STMA HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

We have reached the end of Trimester 2!

I want to take a moment to recognize the hard work of our students and staff. This time of year brings about exciting opportunities for our school community. From upcoming academic events and activities to student achievements, there is much to celebrate. Thank you for your continued support in making STMA a great place. Please find current information and information related to the 25/26 school year included below.

• Friday, March 7th, 2025 - No School - Teacher Workshop Day
• Monday, March 10th - Friday, March 14th, 2025 - No School All
• Monday, April 14th, 2025 - Conference Night - 4:00pm - 7:00pm DATE CHANGE
• Saturday, May 3rd, 2025 - Prom
• Friday, June 6th, 2025 - Graduation

• Tuesday, August 19th 2025 - HS student kick-off day & picture day
• Wednesday, August 27th, 2025 - HS Freshman & New Student Orientation
• Tuesday, September 2nd, 2025 - First day of school - 9th grade only
• Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025 - First day of school - 10th - 12th grade
• Thursday, September 4th, 2025 - HS student picture make-up day (7:30am - 10:00am)
• Thursday, October 2nd, 2025 - HS student picture retake day (7:30am - 10:00am)
• Thursday, October 9th, 2025 - HS Trimester 1 conferences (4:00pm- 7:00pm)

Name: Kendra Behrens

Parents: Stacy and Jon Behrens

Siblings: Alex (20)

Plans after high school: I will be attending the University of Minnesota- Duluth as a volleyball commit. I plan to major in Business.

Most Memorable STMA Moment(s): My most memorable moments at STMA were while playing sports. I have met so many wonderful people through all the activities I have participated in.

Teacher/Staff Who Has Impacted Me: The teacher who has impacted me most is Mrs. Bovee. because she is so nice and understanding. She creates a classroom that is a fun learning environment for all her students.

I Love STMA Because: I love STMA because the staff is so welcoming. And because of all the opportunities I have had with the activities that are available to students.

Name: Jack Bakke

Parents: Allison and Jason Bakke

Siblings: Jacob (21)

Plans after high school: I plan to attend North Dakota State University where I will major in Biological Sciences.

Most Memorable STMA Moment: My most memorable STMA moment was last year when I was on tour with the Concert Choir. We had to fly back from Omaha to perform the One Act Play at State the same day that we performed for Choir.

Teacher/Staff Who Has Impacted Me: The teacher who has impacted me most is Mr. Mann. He has been an influential leader and someone who has helped me with the high school process. He has taught me how to be a leader, and helped me be the person I am.

I Love STMA Because: I love STMA because of all the opportunities it has to offer. Every student can find a place that they belong.

Name: Jack Rengstorf

Parents: Ginny Zimny and Jeff Rengstorf

Siblings: Rosalie (14)

Plans after high school: After high school, I am going to Wings. Then I plan to go to college to study video game design.

Most Memorable STMA Moment: This trimester has been the best trimester of my life. I am taking ceramics and video game design. I like classes where I can be creative.

Teacher/Staff Who Has Impacted Me: Mrs. Fealy was always someone I could talk to when I was down.

I Love STMA Because: STMA has classes that have topics I find fascinating. STMA teachers are entertaining and teach well.

Name: Ella Seiler

Parents: Silke and Marco Seiler

Siblings: Max (18)

Home: Unterbach, Germany

Host Family: Jen Kepner, Steve Hietala, Lindsey (19), Briana (16), Ashleigh (15), Jack (13)

Plans after high school: My plans after this year at STMA are going back to Germany to finish 3 more years of high school.

Most Memorable STMA Moment: My most memorable STMA moments were at the the STMA football games. I had never been to a football game before. The school spirit was amazing. It was an experience I will never forget.

Teacher/Staff Who Has Impacted Me: When I first arrived Mr. Hackenmueller he helped me get organized and find my classes. He made me feel comfortable in this environment.

I Love STMA Because: I love STMA because of the school spirit. InGerman school we only work, there is no "fun". Everyone here works together and are so nice to each other.

Name: Kate Smith

Parents: Andrea and Ryan Smith

Siblings: Alivia (21 ), Brady (14), Josie (14)

Plans after high school: I plan to attend the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. I will be majoring in business.

Most Memorable STMA Moment: My most memorable moment at STMA was my Junior prom. We had an amazing girls day making bouquets, having breakfast together, and getting ready. The bus ride was so much fun - singing and dancing with friends.

Teacher/Staff Who Has Impacted Me: The teacher that has impacted me the most is Mrs. Korf. She sees eye to eye with me and is there to help. She has pushed me to be a better person.

I Love STMA Because: I love STMA because of all the friends that it has given me.

Avagabriella Stich recently placed first in the welding skills contest at Ridgewater College through Wright Tech! We are incredibly proud of her for utilizing her skill and talent in such an impressive way.

Keep up the great work!

The St. Michael-Albertville Rotary Club is pleased to announce that St. Michael-Albertville High

School juniors Mara Howard, Aidan Morgan, and Addison Thompson-Klimpke were recognized as the

Rotary Students of the Month for February.

“Rotary is very proud to recognize Mara, Aidan and Addison as students of the month,” said Mike Simon, STMA Rotary Club President. “They have demonstrated a commitment to academic excellence and represent the service above self ideals of Rotary.”

Our Physical Education Mentorship program was created three years ago as an opportunity for all students (general education students and those who benefit from Developmental Adapted Physical Education) to participate in Physical Education together. Each day, student mentors come alongside students with special needs in recreation, leisure, and fitness settings while increasing their understanding of inclusion, social justice, and advocacy. Student mentors, and their peers, have opportunities to build and strengthen relationships that go beyond PE class, but continue to grow in the hallways, cafeteria and school community. Student mentors enjoy these opportunities to not only improve their own leadership and social skills, but also improve the overall STMA Experience for countless students.

Left to right: Emily Fair, Teresa James, Amber Einerwold, Julie Robinson, Laura Shuster, and Tomas Rodriguez.

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

Scholarships

We know that seniors are finalizing plans for life after high school and there may be some worries about how to pay for college!! Local Scholarship information will be shared with seniors in early March. If they are interested in looking for additional scholarships they can find more information on the Student Support website → Scholarship & Financial Aid.

PSEO

If you are a future Junior or Senior considering PSEO, you can find information about PSEO, next steps, and posted meeting dates on the STMA Student Support webpage.

ACT Test Prep Resources

Scheduling Reminders:

Please be aware that schedule changes for trimester three are on a very limited basis and only for the reasons listed below as classes are very full. As the trimester approaches we will also be balancing class sizes the best we can. Your schedule on student view will be the most up-to-date, please do not follow the copy you received at the beginning of the year when the trimester starts.

Requests can only be made for the following reasons:

- The student does not have the

prerequisite(s)

- The student failed a class

- There is an obvious error (two classes at the same time)

- To add a class that is needed to graduate

- The schedule is unbalanced

Add family dynamics and peer relationships to the mix, and it’s no wonder there’s so much stress in a student's life. This constant pressure can lead to a variety of issues, from irritability and trouble concentrating to physical problems like headaches and stomachaches. But do not worry! There are ways to reduce stress for students that can promote a healthier, happier teenage experience. We have tools on how to deal with stress as a teenager. Here are some ideas.

Build a support system: Confiding in someone we trust — whether it’s a teacher, friend, parent or counselor — can help us process emotions. This can reveal a new perspective on the situation. There is no shame in talking to someone about our stress levels. Many teens experience stress, and having a strong support system can make a world of difference.

Get organized: Feeling overwhelmed by deadlines and to-do lists can be a major stressor. Getting ourselves more organized can help combat the chaos. Buy a day planner or use a calendar app. Write lists and prioritize things that need to get done, such as assignments, exams and extracurricular activities. Breaking down bigger tasks into manageable chunks will help make things seem easier to tackle. Being organized helps us stay on top of our work and makes us feel more in control of our schedules.

Practice healthy habits: The American Psychological Association has found that stress gets in the way of quality sleep. It keeps us from getting the recommended eight–10 hours of sleep per night. When our bodies are well rested, they are better able to handle challenges that come up during the day. So, what can help?

Eating healthy food, for one. While junk food may give us an energy boost, it is only temporary — and it robs our concentration and makes us cranky. Change to Chill has recommendations for mindful eating that can help us feel better at mealtime.

Another way to reduce stress for students is to take movement breaks. Mindful movement can happen anywhere and only takes a few minutes. Check out Change to Chill’s videos to find an easy activity you can do in any room.

Use relaxation tools: Deep breathing exercises are a great place to start. Meditation can also be helpful. When we can get to a quiet place and focus, we can give our body permission to chill.

MEADA is a Wright County organization. It was founded to focus on methamphetamine abuse, but since 2004 has moved beyond that to address drug related concerns and mentorship within the communities. Most communities within Wright County now have active MEADA chapters.

Myth: Cannabis helps decrease anxiety

Truth: Frequent cannabis users exhibit higher levels of anxiety when compared to less frequent users and non-users.

Myth: Sizzurp isn’t something kids these days are doing.

Truth: The “double cup” is trending again. When an opioid or cough syrup are mixed with soda (commonly Sprite) and a jolly rancher. Also called Lean.

Myth: “Dietary Supplements” are nothing of concern.

Truth: Phenibut is a legal, yet unregulated, substance and when mixed with alcohol, opioids, and other depressants can be extremely dangerous.

If you haven’t heard of or listened to the Tall Cop, we strongly suggest you check him out. He has monthly newsletters that come out, plus a podcast on various drug trends all across the country. Learn more on his website, https://www.tallcopsaysstop.com/, or listen to his podcasts on Spotify and Apple Podcasts by searching Tall Cop Says Stop.

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.

• 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.

Register for the All Night Graduation Party!

Click here to for the following:

- register for the all night party

- sign up for 1 or more volunteer opportunities

- make a donation

-watch for information on yard signs

**These events are hosted by the Class of 2025 All Night Grad Party Committee and are not affiliated with the STMA High School. Please contact: stmaallnightgradparty@gmail.com with any questions.

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