The unexpected but glorious benefits of teaching at Mound Westonka!

Today's post is from 2017 Minnesota Teacher of the Year - Corey Bulman

This year has taught me to expect the unexpected. I sat on the stage for the Minnesota Teacher of the Year ceremony on May 7th in awe of my my fellow nominees. I did not expect to be there. I was able to get to know the 10 other teachers that were finalists during the Teacher of the Year weekend. I felt very grateful to be included in such company. I was ready to congratulate the chosen educator and head on home to mow my lawn. Funny things happen though when you least expect them. The moment the 2016 Teacher of the Year, Abdul Wright said the words, “Mound Westonka,” I knew that I had once again learned that the unexpected is always possible.

People that know me well, know that I don’t react well to praise. I get squirmy and laugh it off. Here’s the truth though: I am very proud to be the Minnesota Teacher of the Year. I am proud because I have worked so hard with other committed educators to build something special at Mound Westonka High School. Let’s face it: Mound Westonka is an unexpected place. Walking around the building you might miss the creativity that is tucked into its strange hallways and its nooks and crannies. At any given time, students are composing amazing writing, mastering the trumpet, throwing exquisite pieces on the ceramics wheel, and working through elaborate math equations. A turn down any hallway can lead one to find the unexpected. Students are collaborating together on History projects, learning new business skills, speaking Chinese or Spanish, and tackling some of the 21st century’s toughest scientific problems. Those hallways are full of unexpected power.

People have asked me in the past month why I’ve stayed at the same school for so long. I always find this an unexpected question. The answer is simple: where else would I go? Mound Westonka is my home (in fact, there’s even been a sign up in the parking lot the last month reminding me that it’s my home, lest I forget). Teaching is a funny career because its success is not measured by the dollars you make, the number of corporations where you’ve hung your badge and your hat, nor the number of direct reports that call you “boss.” No, a successful teaching career is measured by the quality of your relationships, the number of students you help to get across the 12th grade finish line, and the size of the smiles you see on the faces that pass you on the way into the building. These are the unexpected but glorious benefits of teaching at Mound Westonka. The little things - the Monday morning weekend debriefs, the random questions we share, the quirky dress up days, and hallway hellos are what make my work life here complete. This is where the families I have known for years live, where my friends work, and where my beloved classroom exists. Again, where else would I go? Here is the place where I’ve come to expect the unexpected.

Yes, I have pretty special title right now. I am one of only 53 teachers chosen to represent the state as its Teacher of the Year. I know though that the fanfare will eventually die down, and then I’ll just go back to being regular old Mr. Bulman, English teacher at Mound Westonka High School. I am fine with this and I expect it. I’m fine with it because I care more about all the unexpected events that I will get to experience with my Westonka students and colleagues in the years to come, than I do about the title. These experiences will drive my life long after I hand this award off to the next teacher waiting to take over as the Minnesota Teacher of the Year.

I am proud to be an educator at Mound Westonka High School. I never expected to be Minnesota Teacher of the Year, but I am glad that it happened while working at this school. I will work hard this next year to make sure that people in this state know what to expect when a Westonka student comes their way. If they forget though, I know we’ll be fine because you’ll remind them. Your talents, creativity, and drive will let them know that it is always a great day to be a White Hawk. 

Mr. Corey Bulman

Students and staff welcoming home the 2017 Minnesota Teacher of the Year

Editor's note: In 2013 when two MWHS students decided to start the blog, they knew they wanted the first post to have an impact.  They approached their favorite teacher, Mr. Bulman, to ask him to get the blog started with a bang.  His message was simple, he was proud to be a White Hawk. We thought it was fitting to end the blog this year with his incredible message about the benefits of teaching in our district.  Everyone in the Westonka School District is so proud of Mr. Bulman and wish him luck and success in the year ahead!

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More than a Motto, Welcoming School and Supportive Student Culture

Today's post is from MWHS Principal Mark McIlmoyle

Small School Advantages, Big School Opportunities. It’s much more than a catchy motto. This is clear commitment on the part of Westonka Schools and Mound Westonka High School to invest deeply in trying to provide as many opportunities as possible for young people to explore new interests. This approach to education nurtures the natural curiosity people young and old possess in trying new things and I see our students trying new activities, new sports for the first time on a regular basis. I hear students say these sorts of things all of the time: “I haven’t tried speech before, but I’m interested. I’ll give it a try.” “I am playing basketball and football, but I have always wanted to do Quiz Bowl . . . yeah, I’m going to try Quiz Bowl.” “I’m going to play tennis this year/ I’ve never played but I like Mr. Paul and I’m interested in trying it.” In short, environments that nurture this level of curiosity (to try new things at any point in a 8-12th grade experience) just does not exist everywhere.

I am also very proud of the welcoming environment MWHS possesses. When we have visitors to our school, the first thing they describe of their experience from the main office to walking the hallways in passing time, is what a welcoming environment we have here at the high school. You can tell a lot about what a place values by spending just a short time observing. When visitors arrive, they experience a welcoming, smiling office staff. Visitors experience students that not only represent themselves effectively and employ great manners, but they are always willing to assist in providing directions or lending a hand. I do not take this environment for granted. I am grateful for everyone’s efforts to represent MWHS so incredibly well and I challenge us to keep up the effort as it sets our school apart!

Finally, our student culture is a supportive one. Students show up to each other’s events to support one another. Students who are concerned about one another, look to adults for help and to intervene. We must keep this commitment at the forefront of our goals as a school. Being there for one another, in easy and challenging times provides a backbone to a student culture that is strong. White Hawk strong.

You have worked hard. The summer months are upon us and it is time for you to get some rest and play. Have a safe and happy summer and know that your Principal is proud to call himself a White Hawk and is proud of the students and staff that he works with every day to make the above points of pride, possible.

MWHS Harbor Group - there for anyone who needs a friend!

Today's post is from senior Link Crew Leaders Addy Davis and Kali Anderson

This is our second year of Harbor Group at MWHS. Last year, the current senior Link Crew leaders went to go see Mike Smith talk about why he started Harbor Group through Jostens yearbook company. His speech inspired us senior leaders to create our own Harbor Group at MWHS.

The reason why we wanted to start this group was because we wanted to create a better student culture in our school. We wanted to bring together people that normally wouldn't think about being friends and to be there for anyone who needed a friend. Harbor Group was not a mandatory group for Link Crew leaders to be apart of, but many seniors joined because they wanted to have an impact on the under-classman at our school.

Last summer 4 of our members (Ariel Crawford, Adeline Davis, AJ Bomar and Megan Martin) along with the 5 Link advisors got the chance to travel to Orlando, Florida for the Josten’s Renaissance Conference. At this conference there were breakout sessions that the group split up and attended where they learned different ways to make Mound Westonka a better place. They also got to see Jordan Sparks perform, go to DisneyWorld and meet the face of Renaissance, Mike Smith. Everyone had a great time and learned so much that they were able to bring back to MWHS.

With the help of the Link Crew advisors, we were able to do fun things with the under-classman. This year, we went to the Roller Garden for a night of roller skating and traveled to AirMaxx for a fun night of jumping. Harbor Group has done many things to improve our school culture and all of the seniors that have been apart of Harbor Group have had such a fun time and are excited to see where the group will go within the upcoming years. We are so thankful to have started this group here at MWHS and have grown as people because of the support we have given the under-classmen.

Megan, Addy, Mike, AJ and Ariel

Link Advisors and girls

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2017 MWHS Prom -- A Class Act!

Today's post is from MWHS Assistant Principal Marty Fischer

This past Saturday, MWHS Student Senate put on another incredible prom. The festivities started with the Grand March in the MWHS Gymnasium with dinner and dance at Lafayette Club immediately following. In my 20+ years of supervising prom, I have not been more proud of our students than I was on this particular Saturday.

Why? Simply put: Our students are always so respectful of the people and property around them. It was so refreshing to hear one of the Lafayette Club staff members say to another, “I can’t believe how many students are saying thank you!” What is so nice about that is they get to see what I see all the time in and out of school. Our students shine in some of the most respectful ways.

But what made the 2017 Prom even more special was the desire of our seniors to include two students with special needs on the Prom Court. I had the chance to talk to Nate Ogreen and Sienna Hackbarth after they were announced for Court. They were ecstatic! And so humble. Nate wanted to make sure everyone around him knew how grateful he was that his own classmates voted him to be on Prom Court. They both accepted this honor with grace and humility.

What they didn’t know was that the juniors and seniors were then planning to vote them in as King and Queen! They would have never predicted something like that. They were so honored to simply be named a Court member. I will never forget the moment. The ladies opened their reveal cards first and Sienna had won! All of the ladies surrounded her and gave the most emotional group hug that I have ever seen at a Grand March. The gentlemen opened their cards next to reveal Nate had also won! The look on Nate’s face was one of sheer disbelief combined with utter joy. Priceless.

WCCO heard of this possible story and came out to catch the moment on film. And I am so glad they did. The close-up of Nate’s face, followed by his and Sienna’s comments to the reporter were moments that would cause any eye to be filled with emotion. As a parent of a special needs child myself, I felt the emotion of two students, their parents, and the staff who work with them personally. And then my attention quickly turned to the students who saw their abilities, and not their disabilities, as they rallied to have them be THEIR King and Queen.

When I list my “most proud” moments as an Assistant Principal, the 2017 Prom will be right there at the top with the best of them! Way to go, students. You got it right!

Sienna & Nate

(If you want to see the WCCO story, please check it out here.)

WCCO coverage

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Living the DECA Dream

Today's post is from senior Tiffany Nguyen

DECA... where do I even begin to talk about this club that has brought so much joy, creativity, and confidence in myself. DECA is a business club that teaches students to be professional and prepares them for the business world through role playing and written projects.

Let’s rewind back to ninth grade... I was a shy, and awkward person who was afraid to raise her hand in class. I joined DECA because I kept hearing about how much fun it was. I didn’t really know what I was doing, so I stayed after school a lot and asked the advisors for help. I’m pretty sure they were sick of me by the second week of DECA. I made it to state my first year and I thought it was beyond cool how thousands of kids came together to compete in events that they were passionate in. I remember distinctly having so much pride whenever Westonka DECA was called on stage. After my first year, I was hooked.

Moving on to tenth grade... I was gaining more confidence in my speaking abilities and decided to take a risk. Because what is life without a risk? I ran to be an officer for DECA and was elected. After my speech, my brother and his friends stood on chairs and gave me standing ovations. I felt on top of the world. Being an officer was an amazing experience for me. I got to work behind the scenes and help fellow students with their projects as well as offer my own insight on creative aspects. That year, I worked on my first chapter project. In DECA, a chapter project is a yearlong endeavor that involves the entire chapter in promoting an idea or event. I did a creative marketing project on Westonka Tech Interns (WTI). With partners Taran Besant and Sheridan Nygard, we earn third place at state! I have had successes in the past, but this one mattered the most in my life so far because it showed me how far my hard work and dedication could get me.

In my junior year of DECA I felt so confident going into that year. My partners and I decided to do a project on The Truth, which aimed to end smoking in teens. This project hit close to home for me because my dad used to smoke. At state I was very shocked when a project that that I put so much time and energy in didn’t make it. It just reminded me that sometimes really great projects don’t make it. However, I still worked really hard on a Fashion Merchandising Promotional Plan on a company called Great Lakes Clothing Co.. I fell in love with the brand and its values. I was able to make it to internationals for the second time

Senior year definitely stands above the rest in terms of my memorable experiences. I was selected the president of the chapter. I greatly enjoyed helping younger students with their projects, because they reminded me of myself. This year, I did a project on Because I Said I Would, which aims to make sure that people keep their promises. Sheridan Nygard, Zach Riffle, and I worked all year to explain Alex Sheen (the founder’s) vision of the movement. Since we consistently reached out to him on social media, we were able to actually bring him to our school which was a dream come true. This project will always hold a special place in my heart because we spent so much time creating opportunities for students and staff to become involved. But having Alex actually come to explain his movement impacted the school in a such positive way and will be a day that I will never forget.

I can’t thank all of the advisor and fellow community members enough for the support I have received throughout the years. Joining DECA was the best decision of my high school career. It gave me a place to call home. Thank you for letting me be your president, it has been an honor of a lifetime.

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Westonka always asks, "What's best for kids?"

Today's post is from Mark Femrite, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching & Learning

As I start to plan for the 17-18 school year, I am reminded about what a special place the Westonka Public Schools is for students, their families and staff.

Over the past 10 years our teachers have implemented new instructional strategies, embraced technology and have developed new ways to meet the individual learning needs of all of our students. It has been quite remarkable the work that has been accomplished on these fronts. The process to innovate has always been the same . . . starting with answering the question, “What’s best for kids?”, then doing our research, piloting and figuring out how best to implement.

This process has served the district well. In the last 10 years, we have implemented the following:

• The PLC (Professional Learning Communities) School Improvement Model 
• EDGE21 Technology Plan and K-12 1:1 technology device program 
• Westonka Tech Intern course at MWHS where students have the opportunity to become certified Dell Chromebook repair technicians 
• A state grant to provide effective intervention programs for students needing academic support 
• A new elementary literacy program that focuses on individual needs of students 
• Incorporation of 21st century skills (critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, communication and creativity) into student learning 
• Personalized Learning strategies to deepen student engagement and learning 
• Implementation of a K-12 engineering program that includes elementary units on engineering, STEM (Stem, Technology Engineering and Mathematics) classes at the middle school and a certified engineering program at the high school leading to college credit 
• The development of an Integrated STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics) high school Physics course 
• K-12 Phyed implementation of the Heart Zone Fitness Program that has been a game-changer to make physical education more relevant and meaningful to students 
• The hiring of talented teachers to guide our efforts and support teachers with the implementation of technology and personalized learning strategies 
• The continued tradition of strong music, theater and art programs across our schools 

All of these innovations started with an idea, a can-do attitude, a supportive school board and a staff willing to step up to the plate to make it happen. Affirming our work have been numerous awards for our schools from outside organizations calling out the exceptional education provided to our students, best-in-state standardized test scores and school districts visiting our schools and engaging in discussions with our staff about our programming and approaches to learning. The greatest compliment was paid when the Minnesota Commission of Education, Brenda Cassellius paid a visit to our school district on Friday, April 21st to learn about approaches to learning and programs for students.

I am excited about what the future holds for Westonka. As I shared at the beginning, the Westonka Public Schools is a special place for students, their families and staff. It is an honor to be a part of this team.

MN Education Commissioner Cassellius visiting with students from the MWHS Integrated Physics Class

MN Education Commissioner Cassellius visiting with Westonka first graders

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Field of Dreams Experience for MWHS White Hawk Baseball

Today's post is from senior captain Hunter Ellis

As my time as a Mound Westonka baseball player winds down, I have begun to reflect upon my fondest baseball experiences. In my three years on the varsity team I’ve collected memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life. These memories include the privilege of playing the greatest game on earth in the beautiful, yet unpredictable Minnesota spring. Another cherished memory has been the friendships built by the sport. Colorful conversation between teammates constantly echoes throughout the bus rides and in the dugout. Perhaps the most recent memory that I have is playing Wright County Conference opponent Rockford at the newly opened U.S Bank Stadium.

There is a certain buzz that surrounds our team whenever we have a great opportunity ahead of us. Whether it’s the anticipation to see which team we will face in an upcoming section playoff game, or the childlike giddiness that fuels our passion before a crucial inning, our team has passion. That passion was amplified as the entire team was ecstatic for the chance to play at the massive downtown sports cathedral on Wednesday. Each and every one of us made sure that our uniforms were extra clean, and that our cleats had an extra shine the night before. Each and every one of us carried excitement, and had an extra hop in our step throughout the afternoon and into the late evening.

The game couldn’t have gone much better for the White Hawks. A 14-1 win in five rapid innings. The victory was a complete team effort. The pitching was nearly perfect. The offense knocked the ball throughout the park causing echoes of bat-to-ball contact to ring throughout the massive stadium. In a game that exceeded our expectations of success, the win is not what I will take away from that humid April night in Minneapolis.

What I will take away from my experience of playing at U.S Bank Stadium is the thrill that I saw in my peers. It wasn’t necessary for the stadium employees to turn on the overhead stadium lights, because the smiles coming from the White Hawk bench were enough to light up the stadium in it’s entirety. Baseball is, has, and always will be a kids’ game. For one final time for many of the White Hawks, we were kids again. With the overwhelming cloud of the adult world hanging ahead of the seniors on the team, it was an incredible escape into the exuberant realm of childhood dreams once more. We escaped into our own Field of Dreams, and dipped ourselves into the magic waters of happiness.

Playing at U.S Bank Stadium is an experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life. It’s moments such as this in our lives that we relish in, and that will be a conversation piece for quite some time to come. There is no other group of peers that I would rather have experienced this opportunity with, as we truly came together as a team, and sank in the magnitude of our experience. I feel that the team pride is at an all time high, and that we will continue to give it our all, not for ourselves, but for the team, for the remainder of the season.

2017 MWHS Boys Baseball Team at US Bank Stadium

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Pride in the MWHS Speech Team!

Today's post is from senior MWHS Speech Captain Megan Martin

It’s hard to believe my time on the Mound Westonka Speech Team has come to an end. After five years of dedication and having the privilege of being captain senior year, I could not be more proud of our team. Although we may not always have brought home the most ribbons, trophies, or medals, one of the things that has always stuck out to me is the camaraderie and dedication this team possesses.

As an eighth grader, the upperclassmen welcomed me to the team and I immediately felt like I was a part of the family; speech team has always been a place where I felt accepted and where no amount of craziness was judged. For example, I distinctly remember the sophomore boys singing “The Ultimate Showdown” (a song about superheroes) at the top of their lungs on the bus to speech meets. These same boys also used a GoPro as seniors to film their shenanigans during speech meets. I will also never forget a group of upperclassmen girls who made me feel especially welcomed in my 8th and 9th grade years; these three girls included Lily, Emma, and Claire. These girls always encouraged me and their dedication to the team still inspires me to this day.

During my freshmen year, we lost all three of our coaches. Lily, Emma, and Claire were the captains of the team this year. Since we were only able to find one coach, the captains also helped coach the kids on the team. The next year, Claire’s mom helped coach; Claire and Emma helped us meet the requirement for judges as well. Although this was not a perfect situation, these girls truly helped the speech team survive and built the backbone of our speech team today. As a captain, I looked to these girls as my role models and aspired to have the amount of dedication that these ladies have. Without their hard work and dedication, we most likely would not have a speech team today. Furthermore, the dedication of our current coaches and the hard work and energy of my teammates has helped make this season incredible.

One of the reasons I am so proud of the Mound Westonka Speech Team is because of the improvement we have shown from last year to this year. Last year, we only had thirteen kids on the speech team, many of whom were first year members. As a result, we did not have many kids breaking into finals or receiving awards. However, after members of the team recruited kids and Coach Rhys sought assistant coaches (Coach Hamilton and Coach Rausch), our size has more than doubled. Fortunately, more experienced coaches and members has allowed our team to thrive and grow. Going from zero kids breaking in Varsity Finals at Marshall, to having nine kids place at Conference, and finally having two kids break into semifinals at Sections, our team has improved tremendously throughout the season. Although we may not have brought home first place at every meet, I am so proud of the growth our team.

I am incredibly grateful to have been a part of such a dedicated and hardworking team. Although the season has come to an end, the friendships I created with fellow teammates and my coaches will allow me to keep speech team a part of my life forever. As A. A. Milne once said, “How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”

2016-17 Speech Team

Ms. Rausch and Megan

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MWHS Wind Ensemble & Concert Choir Tour visits New Orleans!

Today's post is from junior Diana Hoernemann

This past Monday, I came back from spring break and I could tell who had taken a trip to somewhere warm and sunny. However, my spring break trip was a little early this year. The week before break, I had the opportunity to travel to New Orleans as a part of Wind Ensemble. I traveled with other members of the top band and choir at MWHS. I had been down South before, but this was my first time visiting New Orleans, so I was excited.
Now, I can’t write about our trip without mentioning that we took 2 coach buses (unofficially known as the “loud” and “quiet” buses) down south with nearly 100 people. Since we drove through the night both there and back, there was little chance for a good night’s sleep on the 22 hour ride. However, we still had fun with card games, bus-wide music and attempts at homework to keep ourselves busy.

The next few days we explored New Orleans and the bayou. One highlight was going on a swamp tour. A guide took us on a boat through the swamp, and we saw wildlife such as alligators, bald eagles, and herons. We even had the chance to hold a baby alligator; something you can’t do everyday in Minnesota.

In addition to its unique wildlife, New Orleans is a city like no other. I’ve never been to a city where you can walk down the street and see numerous live bands playing and people dancing. On the first full day in the city, my small group was finishing dinner, when outside the restaurant a parade went by. They were throwing out beads and flowers to the people lining the street like a classic New Orleans parade. It was so much fun to be in such a lively city. Even when we visited the U.S Mint Museum, we danced to the music of a local band, the Pinettes. We also spent time shopping in Jackson Square and the French Market, as well as strolling through the Aquarium of the Americas.

One of my favorite parts of this trip was our riverboat cruise on the Steamboat Natchez. The steam calliope (an organ-like instrument) that played before departure was terribly out of tune, but the quality of the cajun-style dinner alone made up for it. After dinner, we roamed about the boat and took pictures as we cruised down the Mississippi. Music on the boat was provided by another live band, so the evening was full of jazz music and dancing.

As this was a music tour, I saved the best for last. Both the band and the choir performed three times each this trip. We played near Jackson square and in a master class conducted by a university professor. The coolest performance was an exchange concert with a local high school band from East Jefferson High School. Their band marches in Mardi Gra each year, and their strength was in their impressive drumline. As we got off the bus, they lined up and performed for us. In turn, they were impressed with our band and choir’s strong musical talent. It was so cool to talk with the students from the other school and to hear about how they approached music in different ways.

This trip was an amazing experience. I loved visiting a new city and experiencing the culture of the people who live there. Not only that, but we got to share our love of music, and in turn listen to the music of others. This trip opened my eyes to new things and I enjoyed every minute of it. Since this was my last tour, I’m glad I got to explore a city where music is an integral part of its culture.

Collaboration with East Jefferson High School

22 hours on the bus!

Riverboat cruise on the Steamboat Natchez

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Pride in our Wrestling Program!

Today's post is from MWHS head wrestling coach Todd Munsterteiger

I’m sitting here today, Friday, March 17, 2017, reflecting on my 21st year as the head wrestling coach at Mound Westonka High School. We had our end of the year banquet on Tuesday, so for all intents and purposes the season is over, although it never completely ends, because I am already planning and looking forward to next year. Although this is a bittersweet time of the year- I miss the intense schedule, action, being in the moment-I also appreciate the time off and enjoy planning our next journey. One thing is crystal clear as I evaluate where we are at: we have a quality program, top to bottom, and this is a direct result of a tremendous amount of work and support from our parents, athletes, coaches, administration, and community. 

The tangible results and numbers are undeniable. We have the best numbers program-wide that we have ever had, we have had a tremendous amount of success at the youth level with severals wrestlers competing well at the national level, and we had five state entrants and a section runner-up team at the varsity level. We have a booster club that raises thousands of dollars through countless hours of volunteer work, that gives our wrestlers more resources and opportunities to improve. We have a core coaching staff that has been together for 17 years and have added quality coaches as of late that have competed at the collegiate level. 

This alone would indicate the qualities of a successful program, but what sets us apart, and is most important to me, is that we are helping to raise quality men. Through the literal blood, sweat and tears that we share with our athletes in the toughest sport in the world, they are learning life lessons on a daily basis. Lessons on the value of hard work, dealing with adversity, and winning and losing with dignity and grace. I am confident that we are successful with our ultimate goal of turning boys into men that will be great sons, husbands, fathers and productive members of society.

So as I end my current reflection on the state of the program, I can rest assured that we are truly great and accomplishing our goals. I have an inner peace knowing we are making this world a better place one wrestler at a time, and has always been the case, I am proud and privileged to be the head wrestling coach at Mound Westonka High School.

2017 MWHS Wrestling Section Team 

2017 Section Place Winners

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Math students taking on a challenge for the love of learning!

Today's post is from AP Calculus teacher Lisa Paul

I am excited to write about Moody's Mega Math Challenge, an event in which five of our seniors took part: Ariel Crawford, Sean Engelhart, Adam Fish, Andrew LaFortune, and Garrett Ryan. But before I get started, let me share a bit of my background.

I am a blessed individual. I get to spend 48 minutes every single day working with talented, motivated and enthusiastic students in the math classroom, much like any math teacher in any district. But in our small and tight-knit community, I often get to observe the development of these mathematicians over the course of consecutive years. It gives me the chance to surely know my students. And yet, do I really?

Attending any extracurricular event in our district is a thrill. Knowing virtually everyone out on the field or in the game brings a huge level of excitement to every contest I see and an even bigger sense of pride in the students I teach. Observing them in an environment different from the classroom is eye-opening. The unique interests and aptitudes of our student body never ceases to amaze me.

Moody's Mega Math Challenge was no different. The five seniors mentioned above clocked into school at 7am on a Sunday. They had 14 hours from clock-in time to solve a problem. Now, being the expert problem solvers that these AP Calculus BC students are, one might think that 14 hours was a generous amount of time. Afterall, they've been successfully solving for x for many years:) However, the problem they were tasked with has no unique answer. It was complicated. It was messy. It was real. It was unlike anything they've ever faced. And these brilliant minds annihilated the challenge in a time of 13 hours and 24 minutes. In a nutshell, they created mathematical models to assess how vulnerable 5 national parks in the US are to sea level changes, hurricanes, and fires and to predict how these types of catastrophic events would affect the attendance and financial status of the parks. Those interested can find the exact question along with all of the details of the challenge here : https://m3challenge.siam.org/

I am incredibly proud of these five students. They set their minds to work until they solved the problem, even if it took almost 14 hours on a Sunday. Their collaborative efforts were a sight to behold. They each took part in the rigors of the problem and each took part in the technical writing of their detailed solution. Their solution paper was an exquisite, 16 page document, which included graphs, tables, equations, and expert analysis. Near the end of their exhausting 14 hours together, I walked into a room full of professionals. It looked like they had been through this punishing process many times over. They were typing furiously, proofreading each other's work, retesting their projections and recapping their conclusions. And they were doing it all respectfully with smiles on their faces. They were enjoying the moment and felt the well deserved pride I share with them in their accomplishments of the day.

These MWHS scholars took on this challenge for the love of learning and for the experience. They were one of 1406 teams in the country competing for one of 6 prizes. Though I am hopeful that their outstanding work will be recognized, the richness of the day is a prize in and of itself and the students know this. In this district, I am proud to say that our students find joy and take pride in so much more than just their classroom achievements. They have much to offer and many layers to get to know. I am fortunate to have seen a glimpse of another one of those layers in these five.

Sean, Andrew, Garrett, Adam and Ariel

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MWHS students write about Being Present!

Today's post is from 9th grader Robby Brustad and 8th graders Carson Meritt & Michael Kurtz

My team and I have had the privilege of working with the student body of MWHS from the beginning of this school year on a Community Problem Solving project called B-Present. Community Problem Solving is a component of the Future Problem Solving Program International. We compete at State Competition on March 25th.

B-Present is a project about cell phone addiction. 80% of teens said they check their phone hourly. This means at our high school that almost 800 kids are checking hourly. 720 kids feel the need to check their phone right away, due to the fact that 72% of kids say they feel the need to immediately respond to texts and social networking messages. This is called FOMO - Fear of Missing Out.

We have had many actions to minimize this addiction at our school. B-Present Week is our biggest initiative. B-Present Week went into action during the week of February, 27th- March, 3rd. This week we focused on educating our student body on cell phone addiction. Michael Kurtz went onto WakeUp Westonka (announcements) and told everyone about this week through an interview with Joey Colianni. Prior to that week we put a video of Michael where he talked about what this project is. This week we were at lunch and had a present that had “B-Present” on it and students would sign their names saying they are going to "be present" in their relationships and mindful and aware of their technology use. The week before the team went to Grandview Middle School during first hour and gave a presentation about phone addiction and what the effects of it are and how to B-Present. Over the next couple weeks there will be a few more videos on WakeUp Westonka. Thank you for participating in B-Present Week.

Robby, Carson & Michael

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White Hawk Girl Hockey Pride

Today's post is from MWHS girls senior hockey captain Liz Schepers

I don’t exactly know where to begin when trying to explain what this team, this game, this community means to me, but here we go. The game I’m referring to is, of course, hockey. It seems that if there is one thing anyone knows about me it’s that I am a hockey player. I don’t mind, though, there is no better group I would want to be associated with.

They always say how fast your senior year goes by, but you never really know until you’re at the end of the road. Through my five seasons of varsity hockey there was never a time I was not proud to wear the White Hawks sweater. Even as a senior, I got goosebumps before every game, and celebrated each win as though I might never get that feeling again. The joy this team brought to the rink was infectious, and it was an honor to be their leader. It is difficult to put into words the pride I felt wearing the “C” on my chest for two seasons. It was so easy to lead a group of such driven, dedicated, and fun individuals. My teammates helped build me into the leader, person, and player I am today, and I owe them everything. They have a piece of any and every individual recognition I receive, and even though our season didn’t end the way we wanted, I hope they know how proud I am to call them my family and best friends.

Our success did not come easy, but the adversity we faced at the beginning of the season made our conference and section championships so much sweeter and brought our team closer together. People doubted us from the beginning, but we knew in in the locker room that this was the team we wanted to go to battle with. Our success also did not come without the incredible support of our families, and community members. I have never seen Thaler Arena as full as it was the night of our section semifinal win against Orono. As seniors, we cannot thank everyone enough for making our final home game better than any of us could have ever hoped for. And just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, our crowd at the section final game blew us away. Again, we are so grateful for your unwavering support, and I hope we made you proud. Even though come next year I will trade my red and black for scarlet and grey, I will always be proud to be a White Hawk! 

2017 MWHS Girls Hockey Conference Champs

Student Fan Section!

Captains Emma, Abbie, Liz and Ellie raising the Section Champs trophy!

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Community Pride

Today's post is from WeCAN Executive Director Christie Larson

WeCAN is proud to partner with the Westonka Schools in many ways. We are thankful each year for the hundreds of personal care items, toys and other items cheerfully and generously donated by the district’s staff members and families.

We are proud to share our space with the district’s GED and ELL classes each week. The students in those classes are thankful for the opportunity to learn and have inspiring messages to share with each of us.

We were proud to accept hand-tied blankets from students in the Student Senate and DECA’s “Because I said I would” project a few weeks ago. Even though the students planned another service project for Martin Luther King Day, they gathered to make the blankets on the weekend, “because they said they would.”

We appreciate the students’ pride in their community and their commitment to making their community a better place to live, a sentiment that echoes our own.

Thank you, Westonka students and staff, for everything you do for our community. You make us proud!

Hand-tied Blankets

Grandview and Hilltop Food Drives

MWHS Senate Drive

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Hawkette Dance Team Pride

Today's post is from senior Kali Anderson

As a 5th year member and a captain of the the Hawkettes Dance Team, I have never been apart of such a hardworking team. Our season started out a bit shaky. We had strong dances, but something just wasn't connecting with the judges. So our team did something that we have never done before. Over winter break, we changed over 75% of our kick dance including the song. Our team worked so hard over the break and even after. If you have never talked to a dancer, you would never know how hard it is to learn basically a brand new dance in 2 weeks, and then compete that dance a week later. Our team pushed themselves to a new level in order to increase our scores and improve as a team. Not only did we change most of our kick dance, we made huge improvements to our jazz dance. With these changes we were able to become the Wright County Conference jazz champions. Even though we were not overall conference champions like we have been the past 4 years, we kept our heads high and pushed ourselves harder for sections.

Our team's drive after conference, is why I am so proud to be apart of such a great team. We did not look at our 2nd place conference finish as a failure. We saw this as motivation to become better. We wanted to become better, not only as a team, but as individuals. In order to become better, we need to come together as a team more than we ever have before. Teamwork is what sets our team apart from other sports. We all have to be able to execute each move in the exact same way as one another. This is why dance team is so unique because we all have be at the same level as one another. Also, in dance, you only get one chance to show the judges and everyone what you got. We do not have multiple tries to impress the judges. We are looking forward to see how we place at state this year. State is held at the Target Center. Jazz is on February 17th at 3 pm and kick is on February 18th at 2 pm. Come show your support for the Hawkettes Dance Team!

2016-17 Hawkette Dance Team

Hawkette Captains -- Kali, Ariel, & Lauren

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MWHS Senior Mural Pride

Today's post is from seniors Ava Wagner and Quinn Tice

The 2017 senior mural is finally complete!

This piece focuses on the growth that each student undergoes in high school. We decided to show the transformation that takes place in these formative years. A unifying factor in all of our lives is Lake Minnetonka. 

We placed a map of it in the background as it has been a part of so many memories with our classmates. The physical progression that a high school student encounters is demonstrated in the figures in the foreground as they are growing up. 

From left to right, the figures go from eighth to twelfth grade. For the eighth grader, we put an extremely heavy backpack on them to show the stress and shock of high school that we remember experiencing. In remembrance of our classmate Joe Goldenstein who passed away in our freshman year, we painted a blue shirt on the figure, as it was his favorite color. 

Additionally, we added his football number to the backpack. Sophomore year we added car keys to symbolize the newfound freedoms that come with having a driver's license. Come junior year, the backpack came off and a chromebook was added to illustrate how digital all of our course work has become. For senior year we chose the most iconic moment in high school that we all look forward to, graduation day.

Be sure to check out the mural in the senior hallway, outside of the media center.

The Mural Team:  Quinn, Ava, Evan, Mrs. Hensley, Tiffany, Emma & Brianna 

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Thriving in Westonka!

Today's post is from parent and Secondary Technology Integrationist Kristin Wallace

I began my career in Westonka over 20 years ago as a member of the MWHS English Department. During the past two decades, the school has been my second home and both of us have experienced tremendous change and growth since the late 90s. So if you had asked me last year if there was anything I didn’t know about the school or the staff, I would have confidently chuckled feeling I have done and seen it all. Until this fall happened!

In September, I entered into a new and unfamiliar role at MWHS, one of parent to an incoming 8th grader. This past semester, I gained new insight and appreciation for the students and the staff at the high school. And I noticed one theme has woven through this experience. Mound Westonka doesn’t just want its 8th graders to survive the transition to the high school; it wants them to thrive.

This commitment to student success was evident in August when my baby and 200 other new students were welcomed to the high school by their Link Crew leaders. These students compassion, enthusiasm and school pride were contagious and set the stage for our year. In September, I attended Curriculum Night and beamed with pride as I watched the passion ooze from the faculty while they discussed both their content and their approach to students and learning. I walked away with tips and ideas about how to help my own student blossom.

In October, I watched my daughter continue to grow through strategic mentorship as a member of the pep band and the Swim Team. Both programs strategically positioning older students as mentors to help incoming students feel welcomed and be successful. I also watched my daughter have the opportunity to develop independence as a learner using the flexible learning spaces in Global Studies, Advisory and English.

November meant conference time and my turn to be on the other side of the table. There were no academic surprises at conferences since teacher use technology to post grades and course materials, but again I was impressed at how each seemed to have some insight into my student, her strengths and her areas for improvements.

In December, I helped plan the student celebration assembly which focused on the heroes among us at MWHS. This was the first time 8th graders were recognized for their academic improvement and success. I was struck by the young students beaming with pride when recognized for their perfect attendance, honor roll and contributions to the heartbeat of the classroom. I am confident this is laying the groundwork for future success.

In it is now the end of January and my 8th grader is confidently diving into semester two bolstered by the support of her teachers, the staff at MWHS and a bevy of student mentors. Over lunch last weekend, she discussed with anticipation the classes she wants to take next year and the activities she may want to try as a Freshman.

Being able to experience MWHS through the eyes of a parent and through my own daughter’s experiences has given me a new appreciation and pride for the students, staff and programs at MWHS. I cannot wait to see what discoveries I have yet to make about MWHS over the next four years and to watch the ways it continues to help my child thrive rather than just survive.

New 8th grader!

The Wallace Family

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Pride in coaching in the Westonka District!

Today's post is from MWHS social studies teacher and Girls Varsity Basketball Coach Alan Hiebert

I’ve been asked to contribute my thoughts to the Westonka Pride Blog in regards to athletics and, more specifically, Girls Basketball, which I have the privilege to coach. What makes me proud of athletics here at MWHS? A lot of pride has to do with the amount of change that has occurred here over the last decade. Almost all of it happened when I wasn’t in coaching. I coached football and girls basketball here from 1999-2008 and have gotten “back in the game” again this season after eight seasons away. The second go-around for me has been eye-opening in several positive ways when compared to my previous experience.

First, coaching has continually improved at MWHS. The experience across the coaching staffs in almost all sports has matured. Coaches like coach Todd Munsterteiger, Butch Humbert, Molly Carlson, Sara Schwartz, Nick David, Doug Runke just to name a few, have been in their positions for multiple seasons and they, and their assistants, have dedicated themselves to making our athletes better and developed programs at the varsity level that represent our school extremely well.

Second, the athletes have invested themselves in their teams. I know that my girls on the basketball team are dedicated to each other as teammates and friends. I’ve coached a lot of teams over the years and I can honestly say that this group is as good a group as I have been around. They’re focused on getting better at “Xs and Os” but also as teammates and people. They’ve gotten “in the wheelbarrow” of our program and are doing their best to make basketball a positive experience for everyone.

Third, I’m proud of my senior captains. Claire White and Ryann Beyer have been through a lot during their careers. I’m coach number 5 in 5 years! But their level of commitment to the team has been impressive. They’ve been asked to buy in to different philosophies and schemes continually throughout their careers and they’ve continually delivered. As a coach it’s hard to find better examples of leadership for future athletes to follow than what Claire and Ryann have demonstrated.

The pride of Westonka athletics is growing. It’s growing for several reasons and will continue to grow in the future. Go White Hawks!

2016-17 Girls Varsity Basketball Team

Ryann & Claire

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Regatta Pride!

Today's post is from community member and industrial engineer John Hensley.  John is also the husband of art teacher Laura Hensley.

Competing in the 3rd annual Regatta this year was an adventure! Bob Chilson and I love to utilize the engineering fundamentals where we are challenged to develop a boat design, produce a prototype and test it in action. This is our second year competing in the Regatta. After a win last year we decided to modify our boat to see if we could improve propulsion and lower our time across the pool. This year’s boat ended up having a couple flaws but we were still able to just finish the race. 

The students’ designs were creative and used a number of different engineering principles to create boats that had varying results. We were impressed by the craftsmanship and range of designs. We both hope that the students were able to learn from the process and from each other. The best part of the experience is witnessing the passion and drive that the students of MWHS possess.

Congratulations to this year’s winners and we are already looking forward to our big comeback next year. Go White Hawks!

Andrew and Victor for the win!

John Hensley & Bob Chilson

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Pride in being a parent and teacher in the Westonka District

Today's post is from Shirley Hills 4th Grade Teacher Deb Loomis

My introduction to Westonka schools began in the 1998-1999 school year when we moved to Mound and enrolled our children in the Westonka School District. As a stay at home mom, I jumped right in volunteering and joining PTA. It was then that I realized our children were blessed by incredible educators. The high quality of the district and the care our children received was clearly evident.

Next, at the prompting of one of our child’s teachers, I began to substitute teach in this District. I was then exposed to the educators in all four schools. I fell in love with the vision and the commitment to excellence. In 2002, I joined the District as a full time employee and have been here since. I continue to love the push for distinction and educational greatness.

These last six years, I have spent teaching fourth grade at Shirley Hills Primary. Recently personalization has been an improvement implemented to increase student engagement in learning. It has been exciting to see students partner in the ownership of their learning. I have been blessed to be involved in a District that garners great respect. I have been equally blessed to have a job that I truly love!

Math Personalization

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