Connect-Nov. 11

Nov. 11, 2025

Osseo Area Schools celebrated Veterans Day across the district on Nov. 11. Here’s a sampling of how schools commemorated the holiday and honored our nation’s veterans.

Supt. Dr. Kim Hiel recently joined students at Edinbrook Elementary School for her latest "Holding Space with Dr. Hiel" video. She talked with students about their fun run and family picnic, how their school year has been so far and the new faces around the school.

Families are invited to explore the full range of opportunities available for every learner in Osseo Area Schools. From early childhood and preschool through elementary, middle and high school, you’ll have the chance to connect directly with school leaders and staff to learn what makes each school unique.

Widely celebrated by people in the Mexican and Latin American communities, Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, celebrations also took place at more than one school around the district in early November.

Each year, the Minnesota Community Education Association (MCEA) honors individuals and programs that make Community Education in Minnesota truly exceptional. Through statewide and regional nominations, the annual awards celebrate those who lead with heart, innovative purpose and bring people together through learning and connection.

Two chances remain to see Park Center Senior High School's fall play, Leaving Iowa. Dubbed a hilarious, family-friendly comedy, Leaving Iowa will hit the stage Nov. 14 and 15 at 7 p.m. in the PCSH auditorium.

“What makes Leaving Iowa so special is how it captures the spirit of family vacations not as perfect moments, but as imperfect adventures filled with love, effort and good intentions,” said Directors Cliff and Roxy Janke. “It’s a gentle tribute to the generations who packed up the car, loaded the cooler and set out to make something special out of a few days on the road. Leaving Iowa invites us all to remember - to laugh, to reflect and to appreciate those who made the journey with us.”

Tickets are available online or at the door.

Fair Oaks Elementary School students were wowed on Nov. 7, when Japanese comic strip artist and children’s book author, Misako Rocks, came to the school to share about her work and demonstrate how to draw.

Rocks talked students through the process of turning the dream of a book into a reality, explaining steps such as script writing, thumbnails and collaboration with others throughout the process. She then demonstrated how to draw a character from her book, impressing students with how quickly a circle on a page became an endearing character.

“It takes a long time to make one book,” Rocks told the students. “It’s hard work, but I’m living my dream.”

As a reward for meeting the school’s fun run fundraising goal in September, all Oak View Elementary School students got the chance to move and groove to their heart’s content during silent disco parties on Halloween. The silent disco parties took place during each class’s physical education time in the gymnasium filled with disco lights, and students each wore headsets that played different music options.

Students at Rice Lake Elementary School celebrated their fundraising success on Oct. 31, when the classes that raised the most money got to pie Principal Bagley and DARE Officer Slawson in the face! The celebraton was aired on Rice Lake TV for all classes to watch and enjoy.

Community-Based Vocational Assessment & Training (CBVAT ) students have been hard at work preparing for their annual winter sale and open house, which takes place Dec. 2 from 3:30-6:30 p.m. at 7600 Boone Ave Suite 72, Brooklyn Park. Handcrafted items created by CBVAT students, including greeting cards, gift sets and gift bags, will be for sale and are the perfect holiday gift.

• Nov. 11: School board work session
• Nov. 15: Osseo Area Schools Information Fair
• Nov. 18: School board regular business meeting
• Nov. 26-28: No school for students
• Dec. 1: Start of trimester two
• Dec. 9: School board policy committee meeting and work session