Ramsey Resident - 1985 - March/April

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, ~ ~ I I .~ 1 I ,.l I I 1 I j! ' ,. : '..{:~ ...... 1 ~ I 1.1 : I I ;' I , , I' "I Il, II, l" I), I , )i' - . II f '11 J.I 'joi -' < I' ~[ ~. ,I ... -- I -: l.' ,( .~ . >', I Tri.Cily Newsletter - March/April, 1985 - Page 20 '-1 Kids like, school for lots- of reasons Students in Anoka-Hen- nepin find lots of things to like about school - everything from exciting classes, nice teachers and good friends, to great lunches and clean classrooms. As a districtwide Pride Week activity, the com- munications department ask- . ed elementary teachers to find out just what it is that students like about school. Students throughout the district were asked to jot 90wn what they like about school and why they are proud of their school. Their responses were delightful. Some were simple 'and straight forward, some were downright funny, and others touched the heart. If a' prize were to be award- ed for the best answer, it would likely go to Kristin Hill, grade five, Dayton School. Kristin summarizes what a school should be like: "What I like about school is that there is . learning and sharing and dreaming and laughing." One of the funniest responses came from C,hris, tine Rehm, a fourth grader at Riverview School. "I am proud of my school because every- one helps me and none of my teachers scream at me...they don't even holler if you bring a live clam to school, because it's nice to share, and they do not say 'Oh, ick!". Lots of students said they like school because of the nice teachers. Melissa Ket- chum, fourth grader at Ramsey School, said the best thing about school ,is her teacher. "She's funny, and pushes you to work so you can be smart like the presi- dent." And then there were lots of students who like school because, of the friends they meet. "What I like about school is the chance to meet new people. You,meet people that turn out to be your best friends," said Barb Powell, a sixth grader at Morris Bye School. Nearly every area of the cur- riculum was mentioned as someone,'s favorite. Josh Her- zog, an L.O. Jacob fourth grader, likes reading best for a somewhat practical reason: "Reading gives your eyes ex- ercise, and it gives your fingers a break," he wrote. Michelle Duul's parents have obviously influenced her choice of 'a favorite subject -math. "like math because my mom and dad told me that when I get older, I'll have to be a good math person because when I have bills I would get it done fasfer. Math is such a fun subject." Michelle is a fifth grader at Crooked Lake School. Our "hands-on". science program has lots of appeal for Kevin Wagner, a fourth grader at L.O. jacob School. Kevin "Gift of Knowledge" certificates available Anoka A VTI is now offering Gift certificates are not "Gift of Knowledge" gift cer- refundable but if the amount tificates that can be. applied . of the certificate exceeds tui- . toward tuition for any day or tion, the remainder can be us- evening course. ed to purchase books or sup- The gift certificates can be plies in the AVTI bookstore. purchased through the Adult For information contact the Extension Office. Adult Extension Office, 427-1880. Study on course selectio"n , planned Do high scnool students avoid difficult Classes like physics or foreign language in favor of "easy A's" just to maintain a high grade point average? While there are a lot of opinions on the subject, there are few facts to substantiate them. There will be soon, though. Anoka-Hennepin has con- tracted with the University of Minnesota Center for Educa- tional Policy Studies to deter- mine if high school students are taking courses that match their abilities. The study, which will be en- titled Courses, Aptitude, and Excellence in Anoka.Henne. pin District No. 11, will use statistics from seniors graduating this' spring to determine, among. other. things, the extent to which high aptitude students take advanced courses. The study' will also look at factors that affect student choice of courses, the role of grade point average in selecting courses and in district opera- tions. The study will make use of a student questionnaire that will focus on factors affecting course choice such as advice 'of counselors, teachers, friends, interest in the sub- ject, amount of work involved, etc. It will also look at data such as aptitude test scores, courses taken, grades earned, etc. Information from the study, which will be conducted by Professor Charles Sederberg, may be used to assist the school district in responding to reform efforts in education. ... ;.. likes science best "because you get to fool around with different things and pretend you are a real scientist." Missy Andresen's favorite is social studies "because it tells about all the explorers and people that suffer to prove things right...it tells about people dying, and peo- ple being saved." Missy is a fifth grader at Dayton School. Jody P., a second grader at McKinley School, fairly sings about her favorite subject. "La! La! La! I like music. It makes me feel good all over." Then there were those who had so many favorites they couldn't single out just one. Scott Myers, a Morris Bye third grader, picked reading, language, math, and science as his favorites. "They are im- portant to me because I want to become a computer pro- gra,mmer or fly a space shut- tie," wrote Scott. Melissa Frenche's .list of favorites is even longer than Scott's. "I like language and music, social and reading, math and health. ,They are all fantastic subjects." Melissa is a fourth grader at Crooked Lake School. But Bryan Smith, Crooked Lake fifth grader, perhaps summed it up best with his simple statement" "a person would be really lost without school." Advanced Electronics options now available at Anoka A VTI Two short-term Advanced Electronics options are now available at Anoka AVTI. The first is an 80-hour robotics course which teaches power systems, hydraulics, and pneumatics basics, robot ap- plications, and more. Stu- dents will have hands-on ex- perience in programming and operating robots. Automatic Test Equipment, a second short-term option, is available the second year of the electronics program. This 100-hour course deals with in- strumentation controllers, system analysis, computer controller of test and measurement instrumenta- tion, and adaptation to major manufacturers of electronic- based equipment. Both options, have a prere- quisite of microprocessing programming, interfacing, and standards of callibration. Students who go into' these options should have suc- cesfully completed a full elec~ tronics program or be in the process of completing a two- year electronics program. For more information, call Jerry Arzdorf, counselor for' electronics programs, at' Anoka AVTI, 427-1880, ext. 213. Over, 200 students participate in bovvling tournament Over 200 students in Anoka-Hennepin School Dist- , rict 11 's adapted physical education program parti- cipated in a bowling tourna- ment recently. "The tournament was an extension of our adapted physical education program," said Steve Walen, adapted physical education instructor. "Most of the students had units in bowling before the tournament so it gave them a chance to try what they had learned. " Walen said the bowfing ac. tivity gives students the op- portunity to participate in a lite time sport that they can enjoy after leaving school., The adapted physical edu- cation st,qff decided to hold the tournament as a substi- tute for student participation in the Special Olympics because more students could be involved. Students were awarded rib- bons for participation in the event. "The kids really en- joyed themselves. We plan to make the tournament an an- nual event," said Walen.