A Time of Thanks

As we move closer to Thanksgiving there is no greater time to reflect on all the things we have to be thankful for. I recently had time following our Tackle Cancer football game as the rain came down and everyone was gone to reflect on what a special place we live.

The first reflection was how blessed we are to have so many people willing to help. Don’t hear me wrong, we are always happy to have more people help, but we were able to pull off hosting both a varsity football game and volleyball game at the same time, including concessions. This is a monumental task requiring many volunteers. I am so thankful to have people we can call on that are willing to spend their time to help put on excellent events for our students and community. To those that consistently help and volunteer. . . thank you!

The second reflection was the level of involvement and success of all of our sports and activities. That night we had teams competing for both a Conference Championship in volleyball and District Title in football. The time and dedication of our student athletes and coaches to make this possible is hard to comprehend. It means sacrificing time and personal leisure to choose to put the team first and strive to be a champion. It should be an inspiration to all of us to see these students and know the hard work, dedication, and commitment they put forward. This also applies to our coaches. The time they spend away from their families and the events missed to influence and shape our students is a heroic task and we are so fortunate to have the high quality of coaches we do starting at the middle school level. To our coaches, advisors, players, and especially their families. . . Click here to read the full letter.

Mark Your Calendars

Friday, November 17 - AHS Fall Play
Friday, November 17 - Early Childhood Screening
Sunday, November 19 - AHS Fall Play (Two Showtimes)
Thursday, November 23 - No School: Thanksgiving Break
Thursday, November 23 - Turkey Trot 5K Fun Run/5K Walk
Friday, November 24 - No School: Thanksgiving Break
Monday, November 27 - Safe Communities of Wright County
Monday, November 27 - School Board Meeting
Monday, December 4 - 7th/8th Grade Conferences
Monday, December 4 - AHS Choir Concert
Tuesday, December 5 - AMS Choir Concert
Wednesday, December 6 - AES Unity Day
Wednesday, December 6 - Cardinal Buddies Starts
Monday, December 11 - AHS Conferences
Tuesday, December 12 - 6th Grade Band Concert
Friday, December 15 - Early Childhood Screening

Community Education

Annandale Community Education provides opportunities for our communities and surrounding areas! Find something that suits you by browsing our online catalog of classes, camps, trips, and more!

View Fall Catalog

Empire State of Mind

At 3:00 a.m. on October 19, a group of Annandale juniors and seniors departed from the high school to embark on a memorable five day trip to New York City with their Music teacher, Mr. Sellheim! This trip was started by M. Nelson and Z. Schaefer for the choir and band students and has since evolved to include any interested upperclassmen. While the trip does have some consistent highlights, adjustments are made and tours are swapped with new and exciting opportunities.

Travelers on this year's trip boasted an itinerary that included; 9/11 museum and One World Observatory, Wall Street Bull, meet and greet with Wicked cast member (plus the show), dinner in Chinatown/Little Italy and shopping in Canal Street, Liberty and Ellis Island (ferry ride), National History Museum and Museum of Modern Art, Central Park, Times Square and much more!

Additionally, this year's group stayed in a brand new hotel which had only opened six days prior. As the first group the hotel had hosted, their picture was taken with the general manager and a few employees. This hotel also happened to be a block from Times Square which allowed students more time for exploring the area.

This trip is optional as the cost is mainly up to the student, however there are some fundraising opportunities for the music department and funds raised go directly for student use in music related trips and experiences. If you are interested in future trips or contributing to this opportunity for our students, please reach out to Mr. Sellheim via email: [email protected]

Annandale Elementary News

Racing the Principal - Every once in a while it’s nice to have a good ‘ol fashion race. It’s even better when it is against your principal! Mrs. Miessen’s class excitedly raced Mr. Klippenes at the end of their PE class. Mr. K won this one, but we think he might have his work cut out for him in future races!

Leaf raking has become a fun tradition for several of our elementary classes. Students along with their teacher and parent volunteers spend a couple of hours raking at nearby homes. While it only takes a short amount of time our students gain a lasting connection to their community and an appreciation of hard work and helping out others.

Middle School Minutes

Interim Principal Hired - Gabe Hackett has been hired as the interim principal for Annandale Middle School. Gabe and his wife, Heidi, have two children in Annandale Public Schools. Recently, Gabe has worked in education consulting, travelling around the country facilitating, coaching, and speaking with teachers, principals, and superintendents to help guide their instructional and leadership practices. Prior to consulting, he was the principal at Little Mountain Elementary in Monticello for ten years.

"My hope is that my principal and consulting experience will be a benefit to the Annandale Middle School families and community," Gabe continued, "I am excited about working with the middle school staff and supporting the academic and social/emotional needs of the students."

Gabe is available to our families via email: [email protected] and by phone: 320.274.8226

Band Concerts - We recently held our 7th and 8th Grade Band Concert. The concert had a variety of songs and student speakers. Click the button below to watch our 7th graders perform, "Happy Birthday!"

7th Grade Video

Grade 6 Social Studies Project - Recently, our 6th grade students worked on Dakota Parfleche creations as a project for their Minnesota Studies (social studies) class. The students studied the Early Dakota people, who would migrate seasonally. Because the early Dakota were frequently on the move, they used containers made of animal hide called Parfleches. To simulate this experience, students chose an item of importance that they would move with them multiple times a year. Then, with that item in mind, they chose the shape and style of Parfleche needed to carry it.

Students traced their designs onto paper grocery bags, then cut, and designed their "Parfleche". To make the designs as authentic as possible, the classes viewed a gallery from the Minnesota Historical Society's online collection, and students chose geometric shapes and then colored with oil pastels and sewed with yarn. Some chose to adorn their containers with beads and feathers.

"Not only did they learn a lot about the Dakota Tribe's culture," Teacher Jennifer Gazdzik continued, "but they also learned that making things by hand is a challenge."

High School Happenings

This week, our building participated in their annual food drive coordinated by the Student Council. Their plan was simplistic and yet very effective - non-perishable, non-expired food donations were accepted all week before school. The total weight of the items were awarded to the students' SSR. Money was also accepted. Each dollar was the equivalent of four pounds. Items that were listed as a high need for the food shelf were called bonus items and equated to nine pounds towards the students' SSR. Congratulations to this year's winners!

First Place: Tengwall's class with a total of 5,290
Second Place: Gibson's class with a total of 1,853
Third Place: Dickinson's class with a total of 696

Pictured: Student Council Members, Landon Nelson, Avery Seagraves and Isabelle Truenow.

Congratulations to the Seniors of the Week... Emma Wright and Zach Meyer were chosen because they have what it takes to be a Senior of the Week -- a good work ethic, a super attitude and BIG Cardinal spirit! What do you get for being Senior of the Week? The prime, upfront, BEST parking places!

Cardinal Activities

On Friday, November 17 at 7:30PM the Annandale High School Theater will hold it's opening performance of, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Can't make it Friday? No worries - We have two showtimes on Sunday, November 19 at 2PM and 7PM. Tickets: $7 adults, $5 seniors & students.

Once, in a house on Egypt Street, there lived a china rabbit named Edward Tulane. The rabbit was very pleased with himself, and for good reason: he was owned by a girl named Abilene, who treated him with the utmost care and adored him completely. And then, one day, he was lost.

Kate DiCamillo takes us on an extraordinary journey, from the depths of the ocean to the net of a fisherman, from the top of a garbage heap to the fireside of a hobos camp, from the bedside of an ailing child to the bustling streets of Memphis. And along the way, we are shown a true miracle: even a heart of the most breakable kind can learn to love, to lose, and to love again.

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