Get Out and Vote

Election Day and the vote on the school district’s operating levy is just around the corner. I wanted to take a moment to provide one last overview of what is on the ballot.

As more and more individuals and families are drawn to the Annandale area for its exceptional quality of life and the high quality of education we provide, we must ensure we have appropriate teaching, learning, and programming in place to meet the needs of our students…today and in the future.

Annandale Public Schools is asking district voters to consider a plan to ensure our students are getting the absolute best education possible and that we can stay competitive in terms of programming with other districts in our area. The proposal on the ballot will ask voters to increase our district’s general education revenue by $750 per pupil for a 10-year term with an inflationary factor. Based on enrollment projections, the new levy will provide approximately $1.6 million additional dollars for the first year with an inflation factor included for years 2-10. The inflationary increase is determined by the state and is based on the Consumer Price Index.

It is important to note that seasonal properties are not subject to operating levy taxes. In addition farmland is only taxed on the house, garage, and one acre of land and not the entire property.

Annandale's operating levy is currently one of the lowest in the area and in the state. Passage of the operating levy would provide significant benefits to Annandale students and schools. The additional funding would allow for smaller class sizes, continued academic interventions, maintained ability to offer a wide range of programs, and the provision of necessary resources for classroom instruction. The funds would also enable investment in innovative educational initiatives, maintenance of technology, and ensure that students have access to the best possible learning experiences.

If this operating levy does not pass, Annandale will face difficult decisions regarding the district’s budget including additional reductions in various areas, affecting staff positions, programs, extracurriculars and services for students that are currently offered.

Again, the Annandale School Board is seeking a voter-approved operating levy on the November 5 ballot. Voters can find additional information regarding the 2024 Operating Levy including the tax impact on the district’s Levy for Learning web page.

I encourage you to reach out to me at 320.274.5602 ext. 0617 or tprom@isd876.org if you have any questions.

Tim Prom, Superintendent

Mark Your Calendars

Monday, November 4 - No School: Staff Development Day
Tuesday, November 5 - Election Day
Wed., Nov. 6 & Thurs. Nov. 7 - AES Fall Conferences
Wednesday, November 6 - AES Picture Retakes
Wednesday, November 6 - Unity Day
Thursday, November 7 - AMS Picture Retakes
Monday, November 11 - AHS Band Concert
Monday, November 11 - AMS Veterans Day Program
Thursday, November 14 - AES Fall Conferences
Friday, November 15 - Early Childhood Screening
Thursday, November 21 - All Pro Dads
Friday, November 22 - AHS Fall Play
Saturday, November 23 - AHS Fall Play
Monday, November 25 - 6th Grade Choir Concert
Monday, November 25 - 7th/8th Grade Choir Concert
Monday, November 25 - School Board Meeting
Monday, November 25 - Safe Communities of Wright County

Annandale High School students enrolled in Mr. Dukowitz's Intro to Construction class learned about basic construction around framing and roofing. It's a hands-on experience that also has them learn and use basic woodworking tools from hammers and drills to various cutting tools like skill saws. While building playhouses the students also learned about safety and procedures around equipment. The goal of the class is to continue to find projects from playhouses, chicken coops to sheds while developing lifelong skills that will help them in possible careers or basic maintenance as they become homeowners one day.

ESS Award Winners

Resource Training and Solutions will host the 14th Annual Educational Support Staff (ESS) Banquet and Award Ceremony on Wednesday, November 20, 2024 at the St. Cloud River's Edge Convention Center to recognize educational support staff in our region.

We would like to congratulate the following staff as our 2024 Educational Support Staff (ESS) recipients;

Stephanie Currier, our preschool recipient. Stephanie strives each and everyday to go above and beyond for our students and families in early education. She has a positive attitude, works hard and comes to school each day with a smile!
Lindsey Miller and Kristin Fahey our elementary recipients. Lindsey and Kristin are two hard working, talented support staff members in our elementary school and are both very well deserving of this award.
Deb Grimm, our middle school recipient. Deb is a "go to" for all our middle school students and staff. We are a better place with Deb in our front office!
Lesa Farrand, our high school recipient. We appreciate Lesa's heart, attitude, and ability to find that tough balance between leading students to complete difficult tasks while providing caring and firm leadership that stretches them to achieve important accomplishments!

Annandale Community Ed (ACE)

Who doesn’t love pizza? Community Education offered a class on how to make your own pizza! We partnered with Jimmy's Pizza in Annandale to provide this great opportunity for our community. Students loved taking home their very own pizza creation.

Annandale Community Education offers a variety of programming and events for ages birth - senior citizens. Be sure to check out our upcoming offerings!

View Offerings

Annandale Preschool

Our youngest learners really enjoyed their Early Childhood Spooktacular Halloween Celebration!

Pictured: Preschoolers studying how to be a scientist! They learned the importance of a scientist's work, how to solve problems, and improve our lives through innovations!

Annandale Elementary (AES)

On Friday, October 25 our second grade classrooms shared their vocabulary costumes in their annual AES Vocabulary Parade. The parade idea originates from the story, Miss Alaineus by Debra Frasier. This story is about a girl who mistakes her vocabulary word miscellaneous for a woman’s name Miss Alaineus which is “the woman on green spaghetti boxes whose hair is the color of uncooked pasta and turns into spaghetti at the ends.” Despite her embarrassment she uses her mistake to win first prize in the school Vocabulary Parade.

AES Book Fair will be held in-person in the AES Media Center on conference nights; November 6 & 7 from 3:15- 7:30PM & November 14 from 3:15- 7:30PM.

Online ordering will be available for two weeks from November 1 - 15. Please note: AES does not use the eWallet.

All book fair purchases benefit our school. Thanks for supporting our kids! Happy reading!

Online Book Fair

Annandale Middle School (AMS)

7th Grade Courage Retreat

On Tuesday, October 29, 7th grade students participated in our annual Youth Frontiers Courage Retreat. The day engaged students in large and small group activities that focused on building self-confidence, empathy, and connectedness as a grade level. We encourage you to ask about your student’s experience by asking the following questions:

What activities did you find fun?
What were the small-group leaders like?
What were some of the social fears that you discussed during the small-group conversations?
What’s a fear you really struggle with?
What is one thing you can do tomorrow at school to show more courage?

Band Concert

The 7th and 8th grade band concert on Monday, October 28, was a fantastic success! Our talented students showcased their hard work beautifully. A huge thank you to Ms. Johnson for her amazing leadership as our long-term sub! Our AMS music students will have another opportunity to display their talents at the upcoming choir concerts for grades 6-8 on November 25!

Quarter 1 Grades

Grades will be posted on November 5. If additional academic support is needed in quarter 2, encourage your child to sign up for our Power Hour after-school program. Power Hour is available on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 3-4PM. Students are able to sign-up the day before via a link in Google classroom. Each day registration will remain open until full. Please contact Trina Mastley, School Counselor, for more information.

Important Dates

November 4 - No School for Students
November 7 - AMS Picture Retakes
November 11 - AMS Veterans Day Program @2:30PM in Gym A
November 5 - Quarter 1 grades posted in Campus
November 7 - AMS picture retake day
November 25 - Grade 6 choir concert @ 6PM
November 25 - Grade 7 & 8 choir concert at 7PM

Annandale High School (AHS)

Pictured: AHS Student of the Month (October): Josie Peterson, Ariana Smart, Mya Christensen, Griffin Zuehlke, Cody Sneller

Annandale High School hosted its 4th annual Career Speaker Day on October 23. Every high school student signed up for three different presenters in a diverse range of careers. Thirty-four community professionals including mental health professionals, small business owners, construction, landscaping, and more, generously shared their insights. Students gained valuable knowledge about the different paths these professionals took to reach their current positions. Thank you to all the professionals who volunteered their time to share their experiences and expertise with our students!

The AHS Spanish department and the AES EL department recently collaborated to teach our 5th grade students about Dia De Los Muertos, which is a holiday in Hispanic countries that can be best compared to the Memorial Day holiday that is celebrated in the United States. The multi-day holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends as a way to remember those who have passed away. It is also a day of remembrance and celebration of individuals that have made an impact in our lives.

Our College Prep Spanish students spent time researching the holiday and preparing activities to teach the fifth grade students. On October 30, our high schoolers read stories, lead craft time, offered traditional Dia De Los Muertos bread and taught 5th grade students about this Hispanic holiday.

Annandale Activities

State Tennis: Congratulations to Avery Gagnon on participating in the State Girls' Tennis Tournament on October 24 on the U of M campus.

State Cross Country: Congratulations to Sal Wirth, Emery Wirth, and Mariah Klippenes on qualifying for the State Cross Country Meet! The meet is Saturday, November 2 at Lee Bolstad Golf Course in St. Paul.