Newsletters 2018-19 Focus newsletter, [4] Spring | Page 5

PAGE 5
Commitment to excellence in
music education honored with
national designation
For the sixth consecutive year, the Anoka-
Hennepin School District has been honored
with the Best Communities for Music
Education designation from the National
Association of Music Merchants (NAMM)
Foundation for its outstanding commitment
to music education.
Anoka-Hennepin was one of 10 school
districts in the state, and 623 nationally, to
earn the award in 2019. Students have
access to wide-ranging options for choral,
band and orchestra opportunities in district
schools.
NAMM is a non-profit organization with the
mission of advancing participation in music
making for all ages by supporting scientific
research, philanthropic giving and public
service programs. The Best Communities for
Music Education award recognizes outstand-
ing efforts by teachers, administrators, par-
ents, students, and community leaders who
have made music education part of a well-
rounded education, according to NAMM.
Designations are made to districts that
demonstrate an exceptionally high commit-
ment and access to music education.
Anoka-Hennepin’s music program provides options for students in
choir, band and orchestra.
To be considered for the award, NAMM
conducts an extensive review process
to evaluate districts on a variety of
factors — both in and outside the
schools — from funding levels,
participation, access to instruc-
tion, and minutes of instruction
per grade level, to musical
activities in and around the
community. n
Parents/guardians: Prepare now
for a smooth transition to online
back-to-school forms
A-H connect is accessible via the lock and
key icon in the upper right corner of district
and school websites at ahschools.us. Those
who are unfamiliar with their credentials for
Kate Watson,
curriculum integrator
at University Avenue
Elementary School for
Aerospace, Children’s
Engineering and
Science (UAE ACES),
was named the E.W.
Rawlings Chapter of the
Air Force Association Teacher of the Year on
April 5. The award recognizes top perform-
ers in U.S. Air Force and related aerospace
programs.
A number of years ago, Watson strongly
supported a relationship with the National
Civil Air Patrol to bring in aerospace educa-
tion to the school. Then, in 2014, she was
honored as the National Civil Air Patrol’s
Coordinator of the Year for her work.
“The Air Force Association partners with the
Civil Air Patrol, so I was on their radar,” she
said. “Fast forward to this year, and the
(Rawlings Chapter of the Air Force
Association) reached out and asked if I’d
speak to their board about STEM education
and how we use aerospace at our school.
That’s when I found out I was their Teacher of
the Year, which was surprising. They had fol-
lowed my work.”
“This is her moment to shine and our
opportunity to honor (Watson’s) contributions
to an indomitable U.S. Air Force, and (the)
strong STEM education in the Twin Cities,”
said Jeff Johnson, president of E.W. Rawlings
Chapter of the Air Force Association.
UAE ACES Principal Diedre Bloemers said
Watson is more than deserving for this kind of
recognition.
Completing a stack of paper forms to
enroll students at the start of the school year
will soon be a thing of the past for parents
and guardians in the Anoka-Hennepin School
District. Back-to-school forms will be making
the transition to online starting this year.
Parents/guardians are encouraged to take
steps now to to prepare for the new online
system.
The first step for parents/guardians is to
engage with the My Student information
program. Parent accounts can be validated
now by logging into A-HConnect and select-
ing the “My Student Information” icon from
a desktop computer or tablet device.
University Avenue’s
Kate Watson named
local Air Force
Association teacher
of the year
“(Watson’s) enthusiasm, her innovativeness,
her genuine concern for showcasing and inte-
grating STEM (programming) in education are
exemplary,” she said. “She creates opportuni-
ties for students, staff and school by develop-
ing STEM and aviation partnerships with air-
ports, commissions, other schools and local
STEM engineers and scientists.” n
this system should look for an email from the district with
this information sent in early-March. Call 763-506-HELP for
assistance.
My Student Information holds a variety of student infor-
mation including attendance, as well as progress reports
and grades at the middle school and high school levels.
Call 763-506-HELP for technology assistance, username
or password retrieval, or other program questions. n
Still looking for fun summer
activities and classes for your kids?
Visit www.discovercommunityed.com to view
options and register online, or call 763-506-5955.
Anoka-Hennepin Community
Education offers summer
programming for children in
preschool through grade eight.
Northdale’s Gwen
Daly collects state
and regional honors
“When you do some-
thing you love, you
don’t expect something
in return.” That’s how
Gwen Daly feels about
being named the
Minnesota School
Nutrition Association
Employee of of the Year.
Daly, child nutrition assistant at Northdale
Middle School, also collected regional
employee of the year honors which puts
her in contention for national recognition.
Gwen Daly has provided 18 years of
dedicated service to Anoka-Hennepin
students. n