Oak View Elementary School’s media center was a happening place Feb. 5, when the school hosted a career day for fifth grade students that offered young scholars a look into the lives of many different career possibilities.

Maple Grove Middle School sixth graders had a similar opportunity Feb. 7, when a variety of professionals came to sixth grade classrooms to share about their careers and answer questions.

Thanks to a grant from the District 279 Foundation, Birch Grove School for the Arts has begun offering ukulele lessons for interested students during the school’s art electives time.

Superintendent Dr. Kim Hiel spent the morning of Feb. 7 at a few schools around the district, escorting Minnesota state representative from District 38-A, Huldah Hiltsley, on a tour. Dr. Hiel showed Representative Hiltsley around three of the schools within her district, where they stopped into classrooms to talk with students and learn about the unique opportunities students from each school currently partake in, such as 3D printing, coding robots, engineering design work and more.

Representative Hiltsley is also a district parent and the first Kenyan American to serve in the Minnesota Legislature.

Maple Grove Middle School, with the help of the school’s parent-teacher organization, shook off the winter doldrums recently with an afternoon of fun activities for each grade level. Students could take part in a variety of games and activities in the school’s gymnasiums, cafeteria, art rooms and family and consumer science (FACS) cooking classrooms.

This contest allows students to use their artistic abilities and knowledge of school bus safety to create a colorful and informational poster. First, second and third place winners will be selected from each grade level and have the opportunity to win gift cards, art supplies and other prizes. These students will also advance to the state competition where there are opportunities to win additional prizes. State winners advance to a national competition with a grand prize of $500.

Poster Details: Please check out all the specific details on the contest flyer, contest rules and contest label documents. Posters must be on 11”x17” or 12”x18” tagboard and feature the theme “Safety First – Safety Always.” Please read the details carefully as not following directions could result in disqualifications.

Submissions: Please send all submissions to Debbie Schmoyer in the Transportation Department at the Educational Service Center.

Deadline: Saturday, March 1