Day 54 - What Makes Me Proud to be a White Hawk

Today's post is from senior Callie Haakana 

Having been a student at Mound Westonka for 12 years, there are lots of things I take pride in. Our fan base is probably the most I take pride in. During sporting events, everybody is always cheering for the White Hawks even if we are losing by a significant number. Everyone is always peppy and talks with high remarks of Mound Westonka. 

When substitute teachers come into Westonka they always leave with good comments and wanting to come back after teaching for the day. That's what I take my pride in; knowing that we have an awesome student body that leaves adult talking with high remarks of us.

Another thing that makes me proud to be a White Hawk is how welcoming our student body is to new students and visitors. We have a good program for new students that makes them feel welcome to our school. It's not just our student body, but our teachers as well. Our staff is welcoming and kind to each student and that makes me proud to go to Westonka.

The last thing that makes me proud to be a White Hawk is our school spirit. Everyone walks the halls with their school spirit and joy of being a student at Mound Westonka. During our ups and downs everyone will still stand tall and represent Mound Westonka. All those reasons are why I'm most proud to be a White Hawk!

Macie & Callie

Day 53 - Inspiration = MWHS Pride

Today's post is from guidance counselor Tina Kampa

I have been a MWHS Counselor for almost 15 years and I am proud to be a White Hawk! Nearly every day I leave feeling inspired by the people in this building.

Most importantly, our students inspire me!

Their talents and accomplishments amaze me. From the incredible art work that wins awards on a regular basis to the unbelievable number of DECA students who qualify for state and international competitions each year. Our students have talent!

Their selflessness inspires me. From Link Crew to the WALA service projects to showing a new student around on their first day. Our students are more than willing to help!

Their growth energizes me. They take advantage of opportunities, they overcome obstacles, they make mistakes and learn from them, they challenge themselves and each other, they build meaningful relationships with staff and they work hard! It is such a privilege to see the young 8th grade students walk into our building each year full of dreams and energy and walk out 5 years later as confident young adults.

I am grateful every day to work with so many other people who can say these same things…people who want to foster student growth, celebrate their accomplishments and inspire and be inspired by them. The MWHS staff and administration make me proud!

I have a favorite saying that I remind myself of often. It is: “If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’re going to keep getting what you got.” MWHS – Let’s keep doing what we’re doing because we’ve got a good thing!

Ms. Kampa & Oliver

Day 52 - Pride in DECA Competition

Today's post is from 2012 graduate Connor Sir

Mound-Westonka’s halls echo with laughter and pride. From triumphs to times of turbulence, I would not trade my short two and half years at MWHS for anything. I was fortunate enough to transfer from Holy Family Catholic to Mound Westonka half way through my sophomore year; I consider this the best decision of my life.

Pride can simply be defined as a feeling of happiness or satisfaction when you, or someone you know, does something good. Being selfless is essential to have a pride driven community. It feels unfair to have to pick just one of the limitless experiences that made me the most proud throughout my tenure at Mound. The purest example of pride that I can remember is the accomplishments of my stiffest DECA competition, Brenna and Callie Mack.

My partner, Mitch Kern, and I created a customer loyalty program for the Minnesota Timberwolves. We cruised threw districts and state getting second place at both behind our good friends, Brenna and Callie. We developed a little bit of a rivalry that involved plenty of trash talk. I was convinced the only plausible reason that Mitch and I did not win state was because the judges were favoring the girls. We must have had the same judges at Internationals.

Brenna and Callie worked very hard, and we looked forward to competing against them on an International stage. Mitch and I did not advance to finals, while Brenna and Callie took first place in the world! Brenna and Callie deservingly kicked our butts. I was disappointed to not hear our name amongst the top in the world, but I instantly through my hands in the air hearing their name! They deserved it. Hard work, confidence, composure, and humility describe these girls perfectly, and they simply got exactly what they deserved.

This incredible accomplishment is just one of many prideful examples I had at Mound. The great leaders at Mound, specifically DECA, have contributed to some of the greatest memories of my young life. I am so proud to be a Mound-Westonka alum.

Mitch, Connor, Brenna & Callie

Day 51 - From Farm to School Lunch Plate! Sustainable, local grown food at MWHS

Today's post is from parent and community member Charlie Wagner
We have all heard the saying, “you are what you eat!”

MWHS, we should all take pride in our school lunch program because of all the healthy changes that have recently been made. While speaking to Laura Metzger, head of the MWHS Lunch Program, she explained that MWHS recently received a grant that has enabled our lunch service to serve healthier food from local sources as often as possible. Due to this grant MWHS has partnered with the nearby farm, Gale Woods. Though we are only in the beginning stages, Laura is committed to getting the cleanest food available to our students. She shared with me that she thoroughly reads all the labels and tries to make positive choices that impact the health of the whole community.

Why does this matter to us?

This is a huge deal for our school on so many levels. First, it shows us that we have people in our food program that are aware of good nutrition and care for our community. A well balanced diet is necessary for children to do well in school and ultimately lead healthy and productive lives. Furthermore, many reports show that students perform better when fed real food that is fresh. Finally, this demonstrates how innovative the MWHS Food Program is. We are following in the footsteps of the respected Betrand Weber who started the “Farm to School Movement” in Minneapolis schools.

More Great News!

If you haven’t yet seen or heard of izzys soda pops, MWHS currently sells them. They are a great choice if your child is going to opt for soda, because they’re made with cane sugar instead of corn syrup, which normal sodas are filled with.

On top of offering healthy sodas, Laura serves fresh lettuce, spinach, carrots, apples, and even hot dogs from our local farmers to our children’s school lunches. Personally, I am excited to say to my girls "go ahead have a hotdog"! Something I would have never said in the past, until I personally spoke to Laura and she shared with me that all hotdogs at MWHS are from a local farm in Cannon Falls, Minnesota. How lucky are our kids to have Laura reading labels and being mindful of their health on our behalf. I’m so happy that my girls are able to choose from healthy options at school.

Thank you Laura for being a passionate leader in our district, I am so grateful for you. Ultimately, healthier food choices make me proud to be an MWHS parent!

Charlie, David, Coco and Ava Wagner

Day 50 - Why I am Proud to be a White Hawk

Today's post is from senior Shelbi Patterson

Between the strong community, amazing opportunities, and quality education, Mound Westonka is a school to be proud of. It is always encouraging to walk into this rare atmosphere in which students and teachers care about you. Never has a student needed help and not gotten assistance. Plus, think of the many opportunities offered here! 

There is a wide variety from football to the dance team. Sports are definitely not the only opportunities offered here! One cannot forget Quiz Bowl, Math League, the cheerleading teams! There is athletic and intellectual fun for everyone! Furthermore, Mound Westonka’s quality education is unbeatable! Every year, standardized test scores give our school something else to brag about. 

In addition, the staff members are beyond exceptional. Everyone generally wants students to succeed and thrive! As a result, students do thrive! This school is filled with students who try their best and take advanced and AP classes. Mound Westonka students care about academics, yet they care about those around them even more! 

Due to the small size of this school, everybody comes to know one another. Nobody is ever without friends! Generally, there is a friendly, welcoming atmosphere in every classroom in which students can learn and grow. Students even help other students achieve success by aiding them with their studies. No other school can be found with a more welcoming atmosphere. 

Lastly, it’s worth mentioning that Mound Westonka has invested a lot of money in technology for students. Recently, iPads have been added into the curriculum, thus, in certain classes, they are heavily used for learning. Eighth graders get a device for the entire year!  These are the reason I am proud to a White Hawk! 

Katrina & Shelbi

Day 49 - Teacher, Advisor and Friend

Today's post is from junior Abe Thaler

In any school, there's always that one teacher you really connect with. The kind of teacher that can just as easily banter with you as they can give really heartfelt advice. Among many teachers at MWHS that fit that description for me, Ms. Anderson is the one I think of first. Goofy, insanely intelligent, and extremely patient, she is always there for me, whether it be for schoolwork or that occasional bad day.

I got to meet Ms. Anderson for the first time in 7th grade when I had my first taste of the high school's theatre program. As the awkward preteen I was, I needed some serious guidance when I was just starting out. For a very good reason, Ms. Anderson was immediately the friendliest and most approachable person for me to go to. She has a natural talent for making friends, whether they're 12 or 18, and without her skill I would probably still be that awkward preteen with no sense of humor. Maybe that part's still true, but with her I at least think I'm semi-funny.

Through her position as a director in the theatre department, I've been able to grow and learn with Ms. Anderson by my side the entire time. She is the best choreographer I know, and some of my favorite memories are foolishly making up dances with her for a show. On top of all that, she is also an amazing teacher. My first semester of math at the high school was with her, and having that opportunity instantly made MWHS a happier and more comfortable place for me. Knowing where I am now, I can owe all of my success to her class and the base foundations she effortlessly laid out for me.

Everyone needs a best friend, especially in high school. I guess sometimes, that person just happens to be your 8th grade geometry teacher. Thank you for everything you've ever done for me Ms. Anderson, you're the best!

Shelby, Ms. Anderson and Abe

Day 48 - Appreciation for a Teacher & Advisor

Today's post is from senior Willie Maahs

It is difficult to attend MWHS and not be inspired to do your very best day in and day out. Looking around the school I see all of the kids committing their time and effort to do their very best. Where does this commitment to excellence come from? The answer is simple, our staff. Throughout the course of high school every student will have one teacher that inspires them to perform at the best of their ability.

On my first day of eighth grade I walked into my Intro to Business class not knowing what to expect. The combination of first day jitters and seniors in the same class was nerve-racking. All of those nerves escaped my mind when Mrs. Lolich entered the room with a smile and a game plan. After knowing her for five years I’ve come to understand the dedication she has to her job, our school, and the students. Her dedication to making MWHS a better place to be has inspired me in so many different ways. She has inspired me to be a role model within our school. She taught me not to sit back and be passive, but to stand out and take pride in being a part of MWHS.

That first year in Intro to Business she also inspired me to join DECA, and I couldn’t be happier that she did. Obviously, the inspiration didn’t stop there. Mrs. Lolich always found a way to test my limits. In DECA, she inspired me to use hard work to succeed. In my first year of DECA, I was able to feel the joy of succeeding at the district level. In my second year she inspired me not to be satisfied with good enough, and work to experience success on the state level. Finally, junior year she inspired me to succeed on the international stage.

Throughout this entire progression, Mrs. Lolich’s inspiration has taught me more lessons than any textbook could. By inspiring me to do my best I’ve gained experiences few other high schoolers have had the privilege to enjoy. I can confidently say that her inspiration from day one of high school will forever impact the rest of my entire life.

Mrs. Lolich & Willie

Day 47 - Appreciating a Guidance Counselor

Today's post is from junior Kelsea Kern

Mound Westonka High School is boiling over with exceptional teachers and staff alike, but there is one in particular that sticks out in my mind and translates into my life. Each student at MWHS is assigned a guidance counselor by last name and let’s just say that Kern was a very lucky last name to have. My guidance counselor is Ms. Baumann and in my 17 years I have never met a more helpful, selfless, and overall caring person.

She is always ready with great advice; whether I’m asking about what classes to sign up for, how to get that math grade WAY up, or if I need guidance with the big one: COLLEGE (which we are still trying to figure out), she always points me in the right direction. She knows a lot and she wants to help with whatever I need. It’s a great feeling knowing that there is someone with answers right at your fingertips, because let me tell you, in high school those aren’t always the easiest things to find.

Ms. Baumann always does her best to make time for you. Whether I have made an appointment a week in advance or I’ve bombarded her office because of a bad grade on a test that felt like the end of the world. She always makes the time to talk with you because that is what’s important to her. It is obvious that her first priority is to make sure her students are getting the help and guidance they need.

Now, the best thing about Ms. Baumann is that she really cares. It isn’t hard to tell that she genuinely wants you to be the best you that you can be. Ms. Baumann took the time to get to know me personally and now everything she tells me is really relevant in my life in particular. And at the same time I got to know her, and truth be told, she’s actually pretty cool! We’ve been known to stray from school topics and talk about some awesome TV shows, great music and just our daily lives. More than just a guidance counselor, Ms. Baumann is a great friend to have.

I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of a school that has such an exceptional woman, whom I admire so much, working for them. MWHS is lucky to have her and so am I. Staff like Ms. Baumann make me proud to be a Mound Westonka Whitehawk!

Ms. Baumann & Kelsea