Students from three School District 622 middle schools who participated in Project Citizen, a bipartisan program to promote civic engagement, met with State Sen. Chuck Wiger on May 15 in the Capitol Rotunda. Pictured with Wiger are Skyview Middle School eighth-graders, from left, Gretchen Draves, Molly Holthe, Ashley Medina, Margaret Pawlenty, Olivia Meyer and Sydney Tiffany. Their project was about the use of road salt, and how it impacts the environment.
Photos courtesy of Kathleen Hennessy • Madison Head, who is in her third year as a Tartan High School varsity softball starter, hit four out-of-the-park home runs for the Titans in a softball doubleheader April 30.
submitted photo • An Oakdale-based cheerleading squad made up of 14 metro area girls recently won its division at the All Star Cheer Competition National Championship in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Lightning, a cheerleading squad out of Oakdale, won the Recreation Level Three Division All Star Cheer Competition National Championship, which was held recently in Indianapolis, Indiana.
courtesy of School District 622 • The District 622 Latino student group will be performing folklore dances from Mexico and El Salvador at the Tartan High School Festival of Cultures on Friday, April 20.
Aundrea Kinney photos/Review • Castle Elementary School in Oakdale is one of the District 622 schools offering free pre-k to 4-year-olds this school year. Without the Legislature supporting renewed or permanent funding, the school may no longer be able to offer any free slots in its pre-k classes.
Funding affects District 622 and St. Mark’s Preschool differently.
courtesy of School District 622 • Pictured left to right in the front row are Bill Halbrehder, Mike Boland, Becky Neve, Superintendent Christine Osorio and State Rep. Leon Lillie. Pictured in the back row are Brad Martinson, Randy Anderson, Michelle Yener, Greg Nelson, State Sen. Chuck Wiger and Caleb Anderson.
On March 3, elected officials, members of the community, and district leaders gathered at Polar Ice Arena, 2444 11th Ave. N., for a unique rededication ceremony.
Solomon Gustavo photos/Review • Olympic hockey players Marissa and Hannah Brandt got quite the welcome during their homecoming event at the Vadnais Heights Commons March 8. The sisters returned from Pyeongchang, South Korea, and competing in the Winter Olympics for two different teams, a story that got international attention. Area hockey fans held “Welcome Home Brandt Sisters” signs, fire trucks were on display in the parking lot and hundreds of people lined up for pictures. Marissa, 25, played for South Korea and Hannah, 24, played for the U.S. Both were raised in Vadnais Heights and graduated from Hill-Murray School.
submitted photo • Several schools in the North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale School District celebrated National African American Parent Involvement Day over the week of Feb. 12. Events included educational games, classroom visits, presentations and a group dinner.
Research shows that students achieve greater academic success when parents feel connected with their child’s school.
submitted photo • Early childhood staff are key to successful events, such as Friday Family Fun Nights, because they interact with the children and model how to practice skills.
We have all heard the research about the importance of the early years of a child’s life, with extensive brain development occurring between birth and age 5.