Osseo Senior High Student Named Gates Millennium Scholar

Osseo Area Schools: Kaley Shagen has been named a Gates Millennium Scholar.

Wayzata High Team Wins National 2013 Moody's Mega Math (M3) Challenge

The Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) honored students Jenny Lai, Abram Sanderson, Amy Xiong, Lynn Zhang and Roy Zhao. They earned a $20,000 prize.

Five Wayzata High School seniors have won the national 2013 Moody's Mega Math (M3) Challenge and will share the $20,000 grand prize, according to the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM). The WHS team was "selected from thousands of participants for coming up with the best mathematical solutions to the country's—and world's—growing plastic pollution and recycling crisis," SIAM said in an online announcement:  Jenny Lai, Abram Sanderson, Amy Xiong, Lynn Zhang, and Roy Zhao were named Champions after presenting their findings at Moody's corporate headquarters in New York City yesterday. Five other finalist teams, ranked first runner up through sixth place, also presented their solutions at the event. The Wayzata High School …

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Former Maple Grove Senior High Principal to Retire from Osseo Area Schools

Former Maple Grove Senior High Principal Wendy Loberg: "Without question, my highlights include the amazing students I’ve had the privilege of knowing."

After 12 years, Osseo School District leader and former Maple Grove Senior High Principal Wendy Loberg will be retiring at the end of the 2012-2013 school year. During her time in District 279, Loberg has held several leadership roles. Her career in the district started as assistant principal at Maple Grove Senior High in 2001, transitioning to a principal role at the school in 2004. Loberg was the lead principal for six years at the Maple Grove school before taking a new position, Principal on Special Assignment, based out of the Educational Service Center. A role she will continue, along with an interim principal role at Maple Grove Junior High, until her retirement.  As she prepares for the end of the school year, Loberg answered a few …

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Man Drowns in Pond, Governor Heckled and Book Burning: Pick of Our Patches

This week's compilation includes a Red Cross Hero, 'unemployment is a very boring existence,' MCA issues, profitable liquor store, superintendent search and light rail.

Editor’s Note: Every week we bring you a sampling of stories from Patch sites in the west metro: Eden Prairie, Edina, Fridley, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Lake Minnetonka, Maple Grove, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Richfield, Shakopee, Southwest Minneapolis, St. Louis Park and St. Michael. Brooklyn Park Man Pulled From Maple Grove Pond Dies The 20-year-old man was pulled from the pond near the 12300 block of Elm Creek Boulevard. Freshwater Society Officially Declares Ice Out on Lake Minnetonka The call came at 1:30 a.m. Thursday morning; Hennepin County Sheriff’s Water Patrol uses a different standard. Dayton Heckled in Shakopee, Calls Audience 'Rude' and 'Juvenile' Gov. Mark Dayton told a Shakopee audience that "I’ve been all over the state and I’ve …

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Osseo Area Schools Students Recognized in Congressional Art Contest

Rep. Erik Paulsen: "Minnesota clearly has some incredible young artistic talent and I want to thank all of the students who participated in this year's competition, as well as their teachers who inspire them every day."

Information provided by the office of Rep. Erik Paulsen Rep. Erik Paulsen (MN-03) awarded the grand prize in the 2013 Third District Congressional Art Competition to Park Center Senior High senior, Virginia Yang.  Representative Paulsen, who organizes the annual competition, presented awards during a ceremony at the Bloomington Theatre & Art Center, who is a partner for the arts competition.  Virginia will travel to Washington, D.C. soon to see her winning artwork “See it with your Eyes” put on display for the millions of people who visit the nation's Capitol each year.  "Minnesota clearly has some incredible young artistic talent and I want to thank all of the students who participated in this year's competition, as well as their teachers…

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Parents Talk

Hey Mom and Dad: What Is Your Prom Budget?

A new Visa survey says families are spending over $1,000 for their child to go to prom. What price works for you, and how do you agree on a limit with your teen?

It has gotten more expensive to do most things in life, so we shouldn't be surprised that it has gotten more pricey to go to a high school prom. On average, parents and teens will spend $1,139 on prom this year. This is only a slight increase over last year but a 40 percent increase from the $807 average of 2011, according to a new Visa survey. The list of "needed" items can be endless: dress, tux, shoes (one pair formal and one for the dance?), corsages, limo, dinner, actual prom tickets and after-prom activities. "Prom is the new wedding," said Kit Yarrow, a consumer research psychologist, in a CNN Money article. "I think that every society has to have a rite of passage into adulthood for young people, and prom has become that."   Have …

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Mike B.

6:39 pm on Thursday, May 9, 2013

Scott, there is no such thing as "liberal ideals." Liberals are pro-abortion, pro-taxing people to death, pro-homosexual marriage, pro-kicking God out of the classroom.... these are not "ideals." These are evil beliefs.   more ›

Hot Topics

Should MN Law Protect Coaches' Jobs from Complaining Parents?

Proposed legislation would ban school boards from dropping coaches' contracts 'solely' because of parent gripes.

Do high school coaches need a law to shield their jobs from parent complaints? Leave your comment below. A Minnesota Legislature conference committee is weighing whether to include this sentence in its omnibus policy and finance bill: "The existence of parent complaints must not be the sole reason for a board to not renew a coaching contract." The legislation is in response to increasing non-renewals of coaches' contracts, with as many as 35 percent in one sport (boys' hockey) involving parent complaints, according to a Star Tribune report: “This just came out from athletics directors and coaches who thought something more needed to be done,” said Rep. Dean Urdahl, a Grove City Republican who co-authored the bill. “The problem is … parents…

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Cedar Island Elementary Teacher to Retire After 38 Years

Catherine Leuer to students: “Find your passion. It may not bring you all the money in the world, but happiness is priceless."

For the last 38 years, Catherine Leuer has worked with some of the youngest elementary students in the Osseo School District. As of June, she will be turning in the textbooks to retire from teaching. During her time in District 279, Leuer has been longtime staffer at Cedar Island Elementary in Maple Grove, teaching one year of kindergarten and 37 years as a first grade teacher. “I know this may seem unusual in this day and age, but I did find a second home and wonderful career here at CI,” she said of the time at the elementary.  “The reason I didn’t need change? Teaching reading to young students; watching their eyes sparkle as they realize putting sounds together makes words they can read. Seeing them develop into confident, passionate …

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