SCHOOL EVENTS

FRIDLEY COMMUNITY EDUCATION LIFE LONG LEARNING AWARD
The Fridley Community Education is accepting nominations for the 2012 Life Long Learning Award. This award is given annually to a member of our community who exemplifies the mission of Fridley Community Education which is to support Life Long Learning in the community, promote a strong, healthy community and actively engage in leadership.

Community Education has been active in Fridley for over 30 years and has supported the community by offering programs and activities such as Adult Enrichment, Adult Basic Education, School Age Childcare, Youth Programs, and Early Childhood Family Education. Community Education also helps keep the school buildings open to the public and operates the Fridley Community Center. Community Education strives to identify and address the needs of the Fridley Community.

If you know someone who has contributed to the mission of Community Education by their work in the Fridley Community or Schools, please fill out the form that is available on the front page of the district website under “News” and return it to Toni Craft at 6085 7^th St. NE, Fridley, MN 55432 or email it to toni.craft@fridley.k12.mn.us. If you have questions, please call Toni at 763-502-5104.

The Fridley Community Education Advisory Council will judge nominations and notify the winner by mail.

FREE ACT PREP CLASS FOR FRIDLEY STUDENTS
Fridley High School staff will be offering free after school ACT Prep classes for students for the April and June ACT testing sessions. Classes are once a week and focus on the four sections of the ACT (Reading, English, Mathematics, and Science) as well as test-taking strategies.

Last class to prepare for the April 14th ACT Test Day will be held Thursday afternoon on April 12. Meeting rooms and any scheduling changes will be announced on the FHS morning announcements.   Questions can be directed to Justin Reese, District Diversity Coordinator at justin.reese@fridley.k12.mn.us or 763-502-5064.

BRIDGES TO MENTAL WELLNESS - HELPING CHILDREN THRIVE FROM BIRTH TO FIVE
The importance of social and emotional development for young children will be the focus of two events April 17 at the Schwan’s Center, 1700 105th Ave. N., Blaine.
►Workshop for Professional
People working in early childhood, mental health, social services, and healthcare will meet from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Schwan’s Center. Dr. Terrie Rose, a nationally recognized child psychologist, will provide the keynote, “When ‘Wait and See’ isn’t a Good Strategy.” A panel of professionals will discuss models of integrated services in Anoka County in community, school and medical settings. Breakout sessions will focus on cultural diversity, working with medical professionals, talking to parents about sensitive topics, and learning about Minnesota’s capacity to serve young children. A resource fair is included. The cost to attend is $25. Register by April 13, 2012.
►A free Community Event
Parents and those involved in the life of a child will learn how to help young children succeed from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Schwan’s Center. Dr. Terrie Rose will speak on “Why Babies Can’t Wait: the Importance of Social and Emotional Development.” A panel of parents will share tips and insights. A resource fair will be available. No registration is required.  For more information, go to Facebook.com/ChildrenandFamilyCouncilofAnokaCounty or contact: Kelly Nelson, 763-422-7028, Kelly.Nelson@co.anoka.mn.us.

FRIDLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL EARNS GRAINS FOR THE HUNGRY
FreeRice is a non-profit organization run by the United Nations World Food Program. This is a wonderful teaming of an international organization and a local group of students who are working to make the world a better place, one grain of rice at a time. The FreeRice web site has two goals: provide education to everyone for free, and help end world hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free.

At Fridley Middle School, homerooms signed up to compete against other homerooms and earned 10 grains of rice for each correct answer in the areas of English and Geography. Ms. Rachel Cathey’s homeroom has participated in this venture for the past three years promoting the program that they designed.  Ms. Cathey’s students campaigned to get students involved by designing and distributing posters, writing and delivering speeches to each homeroom, and advertising on the broadcast. This year, they raised 32,475 grains of rice during practice contributions and 69,800 grains of rice from three rounds of competition for a grand total of 102,275 grains of rice.

FRIDLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL PENNIES FOR PATIENTS RAISES $1,000
Congratulations to Fridley Middle School for a very successful Pennies for Patients drive! FMS will contribute $1,000 to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Students in 44 homerooms participated in this special project and Mr. Branitski’s homeroom class collected the most money and won the top prize: a Domino’s pizza party! Ms. Nancy Zinter’s class came in second and Mr. Kupcho’s class came in third. This year, FMS collected over $700 which is $500 more than the school collected last year. Fridley High School also contributed $300 towards the fundraiser.

ANOKA COUNTY ATTORNEY VISITS FRIDLEY AND URGES STUDENTS TO STAY IN SCHOOL
“The longer you stay in school, the better and greater the opportunities you will have,” said Anoka County Attorney Tony Palumbo. “Students who drop out of school have no viable future as they face very tough competition for jobs, and I cannot stress this enough; stay in school.”

Palumbo was speaker on March 2, 2012, to political science teacher Janio Axelson’s class at the Fridley Area Learning Center. Palumbo spoke to students and answered their questions ranging from crime statistics, unforgettable cases, to cyber bullying and domestic violence.

In response to a question as to what were the prevalent crimes committed by kids and adults in Anoka County, Palumbo replied that drug use and theft were at the top of the list for juvenile crimes and domestic violence was the most committed crime by adults.

“The good news is that juvenile crimes are down by 30% in Anoka County,” Palumbo said. He believes that this downward trend is due to kids spending more time online. “The flip side of that is that as more kids spend more time online, incidences of cyber-bullying and spreading vicious lies and rumors online increases.” Palumbo noted that many school district’s have their own policies and procedures to address school bullying and students threatening one another.

Palumbo said that one of the most violent acts of domestic violence committed in Anoka County was the 2000 killings by a man who killed five members of his family including his sister, brother-in-law, and their three young children. The defendant in this case was found guilty and sentenced to five consecutive life sentences.

“Elder abuse is also on the rise in Anoka County,” Palumbo said. “Most of the time, senior citizens are abused or taken advantaged of by a loved one. The older folks who are alone and have to be taken care of are at a greater disadvantage of suffering abuse. Abuse typically suffered by elders range from emotional, physical abuse to being robbed—check fraud and financial abuse.”

From elder abuse to school bullying and harassment, Palumbo said the Anoka County Attorney’s office is committed to the safety of all residents and students. “No one deserves to have their dignity taken away,” he said. Palumbo’s office has undertaken an initiative called SAFE to minimize abuse. SAFE stands for Stop Abuse and Financial Exploitation. The mission of this public and private agency collaboration is to protect citizens who are at risk of abuse, neglect or financial exploitation because of age or circumstances.

"Prevention is key to minimizing crime," Palumbo stressed. "The more informed and aware people are, the more they can recognize and help fight abuse."




NOTEWORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

FMS MATH TEAM WINS ST. CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY MATH CONTEST
On March 29, 2012, St. Cloud State University (SCSU) held its 45th Annual Math Contest where 1,731 students in grades 7-12 competed for awards against the top 10 percent of students at each grade level representing 46 schools from across Minnesota.  Fridley Middle School 8th grade math team made up of Parker Brady, Darartu Gamada and Jakob Hofstad won the St. Cloud Math Contest! In addition, Jakob Hofstad, had the top score of all 8th grade students in the math competition.  The contest, which is open to students in grades 7-12, has been sponsored by the St. Cloud State Departments of Mathematics and Statistics and Computer Science since 1968.

FRIDLEY JUNIOR WINS NATIONAL SCHOLASTIC ART SILVER MEDAL AWARD
Congratulations to Aliya Tourville, a Junior FHS Diploma Programme Visual Art student, who is a recipient of a National Scholastic Art Silver Medal Award for her photograph "Story Block.”  

After winning a Gold Key Award at the state level, Aliya is one of only thirteen Minnesota student artists to receive a Gold or Silver Medal and is one of the National Winners of the 2012 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, the country’s longest-running and most prestigious award and recognition program for creative teenagers.

She was also an American Visions Nominee (only five of these "best of show" awards were given out of more than 1,375 submissions) and received a $2,300 scholarship to attend an MCAD Summer Sessions Camp. Aliya is the first Fridley student to receive this high honor.

These students and teachers will be invited to the Nationals Awards Ceremony to be held on June 1, 2012 at the world-famous Carnegie Hall in New York, and selected pieces will be included in an exhibition in Soho. The national winners will be honored onstage alongside well-known illustrator and Award alumnus Edward Sorel at a special ceremony. To extend the festivities, select Award-winning art and writing will be exhibited at Parsons The New School for Design in Manhattan through June 16, 2012.

The recognition of outstanding young artists and writers culminates in a year-end event in New York City where winners meet their creative peers, view and read the work of other exceptional teens from across the nation, and are introduced to professionals in New York City’s creative industries through panels and interactive workshops.

Other Fridley High School students to congratulate for their outstanding Minnesota Scholastic Arts Award (MSAA) achievements include:

Tawney Smart - Gold Key Portfolio
Dan Johnson - Gold Key Portfolio
Selma Karic - Gold Key Portfolio
Suada Karic - Silver Key Portfolio
Jaafar Alnabi - Honorable Mention Portfolio
Aida Konjaric - Honorable Mention Portfolio
Stephen O'Leary - Honorable Mention Portfolio
Asiya Youngmark - Honorable Mention 

FRIDLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL SELECTS LEARNERS OF DISTINCTION
The “Learners of Distinction Award” is in its second year of celebration. Students are nominated by their peers and voted on by Fridley Middle School staff for their outstanding demonstration of an IB trait from the IB Learner Profile. The honorees have breakfast with the principal, are photographed for the yearbook, and receive certificates of recognition.

MARSHA SCHRUPP IS MARCH EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR
Marsha Schrupp, a paraprofessional at Fridley High School, believes each child can be successful when provided the right opportunities and support. Marsha deeply cares about each student and will do what is best for students above all else.

She is a self-directed professional who is reflective, and a risk taker. She knows what to do and does not need or wait to be told who needs what or what needs to be done. She delves into the concepts to make sure she understands the curriculum before assisting the students. She does the "homework" and reflects on her own learning to be able to best assist the students. She is also willing to offer ideas to improve the curriculum or meet an individual student's needs.

Marsha recognizes the need for students to be cared for physically so that they can learn. She shows compassion, empathy and respect. She seeks out students to clarify material and give them the one on one help they need. She is a curious, independent and active learner as she seeks out new opportunities to learn and continuously build on her own personal knowledge and skills.

She is knowledgeable and teachable when learning and re-teaching science and math. She is open to new ideas and other perspectives. She is a woman of integrity, honesty and fairness when working with others and in her personal life. She is confident in her role as a paraprofessional and is able to help students and coworkers apply practical applications to problem solving. Students like her sense of humor and accept her help and encouragement. Congratulations Marsha!

PROJECT LEAD THE WAY JUMPSTARTS STUDENTS COLLEGE CREDITS
Congratulations to the following Fridley High School students for earning college credits through our Project Lead the Way course Introduction to Engineering Design.  These students took the end of course exam last month and passed making them eligible for college credit at over 100 schools around the country.

1. Yash  Khatavkar (opted to receive credit at Duke University)
2. Dominique Neisz (opted to get receive at the U of M)
3. Adam Steinman
4. Kody Tyge

FRIDLEY AREA LEARNING CENTER CELEBRATES STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS
On Friday, March 23, 2012, students at the Area Learning Center (ALC) gathered at the school to celebrate the end of the second term and to reward students for their hard work. Parents and teachers and staff were on hand to celebrate the students’ successes. The awards ceremony was highlighted by performances by students LaCecelia Guernsey who sang a Native American spiritual and prayer and poetry readings by Jastine Lucht.

Guest speaker Fridley Middle School Principal Margaret Leibfried said that ALC students embodied the IB learner profile of caring. “You care because circumstances in your young lives have given you incredible insights that enable you to empathize with individuals who are dealing with things that other students your age cannot begin to imagine,” she said.

Students were recognized for academic achievements, hard work, character, and efforts to develop and maintain the student qualities that will see them through high school and beyond.

IB STUDENTS PRESENT THEIR PERSONAL PROJECTS
In the 10^th grade, students are asked to create a significant piece of work that is a product of their own initiative and should reflect his/her experience in the Middle Years Programme (MYP). This experience provides an excellent opportunity for students to produce a truly creative piece of work of their own choosing and to demonstrate the skills that have developed through Approaches to Learning. Each student in Grade 10 (Level 5 of the MYP) was asked, “What is your passion?” The projects that the students worked on and presented are their answers to that question.