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March 22, 2026 - Issue 15

March - Women’s History Month

23 Dine for Dollars at Le Burger 4-9pm

27 No school - Record keeping day

30 No school - Spring Break - Mar 30 - Apr 3

April - Arab History Month

30-3 No school - Spring Break - Mar 30 - Apr 3

9 7th Grade Band, Southwest Area Band Concert

Southwest HS West Gym 6:30 pm

10 8th Grade Model UN

16 Band Spring Pops Concert 6:00 pm

20 MCA Reading Test (morning)

22 MCA Math Test (morning)

23 Choir Spring Concert 6th 5:30 pm, 7/8th at 7:00 pm

Stay in the know. Check our Anthony Events Calendar often.

March Dining for Dollars at Le Burger

Monday, March 23rd from 4-9pm

4304 Upton Ave S

www.leburger4304.com

Dine in or takeout (delivery not included)

Congratulations to all of our winners for the Anthony Pi Bee on Friday, March 13th. It was an amazing day full of fun and pie. Thanks to the parents who donated pies and accessories, as well as to the parent volunteers who helped serve pie. You are so wonderful!

6th Grade
Deccan Dixit - 313
Chevie Edwards - 181
Gloria Reitsema - 105
Leandro Gonzalez - 104
Eloise Mahmud - 104

7th Grade
Paige O'Rourke - 212
Noelle Reitsema - 131
Cecilia Marrs - 101
Mina Mirkovic - 100

8th Grade
Colin Fahrenkrog - 161
Ricardo Mendoza Perez - 146

Summer Minske - 118

Colin

Deccan

Paige

The Anthony 7th Grade Concert Band has been selected to perform at the Southwest Area Band Festival on April 9th in the Southwest High School West Gym at 6:30 pm.

The 7/8th Grade Panther Jazz Ensemble will open this exciting event. This concert is free and open to all. Come and join us as we celebrate music and community!

The Anthony Spring Pops Concert is April 16th at 6:00 pm in the Anthony Middle School Auditorium. All Anthony Bands (Beginning Band, 6th Grade A Day, 6th Grade B Day Bands, 7th Grade Band, 8th Grade Band, and Jazz Ensemble) will perform movie music, Broadway favorites, and pop/rock hits.

“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.” Plato

MCA testing in April

Every year, students in all three grades take the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) in Reading and Math, while 8th graders also take a Science assessment. These assessments demonstrate your student’s progress in meeting the Minnesota Academic Standards - the skills and knowledge the state has determined every 6th, 7th, and 8th graders ought to know by the end of the year.

Students receive a score which is categorized as Exceeds, Meets, Partially Meets, or Does Not Meet the standards. This helps in both our individualized work with students and in our curriculum and instructional planning as a whole.

To provide a focused and calm environment, testing will occur during extended advisory periods from 8:40 AM to 11:58 AM. Please mark your calendars for these testing dates, and please try to avoid scheduling appointments during these times:

Reading (Grades 6–8): Monday, April 20
Math (Grades 6–8): Wednesday, April 22
Science (Grade 8 only): May 5, 6 and 7 during Science class

Student achievement reports are shared by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) in the fall prior to October parent-teacher conferences.

Sixth grade has been “Rock’n it” for the last 6 weeks. We have studied the periodic table of elements which transitioned into understanding how minerals are formed. With that history in our back pocket, the students adopted a pet -- no not a dog and not a cat -- something much more important to our earth-- yep a rock.

Each student chose a rock, personalized it, and studied how it was formed. We also did some oreo tectonics and S’more layers of the earth. Currently we are taking a look at the outside of the earth -- the atmosphere and how it impacts objects including living things.

After spring break we will be blasting off of the earth and into space with our Rockets, Engineering and Space unit. Be looking for a 6 week unit booklet with a rocket order form, permission slip and letter describing the unit plan. We will be looking for parent support in the classroom and on our May 15th rocket launch field trip -- -- more detail will come in April.

Have a wonderful fun filled and relaxing spring break!

Dear Families,

This month in 7th grade science, we’ve been exploring the amazing world of ecosystems—the communities of plants, animals, and other living things that interact with sunlight, air, water, and soil. Students learned how every part of an ecosystem plays an important role, and how even small changes—like a shift in climate or the loss of a species—can impact the balance of the whole environment. Our classes have had great discussions about how connected we all are to the natural world. This culminated in making dioramas of different sub-biomes, which you can see in this article. We had a ton of fun making and sharing them!

We also dove into food chains and food webs, which show how energy moves from one organism to another. Students practiced identifying producers (like plants), consumers (such as herbivores and carnivores), and decomposers that help recycle nutrients back into the soil. They were surprised to see how complex real ecosystems are—how one animal often depends on many others. We talked about how pollution, habitat loss, and invasive species can interrupt these food webs and why protecting biodiversity matters.

Finally, we connected these ideas to real‑world challenges by examining modern farming strategies and how they relate to global conservation. Students learned about sustainable practices such as crop rotation, composting, cover crops, and agroforestry—methods that help keep soil healthy and ecosystems stable. We discussed how these approaches not only support farmers but also protect natural resources for future generations. It’s been inspiring to see students make connections between science, food, and the health of our planet.

Thank you for supporting your child’s curiosity and learning. We look forward to sharing more science adventures with you soon!

Warmly,

Peter Michaletz

7th Grade Science Teacher

Dear 6–8 ELA Families,

Inspired by our amazing math department, the ELA team is launching a new after-school reading support opportunity this spring, Literacy Gym !

Many of you have already talked with us about adding Lexia PowerUp minutes to your child’s weekly reading routine, preparing for the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs), or finding ways to support reading growth outside of the core instruction. To help with all of these goals, we’re opening Literacy Gym on Wednesdays after school!

During Literacy Gym, students will set goals, track their progress, and strengthen skills in word study, grammar, and comprehension at their own level using Lexia PowerUp. Importantly, you’ll be able to see their progress and growth in the portal as well!

With about 90 minutes of Lexia practice per week, students are able to make steady progress across the program’s three skill areas: Word Study, Grammar, and Comprehension. Because Lexia adapts to each learner, the program targets the specific skills each student needs most, helping them build reading proficiency through consistent, focused practice.

Whether your student wants to build confidence, prepare for MCA, or just get some extra focused reading time, they’re welcome to jump in anytime. Literacy Gym is a consistent space for strengthening reading skills and building stamina.

After school runs from April 8 - April 29, and it includes transportation* and a snack. More information/registration can be found here:

https://minneapolis.ce.eleyo.com/search?redirected_yet=true&sf[category]=124

See you in the gym!
Kirsten Wolf and Sarah Goldammer

8th Grade Model United Nations is Coming Soon!

Anthony 8th graders will participate in a Model United Nations simulation with their World Studies classes on Friday, April 10th.

Students are exploring the history, function, and structure of the United Nations and researching the global issue of refugees from the perspectives of the countries they will be representing at the school conference. Model UN is an opportunity to practice many important skills like collaboration, negotiation, public speaking, and compromising in order to reach constructive and peaceful solutions.

Two things that families can do to supportModel UN. First, please sign up to be a volunteer at the conference.

Second, please assist students in meeting the Model UN dress code. Students should aim for business/business casual attire see examples below). Model UN is a role play, and like any other play there is a costume!

Examples of Model UN Attire

We are excited to see what this year's 8th graders can do with their research and diplomatic skills. Any questions or concerns please contact Annie Ellingham or Adrian Lemay.

Track & Field registration window is now open! The registration window is open from March 17th through April 17th.

Registration Link (please note: checks can be written out to MPS Athletics and dropped off in the main office).

Dates to know:

The 1st Team Practice will be held the week April 27 (stay tuned for more information).
Regular team practices (Subject to change) will take place on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 3:30pm-5pm.
Track & Field Meets schedule (on Saturdays in May)

Southwest Lakers Football Camp is June 18

Learn skills for both tackle and flag football as Southwest High football players host their annual Lakers Youth Football Camp, set for June 18 at Pershing Park. The morning session is 10 a.m. to noon and is for grades K-5; afternoon is 1-3 p.m. for grades 6-8. Boys and girls are welcome! Registration is just $25 and includes a t-shirt. No one is turned away for inability to pay. Click here to register. Questions: Jason Walker, jasonwalker262@gmail.com.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeqIP2eGOSBD5EiUpmBQ04krQnDIcC8MB3m6SPhygbfbGbEvA/viewform

COME ON OUT FOR TENNIS!

The Southwest High School girls tennis team would like to invite you to grab a racket and join our team this fall! The season starts in mid-August and runs through the first week of October. We are always proud to have a number of Anthony middle schoolers (7th and 8th) on our team. No experience required.

If you are interested, please reach out to coach Malini Wijesinghe at malini.wijesinghe@gmail.com for more information. You will also be added to our communication list for important summer updates.

To any Girls in 7th and 8th interested in Minneapolis Girls HS Lacrosse

Model UN Shifts on Friday, April 10 - https://tinyurl.com/2dz2hx9r

8th graders will be participating in a Model UN Day, and we’re looking for parent volunteers to help the day run smoothly. No prior experience is needed—instructions will be provided at check-in.

Family Day - Planning Committee

This is a carnival-style celebration after school on Thursday, May 21, for all students and families. There will be free food, a dunk tank, and performances from the band & choir. With this annual event, most of the planning structure is already in place, but we’d love a few more people to help share ideas and keep things running smoothly!

Committee volunteers would need to attend the event and 2 planning meetings beforehand. No experience necessary. Email anthonyPTAVolunteers@gmail.com if you'd be interested in contributing.

2026-2027 PTA Board Interest

Want to stay informed and support the Panther Community? Join the PTA board for the next school year! Email anthonypta23@gmail.com for more information or attend the next meeting on Wednesday, 4/15 at 5:30. Open positions include Secretary, Assistant Treasuer and Fundraising.