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‘School within a school’
program for gifted and
talented elementary
students to open in
September
Makerspace gives Anoka students
a place to create, learn by doing
On this day, four towers made of multicolored
drinking straws stand atop a set of cabinets, welcom-
ing visitors as they enter Anoka High School’s (AHS)
new “Markerspace” classroom.
The task for each group was simple, yet complex:
build a tower and build a circuit to have LEDs light the
top of the tower. From building the tower’s base, to
erecting the tower itself, to building a circuit with all the
necessary components — students were doing it all.
Located in the AHS media center in space that was
once computer labs, the Makerspace is a place
where students can work on projects by themselves
or with others, sharing ideas and similar interests, as
well as equipment and technology. They can do so
on their own, independently before or after school
to develop new skills, or the space can be reserved
by teachers who want to add the kind of hands-on
elements the Makerspace offers to what they are
teaching in the classroom.
“Our goal was to build a culture and space where
students could come to a space and explore an
idea,” commented Todd Hunter, AHS science
teacher who also manages the Makerspace area.
“Maybe that idea has something to do with school,
or maybe that idea involves a passion outside of
school — but it’s all about putting students in the
driver’s seat and empowering them in their own
education so they can take ownership of it.”
When AHS was in the planning stages of adding its
STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and
Math) program, Hunter reached out to Principal Mike
Farley about joining the planning team. The result
of that planning is a multi-functional space where
students have tools to learn and experiment with
robotics to laser cutting to digital video production
to 3-D printing, audio recording and more.
The space is new to AHS, opening at the start of
the second trimester of this school year. The early
returns show student interest and involvement in a
space designed to prepare students for the future.
Early on, Hunter said, the planning team sat down
with community business partners to see if they had
anything in particular they’d like to see reflected in
the STEAM programming. “They only had two
things: they want people who can work together, and
people who know how to learn,” he said. n
AHS Makerspace Elements
• Digital video production
• Audio recording and
editing
• 3-D printing
•
•
•
•
Robotics lab
Laser engraving
Visual design
Soldering
Students, families, save nearly
$ 1 million in college tuition through
‘College in the Schools’ program
During the 2017-18 school year, 363 Anoka-
Hennepin students earned 1,896 credits from the
University of Minnesota (U of M) through the “College
in the Schools” (CIS) program. At $492.31 a credit, that
marks a total savings of nearly $1 million in tuition fees
for the Anoka-Hennepin students who participated.
Through CIS, students can earn college credits
from the U of M without leaving their Anoka-
Hennepin high schools. The credits are recognized
by colleges and universities across the nation. Taking
college courses allows high school students to expe-
rience increased academic rigor, develop skills for
college success and make a smoother transition
between high school and college.
“Although families may focus on the free U of M
credits — and they certainly can be important,
research shows that the most important benefit is
exposure to the rigor and challenge of real college
coursework,” said Julie Williams, director of the CIS
program at the U of M.
According to survey data the CIS program shared,
more than 97 percent of students who are now in
college and took CIS classes would recommend the
program to high school students. In addition, more
than 80 percent said they felt better prepared aca-
demically for college as a result of participating in
the CIS program.
“CIS has a commitment to maintaining the high
quality of the courses, to grading students using
University standards, and to ensuring that instructors
are supported as they turn their high school class-
rooms into U of M classrooms,” Williams said.
CIS is just one of the many ways for Anoka-
Hennepin students to earn college credits while in
high school. Others include Advanced Placement (AP)
courses, Articulated Credit (AC) courses, concurrent
enrollment options, and career and technical educa-
tion is available in a college setting at the district’s
Secondary Technical Education Program (STEP). n
A new “school within a school” program
for Anoka-Hennepin’s exceptionally gifted
learners in grades three through five will
open next fall at Eisenhower Elementary
School in Coon Rapids.
According to Dr. Mary Wolverton, associ-
ate superintendent for elementary schools,
the new program will be offered to those
students who test in the top 1-2 percent of
state and national standards, and will offer
an accelerated curriculum in math, English
language arts and science.
“This has been identified as a strategic
priority, specifically in relation to increasing
student achievement, by the School Board,”
said Wolverton.
Anoka-Hennepin’s gifted and talented
programming planning began in 2016,
Wolverton said, with University of St.
Thomas professor Dr. Karen Rodgers, who
reviewed the district’s existing programming.
“In that process, she interacted and got
feedback and input from various stakehold-
ers to help inform what we currently have in
place and what we should consider moving
forward,” Wolverton said.
Anoka-Hennepin began the process of
upscaling the identification process of
students by administering the Cognitive
Abilities Test (CogAT) to all second grade
students in the district. Data points from
that test along with other achievement
results will be used to determine eligibility.
Letters of invitation will be sent to families
of students who qualify in March.
Eisenhower Elementary School was
chosen to host the program because of its
central location within the district, as well
its student population being stable looking
into the future, guaranteeing room for the
program to flourish.
In addition, a comprehensive review at
Anoka-Hennepin’s existing talent develop-
ment programming, serving students in the
top 5 to 10 percentile, will be conducted
and improvements considered. n
Join our
team!
Anoka-Hennepin
is hiring
Have you ever considered working for
Anoka-Hennepin schools? The district
employs teachers, substitutes and
paraeducators, but has many positions
outside of the classroom, including
cooks, bus drivers, secretaries, nurses,
custodians and many others.
Whether you’re looking for a part-time
job or a career — working for Anoka-
Hennepin schools is a rewarding employ-
ment opportunity that's also fulfilling —
most employees recommend Anoka-
Hennepin as a great place to work.
Learn more at ahschools.us/jobs. n