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School Board Applauds Student Achievements
Click on the above image for more pictures of primary school activities
April 30, 2020 — One of the highlights of the year for the Westonka School Board has been recognizing students from all grade levels at the May board meeting for their achievements in arts and academics. Because Minnesota will still be under a stay-at-home order with large gatherings prohibited, that event can’t happen at the May 4 virtual school board meeting.
However, the School Board and the district are still planning to recognize these students for their outstanding accomplishments. At Shirley Hills and Hilltop Primary Schools, students who have earned awards in competitions ranging from Continental Math League to Word Masters and Geography Bee will receive their certificates at their materials pick-up days May 4.
May 4 pick-up times at Hilltop and Shirley Hills are 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Grandview students can also pick up personal belongings on May 4 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Mound Westonka High School students will be allowed to pick up personal belongings on a future date to be determined. Please check for an email from your child's school on the specific details around the personal belongings pick-up date.
“The May School Board meeting is always my favorite of the year,” said School Board Chair David Botts. “The board is going to miss personally seeing these outstanding students this year but we want them to know that we are very proud of what they have accomplished. Congratulations to all the award winners.”
View the list of Primary Arts and Academics Award winners.
Therese Frenette, GATES (Gifted and Talented Education Services) Teacher at Hilltop Primary, explained the challenging activities. The Hilltop Geography Bee, open to all fourth-grade students, consists of preliminary, final and championship rounds of competitions. Continental Math League (CML) challenges students to use logic, problem-solving and reasoning skills on math problems under a time constraint. WordMaster Challenge is a competition spread out over three challenge meets, although this year two meets were completed prior to beginning Distance Learning. Students must understand word meanings and connect words in logical relationships within an analogy format.
"It's so much fun to see the students grow in not only their academic knowledge, but their problem solving skills in determining the best way to solve a problem and to find an appropriate solution," said Michelle Borowicz, Shirley Hills GATES teacher.
“All Star S.O.A.R.ing GATES Student" Mady Petersen, a fourth-grader at Shirley Hills, shared her experience in the Gates program in an essay.
Award winners from Grandview Middle School and Mound Westonka High School are still being compiled and will be announced later this month.