COLLABORATING FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE PAGE 6
Life lessons , lasting impressions :
Peer connections engage learning in middle school health classes
Students participate in Prostart cooking competitions thanks to AHEF donors
This Fall , Anoka-Hennepin started its first competitive cooking team with the help of a grant from the Anoka-Hennepin Educational Foundation ( AHEF ). Working out of Anoka High School ’ s Family and Consumer Sciences ( FACS ) department , students from across the district come together weekly to review menus , test and taste courses and cost out the ingredients . They cook and bake until they agree on the threecourse meal they will make in competition .
“ I saw this as an opportunity to get better at cooking while being surrounded by other people who enjoy it , too ,” said Sloan Collins , the team ’ s captain and a senior at Andover High School ( AndHS ).
Each of the five students on this year ’ s culinary team ( there is also a management team that competes ) said they already were into cooking at home and wanted to improve their skills .
The competition is designed to simulate what it is like to work in a professional kitchen . Each team is mentored by a professional chef and both of the teachers advising the team competed in Prostart when they were in high school . Dustin Rupprecht , one of the team ’ s two advisors , said during the competition students earn and get docked points based on several factors including the quality of the finished product , the cleanliness of the workstation while they are cooking , their knife skills , their communication and problemsolving skills .
With the state competition coming up in March , the team is now focused on perfecting their chosen meal . On the menu is an appetizer of Asiago basil stuffed mushrooms with seared salmon , pickled cucumber , and a mango habanero glaze . The entrée consists of seared beef tenderloin with a mushroom leek tart , julienned rainbow carrots , a pickled vegetable salad and a fig balsamic demi glaze . All of this is followed by a lemon curd tart with candied blueberries , a toasted Italian meringue , hazelnut brittle and a lavender drizzle .
The team that wins the state competition goes on to nationals in Maryland . For both competitions , there is scholarship money to be won for the top team . The state competition is run through Hospitality Minnesota which then awards the scholarships .
Of the five students on the culinary team , one , Ermias Kassa , a senior at AndHS , plans to go into the culinary arts after graduation . “ I enjoy cooking , and then I got into baking ,” Kassa said . “ More recently I have been making pastries and that is what I want to do . I want to be a pastry chef .”
Thanks to opportunities like this , Ermias has found his niche . n
Every month , 140 high school students from Anoka and Coon Rapids high schools link up to support sixth-graders in over 30 health classes across the district , all thanks to a 25-plus year partnership with the University of Minnesota Extension ’ s 4-H “ Youth Teaching Youth ” program .
The program trains eligible high school students to teach lessons to younger students about healthy living while developing leadership and public speaking experience and engaging in opportunities for career exploration . Student leaders are selected and named “ Teen Teachers ” at the start of each school year and participate in a full day of training . Once a month , Youth Teaching Youth teams at each high school regroup to develop teaching schedules , refresh their knowledge on the current topic of focus and plan for the upcoming lesson .
“ The lessons reinforce what we ’ re already doing in class , but engage students in smaller groups ,” explained Lindsey Fedder , a health teacher at Oak View Middle School . In December , students discussed stress management . Other topics throughout the year include alcohol and nicotine ; tobacco and advertising ; vaping and peer pressure ; bullying , internet safety and managing conflict in relationships .
“ Today , we talked about how some stress is normal and healthy ; but over a long period of time it can become a bigger issue ,” said Beth Heimerl , another health teacher at Oak View Middle School . “ It ’ s not their problem to solve on their own , they can seek help . These lessons provide them with knowledge and skills to access information to find help they may need someday .”
The lessons are paired with interactive components . To accompany stress management , students discussed the level of stress that potential scenarios could create - and how to move forward from it . Students brainstormed and practiced coping strategies such as deep breathing , relaxation and meditation ; and covered how to talk through stressful situations with someone trustworthy .
Aiden Ongoro , a tenth-grade student at Anoka High School said , “ It ’ s cool to share beneficial lessons with students . I can think of times when I could have used the information that we are sharing when I was younger .” His twin brother , Ashton , joins him as a 4-H Teen Teacher . “ We get to connect with kids and give them a chance to express themselves and learn the information [ about accessing resources ].” n
College in the Schools delivers $ 1 million in college tuition credit for students
Increasing academic rigor with college-level courses for 381 high school students has resulted in 1,895 credits and associated value through participation in the University of Minnesota ’ s College in the Schools program ( CIS ) during the 2023-24 school year .
80 % AP
Pascal Aminga , a 4-H Teen Teacher from Anoka High School , listens as Natalie Paddock , a sixth-grade student from Oak View Middle School , shares her thoughts .
Students can get a moneysaving running start into college by earning credit along with gaining exposure and rigor to challenging college coursework . Participation can help students make decisions about their post-secondary plans and how college can help them reach their goals .
With tuition at the U of M set at $ 557.55 per credit last year , the tuition-free credits earned
Advanced Placeament courses
AC
Articulated Credit courses
IB
International Baccalaureate
by Anoka-Hennepin students in CIS classes equate to more than $ 1,043,355 in saved tuition fees . In addition , CIS enjoys strong support from participants with 9 of 10 students involved recommending it to others . Credits earned are recognized by the University of Minnesota along colleges and universities across the state and nation . n
Over 80 % of Anoka-Hennepn high school take at least one course that earns college credit while in high school . In addition to CIS , hundreds of Anoka-Hennepin students earn college credits through :
PSEO
Post-Secondary Enrollment Option
STEP
Secondary Technical Education Program