POPs Concerts Royal Bash 2012Hopkins Education Founda-tion’s fundraising gala that bene!ts our schools. Call 952-988-4097 for details.

February 25, 6:00 p.m.Golden Valley Golf and Country Club 7001 Golden Valley Road,Golden Valley

UpdateHopkins Public Schools

STEM for AllFebruary 2012

d a t e s i n t h e c o m m u n i t y

Lovas named Girls’ Track and Field Coach of the Year

Hopkins infuses STEM curriculum into each of its program levelsIn the next six years, General Mills expects a third of its IT sta! to retire. Nationwide, there is a shortage of engineers. "e green energy industry is in need of more technical employees than ever before. All of this points to one thing, the United States needs a workforce that is well versed in the hard sciences.

Hopkins Public Schools is on the forefront of this need for technical employees, and has integrated STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) into its elementary, junior high and high school core curriculum. All Hopkins students are exposed to STEM concepts starting in grade 3.

“We want to make sure that all students have access to STEM,” said Tim Amelie a technology teacher and STEM coordinator for Hopkins Public Schools. “Our approach is STEM for all.”

"ese e!orts have not gone unnoticed. Last year, the Minnesota High Tech Association recognized Hopkins Public Schools for its leading-edge STEM curriculum and programs.

Engineering is Elementary — it starts with a frog Starting in grade 3, Hopkins students begin taking STEM coursework through EiE (Engineering is Elementary) which applies science concepts to an engineering design challenge. Developed by the Museum of Science, Boston, the curriculum was brought to Hopkins in 2009 by the Science Museum of Minnesota from a Cargill grant. "e program will be fully implemented next year.

According to Pam Soltis, a grade 3 teacher at Tanglen Elementary, the #rst step to teaching EiE is helping students understand that technology and engineering are broader concepts than they realize.

“We teach the students that technology is anything that is man-made and helps solve a problem, and an

engineer is anyone who uses what they observe in nature to solve a problem,” said Soltis.

"e grade 3 EiE unit, entitled Designing Model Membranes, requires students to build a membrane that provides a model frog with just the right amount of moisture by mimicking the elements of a rain forest. Students are broken

into small groups and are given porous materials like co!ee #lters, screens, and cheese clothes to control the $ow of water. "ey must collaborate and decide how to create a membrane that provides just the right amount of water for their frog.

Rachael Ramy, a grade 3 teacher at Meadowbrook Elementary, knows that collaboration is a real-world skill that will be required of students throughout their entire lives. "e membrane experiment is just one way to get students thinking about how they can work together with their peers to solve problems.

"is year, EiE is being integrated into the grade 5 curriculum at Meadowbrook and Eisenhower Elementary. "ese schools are part

of an engineer-in-residence program for the unit Marvelous Machines. Trained teachers from the Science Museum will guest teach the curriculum in May, giving Hopkins teachers an opportunity to see it in action.

Junior High: PLTW curriculum takes students to new heights Learning comes alive in Bob Krebsbach’s Design and Modeling /Science of Technology class. "is PLTW (Project

Student builds a Rube Goldberg machine that can transfer energy from one group to another in the eighth-grade PLTW class.

see STEM for All inside

The community’s guide to the District.

Caring Youth Award

Hopkins student paper receives highest state ratingThe Hopkins High School student newspaper, “The Royal Page,” has been recognized as among Minnesota’s top student newspapers. The paper has again earned an All-State Gold ranking from the Journalism Educators of Minnesota. “The Royal Page” received a ranking of excellence in the following areas:

· Editorial Leadership· Content· Design/Typography

Kiddie KarnivalCome out of hibernation for family fun. Games, stories, silent auction, and more!

Saturday, February 25 10:00 a.m. - noonHarley Hopkins Family Ctr. 125 Monroe Ave. S.

A celebrated tradition at Hopkins High School featuring the junior and senior bands. Lighter band music, comedy, and musical routines.

February 3 & 4, 7:00 p.m.Hopkins High Schoolwww.SeatYourself.Biz/Hopkins

Do you know a young person

who shows an ongoing awareness of others through volunteering or other activities? Sure you do!

Consider nominating him or her for the 2012 Caring Youth Award. Nominations are due Friday, February 3. Learn more – visit www. HopkinsSchools.org

The Minnesota State Track and Field Coaches Association has named Nick Lovas the 2011 Girls’ Class AA Coach of the Year. Lovas coaches Girls’ Track and Field at Hopkins High School and teaches social studies at West Junior High. The Girls’ Track team won the Lake Conference championship in the 2010-2011, 2009-2010, and 2007-2008 school years.

EiE (Engineering is Elementary) :Grade 3: Designing Model MembranesGrade 4: Designing a Maglev SystemGrade 5: Marvelous Machines: Making Work Easier

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math): what you need to know

PTLW (Project Lead the Way):

Technology

Other STEM Courses:

ACE is an extra-curricular activity where students have the opportunity to network with professionals from companies like 3M and Mortenson Construction, learn building codes, and visit actual job sites.

ACE (Architecture, Construction and Engineering):

At Hopkins, STEM is embedded into our core curriculum for all students

Companies are looking for someone who is technical and can use math and science to solve technical problems. They are interested in

our students.

Courses at the elementary level:

Courses at the junior high level: At the high school level (in addition to PTLW courses):

Update: February 2012

C.J. Renner: 1998 graduateJulia Douglass: 1981 graduate Melissa Barker: 1974 graduate

District Life ChangerMae Gruss, a grade 2 teacher at Eisenhower Elementary, has a kite hanging in her class that reminds her of Al Johnson. College is a frequent topic in her class, and the students have many questions. She called in “Mr. J.” to inspire them. Al took the students outside and taught them how to $y a kite. “He told them that if they worked hard they could soar in school like a kite and attend college some day,” recalls Mae. “Al is incredible with kids and I want the world to know about him.” Mae is in good company — ask anyone about Al, an equity specialist for the District, and the accolades come in droves. “Al has the distinct gift of reaching students and parents where they are, and taking them to a di!erent level of success,”

Stats:

C.J’s graphic novel, Soccer Longshot. He currently writes a comic book, Colliders, and teaches classes on comic book creation. He enjoys displaying his visual arts at local venues (check out more about C.J.’s artistic ventures at www.cjrenner.com).Favorite Band of 1998? Radiohead.Favorite hangout spot at Hopkins High School? Anywhere we could get some hacky-sack time in before the hall monitors came.What Hopkins sta! member made a di!erence in your life?Mr. Endo (ESL) taught me compassion and Mr. Dart (English teacher) showed me that at any moment literature can, and will change your life. These two traits have shaped my life substantially.What advice would you give a new grad?

be excited to teach you if you reach out.

Ask Jinjer Menge what she thinks of volunteering at Meadowbrook Elementary and she bubbles over with enthusiasm. “Meadowbrook is a wonderful community of top-notch sta! members, dedicated parents, and great kids,” she said. Jinjer is in her #fth year of volunteering at Meadowbrook and is involved in a myriad of ways including PTO leader, yearbook, Chess Club, LEAP (tutoring), and Art Adventure (a partnership program with the Minneapolis Institute of Arts that engages kids in works of art). Proudest moments volunteering? Just getting to know the kids, and when they show evidence that they have absorbed what we have worked on together. What person has in"uenced you most?My mom, who modeled loving and caring for people, and my Dad, who taught me to always do my best. He is also a ‘full-time volunteer.’ Co!ee or tea?Co!ee. Fully ca!einated, no wimpy stu!, with hazelnut cream (okay, maybe slightly wimpy). People would be surprised to learn... "at we have two guinea pigs at home, because I am a neat-freak and vowed never to own pets! I volunteer because...I think it’s really important for all our children to have a well-rounded, positive school experience...plus it’s fun!

Community Spirit

Stats: Musician, entrepreneur.

New York City, New York

Jinjer Mengesaid Stanley Brown, coordinator of equity and inclusion. “He motivates and inspires students to make the right decisions,” re$ected Jody De St. Hubert, principal at Alice Smith Elementary. “His passion and enthusiasm light up a room.” Al’s rapport with kids is so natural, but, surprisingly, he started out with a career in sales. Read about more how Al discovered his niche in the District. Background:I come from a sales background selling technology products and services. My two children in the District were my motivation to work for Hopkins. With the help of Alice Smith sta!, I volunteered to start the Breakfast Club, a group that helps students and families feel connected to their school. Later, I was o!ered a sta! position as an equity specialist — my role is to build relationships with students, families, and teachers that foster a positive educational community for all students. What do you love most about working at Hopkins Public Schools? I love the students! It invigorates me when I speak to them. I love the freedom I have been given to complete the District’s mission, which is to ensure that all children achieve academic success at their highest potential. I have a passion to reduce and eliminate the achievement gap by any means necessary. I believe that all students can, on any given day, come to school with something blocking them from learning — it is that one thing that I must get out of their way. Proudest moment?It is not so much the grand things that make me love my job, it is the collection of small things. I had a student come up and tell me, ‘"ank you, Mr. J., for believing in me when no one else did.’ My work with the Breakfast Club has been rewarding — 95% of the students who participated in the Breakfast Club for more than three years are now tracking towards college. Recently, I started the ASEAP Academy program at North Junior High, which I will use to connect to a greater range of students who may need support to reach their goals, but $y under the radar. With these tools I have seen students’ lives change. Life quote? Opportunity is all around us. We must stop looking for others to make right that which we have failed to correct ourselves.

fun facts Julia has been a singer/songwriter for years in New York City. She is currently back home in Minnesota gigging around the Twin Cities and developing a culinary version of School House Rock called Chef Do Re Mi, as a fun way to teach cooking to kids – www.chefdoremi.com.Favorite Band of 1981? Favorite hangout spot at Hopkins (Eisenhower) High School? The cafeteria. How did Hopkins prepare you?

this all helped me later in life.What Hopkins sta! member made a di!erence in your life?Mr. Kantor, my orchestra teacher, and my English

ended up combining language and music to be a singer and songwriter.

Scholar in Sweden, and took Japanese in graduate school. She is currently enjoying learning Spanish for an upcoming trip.Favorite CD of 1974?Tea for the Tillerman by Cat Stevens. Favorite hangout spot at Hopkins High School?

hung out in the back storeroom of the science lab.What Hopkins sta! member made a di!erence in your life? Many thanks to Ms. Kris Amundson and Ms. Myrna Klobuchar for helping me hone my policy-analysis skills while in debate. Mr. Gears, choir teacher, for

Coach Elmer Luke who understood and supported the aspirations of girl athletes.What advice would you give a new grad?

Stats: Principal planning analyst for children’s health policy and research, Hennepin County Human Services & Public Health.

fun facts fun facts

Stats: Writer, artist, illustrator. B.A. in English, College of St.

Al Johnson

Where are they now? Know a someone we should feature on this page? Email Carrie.Gerard@HopkinsSchools.org

Hopkins Community Education Building a great place to live

STEM for All, continued from coverLead the Way) class is di!erent from anything the students have experienced. It’s hands-on, technical, tough, and fun.

“If you are excited about what you are teaching and you have a clear vision of where you are going, most kids will go there with you,” said Krebsbach, who has been teaching the course for the past three years.

Nationwide, PLTW is the leading provider of innovative and rigorous STEM curriculum for the secondary level of education. Hopkins Public Schools uses this curriculum at the junior high and high school level.

At Hopkins, the grade 8 Intro to PLTW class is required. A variety of other PLTW classes are o!ered as electives starting in grade 9. In the intro class, students are taught about magnetism by #rst sketching a car. "ey then use that design to build a model, which is eventually raced on an air-powered, magnetic levitation track.

Krebsbach admits that the class is challenging, but he does not believe the concepts are beyond the reach of any of his students.

“"is one can be tough for eighth-graders,” he said. “It’s fun to see them stretch. And it’s really rewarding to see the students who are more hands-on shine.”

High School: PLTW and tech ed classes provide students with a sparkGoing into high school Kendall Meuwissen #gured she would like engineering. After completing the high school’s three-class PLTW sequence, Meuwissen, who is now a senior, is certain she wants to pursue mechanical engineering in college.

“Without these classes, I would have been more lost applying for college,” admits Meuwissen. “I know what I like to do, and I also know that there are things that I don’t like to do.”

Robert Goebel and Jason Herzog, both seniors at Hopkins, have also found a passion in the hard sciences and plan to pursue engineering in college. After completing all the Advanced Placement math courses Hopkins o!ers, Herzog

Youth Enrichment

www.HopkinsSchools.org/Update

It’s Friday afternoon. "e school week has come to an o%cial close, but you would hardly know it in Lorraine Myers’ basement, which is serving as the makeshift headquarters for Lego Maniacs,

the West Junior High robotics team. Students Zach Myers, Zach Carman, Dan Pratt, Noah Hughes, and Spencer Ashford, are focused on perfecting their robot to ensure that it will be able

to maneuver an obstacle course and perform a series of tasks at the FIRST® Lego® League State Tournament in January. "e work is not just similar to engineering, it is engineering.

"is is year two for the Lego Maniacs, which is coached by parent volunteers Lorraine Myers and Pam Carman, but it is the #rst year the students are going to compete at state. Preparing for the competition is time-intensive. Myers estimates that the team put about 100 hours of work into the three categories for the regional tournament. In one category, the students were required to complete a comprehensive research project on the issue of food safety. Lego Maniacs focused on transporting bacon at safe temperatures, which earned them the Best Project Award at the regional competition.

"e second category required building a robot, which is no small feat. "e team was required to program and construct the robot from scratch, using parts that were delivered from the FIRST® Lego® League. At regionals, they received second place in the Robot Head-to-Head category. Teamwork is integral to the success of a team and makes up the third and #nal scoring category of the competition.

“"is is true experimentation,” said Myers, who is an engineer by trade. “Sometimes in science we have the answer all ready for students to #nd, this is not the case. "is is an opportunity for kids to experiment and work on design, test, re-design, and re-test.”

Lego Maniacs headed to robotics state tournament

Lego Maniacs (left to right) Noah Hughes, Dan Pratt, Zach Myers, Zach Carman, Spencer Ashford

put their robot to test on their obstacle course.

So many great choices. Classes to fuel your brain in new ways, inspire creativity, boost your dramatic side, or blast you into the sports zone. Our great instructors will get you

brochures for elementary youth and teens!

What will you do after school today?Youth Enrichment

Hopkins Community Education

Winter/Spring 2012

Reader’s Theater Grades 7-9

#Y222 A: 6 sessions - limit 25 $54 Mon. & Tu., Feb. 6-28 2:45-4:45 pm No class Feb. 20, 21 WJH-West Junior High 24

Get Me on the Stage! Grades 7-9

#Y223A: 4 sessions - limit 25 $44 Mon., Mar. 5-26 2:45-4:45 pm WJH-West Junior High 24

Make ‘em Laugh Grades 7-9

#Y249B: 4 sessions - limit 25 $29 Tu., Mar. 6-27 2:45-4:45 pm NJH-North Junior High 606

DramaramaGrades 7-9

#Y224A: 4 sessions - limit 25 $44 Mon., Apr. 23-May 14 2:45-4:45 pm NJH-North Junior High 606

Summer Field Biology at Wolf RidgeEntering Grades 5-12

July 10, 12, TBD: On site in HopkinsJuly 18-22, Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Ctr

Hopkins

Make summer plans now!

Register at:www.HopkinsCommunityEd.org

952-988-4070

Teen edition

Adult & Child Empty Bowls

Pottery Workshop Steve Frederickson, Kathy IsraelAges 6+ with one adult

#Y218: 2 sessions - limit 14 $14/per personA: Feb. 4 & 18 9:00-11:00 am B: Feb. 4 & 18 12:00-2:00 pm C: Feb. 4 & 18 2:30-4:30 pm D: Feb. 11 & 25 9:00-11:00 am E: Feb. 11 & 25 12:00 - 2:00 pm F: Feb. 11 & 25 2:30-4:30 pm IKE-Eisenhower Community Center 171, all sections

Creating Comic Books and Graphic NovelsGrades 8-12

#Y209A: 6 sessions - limit 20 $74Wed., Feb. 15-Mar. 21 2:45-4:45 pm NJH-North Junior High 506

Caring Youth Awards

Drivers Education

Ages 14 !-17 Safeway Driving School

#Y975: 10 sessions - limit 30 $389 E: M, T, W, Th, Jan. 17-Feb. 2 2:45-5:45 pmNo class Jan. 26NJH-North Junior High 205F: M, T, W, Th, Feb. 6-22 2:45-5:45 pmNo class Feb. 20WJH-West Junior High 503G: M, T, W, Th, Mar. 5-20 2:45-5:45 pm NJH-North Junior High 205H: M, T, W, Th, Apr. 16-May 1 2:45-5:45 pm WJH-West Junior High 503I: M, T, W, Th, May 2-21 2:45-5:45 pm No class May 10NJH-North Junior High 205

Check out the web site for summer Drivers Ed dates! www.HopkinsCommunityEd.org

Art Drama

Visit www.HopkinsCommunityEd.org for all our offerings.

is now taking college math classes at the University of Minnesota through post-secondary option.

PLTW classes have been o!ered at the high school for four years. Next year, the high school expects to be certi#ed, which means students can potentially earn college credit for the PLTW classes that they take. PLTW classes o!er rigor and emphasize STEM concepts, but long before the high school adopted the curriculum, it o!ered engineering and technology classes through its tech ed department.

According to Rob Fuhr, a technology education teacher at the high school, teaching engineering is just as much about the curriculum, as it is about encouraging the students to go o! on their own and invent.

“Pre-Engineering students have a natural curiosity,” said Fuhr. “"at is the ethics of being an engineer.”

Meuwissen, Goebel, and Herzog credit Hopkins for o!ering them the real-world experiences and hands-on opportunities that have sparked a passion and helped shape their paths for the future. Goebel, for example, was also able to build a solar-powered kayak, which he took for a spin (to his teacher’s dismay) in the pond behind the high school. Meuwissen created sketches of storage sheds for the City of Hopkins. In addition, all the engineering classes use professional, leading-edge modeling software called Autodesk Inventor® — the same software used by professional engineers at top companies.

To give students a deeper look into STEM industries, Fuhr invites guest speakers into his classroom to talk to students. However, lately, big companies like Cargill and 3M have been approaching him with the interest of meeting his students and learning about the program at Hopkins.

“Companies are looking for someone who is technical and can use math and science to solve technical problems,” said Fuhr. “"ey are interested in our students.”

Members of ACE (Architecture, Construction, Engineering) plan an engineering project.

Eisenhower Community Center, 1001 Highway 7, HopkinsSunday, February 26, 10:30-3:30 p.m.

Brought to you by Community Education of Hopkins, St. Louis Park, & Minnetonka, cities of Hopkins, Minnetonka, Golden Valley & St. Louis Park

Free!

www.HomeRemodelingFair.com

If you are excited about what you are teaching and

you have a clear vision of

where you are going, most kids

will go there with you.

February Events

You can do it all at Hopkins High School. Whether you want to study engineering, experiment with culinary arts, or explore your musical side, it’s all here. We bottled up the energy of the high school into a three-minute, 23 second video. The video portrays an ordinary day at the high school, which is anything but ordinary. Watch it and see what we do. www.HopkinsSchools.org/Discover

55343

Time  Value

Residential Postal PatronECRWSS

Find us on Facebook:www.facebook.com/HopkinsPublicSchools

See what awaits your child, Hopkins Preschool Visit Us open housesInside our preschools you’ll discover a stimulating learning environment that fosters an excitement for learning. Our internationally recognized curriculum approach encourages imagination, curiosity, and the development of the whole child. Families love our $exible schedule options and we’re conveniently located in #ve sites in Minnetonka, Hopkins, and Golden Valley. Our full-day option is open from 6:45 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Visit us to experience the advantages of Hopkins Preschools and #nd out why our families consistently rate us as exceeding expectations. For more information, please call us: 952-988-5000 or visit www.HopkinsSchools.org/Preschool.Visit Us Dates: Stepping Stones Preschool: Our 6:45 a.m.-6 p.m., Mon. - Fri., year-round, and year-before-kindergarten optionEisenhower/Tanglen (We are moving from Eisenhower to Tanglen in 2012! Visit Us is at Eisenhower):Tu., Feb. 7, 5:30-7:00 p.m.Meadowbrook: Wed., Feb. 8, 5:30-7:00 p.m.Gatewood: Thurs., Feb. 9, 5:30-7:00 p.m.Kaleidoscope Preschool: Our option for half-day, part-week preschool for ages 3-5Meadowbrook: Mon., Feb. 27, 12:00-1:00 p.m.Harley Hopkins Family Center: Tu., Feb. 28, 12:00-1:00 p.m.Glen Lake: Wed., Feb. 29, 12:00-1:00 p.m.

POPs Concerts – junior and senior bands evening performance.February 3 & 4, 7:00 p.m.Hopkins High School Auditorium, www.SeatYourself.Biz/HopkinsHearts of Fire Gala – Fundraiser event for ResourceWestFebruary 4, 6:30 p.m.Minnetonka Community Center, www.ResourceWest.orgECFE Special Topics Class – Why do kids act that way?

February 9, 6:30 p.m.Harley Hopkins Family Center, register: 952-988-5000Le Corsaire (The Pirate) – presented by the Metropolitan Ballet. February 11, 7:30 p.m., February 12, 3:00 p.m.Hopkins High School Auditorium, www.HopkinsConference.comOrchestra Spotlight Concert – Billy McLaughlin in concert with the high school orchestra.February 18, 7:30 p.m.Hopkins High School Auditorium, tickets $12 and $10West Metro Home Remodeling Fair – free event!February 26, 7:00-8:00 p.m.Eisenhower Community Center, www.HomeRemodelingFair.com

Discover your passion at Hopkins High School!

Hopkins Preschools o!er exceptional learning experiences

Royal Bash bene"ts our schools!Hopkins Education Foundation’s Royal Bash will take place on February 25 at the Golden Valley Golf and Country Club. Great cause. Great food. Great fun. Visit www.HopkinsEducationFoundation.org.

Can’t make it to the event? Everyone is welcome to bid at the online auction!Join the fundraising event online! Check out the 200 plus items up for bid at the online auction — gift certi#cates, electronics, theater tickets, and more. Dates to bid: February 11-20.

Spread the word! Grandparents, aunts, uncles, alumni — everyone who wants to support Hopkins Schools can bid on items at the Online Auction. Visit www.HopkinsEducationFoundation.org/OnlineAuction and start your bidding!

Get Connected, Stay Connected

Visit us at ResourceWest, 915 Mainstreet in Hopkins, for free tax assistance. For dates and times, or other sites, call: 651-287-0187.Free Tax Prep Income Guidelines:$30,000 or less for individuals$50,000 or less for families

Free tax preparation help

www.accountabilitymn.org

Hopkins Preschool parent said,

It’s about the whole child,

which I think is wonderful.

My child gets physical activity

(climbing wall, recess),

relaxation work (yoga),

encouragement for proper

nutrition, academic support,

and the opportunity to express

herself creatively.

HEF Royal Bash Gala and Online Auction