FOCUS on Anoka-Hennepin -March 2026
Save the date and share: Special Education Parent Resource event
The Anoka-Hennepin School District Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) will host a parent resource event featuring guest speakers from the school district to inform families about resources available at schools in the district.
📆 When: Thursday, March 5 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
📍 Where: Anoka-Hennepin Schools Educational Service Center, 2727 N. Ferry Street, Anoka MN 55303 - Erling Johnson rooms
Families of special education students or families considering an Individualized Education Plan for their student are welcome to attend to learn more about
504 plans.
Individualized Education Plans (IEPs).
Special education modifications and accommodations.
The Anoka-Hennepin School District Special Education Advisory Council, SEAC (pronounced "seek") is a partnership between the school district and parents/guardians of Anoka-Hennepin students with disabilities. The SEAC is mandated by the state to advise the District on policy and planning through the Director of Special Education. 🔎 Learn more: ahschools.us/seac
Stay tuned for invitations: Summer school provides academic consistency for students who need support
Anoka-Hennepin Schools has strategies in place to prioritize increased student achievement for students progressing at all levels. Summer school, also known as Targeted Services, is an ongoing strategy of the district to maintain academic progress made by students the past school year. The opportunity is offered each year to eligible students who have completed grades kindergarten through eighth-grade, and is designed to build upon each student’s academic skills, develop better organizational and social/emotional skills.
Summer school is an opportunity to provide students performing below or approaching the district standard with academic consistency in the months that students are traditionally out of school. The program is held for eight days, three hours a day between June 15-25 (Monday-Thursday), and allows teachers and paraeducators to help students focus on literacy skills and math intervention. Families with eligible students in grades K-7 will receive an email invitation the week of April 6 from the Anoka-Hennepin Schools. If you have any questions, please contact your student’s school.
Kindergarten information nights set for elementary schools
📣 Calling all future kindergarten families! Elementary schools across the school district are hosting information nights during the months of March and April and you are invited.
📕 At a Kindergarten Information Night, parents will hear directly from the principal and teachers about what to expect in kindergarten and ask questions to help them prepare. Staff will be present to help with the enrollment process for those who need to complete that process.
Preschool information sessions open to families
Do you have a child that is ready for preschool in the fall? Join Anoka-Hennepin Schools Preschool on Thursday, March 12 to learn more about the options available for 2026-27 preschool classes. Sessions are free, but registration is required.
- When: Thursday, March 12 at 11:30 a.m. (virtual), 4:30 or 6:30 p.m. (in-person)
- Where: Virtual or at the Anoka-Hennepin Schools Educational Service Center, located at 2727 N. Ferry Street, Anoka.
You can make a difference, join our special education team!
Anoka-Hennepin Schools seeks dedicated special education paraeducators to join our team.
As a paraeducator, your day is diverse. You’ll be the guiding hand for students with disabilities, helping them navigate both academics and the world around them. Key responsibilities include:
- Instructional support: Monitoring progress in academics, social skills, and daily living.
- Behavioral mentorship: Using your calm-under-pressure skills to redirect and support students through challenging moments.
- Physical care: Providing essential support for physical needs, including feeding, positioning, and assisting with wheelchairs.
Learn more and apply online at jobs.ahschools.us.
Action of the School Board - February 23, 2026
Action of the School Board provides brief summaries of Anoka-Hennepin School Board meetings. View the latest Action of the School Board from February 23, 2026.
For agendas, meetings and minutes visit ahschools.us/schoolboard.
2025-26 winter sports and activities round-up
With the winter sports and activities season wrapping up, here’s a look at who’s heading to state, and how they fared when they performed and played. Also included is information about postseason awards gathered by student-athletes and coaches.
🥇 Congratulations to Champlin Park High School freshman Pengxu Lor on winning the 1-meter diving individual state championship!
Read the winter sports and activities round-up for updates on 🤼 wrestling, 🏊 boys swimming and diving, 🥅 adapted floor hockey, 🤸 gymnastics and 🏒 boys hockey.
CPHS Unified brings home the state hoops title
🏀 Champlin Park High School (CPHS) defeated northern power Proctor High School 32-27 to win the 2026 Minnesota State Unified Basketball championship held Feb. 12. The Rebels gained entry to the title game through a fast-action semi-final victory over Prior Lake. The tournament was hosted at the Target Center in Minneapolis and teams participated before an enthusiastic crowd of student and community supporters.
The Unified basketball program, coordinated through Special Olympics Minnesota, is noted for its inclusive and high energy approach to providing opportunities and support for students. CPHS has embraced the Unified program in multiple activities and was recognized as a North American Champion School by Special Olympics. CPHS is one of four schools in Minnesota to receive the distinction which recognizes the school’s commitment to inclusion and meeting 10 national standards of excellence. 🎥 Watch a replay of the championship game.
Students present projects exhibiting research, data and creativity at districtwide STEM Fair
🔬Anoka-Hennepin has a rich history of science fairs dating back to the late 1960s, and traditionally hosts a K-12 Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Fair as an opportunity for students at all grade levels to present findings on research projects and experimentation they’ve completed to the general public.
The annual district event was held Saturday, Feb. 21 at Blaine High School, featuring over 240 projects from a handful of elementary school students that participated along with many enthusiastic middle and high school students who opted to immerse themselves in an advanced opportunity to study STEM topics of their choice. The STEM Fair provides students an experience to improve their critical thinking, public speaking and research skills.
🏅Read the full story to view student awards.
Jackson Middle School team wins Battle of the Books traveling trophy
🎉 A team from Jackson Middle School - A Specialty School for Math and Science (JMS) will bring the coveted Battle of the Books trophy back to its school after winning the annual competition on Feb. 25. The district Battle of the Books competition challenges middle school students to prove their knowledge and understanding of literature.
📚 How it works: Teams of students compete first within their middle school, and the top-finishing teams advance to a district-level Battle of the Books competition. The annual competition promotes reading and comprehension of literature in a fun and engaging format. 19 teams representing all six middle schools battled to prove they learned key concepts from 25 books chosen for this year’s competition.
🏆 The champions: Team “Two Very Cool People & One of Those Band Kids” made up of JMS eighth-grade students Allison Kuechler, Kalyane Vu and Edith Keilor, ended up on top after 41 rounds and 322 questions being asked.
💻 Read more, view photos and watch a replay of this year's Battle of the Books competition.
Andover High School student participates in 2026 House of Representatives High School Page Program
Andover High School junior Kenzy Johnson was selected to participate in the 2026 Minnesota House of Representatives High School Page Program.
The High School Page Program was established in 1975 and provides students with a unique, challenging and enriching hands-on experience in state government. During their week in St. Paul, students are engaged in a variety of activities such as assisting members of the House of Representatives and legislative staff, attend committee hearings and observe the legislative process.
District staff make a difference, earn top honors
⭐ Beth Holgrimson, a 21-year veteran educator at Andover High School, has been named the 2026 High School Teacher of the Year by the Minnesota Council for the Social Studies (MCSS). This prestigious award recognizes leading educators within the state’s social studies community. 📰 Read the full story.
🌐 Denise Schnabel, principal of Ramsey Elementary School, has been named one of three Minnesota finalists for the National Distinguished Principal Award, an honor presented by the National Association for Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and the Minnesota Elementary School Principals’ Association (MESPA). The Distinguished Principal Award recognizes exceptional leadership, commitment to student success, and lasting impact on school communities. 📰 Read the full story.
✨ Kevin Molohon, a science teacher at Champlin Park High School, is one of 19 teachers in the nation and the only teacher from Minnesota participating in the NASA/IPAC Teacher Archive Research Program (NITARP). His research, conducted alongside a cohort of teachers, is providing astronomy research in a program coordinated through the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). 📰 Read the full story.
Anoka-Hennepin students receive state recognition with art and writing ‘Gold Key Awards’
🎨 Anoka-Hennepin high school students were awarded for their outstanding artwork and writing at the Minnesota Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Hailey Hlavinka, a senior from Blaine High School, was honored with a Gold Key Award for her original and creative portfolio (art) piece, “Growth,” this year:
🏆 In addition to Gold Key Awards, several Anoka-Hennepin students were honored with Silver Key and Honorable Mentions at the state level.
Annual elementary art fair runs March 17-25 at Northtown Mall
🖼️ Anoka-Hennepin's annual elementary art fair will be on display at Northtown Mall in Blaine starting March 17-25.
Art teachers across the district have selected works for display that can be viewed during mall hours. Northtown Mall is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
Artwork on display at Northtown Mall will feature a wide range of projects created by individuals and groups from schools across the district.
JMS teams place at state middle school Knowledge Bowl academic competition
📖 When it comes to students “showing what they know,” there are few activities that can match the excitement and fast pace of Knowledge Bowl. Think of an academic competition, somewhat similar to the television show Jeopardy, where teams of 4-6 students compete against other schools from across the Twin Cities metro area.💻 Read more about the Knowledge Bowl competition.
🎉 Success at state: The five-month Knowledge Bowl season wrapped up for 2025-26 with the state invitational held Feb. 21. Highlights include:
- Jackson Middle School placed five teams in the top 20 overall at the state invitational, including “The Stragglers” who took third place, “Pugtatos” in fifth place, and “Hungry Echnidas” in sixth place. JMS “Google it” and “Goofy Goobers” also finished in the top 20.
- Two Oak View Middle School teams, the “Flaming Hot Chinchillas” and “Inferno Iguanas”, also competed at state.
- “JMS Pugtatos” won the “Movin' on up” award at state and at another meet during the season. This award is presented to teams who make the biggest jump during a meet - starting out at a lower rank and moving up throughout the competition.
Anoka-Hennepin Schools Early Childhood Center receives national recognition as a Certified Nature Explore Classroom
🌱Riverview Early Childhood Center (RECC) in Brooklyn Park recently earned certification as a Nature Explore Classroom. The national certification positions Riverview as a member of an expanding network of more than 600 nature-based spaces that foster highly effective, nature-based outdoor learning experiences.
🔆 These unique outdoor classrooms offer interactive, open-ended materials and elements that allow them to use their creativity, imaginations and initiative. Research consistently shows that children who learn and grow in Nature Explore Classrooms exhibit enhanced concentration, develop creativity and problem-solving techniques, manage stress in healthy ways and develop skills across the spectrum of academic and creative learning.
RECC’s outdoor classroom has served families in Anoka-Hennepin’s Early Childhood Family Education program since 2017 and will be the site of a new nature-based preschool program in September.
