Hopkins Public Schools is providing unique, real-world opportunities for students who have an interest

in the arts. An artist-in-residency program with the High School Orchestra, and a student written and produced play are just two opportunities that demonstrate the dedication of sta! and students.

Orchestra artist-in-residency program In preparation for the February 11 concert, the High School Orchestra collaborated for weeks with singer/songwriter John Hermanson, who sang and played acoustic guitar. Hermanson is a member of the nationally acclaimed acoustic duo Storyhill, and has had numerous songs featured on MTV, HBO, and ABC. "e concert included many of Hermanson’s original songs, with string arrangements added by orchestra director Andy Bast and student composer Cody Bursch.

“Our students have been learning about song-writing, arranging, and performing together,” said Bast. “"is experience is rounding out their music education in terms of the variety of music we will have studied this year.”

‘The In Between’ —a play written and produced by Hopkins students "e students who were involved in the February theatre production were particularly passionate about it. After all, they wrote it. !e In Between is the product of several

improv exercises. "eatre director, Mark Hauck, challenged the students to identify strong emotions that de#ne adolescence and “go with it.” "e end result is an eclectic parody of high-school life #lled with ghosts, video games, and virtual reality.

“It’s a really funny show,” said Hauck. “It deals with dark stu! in a way that is engaging, funny, and joyous.”

Art education starts in elementary Hopkins students are exposed to art from an early age. Every elementary student receives art and music education delivered by certi#ed specialists, and over 75 percent of 5th and 6th graders participate in the orchestra and band program. According to Merry, band and theatre groups are a place where students often form life-long friendships. Furthermore, students who are part of such groups are more likely to make positive choices and have an academic edge.

“Research shows that students who participate in the arts perform higher on standardized tests and are less likely to engage in risky behaviors,” said Merry. “"e creative aspect of art connects both sides of your brain, and it’s when both sides talk to each other that your brain is really working.”

d a t e s i n t h e c o m m u n i t y

Breaking the mold: how Hopkins Public Schools is shaping creative minds

H o p k i n s P u b l i c S c h o o l s

UpdateMarch 2011The community’s guide to the District

K-12

Concert Choir featured at Minnesota Music Educators Association ConferenceThe Hopkins Concert Choir was one of four high school choirs selected statewide to perform at this year’s Minnesota Music Educators Association Conference. Hopkins was selected through a rigorous audition process.

“This is an extremely high honor for the choir program, as many choirs never get selected for a performance of this nature,” said Philip Brown, Hopkins High School choir director.

Hopkins visual arts curriculum is top notch Each year, Hopkins students win multiple visual arts awards in numerous competitions at the regional, state, and national level. Every March, the artwork of over 250 students is displayed at the Hopkins Center for the Arts. Student work is also displayed in galleries at the state capital, and in larger cities like Philadelphia and New York City.

Our Achievements

13th annual Empty Bowls

No school E-12

Hopkins Center for the Arts

Tuesday, March 1511 a.m.-7:00 p.m.

Details inside....

Spring BreakNo school for K-12 and Early Childhood Education.

March 28-April 1

Kids & Company Extended-day K-6 childcare registration for summer and 2011-12 school year starts in March.

Details inside...

Registration

“Hopkins has a long-standing reputation for

having an outstanding !ne arts program,” said

Sandy Merry, !ne arts curriculum coordinator for

the District. “Our parents and community really

value the arts.”

“The creative aspect of art connects both sides of

your brain, and it’s when both sides talk to each

other that your brain is really working,” said Merry.

Singer/songwriter John Hermanson plays guitar while orchestra director Andy Bast conducts the High School Orchestra during a rehearsal.

Post-Secondary education: Sociology degree- University of Wisconsin-Madison.Current employment: State of Minnesota, serving as Commissioner of the Department of Administration. How has Hopkins prepared you

for where you are today? The dedication of Hopkins teachers. Beyond the high expectations they set for us in the classroom, they gave even more of their time by supporting extracurricular activities. Getting involved in Student Government at Hopkins was one avenue that allowed me to explore what would become my future career.

Spencer Cronk: 1998 graduatePost-Secondary

education: University of Minnesota Duluth – K-12 Music Education.!Current employment: K-5 Classroom Music Teacher in Edina

and a Freelance Professional Bassist. How has Hopkins prepared you for where you are today? Thanks to my band teachers at Hopkins High School (Don Bates and Adam Bestler), I began to take music seriously. They inspired in me a passion for music that led me to my current career path as a music educator and professional musician. I am very thankful for all the experiences they gave to me.

Matt Peterson: 1999 graduatePost-Secondary education: 2009 - hands-on experience assisting HHS ceramics teacher, 2009-10 – Normandale Community College. Currently researching schools for completing degree in Art.Current employment: Currently, I am an apprentice

in the studio of local potter and retired Hopkins teacher Mel Jacobson. Mel taught ceramics at Hopkins for 30 years. How has Hopkins prepared you for where you are today? Hopkins was a great place to explore my interests in the arts, and the variety of classes o"ered in the art department from graphic design, to jewelry and metals, to ceramics and painting is extremely unique. I have found that many colleges don’t have access to the resources the art department that Hopkins High School does, not to mention the expertise of the teachers.

District Life ChangersWelcome to Life Changer, a monthly feature on outstanding teachers making a di!erence and changing the lives of our students.

Know a HHS grad that we should feature?email: Signe.McKie@HopkinsSchools.org

Where are they now?

Spotlight on Schools

1001 Highway 7, Hopkins 952-988-4300

Eisenhower Elementary is a community of students, families, and sta" committed to excellence, our mission is to educate students in a safe, engaging environment by building on individual strengths, working in teams, and establishing high expectations. We celebrate our diverse student body by participating in authentic cultural experiences as we learn about people throughout the world.Eisenhower Elementary

714 energetic students in grades K–6.63 dedicated teachers.Every Hopkins elementary school has an orchestra and a band.Engineering is Elementary (EiE) curriculum promotes science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).A strong student support team.

XinXing AcademyChinese Immersion program: currently serving grades K-3 and growing by one grade level each year.In 2010, XinXing students demonstrated 100% pro#ciency on the international Young Learner Chinese test developed in China.

Eisenhower Elementary and XinXing Academy

Update

Philip Brown: Director of Choral Activities at Hopkins High School. I am currently in my #fth year of teaching at Hopkins High School and I think the choir program does many positive things to change the lives of its students.Education: B.A. Music Education (Bethany College, KS); M.M. in Music Education (Northern Arizona University) Music has a way of bringing out the very best in students.

So many times students want to feel a part of something they value. The

past few years have seen an increase in choir enrollment at the high school, showing that students will get involved in areas they care about and their peers care about.

Since the singing voice is built into each one of us, the better we feel about our voice the better we sing. Every singer takes the time each class to improve the technical aspects of his or her singing. Incorporated into this is an increased knowledge in the fundamentals of music as well.

The concert schedule and di$culty of the music learned in each class provides a strong challenge for each choir student. To master these challenges, singers possess self-discipline and work hard to meet these expectations.

High expectations allow singers to reach new levels of music making. When these expectations are met and exceeded, the morale and sense of achievement for the student and choir are incredibly rewarding.

Each choir is introduced to di"erent styles, composers, and genres. This allows the singer to think and dialogue about how to listen and respect di"erent types of music.

Each year we have students who participate in di"erent choir festivals across the Upper Midwest. From Luther College, to Concordia College, to all-state choirs, students in the choir program get the chance to learn from master conductors. The junior and senior level choirs go on an annual spring tour as well.

Students create singing groups for our annual Heart-o-Gram fundraiser. Without any speci#c help from the choir sta", 75-90 students display great musicianship and sense of

So much of singing has to do with showing a passion for what we sing and conveying that to each singer. When that transfers to the singers, and they show their own passion for singing, music comes o" the page and becomes artistic.

While it is impossible to attend every single activity students are involved in, I take the time to have conversations with them about their other interests or trying to attend an activity can go a long way.

Sporting Hopkins Pride?Do you have Hopkins spirit? Submit your Hopkins spirit photos, and we’ll try to use them to promote our District. Photos from school, sporting events, or community. Jolene.Goldade@HopkinsSchools.org

“You are the type of teacher

who gets to know kids as a

whole. You are aware of what

other activities your students

are involved in, and can be

seen attending other events

to support the kids you have

in choir. It feels like you really

make the e"ort to get to know

kids in your choirs.”

-Molly Hill, HHS Parent

Colleen Baillie: 2008 graduate

Spotlight on Schools

Excellence. Every School. Every Student. Every Day.

Hopkins High School receives 18 Scholastic Art Awards Hopkins High School art and photography students won 18 Minnesota Scholastic Art Awards (#ve gold, #ve silver, eight honorable mentions). A state reception

honored the students at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design on February 13. The gold winners will move on to the national competition in the spring with a reception at Carnegie Hall, NY.

Hopkins students who received Gold Key and Silver Key awards are listed below:Gold Key: Michael Kline, Kelsey Russell, Stephanie Sunberg, Dominique Szajner, and Katy Corbin Silver Key: Brianna Stein, Dominique Szajner, Nicole Medearis, Je" Decker, and Kyle Chi"ord

The Minnesota Scholastic Art Awards is the highest art recognition for high school students. This year, the contest received 1,279 individual artwork entries and 168 portfolio entries. The jury awarded 126 Gold Keys and 156 Silver Keys for individual entries and 11 Gold Key and 21 Silver Keys for portfolio entries. Additionally, the jury awarded 223 individual entry Honorable Mention Merit Awards, and 45 Honorable Mention Portfolio Merit Awards to students whose work, although not chosen to be in the MSAA Exhibition, was noted by the jurors as deserving of merit.

XinXing students perform with local dance group

On January 26, four students from Hopkins’ Chinese Immersion

School— XinXing Academy —and the local Chinese dance group CAAM Chinese Dance Theatre shared the O’Shaughnessy Stage in St. Paul to present China: The Beautiful.

The students collaborated with the dance group and served as the narrators for the production. Over 800 students from the Twin Cities metro attended the show, including the entire XinXing 2nd grade class. CAAM Chinese Dance Theater brought Google Earth technology to showcase four groups of diverse people living along China’s powerful rivers and seacoasts. The production visually brought its audience to China through landscapes and cultural dances.

K-12

K-12

Event: Kindergarten Bridge — Explore the RoomsKindergarten Bridge is a great opportunity for your child to get comfortable in a kindergarten room before school actually starts.

You will have a chance to meet children who will be in your child’s kindergarten class, as well as their parents. You will also learn what you can do to enhance your child’s kindergarten experience. There is no charge for this event. Space is limited.

Registration is required, call: 952-988-5000.

Gatewood May 10, 6:30-8:00 p.m.Glen Lake March 17, 6:30-8:00 p.m.L.H. Tanglen April 7, 6:30-8:00 p.m.Meadowbrook April 28, 6:30-8:00 p.m. Eisenhower May 5, 6:30-8:00 p.m.Alice Smith May 12, 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Attendance is encouraged but not required.www.HopkinsPublicSchools.org/Kinder

Event: 13th Annual Empty Bowls

Through this community-wide event, funds are raised for ResourceWest (formerly Hopkins Minnetonka Family Resource Center) and the Intercongregational Communities Association (ICA Food Shelf ) to help the families in our community with basic needs like food and housing.

Join us for the 13th Annual Fundraiser for local foodshelves

Tuesday, March 15, 201111:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.Hopkins Center for the Arts 1111 Mainstreet, Hopkins

Celebrate Community! Be a part of the fun, entertainment, art, and !ght against hunger. Make a bowl, bid on the art, make a free-will donation, take home a bowl — participate!

Kids & Company Registration for Summer 2011 and the 2011-12 School YearKids & Company, Hopkins Public Schools’ nationally accredited extended-day program for children in kindergarten through 6th grade, has begun registration for summer and the 2011-12 school year. For questions, to register, or to visit with sta", please visit us:Alice Smith Monday March 7 4-6:00 p.m.Meadowbrook Tuesday March 8 4-6:00 p.m.Gatewood Wednesday March 9 4-6:00 p.m.Eisenhower Wednesday March 9 4-6:00 p.m.Glen Lake Thursday March 10 4-6:00 p.m.L.H. Tanglen Thursday March 10 4-6:00 p.m.District O$ce Monday-Friday Year Round 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

For additional information, please call 952-988-4080 or visit: www.HopkinsCommunityEd.org

Enrichment: Community Education classes for all agesAdult EnrichmentAdults love to explore the arts and music too — it’s never too late in life! Check out some of our Spring 2011 Art and Music classes:

Fused Glass ArtDrawing from ObservationWatercolor or Oil PaintingPotteryGuitarAfrican Drumming

Check out all the options at:www.HopkinsCommunityEd.org

Youth EnrichmentDo you have a young Picasso on your hands? Help them develop their interest in art through our Power of Drawing classes at our elementary schools. Spring sessions begin soon — register at: www.HopkinsCommunityEd.org.

Not many eighth-grade students can say they have performed with

the Minnesota Orchestra, but Bo Peng is not your typical teenager. Described as a prodigy by his West Junior High band teacher, Peng’s musical abilities are well above average.

At the age of 12, Peng won the Young People’s Symphony Concert Auditions, beating out top junior and senior high-school students in the Upper Midwest. As his reward, Peng played piano with the Minnesota Orchestra for four performances in late January, all part of the Target Free Family Concert Series.

“Bo’s ability is very high,” said band teacher Danielle Boor, “but the great

thing about Bo is that he is so humble. In fact, when I told him how great he did, he said, ‘I am just glad you enjoyed the performance.’”

A ‘phenomenal’ performance Peng admits that he got a little nervous during the #rst few performances, but he started to relax with practice. “I was a little nervous, but it was a fun experience up there,” he said.

Boor described Peng’s performance as “phenomenal” and was especially impressed that he was able to play the whole thing from memory. “I did not hear one mistake, but Bo claims he made one or two,” she said.

Practical outlook Although he just turned 13, Peng is beginning to think about the future. He hopes his career path will include music, but he is quick to point out

that few musicians are able to make a comfortable living playing. Despite his talent and recent success, his outlook is practical and likely includes a back-up plan to music. One subject he is de#nitely interested in is math, but he admits that may be because it is so similar to music.

Peng also plays oboe in his 8th grade band class and dabbles in the violin. However, piano is his favorite instrument.

Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies to present Sinfonia and concert Orchestra Community ConcertMarch 1, 7:30 p.m. in the Auditorium at Hopkins High SchoolHopkins K-12 Student Visual Arts ShowMarch 3-April 12 at the Hopkins Center for the ArtsJazzMN Orchestra to present Jazz Guitar Extraordinaire with Guitarist Mike Stern March 12, 7:30 p.m. in the Auditorium at Hopkins High SchoolMethodaires to present Set the Night to Music 2011March 18, 7:30 p.m. and March 19, 2:00 p.m. in the Hopkins High School Little TheaterTwin Cities Bead BazaarMarch 19 and 20, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at the Eisenhower Community CenterFor more information about these events, visit: HopkinsConference.com

Technology is Elementary Six Alice Smith Elementary students participated in Minnesota’s #rst Lego League Tournament. Their team was one of 39 to make it to the state level. The students received the Creative Presentation Award. The award is presented to the team with the most imaginative and creative presentation for this year’s research challenge in the area of biomedical engineering.

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Time  Value

Residential Postal PatronECRWSS

Key District ContactsDistrict O!ce 952-988-4000Adult Options In Education 952-988-5343Athletics 952-988-4691Community Education 952-988-4070Early Childhood 952-988-5000Human Resources 952-988-4030Kids & Company 952-988-4080Nutrition/Royal Cuisine 952-988-4060Special Education 952-988-4040Superintendent 952-988-4021 Transportation 952-988-4115

March: Community Events

Hopkins Public SchoolsParents rank the high quality of teachers as the #1 reason they

chose Hopkins Schools. EXCELLENCE: Over 80% of Hopkins Public School teachers have earned a masters degree or higher.

www.HopkinsSchools.org

K-12

West Junior High student performs with Minnesota Orchestra

“Music is essentially mathematical and it

works a di"erent side of the brain,” said

Peng. “The equal temperate scale is based

on a ratio; it contains math.”

Tuesday, March 15, 2011 , 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.

Join us for the 13th Annual Fundraiser for local foodshelves

Celebrate community! How can you make a di"erence?

952-988-4069