Anoka High School graduate
gives back to those in need
District unveils easier to navigate
website with consistent school sites
Anti-bullying efforts in
Anoka-Hennepin schools
Some district buildings get
facelift, security upgrades
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FOCUS
ANOKA
-
HENNEPIN
SCHOOL
ON ANOKA-HENNEPIN SCHOOLS
All-day-every-day kindergarten
coming to all elementary schools
DISTRICT
BACK TO SCHOOL 2014
Superintendent’s
Corner
By Superintendent
David Law
I feel privileged to be
taking over
as superintendent of
the AnokaHennepin
School District. As a student
who attended here from elementary through high school
graduation, as a parent of
three children attending
schools in the district, and as
a resident and taxpayer, I am
committed to and invested in
our students, schools and
community.
All Anoka-Hennepin kindergarten students, like this trio from this summer's kindergarten readiness program at Dayton Elementary
School, will be attending all-day-every-day kindergarten when school begins Sept. 2.
When the Minnesota Legislature passed a law last year
funding all-day kindergarten for every public school in the
state beginning with the 2014-15 school year, the AnokaHennepin School District was one jump ahead of many
other districts in the state.
Anoka-Hennepin has offered all-day kindergarten for
almost a decade in its “special K” schools: specific elementary schools that provided either free or fee-based all-day
kindergarten.
Now, the rest of Minnesota is joining the program,
including the remaining Anoka-Hennepin elementary
schools, and educators are convinced that everyone will
quickly discover the benefits.
“There are significant advantages to it,” says Mary
Wolverton, Anoka-Hennepin’s associate superintendent
for elementary schools.
Among those advantages: more rigorous academic
standards for kindergarten students, double the instruction
time and improved social and emotional development.
“The other component that we’ve started to look at specifically in relation to student achievement is that there’s a strong
correlation to students who reach proficiency by the end of
third grade who go on to success and career readiness in high
school and college and beyond,” Wolverton says. “And the
district’s internal data shows that students who reach end-ofyear benchmarks in kindergarten show that proficiency at the
end of the third grade.
“The benefits of all-day kindergarten reach well beyond the
primary years for students.”
Educators believe that the transition to all-day kindergarten
will be easier than managing part-time kindergarten.
In the early 2000s, because of significant budget cuts, the
Anoka-Hennepin School District changed its kindergarten
program from half days to an all-day, every-other-day model.
continued on page 9
Internet Safety, Social Media & Cyberbullying
Monday, Nov. 10 • 7 to 8 p.m
Staff Development Center, 2727 N. Ferry St., in Anoka
Join us for a free, family information night discussing Internet safety. Learn about social media,
cyberbullying, privacy settings and making good choices while online. Families will also learn about the
websites and tools students are currently using, as well as tips and strategies for keeping children safe in
today’s digital world. Adults and students are welcome to attend together - please register all attending.
Pre-registration is encouraged, however, walk-in registrations are accepted for this class only. ■
Transitioning into this position, I reflect on the history
of this district going back to
its formation in 1952 when
citizens from 31 separate
school districts voted to
consolidate into one AnokaHennepin School District to
better educate their children.
The teachers and support
staff, superintendents and
School Boards, have served
these communities proudly
and will continue to do so.
This was a great place to be
then, and it’s a great place to
be still! We are doing what’s
right for our young people
and they are reaping the
benefits.
Together with supportive
families, Anoka-Hennepin
Schools are preparing our students for success. Our state
test scores are up and we are
closing the achievement gap
between white students and
continued on page 2
Make Anoka-Hennepin
part of your social media
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