Compiled by Janet Wight
Chelsea Heights Elementary School
Submitted by Guillermo Maldonado Perez
Arts residencies
Throughout the school year all students in grades K-5 participate in music and art residencies. These programs enable students to build their artistic skills and allow them to explore global cultures and traditions. Artists Julie Boada and Gustavo Boada led the students in inclusive, standards-based and relevant curriculum.
Kindergartners created monarch butterfly puppets, which were then featured in their year-end celebration. First graders made bee puppets and participated in storytelling. Second graders worked on a toy theater project, while fourth graders made Alebrije statue puppets.
April/May Events
On April 30 all students participated in an assembly with Opera for the Young, which presented The Magic Flute.
On May 9 the school hosted its final Class Notes concert of the year with MPR. This concert series included classroom curriculum so students came prepared to be thoughtful, active listeners.
The spring carnival, hosted by the PTO, was held May 16. Families, students and community members were invited to jointhe fun and show support for the school.
Murray Middle School
Submitted by Stefanie Folkema
State History Day
Thirty-seven students, who worked on a total of 22 projects, qualified for State History Day on April 27. Thirteen students won awards at the Middle School Debate City Championship, held on March 25 at Central High School.
Debate Tournament
Thirteen students won awards at the middle school debate tournament sponsored by the Minnesota Urban Debate League. Top partnership honors went to Elias Keeler and Ikeah Hakanson, who earned fifth place in the Junior Varsity division, while Petra Mueller took fifth place in the Novice division.
Other participants included Mariya Adam, Kai Boyd, Maja Briggs, Malik Cheeks, Shantanu Deshmukh, Otto Erwin, Will Olson-Krengel, Mello Rouse, Angelina Yang and Christina Yang.
The boys basketball team took first place at Harvest Best Academy tournament. Photo courtesy of Murray Middle School.
St. Anthony Park Elementary School
Submitted by Karen Duke
A principal’s retirement
Editor’s note: Karen Duke will be retiring as principal from SAP Elementary School, and St. Paul Public Schools, at the end of June after eight years in her current position.
Karen has had a long history with the school. Besides her two children attending SAP Elementary, Dr. Duke was also a student there herself in the 1970s. She said she is looking forward to new career adventures.
Bicycling
Students in grades 3, 4 and 5 took part in the SPPS Safe Routes to School program, learning bike safety and basic maintenance in a two-week unit.
New Special Education Classroom
Next fall, a new special education classroom for students with autism spectrum disorder and developmental-cognitive disabilities will be provided for grades K-2 students who need more services throughout the school day.
All of the students will come from either the school attendance area or the broader Area E. These students will no longer need to change schools to receive needed services.
Twin Cities German Immersion School
Submitted by Paige Yurczyk
Earth Day Cleanup
German Immersion School students celebrated Earth Day by giving back to the neighborhood. Besides helping with trash pickup, students in grades K-8 also learned about the importance of reusing and recycling.
Janet Wight lives in the Como neighborhood and is a regular freelance writer for the Bugle.
Photo caption: TCGIS photo challenge – Oskar K. at the Grand Canyon
