by Theresa Andrus
Maple Lake’s schools did everything but roll out the red carpet for school open houses and the first day of school on September 7 as students were welcomed back for what all involved are determined will be the best year yet.
At Maple Lake Elementary, the school year is starting with the theme, “O.S.C.A.R.–Our School Cares About Responsibility . . . Readiness . . . Respect.” The new theme is highlighted by a larger than life mural created for the elementary lobby by school staff member Cindy Carter.
“Each year we brainstorm theme ideas for our I Love to Read month and this year we thought we would extend the theme through the whole school year,” said Principal Kris Harlan. “We’ve done other themes in the past so we thought we’d just go with one theme to concentrate on for the whole year. Many of the classrooms also have Hollywood-type decorations and will be using them throughout the year.”
Harlan said another new program will help promote wellness at the school. Starting Monday, Sept. 13, students in first through sixth grades will participate in “Morning Movers.” Students will drop their backpacks off at their lockers upon entering the building in the morning and then head outside where Physical Education instructor Adam Ronnenberg marked a path they can walk until 8 a.m. Kindergarten students and those having breakfast will gather in the cafeteria before 8 a.m. as they have in the past. Harlan said kindergarten students will be introduced to the Morning Movers program in the spring.
In addition, the fourth Wednesday of each month is Wellness Wednesday at the elementary and Ronnenberg will be leading the entire school in a short wellness activity broadcast over the public address system.
In the high school, there are a number of new staff members beginning the school year in Maple Lake, including a new principal, Andrew Almos. After 25 years as principal, Mary James retired at the end of the last school year and Almos, the K-12 principal in the Goodridge School District, was hired for the position.
Almos graduated from Hinkley-Finlayson High School in 2000, earned his Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stout in 2003, his Masters in Education from St. Mary’s University in 2006, and his Principal License from the University of Minnesota in 2008. He was a technology education teacher at Shakopee Senior High School from 2003 to 2008 before becoming the K-12 principal at Goodridge.
At St. Timothy’s School, fifth grade teacher MaryLu Flick retired at the end of the last school year. Third grade teacher Mary Nowak moved to take over that position in fifth grade and Susan Wilde was hired as the third grade teacher.
The school has also undergone a number of improvements over the summer, thanks to funding provided by the annual Dinner/Auction event conducted each spring. In the school kitchen, floor tile that contained asbestos was removed and the concrete underneath was ground and polished. And the library received new catalog software that will allow families to explore the library collection from their home computers.
Maple Lake’s schools did everything but roll out the red carpet for school open houses and the first day of school on September 7 as students were welcomed back for what all involved are determined will be the best year yet.
At Maple Lake Elementary, the school year is starting with the theme, “O.S.C.A.R.–Our School Cares About Responsibility . . . Readiness . . . Respect.” The new theme is highlighted by a larger than life mural created for the elementary lobby by school staff member Cindy Carter.
“Each year we brainstorm theme ideas for our I Love to Read month and this year we thought we would extend the theme through the whole school year,” said Principal Kris Harlan. “We’ve done other themes in the past so we thought we’d just go with one theme to concentrate on for the whole year. Many of the classrooms also have Hollywood-type decorations and will be using them throughout the year.”
Harlan said another new program will help promote wellness at the school. Starting Monday, Sept. 13, students in first through sixth grades will participate in “Morning Movers.” Students will drop their backpacks off at their lockers upon entering the building in the morning and then head outside where Physical Education instructor Adam Ronnenberg marked a path they can walk until 8 a.m. Kindergarten students and those having breakfast will gather in the cafeteria before 8 a.m. as they have in the past. Harlan said kindergarten students will be introduced to the Morning Movers program in the spring.
In addition, the fourth Wednesday of each month is Wellness Wednesday at the elementary and Ronnenberg will be leading the entire school in a short wellness activity broadcast over the public address system.
In the high school, there are a number of new staff members beginning the school year in Maple Lake, including a new principal, Andrew Almos. After 25 years as principal, Mary James retired at the end of the last school year and Almos, the K-12 principal in the Goodridge School District, was hired for the position.
Almos graduated from Hinkley-Finlayson High School in 2000, earned his Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stout in 2003, his Masters in Education from St. Mary’s University in 2006, and his Principal License from the University of Minnesota in 2008. He was a technology education teacher at Shakopee Senior High School from 2003 to 2008 before becoming the K-12 principal at Goodridge.
More information appears in this week’s Messenger.
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