Responsible, Engaged Citizen

The Edina community is invited to gather for the next One Town, One Family community conversation on Thursday, June 23, 5-8 p.m. at the Normandale School Auditorium. Participants will begin to build upon the conversation begun at the initial April 14 event. All are invited to attend regardless of whether you were able to attend the first event.

Two EHS students, Jimmy Vu and Ansel Erol, placed first in two economics competitions.

The Page Foundation has announced the 2022-23 scholars and among them are five EHS seniors. The honor comes with a scholarship of $2,500 for students attending a four-year school, and $2,000 scholarship for students attending a two-year school.

Chris Griggs, an Edina High School social studies teacher, will travel to Washington, D.C. this June to attend the prestigious Supreme Court Summer Institute. After a highly competitive application process, 60 teachers were selected to participate this year.

EHS senior Dedeepya Guthikonda is one of two Minnesota students recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a Presidential Scholar. Scholars are recognized for their demonstration of leadership, scholarship, contribution to school and community, and outstanding accomplishments in the arts, sciences, humanities, and other fields of interest.

Eleven EHS students have been recognized by the Edina Community Foundation at their annual Connecting with Kids Awards breakfast.

The EHS environmental club, Project Earth, will host the 6th Annual Youth Climate Summit, Saturday, April 16, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Fick Auditorium. The Summit is an opportunity for students of all ages to get involved in climate efforts in the Edina community.

Kawthar Benarouch and Carmela Cadja, both EHS 10th graders, have been selected as scholarship recipients for the 2022 AFS Global STEM Academy in India. They are two of 113 students currently in the Edina Rotary Global Scholars program at EHS.

Jeff Jorgensen, director of student support services, has been named Administrator of the Year by the Minnesota School Psychologists Association at their recent Midwinter Conference. This award is designed to identify and recognize principals, supervisors, directors, and other administrators who support the field of school psychology.

South View Middle School Assistant Principal Tami Jo Cook, Ed.D., has been named to the Special Olympics’ National Education Leaders Network (NELN). She is among the nearly two dozen national leaders in special education, research, social equity, education leadership and Special Olympics included in the newest NELN cohort.

A team of four EHS juniors are finalists in the Project Green Challenge, which drew competing teams of high school and college students from around the world.

Secondary students in Edina Public Schools will observe a moment of silence on Friday, Sept. 10 in remembrance of the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001.

Congratulations to Edina Senior Allie Murphy for being named the Star Tribune All-Metro Sports Difference Maker for the 2020-21 school year!

Ryan Longley, EHS biology teacher, was recently selected as a Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction by The National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS). A role model to students, Longley was nominated by her former Edina student for outstanding dedication and commitment to excellence in the profession.

With an increase in anti-Asian incidents, Zhuo Wang, Chinese teacher at South View, Valley View, and Edina High School, knew that she and her students needed to do something to raise awareness.

Taylor Porthan, a ninth grader at Edina High School, will be a delegate to the Congress of Future Medical Leaders, June 26-27. Porthan will represent Minnesota based on her skills in leadership, academic achievement, and her passion to join the field of medicine.

When Atman Jahagirdar, an 11th grader at Edina High School, noticed hesitancy in his community during a measles outbreak in Hennepin County, he felt inclined to dig deeper. After reading an article about vaccine hesitancy by Dr. Anita Shet, a researcher at Johns Hopkins, Jahagirdar reached out to her to learn more.

The Edina 212 student leadership group will be sharing their story on The Power of Young People to Change the World, a radio show hosted by the National Youth Leadership Council, on Thursday, April 22, at 5 p.m.

Two Edina High School senior Global Scholars, Aashna Kumar and Emma Johnson, won Exceptional Ministerial Delegates awards at the Model G20® Youth Leadership Summit, which took place February 12-20. The theme of the summit was “Addressing Climate Change.”

Devarsh Borah, an eighth grader at Valley View Middle School (VVMS), took first place in the middle school division with his video submission for the Minnesota Urban Debate League and Star Tribune-sponsored essay/video competition on criminal justice reform.

The Human Rights & Relations Commission recently honored organizers of the summer “Seeds of Change” art installation at 50th & France with the 2020 Tom Oye Human Rights Award for championing human rights in the community.

City of Edina Mayor Jim Hovland, presented the Edina MealFund with the Mayor’s Commendation for Service to Youth on Aug. 3. This commendation is presented annually to any individual or organization making a positive impact on the lives of Edina youth.

Edina Public Schools is pleased to announce the hiring of Dr. Tami Jo Cook as Assistant Principal at South View Middle School. Cook has been Dean of Students at South View since 2005.

Edina Public Schools is pleased to announce the hiring of Jody De St. Hubert as the district’s next Director of Teaching and Learning. She is currently principal at Alice Smith Elementary in the Hopkins school district.

Kathy Rendleman, executive director of the Edina Education Fund has received the Rotary Club of Edina’s Chrysanne Manoles Women in Leadership Award. The award honors and celebrates the work of women in the community.

Edina Public Schools Digital Learning Specialists Sean Beaverson and Michael Walker have been selected by the Edina Chamber of Commerce as the 2020 Teachers of the Year.

Lila Emerson and Claire Wegmann-Krider, both eighth graders at South View Middle School in Edina, were drafted by the Minnesota Lynx as their 2020 Nike Game Growers, and will be graduating from the program at the end of May.

Edina High School took first place in the Adam Smith division of the State Economics Challenge competition, the most challenging division for students in advanced classes.

This year, 19 employees are retiring from positions all across the district. Collectively, they have contributed 358 years of service to EPS students, families and colleagues. Unfortunately, in light of the current social distancing guidelines, the district is not able to honor them with the in-person retirement celebration that has traditionally been held.

A group of EHS students are using their expertise on the college application process to raise awareness and funds for the Edina Meal Fund COVID-19 Response. The students are all members of the Youth Committee of the Edina Chinese Association (ECA) and they have already raised $2,500 to help provide meals to students who are experiencing food insecurity during the coronavirus outbreak.

Four Edina Public Schools volunteers were recognized for their leadership and contributions at the annual Edina Community Foundation Connecting with Kids leadership breakfast on March 13.

Project Earth is an environmental, student-led club at Edina High School. The group works to raise awareness of environmental problems.

All are welcome to join the Edina Public Schools Legislative Action Committee (LAC) to advocate for public schools at the annual Day at the Minnesota State Capitol, Tuesday, March 17, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

A team of students from Edina High School (EHS) recently concluded an exceptional round of competition in the twelfth season of CyberPatriot – the Air Force Association’s National Youth Cyber Defense Competition.

Yash Mangalick, a junior at Edina High School, is one of two students selected to represent Minnesota at the U.S. Senate Youth Program (USSYP) in Washington, D.C. The week-long program provides students an opportunity to experience national government in action.

Olivia Pierce, a senior at Edina High School (EHS), was one of two recipients of Edina’s 2019 Tom Oye Award, which honors socially-minded residents and their pursuits of equity and fairness.

A team of South View Middle School educators and administrators were honored by the Institute for Personalized Learning with the Trailblazer Award at the group’s 10th Annual National Convening Oct. 7-8.

Chris Holden’s ability to spark learners has not gone unnoticed. During a school assembly in September, Holden was honored as a Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques (Knight of the Order of Academic Palms) by the Consul General of France in Chicago.

Across the district, hundreds of elementary student participants entered the “Better Together” student sculpture competition, hosted by the Edina Arts and Culture Commission and the Edina Community Foundation. This competition involved student creating 3-D model of a sculpture, known as a “maquette,” to represent what “Better Together” means to them.

After months of work, the Edina School Board is ready to share a draft of the next strategic plan for Edina Public Schools in a series of invitation and open stakeholder meetings, and an online feedback form. The Board is expected to approve the Draft 2020-2025 Strategic Plan at the Sept. 16 regular meeting.

Edina High School staff, community partners and families honored honored 174 EHS students for their dedication to serving the community at the Community Service Letter ceremony on June 3.

Edina High School sophomore Ryan Zhu won the 2019 Federal Reserve Student Essay Contest. For the past 31 years, the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis has hosted an annual Student Essay Contest open to all high school students that live within the Ninth Federal Reserve District. This year’s prompt was: “Use economics to describe and defend an effective immigration policy.”

Margo Bauck, retiring director of Edina Public Schools Business Services Department, was presented the Outstanding Lifetime Contribution Award by the Minnesota Association of School Business Officials at their annual conference in Duluth, May 9.

EHS senior Andrea Richardson received the 2019 Rose Rees Peace Award from the National Council of Jewish Women – Minnesota (NCJW) at a ceremony on May 1. 

Every day at Highlands, students are reading, writing, doing math, and learning new skills in their classrooms. They are also being encouraged to make a difference in the world around them. When it comes to the environment, kids have stepped up in big ways.

Earlier this year, two Edina High School teachers participated in a unique professional development opportunity. Claude Sigmund, social studies, and Sara Swenson, media specialist, attended the Marine Corps Educators Workshop at Camp Pendleton in California. They were invited by EHS alumni Sgt. Indiana Bloom.

The bell rings and students rush to the pool in hopes of not missing a single moment of Flex. It’s Friday at South View Middle School (SVMS) and students have come to the pool for one specific purpose: to improve their swimming skills.

Edina Public Schools (EPS) has received the 2019 Environmental Leadership award for adopting “cutting edge techniques” for snow and ice management.

Once a month a group of Edina High School (EHS) parents come together to learn more about each other. On the surface, they are a diverse group of cultures, religions and beliefs, but the parents have quickly discovered they have more in common than not.

Another means of supporting and guiding Edina High School (EHS) students toward wellness is in place with the addition of chemical dependency counseling services on campus.

The new flexible learning spaces at Edina Public Schools are a popular site for students to extend their learning in a variety of ways.

Edina High School (EHS) junior Anushka Thorat has been selected to serve on the Minnesota Youth Council, representing Minnesota Congressional District 3.

 Edina High School (EHS) student leadership group, Edina 212, has been awarded a grant of $3,050 as part its new partnership with the Walser Foundation.

 Edina High School teacher Lindsey Smaka has been selected as a recipient of the Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms program.

Edina High School (EHS) senior Adrian Lampron received the 2018 Rose Rees Peace Award from the National Council of Jewish Women – Minnesota (NCJW) at a ceremony April 25. Adrian is one of 25 area students to receive the award, which is given to high school seniors who have a “demonstrated interest in and commitment to international relations and world peace.”

Eleven fifth graders in Normandale Elementary’s Young Scholars (YS) program are working to make a difference after reading a book that inspired them to share what they had learned.

Three Edina High School (EHS) seniors and two school district volunteers -- and their four-legged partners -- were recently honored at the City of Edina’s annual Volunteer Recognition Reception at Braemar Golf Club.

Countryside Elementary School and the Rotary Club of Edina will celebrate Arbor Day with a ceremonial tree planting on the school grounds April 27 at 10:30 a.m.

What does the future of education look like in Edina? What is the role of race and equity in student learning? Join Taiyon Coleman and Shannon Gibney, college professors, professional writers, mentors and mothers as they tackle these important questions and more on Wednesday, April 11, 7-8:30 p.m. in the Normandale Auditorium.

Julie Mickschl, physical education teacher at Highlands Elementary, will receive one of 10 national Jump Rope For Heart/Hoops For Heart grants from the Society of Health and Physical Educators America.

Several Edina schools are participating in NFL Super Kids, Super Sharing, an event leading up to Super Bowl LII.

Fifth grade entrepreneurs turned the Cornelia gym into a holiday market for the school's 37th annual Craft Bazaar on Dec. 20. The students made and sold items as a fundraiser. They voted to send their profits to the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation in support of their classmate who has the disease.