COLLABORATING FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE PAGE 6
CPHS Unified brings home the state title
Champlin Park High School Unified team pictured with trophy at state tournament.
Champlin Park High School( CPHS) defeated northern power Proctor High School 32-27 to win the 2026 Minnesota State Unified Basketball championship held Feb. 12. The Rebels gained entry to the title game through a fast-action semifinal victory over Prior Lake. The tournament was hosted at the Target Center in Minneapolis and teams participated before an enthusiastic crowd of student and community supporters.
The Unified basketball program, coordinated through Special Olympics Minnesota, is noted for its inclusive and high energy approach to providing opportunities and support for students. CPHS has embraced the Unified program in multiple activities and was recognized as a North American Champion School by Special Olympics. CPHS is one of four schools in Minnesota to receive the distinction which recognizes the school’ s commitment to inclusion and meeting 10 national standards of excellence. n
Student access to cell phones is limited at school
In an effort to improve student focus on learning and reduce distractions during the school year, Anoka- Hennepin schools utilizes the following practices to control the student use of cell phones and personal electronics at school
Elementary and middle schools: Electronic devices must be " powered off and away," concealed and not be powered on or used in any way during regular operations of the school day.
High schools: It is expected that students will turn their cell phones off or put them in airplane mode during class time and store them in their backpack unless the teacher has given permission. During passing time and at lunch students are welcome to use their phones.
Communication about the policies is shared with families through school newsletters, and with students, through discipline policy presentations and discussions in homeroom class periods. School partnerships with families and students are critical as we work toward a common goal of keeping students engaged and learning, while limiting negative impacts of social media. n
Hoover Elementary earns state STEM Innovation Award
Hoover Elementary School for Biomedical, Health Sciences and Engineering in Coon Rapids, Minn. recently earned the 2026 Minnesota STEM Innovation Award by the Minnesota Elementary School Principals’ Association( MESPA) in partnership with the Science Museum of Minnesota.
The school received this honor for a " real-world " learning initiative where fourth-grade students partnered with the American Red Cross to plan and support a community blood drive. The project is an impactful example of how students are able to harness a unique learning
Hoover students helped coordinate an American Red Cross community blood drive, a real-world lesson that aligns with the schools STEM Health related speciality curriculum.
opportunity while incorporating it with making a difference for others in the community.
Hoover Elementary offers a specialty school curriculum focused on Biomedical, Health Sciences and Engineering, one of 12 magnet and specialty school options offered in Anoka-Hennepin. n
CBPA: Three Rivers Parks partnership brings the learning outdoors
When fourth-grade students at Champlin-Brooklyn Park Academy( CBPA) for Math and Environmental Science visited nearby Mississippi Gateway Regional Park to explore a learning unit on landforms and landmarks, it represented the start of a year of learning outdoors made possible through a partnership with the Three Rivers Park District.
Champlin-Brooklyn Park
Academy for Math and Environmental Science is a specialty school that benefits from an ongoing partnership with the Three Rivers Park District. Starting with Kindergarten, students in all grades cycle through a five-lesson series on environmental learning, with three lessons on site at Mississippi Gateway Regional Park and two led by Three Rivers naturalists at the
Students learn how water impacts landforms duing an interactive lesson held at the Missisippi Gateway Regional Park in Brooklyn Park. school.
In the fall session, CBPA teacher Kirk Gibb’ s fourth-grade students learned about the difference between landforms and landmarks and then used the park as a realworld laboratory to identify those characteristics. Students created their own landforms in the sand in a water table and then observed and documented the impact that running water has on their creations. CBPA students keep a running account of their outdoor learning experiences in a journal they receive in Kindergarten. Students may experience 30 plus outdoor learning lessons during their time at the school. n
AHEF donors help provide outdoor adventures for district students
Outdoor Adventures is one of the more popular elective classes at all five of Anoka-Hennepin’ s traditional high schools. This class is only available to seniors and introduces students to ice fishing, camping, hiking, and many more outdoor activities.
Students can earn college credit in environmental sciences because its curriculum centers around environmental education, field biology, interpersonal dynamics and personal growth. It is available all three trimesters, offering a variety of outdoor activities that Minnesota’ s changing seasons offer.
The Anoka-Hennepin Educational Foundation( AHEF) and its donors have taken an interest in these course offerings, and have stepped up with financial support to help provide students with even more opportunities.
Outdoor adventures often include a variety of equipment necessary for enjoying these activities. From ice fishing, forestry management, ice climbing, canoeing, snowshoeing, camping and more, a lot
of equipment is necessary to teach lessons in these courses.
The AHEF has awarded $ 5,000($ 1,000 for each high school) this school year, and has committed to $ 5,000 for each of the next two years to make these adventures possible for Anoka-Hennepin students.
“ Outdoor Adventures is so much more than just that,” said Anne Jendro, a senior at Andover High School.“ It really touches on the environmental science portion of the class. Your donations impact so many people and this class helps students build relationships and teamwork.”
Because of generous AHEF donors, students will continue to have meaningful lessons in outdoor education for years to come in Anoka-Hennepin. n