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PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE PAGE 6
District schools help unveil US stamp recognizing Anoka as ‘ Halloween Capital of the World ’
It ’ s a pretty big deal when the US Postal Service ( USPS ) unveils a new stamp , and an even bigger deal when it ’ s a holiday-themed one . Sure , it sounds corny , but communities around America fight for the honor of being the city that hosts a stamp unveiling party .
So last year , when the USPS announced it had created a series of Halloween-themed Forever stamps and would choose a city for its unveiling — well that was something Anoka ’ s leaders knew the city needed to be a part of . Anoka is the
Halloween Capital of the World , afterall — a congressionally proclaimed designation the city is immensely proud of .
After a large-scale campaign by Anoka ’ s civic leaders , schools and community , the Halloween Capital of the World was indeed chosen to host the first-day-of-issue dedication ceremony for the 2016 jack-o ’ -lantern Forever stamps . And Anoka-Hennepin students were front and center during the event , which was attended by local , state and national officials , as well as an overflowing number of proud Anoka residents . The stamps , featuring photographs of four different hand-carved jack-o ’ -lanterns, are the first issued by the postal service to have a Halloween theme .
During the ceremony held at Anoka City Hall on Sept . 29 , a parade of students from Franklin and Lincoln elementary schools in Anoka who were dressed in their favorite Halloween costumes strutted across the stage to kick off the event , and an Anoka High School ( AHS ) ensemble of band and orchestra students provided the music , and a quartet of AHS choir students sang the National Anthem .
According to Anoka Halloween , the community ’ s official celebration organization , Anoka is believed to be the first city in the United States to put on a Halloween celebration to divert its youth from Halloween pranks . The first community celebration was held in 1920 .
Check out photos of the day ’ s event , and be sure to check out media coverage from the celebration from local and regional media . ■
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Andover being recognized as a national leader in water conservation , but also included an all-school assembly to recognize the accomplishment , complete with a visit from Gov . Mark Dayton .
At Jackson Middle School , Brooklyn Park ’ s Fire Chief presented a certificate of commendation to a sixth grade student who acted swiftly to extinguish a fire and dial 911 to signal for help . Her actions are credited with saving both her family and their home . The student recalled the lessons learned during a fire department visit to her elementary school as playing an important role for guiding her actions .
From these examples I hope you agree that schools that work in cooperation with their communities provide better outcomes for students .
In the coming months , a group of dedicated community members involved with our Fit for the Future task force will be summarizing their effort reviewing school facilities . A recommendation for School Board consideration is expected in January . Their challenge is to create a roadmap that addresses the need for classrooms due to enrollment growth and educational programming , looking ahead for the next 10-15 years . Task force members have been hard at work since April to review current facilities along with the factors that impact their use .
Involving citizens in facility planning remains a priority as the schools belong to the public and are only possible through community support .
Knowledge alone isn ’ t enough to ensure success . Our students and our school system needs to learn and utilize collaboration to make the biggest impact .
Thank you for your ongoing support of our schools as we work diligently to pursue our mission of preparing students for life . ■
Anoka-Hennepin ' s 2016 Above & Beyond Award winners , from left : Joan Spehar , Gretchen Wibben , Derek Williamson , Marie Martineau , Linda Anderson , Colleen Heier , Brian Ross , Karla Haij , and Jon Mathisen .
Above & Beyond Award nominations being accepted through Jan . 20 ; all Anoka-Hennepin staff eligible
Do you know an Anoka-Hennepin staff member who goes above and beyond normal job expectations to ensure that students receive a high-quality education in a safe and nurturing environment ? Maybe that person is a teacher or a custodian or bus driver ? Maybe a school counselor or principal ? It could be someone working in the cafeteria , a nurse or a secretary ?
If you know someone who does amazing work for children , you ’ re strongly encouraged to nominate them for an Above & Beyond Award . Nominations are being accepted for worthy candidates through Jan . 20 , 2017 .
Check out the Above & Beyond Award website , anoka . k12 . mn . us / aboveandbeyond , where you can download the 2016-17 nomination form , or read additional information .
The Above & Beyond Awards involve students , staff , parents and community members in recognizing and rewarding Anoka-Hennepin employees who consistently go the extra mile so students can be successful . This program is a joint effort of Anoka- Hennepin schools and the Anoka-Hennepin Educational Foundation ( AHEF ).
A student , parent , staff or community member can submit a nomination . All part- and full-time employees of Anoka-Hennepin school are eligible to be nominated unless they have already won an Above & Beyond Award . Nominations of a group or department will be considered .
A panel of staff and community members will review nomination and application forms and select the winners .
Each winner will receive an award from the AHEF . Winners will be recognized at a ceremony in April , 2017 .
Completed nominations can be emailed to info @ ahschools . us .
Completed nominations printed on paper can be mailed to :
Above & Beyond Attn : Communication and Public Relations Anoka-Hennepin Educational Service Center 2727 N Ferry St ., Anoka , MN 55303
For more information , visit anoka . k12 . mn . us / aboveandbeyond . ■