player of the Year. The award included $25,000 for the Safe Kids program affiliated with the winning team—in this case, Safe Kids NW Metro Minneapolis.  Some of the funds were used to make significant pedestrian safety improvements at Plymouth Middle School and Neill Elementary School.

This year, Vikings players are among the finalists in both award categories – Ground (Peterson once again) and Air (quarterback Brett Favre).

“We are the only NFL team to have players in both categories," said Safe Kids NW Metro Coordinator Alison Pence. "If both Favre and Peterson win the award this year, that would mean an additional $50,000 for Safe Kids NW Metro Minneapolis to make pedestrian safety improvements in this community!"

The final awards are based on an online poll that ends Friday, January 29.  "We hope people will take a minute to go online and vote," added Ann Garland, health services director for Robbinsdale Area Schools. "Voting more than once is allowed.  We really hope to bring this money back to the NW Metro area again!"

Go to www.nfl.com/fedex to add your vote for Brett Favre and Adrian Peterson.  For more on the Safe Kids coalition or the FedEx grant program, contact Alison Pence at Alison.Pence@NorthMemorial.com or 763-520-4145.

Discover is a community eNewsletter published by the Robbinsdale Area Schools  Community Relations department. It is sent out via email to students, parents, and community members once a week on Wednesday afternoons. The newsletter includes News Releases, News Clips, School Board News, Web Updates, We're Prouds, and Just the Facts; everything you received before, but now combined as a single news source.  Receiving Discover will help you to stay informed and become a citizen ambassador who shares information and provides community feedback.

Pledge is part of district's 12th year in Climb for a Cure

Robbinsdale, Minnesota—For the 12th year running, climbers from Robbinsdale Area Schools will join in the Climb for a Cure on February 6, powering up 1,280 steps of the IDS Center in downtown Minneapolis to raise money for cystic fibrosis (CF) research.  In the lead will be Robbinsdale Middle School (RMS) band director Madeline Elmhirst, who suffers from CF and has pledged to raise $40,000 for research this year to celebrate her 40th birthday.

Elmhirst and fellow teacher Ken Habel have been leading the RMS part of Team 281 for all twelve years.  Approximately 100 RMS students, staff, and family members participate each year, raising over $74,000 in all for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF).  Districtwide, total participants number over 200 and raise approximately $15,000 each year for CFF.

In the 1950s, few who contracted CF would survive to attend elementary school.  Today, thanks to advances in research and treatment, the median age of survival is 37 years.

"I think the CFF is one of the best organizations today," says Elmhirst. "Besides receiving the highest ratings for financial efficiency in non-profit fundraising each year, the CFF has kept their vision very clear - anything short of a cure is not good enough."

Sponsored by Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi LLP, the 29th Annual Climb for a Cure will be held Saturday, February 6 from 9:30am to 12:30pm at the IDS Center in Minneapolis. Go to www.cff.org/LWC/MadelineElmhirst to make a donation toward Elmhirst's birthday pledge or to register for the climb. For more information, contact Madeline Elmhirst at 763-504-4868 or madeline_elmhirst@rdale.org, or Kara Schlosser, Director of Special Events for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, at 651-631-3290.

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                  School Board                                                                  Meeting Calendar

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                   Concerts                                                                    Fall/Winter Schedule

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                      Other                                                   Commencements, Legislative Action Coaltion events

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Due to the State of Minnesota government shutdown all testing is postponed until further notice. 
Math, Reading and Writing GRAD testing for July 12, 13 and 19 is postponed. 

The state government shutdown does not affect regular summer school.  Summer school will continue as planned.

If you have any questions regarding GRAD re-tests, please contact the district’s Department of Research, Evaluation and Assessment at 763-504-8103 or 763-504-8114.

Congratulations to the Robbinsdale Armstrong Girls Rugby Team who earned their second State Title in a row defeating Orono 5-0 on June 5.  Girls Rugby is a club sport where students can earn a letter for participation.

High School Registration night for 8th grade families and students is Monday, January 3, 7 p.m. at Armstrong High School and Thursday, January 6, 7 p.m. at Cooper High School.

Registering for high school is a big deal!  Guidance counselors will be on hand to answer your questions.  Learn about course offerings for AVID, International Baccalaureate and Pre-Advanced Placement; understand the registration process.

Robbinsdale Armstrong High School’s Supermileage team has once again posted a strong finish in the annual Supermileage Challenge at Brainerd International Raceway on May 17-18, finishing in third place for modified class vehicles.

Sponsored by the Minnesota Technology Education Association, the competition pits high school teams from around Minnesota against each other to produce the most fuel-efficient vehicle.  Each team builds a one-person vehicle with a single cylinder four-stroke cycle engine with the goal of maximum fuel efficiency per gallon, then competes against other vehicles at the Brainerd event, driving laps around the three-mile track at 15-30 miles per hour.

The vehicle driven by the Armstrong team averaged 483 miles per gallon (mpg), with a high mileage run of 537 mpg.  Pictured above left to right are Scott Theriault, Kristen Stresemann, Brandon Stresemann, Chevenne Hassan,  Sam Albert, Jason Peterson and Sam Struck.

The 2008 competition represented a high point in Armstrong's Supermileage history when their Stock class car took first place by more than 125 mpg with an average overall fuel efficiency of 529.88 mpg.

Erica Gullickson, AVID Coordinator at Robbinsdale Armstrong High School, was honored with a 2010 Teacher of Excellence Award for usage of BestPrep’s programs to educate Minnesota students about business, career and financial literacy skills. 

Gullickson has worked with BestPrep, an education-based nonprofit, at Robbinsdale Armstrong for more than 3 years, enhancing the education of her students.  Gullickson said, “BestPrep has enhanced our AVID Program and made my job much easier!  I am able to help my students make relevant connections between school and the business world as a result of BestPrep programs.”
 
Gullickson received her Teacher of Excellence Award at BestPrep’s 34th Annual Luncheon, held May 19, 2010, at the Nicollet Island Inn Pavilion.  More than 425 individuals joined BestPrep at the luncheon honoring the educators, students, and volunteers from the business community who have contributed to making BestPrep the premier educational nonprofit organization in the state. 

The event featured a keynote address by featuring Martha Rossini Olson - AKA "Sweet Martha" - of Sweet Martha's Cookie Jar.  Martha, a St. Paul native and former educator, inspired and entertained with her entrepreneurial success story.

BestPrep offers five innovative programs to educators and students across Minnesota; Classroom Plus, eMentors, Minnesota Business Venture, The Stock Market Game™ and the Technology Integration Workshop.  Founded in 1976, BestPrep annually reaches more than 75,000 students and teachers statewide.  For more information about its programs and services, contact BestPrep at 763-398-0090, or visit www.bestprep.org.

Credits AVID for her personal transformation

After walking the stage at Robbinsdale Armstrong High School in June, senior Nikka Shipp will travel to Chicago to address 2,000 teachers at the AVID Summer Institute conference in July, sharing her remarkable story of personal transformation. She’ll be the only student from Minnesota to address one of the eight AVID conferences held nationwide this summer.

Nikka credits AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), a system to prepare students in the academic middle for four-year college eligibility, with her success. "By the time I reached AVID, I had attended 14 different schools," fleeing problems that included an abusive father. "I hung around the wrong group of kids and skipped classes."

Nikka came to Armstrong and joined AVID as a sophomore. After an uncertain start, she raised her grades, became involved in student clubs, and succeeded in five Advanced Placement classes. AVID coordinator Erica Gullickson asked her to submit one of her written assignments for the speaker competition. "And now," says Nikka, "I’m going to Chicago!"

Nikka has been accepted to North Dakota State, University of Minnesota, Crookston, and Minnesota State University, Moorhead. Wherever she goes, she will bring with her a $20,000 college scholarship from Dell.

Nikka finally sees a clear path toward her career of choice. "Because of AVID," she says, "I’ll be the lawyer that I always wanted to be."

New Hope, Minn. (February 3, 2009) - Robbinsdale Area Schools invites the community to a Public Meeting on budget adjustments for the 2010-2011 school year.  Join us either day:

• Wed., Feb. 10, 7:00 p.m. at Robbinsdale Middle School, 3730 Toledo Ave. N., Robbinsdale or 
• Wed., Feb. 17, 5:30 p.m. at the Education Service Center 3rd floor board room, 4148 Winnetka Ave. N, New Hope.

Superintendent Aldo Sicoli and Lonnie Smith, executive director of business services, will provide an update on proposed adjustments and invite feedback from community members.

More information about the 2010-2011 budget is available at www.Rdale.org.  Send an email to Lonnie_Smith@rdale.org with questions or comments on the budget.

Plymouth, Minnesota (November 17, 2009) – Robbinsdale Armstrong High School senior Ilan Gordon is one of two recipients of the 2009 Student of Integrity Scholarships from the Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB).

Gordon received his award, including a cash prize of $5,000, for an essay describing a situation in which his personal ethics played an important part in the resolution of a problem.  Gordon chose to describe classroom ethics and the various ways in which students respond to ethical challenges.

"I was flabbergasted when I got the call saying my essay had been chosen as one of two winners among 150 applicants," Gordon said.  "I didn't really think at first that there was anything that special in what I had written. Ethics shouldn't be a hard thing to do if you are an ethical person. But when I think about it, the essay itself points to the fact that most people don't really think that much about ethics beyond rule-following or a code of silence. So maybe the fact that I do think about it was enough to stand out."

Gordon plans to use the cash award to help pay for college. He has so far been accepted at the University of Wisconsin Madison and Tulane University in New Orleans. He plans to study political science, business, economics, or international studies.

The BBB Student of Integrity Scholarships, sponsored by TruStone Financial, are awarded each year to two high school seniors who demonstrate, through essay, their understanding of integrity and how they apply it to their lives.

The awards were presented at the Minnesota History Center on October 28.

Each year, the employees of Robbinsdale Area Schools come together in generous support of the district's Charitable Giving Campaign.  Given this year's difficult economy, it would have been understandable if the 2009 campaign came up a bit short of past campaigns.

Instead, this year's campaign represented the highest level of giving ever for Robbinsdale Area Schools.  A total of $59,910 was raised, up 7 percent from 2008. The percentage of employees contributing increased from 36 percent to 42 percent, and the Seven Dreams Foundation received a record contribution amount of $21,165.

In the course of reporting to the school board on the successful campaign, Executive Director of Community Education Al Ickler, a co-chair of the campaign, presented several campaign awards.  The award for "Most Improved Campaign" went to Robbinsdale Middle School, where staff participation increased by one-third, per capita giving increased by $30, and total contributions increased by more than $2,000.

The "Campaign of Excellence Award" went to Meadow Lake Elementary School, which had the highest average per capita giving of $90 and increased their total donations by $1,177 from last year.

The "Above and Beyond Award" went to the employees of New Hope School for raising more than $500 in additional funds through a silent auction.

In addition to district employees, Ickler said, "I want to thank my co-chair Mike Peterson, along with Linda Kemper, Phyllis Hankerson, and Jennifer Bridgeman for their work as well as all businesses that supported the campaign by contributing campaign incentives."