STMA HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

As we near the end of April, the end of another great school year is starting to come into view. The next several weeks will be busy with learning, celebrations, activities, and important milestones for our students. It is a fun time of year to look back on how much our students have grown while continuing to finish strong. Thank you for your continued support and partnership as we head toward the end of the year.

• Saturday, April 25th - Prom
• Wednesday, May 13th - Academic Awards - 7:00 pm
• Wednesday, May 20th - Scholarship Awards - 7:30 am
• Monday, May 25th - No School ALL
• Wednesday, May 27th - Elementary Graduation Walk
• Wednesday, May 27th - Senior Sunset
• Thursday, May 28th - Last day of school Seniors ONLY
• Friday, May 29th, 2026 - Graduation - 7:00 pm
• Wednesday, June 3rd - Last day of school 9th - 11th grade
• Thursday, June 4th - Intervention day

• Tuesday, August 18th - HS student kick-off day & picture day
• Wednesday, August 26th - HS Freshman & New Student Orientation
• Tuesday, September 1st - First day of school - 9th grade only
• Wednesday, September 2nd - First day of school - 10th - 12th grade
• Thursday, September 3th - HS student picture make-up day (7:30am - 10:00am)

Congratulations to Ella Graunke, Ethan Jordheim, Hank Kurasz and Dureti Petros, for being recognized as the top four students in our graduating class and honored as Students of Excellence at the Annual Recognition Ceremony in St. Cloud! Your dedication, hard work, and leadership make us incredibly proud. You truly represent STMA with excellence!

Pictured left to right: Dureti Petros, Hank Kurasz, Ella Graunke, and Ethan Jordheim

Name: Zachary Marble

Parents: Resha & Chad Marble

Siblings: Ashlyn (21)

Plans after high school: I plan to attend North Dakota State University, where I am considering studying engineering or business.

Most Memorable STMA Moment(s): My most memorable moment at STMA was the 2025 football season playoff run. As underdogs, making it to the state tournament was an exciting and unforgettable experience.

Teacher/Staff Who Has Impacted Me: Mr. Livers has made a strong impact on my experience. I’ve had him for multiple classes in both middle school and high school, and he’s always been supportive, whether in the classroom or just taking time to talk in the hallway.

I Love STMA Because: I appreciate STMA for its safe and low-stress environment, as well as the flexible learning options, including opportunities for online coursework.

Name: Mallory Shidla

Parents: Christine & Adam Shidla

Siblings: Cassidy (13)

Plans after high school: I plan to attend the University of Minnesota to study environmental engineering.

Most Memorable STMA Moment: Serving as a captain and leader in robotics, and being part of something bigger than myself. Through these experiences, I’ve grown as a person and had opportunities like giving tours to administrators at competitions. It’s been exciting to see the support for STEM at STMA, including the upcoming trip to Houston and the continued focus on expanding STEM opportunities.

Teacher/Staff Who Has Impacted Me: Mr. Olesen has had a significant impact on me. His passion for teaching environmental science helped guide me toward pursuing environmental engineering. He is down-to-earth, connects well with students, and is always willing to help.

I Love STMA Because: I love STMA because the staff truly support their students. They have consistently been there for me, offering guidance, encouragement, and a helping hand to push me to be my best.

Name: Will Spaulding

Parents: Mary & Nick Spaulding

Siblings: Izzy (16)

Plans after high school: I will be attending Olivet Nazerene University in Bourbonais, Illinois. Where I plan to earn my bachelor's degree in engineering.

Most Memorable STMA Moment(s):My most memorable STMA moment was this year at the regional robotics competition, when our team earned the Impact Award, the most prestigious honor in FIRST.

Teacher/Staff Who Has Impacted Me: Mr. Schlangen has had the greatest impact on me. As my homeroom teacher and math league coach over the past four years, he has helped me build confidence and prepare for the next steps in my journey.

I Love STMA Because:I love STMA because of the strong connections I’ve built within the school community, which have helped guide my future goals.

The St. Michael-Albertville Rotary Club is pleased to announce that St. Michael-Albertville High School juniors Alexis Farnsworth and Jacob Nehring were recognized as the Rotary Students of the Month for April.

“Rotary is very proud to recognize Alexis and Jacob as students of the month,” said Kevin Lenz, STMA Rotary Club President. “They have demonstrated a commitment to academic excellence and represent the service above self ideals of Rotary.”

Connections Cafe is a student-run business operated through the Connections Special Education Program. More than a coffee cart, it functions as a fully operational small business that provides beverage service to staff while helping students build essential workplace skills for the future. Staff members can order coffee, tea, and hot chocolate for direct classroom delivery through a mobile service model managed by students. Students take ownership of stocking supplies, monitoring inventory, cleaning, preparing beverages, delivering orders, and managing transactions. Through this authentic experience, students develop skills in communication, time management, navigation, responsibility, and professional etiquette.

Members of our Student Site Council participated in school exchange visits to Wayzata High School and Maple Grove High School in January, with students from Wayzata High School later visiting us as part of a Lake Conference student exchange. The purpose of these experiences was to give students firsthand opportunities to explore other school environments and elevate student voice through observations, questions, and discussion. Students examined whether school spaces feel like places students want to be by reflecting on classrooms, commons areas, hallways, and how those spaces communicate value for learning. They also compared school culture, leadership opportunities, celebrations, and the ways student voices are represented in each building. Tours were led by host students, followed by discussions centered on similarities, differences, and key takeaways. Students also explored innovative structures such as schedules, advisory models, flex times, and signature traditions like Homecoming weeks. Overall, the exchanges helped students celebrate what makes each school unique while bringing back ideas to strengthen our own school community.

The Minnesota Junior Duck Stamp Contest is a state-level competition within the larger Junior Duck Stamp Program, a national art and conservation education initiative. Congratulations to STMA seniors, Olivia Mayberry for winning 1st place, and Sara Fieckert-Faulkner for winning second place.

Congratulations to our STMA participants chosen to showcase their artwork at the 2026 High School Art Exhibition at the Paramount Center for the Arts in St. Cloud. Artwork was on view to the public in the gallery and theater lobby until the end of April. We are so proud to showcase student work in a professional space where it will be viewed by thousands of people.

A Historic "Double Blue Banner" Win

For the first time in over a decade, a Minnesota team has taken home both the Regional Winner and the Impact Award (the most prestigious honor in FIRST) at the same event.

• The Impact Award: This recognizes our students' year-round community initiatives and leadership. Winning this award, especially after having already secured the Engineering Inspiration Award in Grand Forks, is an exceptional feat. Our students will now present to a panel of judges in Houston to compete for the World Championship-level Impact Award. Being selected for this honor would result in 7028 joining the FIRST Hall of Fame, reserved for the most impactful teams in the world. Watch the Impact Video here.

• The Three-Week Rebuild: Following a 3rd place finish in Grand Forks, students spent the next three weeks, including their Spring Break, designing and building a completely new robot, "Phalanx." This machine dominated the field thanks to a total team effort across our drive team, pit crew, and scouting teams.Watch the robot reveal video here.

You can watch our final playoff victory here (we are the red robot that starts bottom-right)

The Valor yearbook staff attended the nation’s largest gathering of scholastic journalists in Minneapolis, April 16–19, hosted by the Journalism Education Association and National Scholastic Press Association. Students participated in hands-on workshops, discussion groups, and roundtable sessions with industry professionals. Our Valor yearbook staff participated in “Yearbook Leadership” and "Social media storytelling for student publications," giving our students a real-world experience that prepares them for future careers in journalism, media, and collaborative leadership roles. Students were asked what was one meaningful part of the JEA trip. Here are some of their responses.

Maddie Stern said "The most meaningful takeaway I got from JEA was learning more about how to be a leader when it comes to design and theme development. This will be really helpful for me going into my senior year to work with others in yearbook, and the leadership skills I've learned will carry with me throughout my career."

Anni Stollenwerk said "One of the biggest things I learned from JEA was how important collaboration and communication are to creating a successful yearbook. I also gained a better understanding of theme development and design, especially how elements like color and page layout can make a story more meaningful. I know these are skills that will benefit me during my senior year and beyond."

Faith Abuki said "A meaningful part of the JEA trip for me was that the yearbook is really about being consistent and continuously telling the story of our school. I also learned a lot about working together as a team and how collaboration really makes the final product better. These are skills I will definitely carry into my senior year and beyond throughout my career."

Counseling Office Updates

Angela Narducci A-Del angelan@mystma.org

Lisa Silbernagel Dem-Jar Lisasi@mystma.org

Serena Schmidt Jas-Moo Serenas@mystma.org

Rachel Dayton Mop-Sch rachelda@mystma.org

Kinsey Essler Sci-Z kinseye@mystma.org

Mary Poss- Administrative Assistant - Maryp@mystma.org

ALL GRADES

PSEO

A reminder that students interested in PSEO for next school year must notify the district by May 30th. Steps to pursue PSEO are outlined on the website.

Advanced Placement Testing

Students registered to take AP Exams will begin starting May 4th - May 15th. Each subject has a specific testing date and time. The listed tests are for the regularly scheduled exams. The exam schedule can be found here. Students will receive more information on their testing details as the testing day approaches.

JUNIORS

Post-High School Planning for Juniors

As Juniors enter into the final trimester of their junior year, it is important to start thinking about the future. More information for Junior post-secondary planning can be found here.

ACT National Testing Information

The next national ACT testing date is June 13th. Students interested in taking this exam can register at Act.org. The registration deadline is May 8th. STMA will serve as a testing location for this date.

SENIORS

Seniors, as you receive acceptance letters, you are also likely getting information regarding the financial aid you are eligible for at the institutions. This article provides helpful guidance on Five Tips to Understanding your Financial Aid Offer.

Action Required: Requesting Your Final Transcript and Updating Enrollment Decision with Xello

• Students: Review these instructions for requesting your final transcript and adding your enrollment decision in Xello.

• Parents: If you have a Xello account, you can also update your student's enrollment decision information in Xello.

Transferring AP and CIS Credits

AP Credits

To send your AP test scores to your chosen college, you must log in to your College Board account and submit a request. Note that there is a fee for each report, and the report will include all of your cumulative AP test scores.

www.collegeboard.com

CIS Credits

To transfer credits earned through STMA's CIS classes, you must order an official transcript directly from the prospective college affiliated with each course, after a final grades has been issued.-----CIS Course Affiliated Colleges and Transcript Information

St. Cloud State University Courses

• College Spanish (SPAN 102) - 4 credits

• College Chemistry (CHEM 160) - 4 credits

Click here to order a Transcript

Southwest Minnesota State University

• College Pre-Calculus (MATH 135) - 5 credits

• College Algebra (MATH 110) – 3 credits

Click here to order a Transcript

Central Lake College

• Wind Symphony (MUSC 1408) - 2 credits

• CLC Choir (MUSC 1431) - 2 credits

Click here to order a Transcript

On April 14, students had the opportunity to choose to attend a presentation from Sam Eaton focused on suicide awareness, hope, and the importance of supporting one another. Hundreds of students chose to attend and hear his powerful message. This event was made possible through the partnership of Thumbs Up, whose continued support helps expand mental health programming at STMA High School. We are grateful for their commitment to raising awareness and creating meaningful opportunities for our students.

PROM Event Details

Saturday, April 25th, 2026

💃 Dance Venue: Royalston Square - 501 Royalston Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55405

🔹 Check-in: Begins at 7:30 PM
🔹 Dance: 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM

🔹 Official website

Caps and Gowns
Caps and gowns have been ordered for ALL seniors. Distribution will take place on the following dates:

Tuesday, May 12th

• During all lunches: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM

• After school: 3:20 PM – 4:30 PM

Wednesday, May 13th

• Before school: 7:00 AM – 8:30 AM

• During lunches: 11:15 AM – 12:50 PM

👉 Important: All outstanding fees must be paid before you can pick up your cap and gown. Please reference your ParentVue/Fee Pay account to verify all outstanding fees are paid.

There is no cost to families for the cap and gown; the district covers the full fee. The cap and gown are yours to keep after graduation.

If you are unable to attend during the scheduled times due to a conflict, please contact the STMA High School office at 763-497-2792 ext. 8001 to make alternate arrangements.

Paper tickets will be distributed to all students during the required rehearsal on Friday, May 29, 2026. Each graduate will receive six (6) tickets.

In the event the ceremony is moved indoors due to inclement weather, each graduate will receive four (4) tickets instead.

Please note that additional tickets will not be available. We kindly ask that families do not contact the school to request extra tickets.

As the weather warms up in Minnesota, our trails and sidewalks are seeing a significant surge in activity, particularly with the rapid rise of electric bikes (e-bikes). While e-bikes offer a fantastic, eco-friendly way for residents of all ages to stay active and enjoy the STMA area, their increased speed and power compared to traditional bicycles present unique safety challenges.

Providing proactive education is essential to ensure that both riders and pedestrians can share our pathways safely. By addressing topics like speed etiquette, helmet safety, and trail rules now, we can help our community embrace this growing trend responsibly while minimizing the risk of accidents during the busy summer months ahead. Please check out the link and infopragh below!

https://thecyclistchoice.com/resources/minnesota-ebike-laws/

Three ways to report an absence to STMA High School.

Include students first name, last name and reason for absence. Should your student need to be released early, include time they are to leave.

1. ParentVue - In the ParentVue app simply login and click on report absence and enter date. For early dismissal include a departure time to ensure a pass for your student.
2. Email - email hsattendance@mystma.org.
3. Call attendance line - Call (763) 497-2192 option #4 to leave a message.

STMA High School students have the opportunity for different academic supports.

The Resource Room, that is staffed by a High School teacher, is available on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday after school from 3:30pm - 4:30pm in the High School Media Center.

Assessments can be taken in the Media Center before school when scheduled in advance with a classroom teacher.

Our partner in student transportation services, Vision of STMA, can be reached at 763-497-0102.

• Educational Benefits are available to families who qualify. If you would like to apply please complete an Educational Benefit application. Click here to see more information regarding benefits you may qualify for and to fill out the application.

To keep up to date with what's going on at STMA High School, please click on the Twitter or Facebook buttons below.

Email: highschooloffice@mystma.org
Website: https://hs.stma.k12.mn.us/
Location: 5800 Jamison Avenue Northeast, Saint Michael, MN, USA
Phone: 763-497-2192