Eagle Heights Spanish Immersion Receives ‘Reading Rocks’ Award

The award recognizes the students’ reading outside the classroom.

Clear Channel Communities is honoring Eagle Heights Spanish Immersion School as one of three schools to receive its Reading Rocks Achievement Award, according to the organization, the engagement brand of Clear Channel and 101.3 KDWB. The award is part of the 2013 Reading Rocks program. The initiative was launched in 2012 in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Education to encourage students to read outside the classroom. Students from 93 schools logged more than 1.2 million reading hours. McDonald’s provided “Be Our Guests” rewards, while Walser Automotive Group provided books from Minnesota authors. “Reading Rocks is an example of how strong partnerships between the state and community partners can advance our goal to promote …

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Hann Doesn’t Expect Results From Funding All-Day Kindergarten

‘Simply spending more money and calling it reform doesn’t work,’ the state senator argued.

Sen. David Hann (R-District 48) doesn’t think funding for all-day kindergarten will help the state much in solving its education problems. “We’ve had all-day kindergarten in place for a long time in this state,” Hann, whose district includes Eden Prairie and Minnetonka, told Capitol Report host Julie Bartkey. “If there had been a huge impact as a result of that, we would’ve seen it already. Most school districts already do a significant amount of all-day kindergarten.” The bill provides $485 million over two years in new spending for public schools. It sets aside $238 million to boost the basic school funding formula, with funding increases of 1.5 percent each year. A new all-day kindergarten program funded by the state will receive $134 …

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Becky Glander

8:15 pm on Thursday, May 23, 2013

Hi Sandra! Info about current kindergarten programs and costs can be found in this article: http://minnetonka.patch.com/articles/minnesota-legislature-approves-education-bill-includes-all-day-kindergarten   more ›

WATCH: Eden Prairie Students Entertain During ‘Pasta & Pops’ Concert

The annual event combines Italian food and pops music.

Eden Prairie High School musicians never fail to amaze with their concert performances, but one annual performance is always a bit tastier than the rest. The students’ annual Pasta and Pops concert took place Saturday at the Performing Arts Center. Eden Prairie High School’s jazz bands entertained while the crowd enjoyed an Italian buffet dinner catered by Biaggi’s. The event also featured the ninth grade bands, Concert Band, senior recital, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble and senior awards. Check out some of the performances in the videos above posted by YouTube user taihaw.

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Minnesota Legislature Approves Education Bill, Includes All-Day Kindergarten

Although school districts like Minnetonka and Eden Prairie still need to 'dig into the details,' things are looking good for parents of future kindergartners.

A $15.7 billion education package that will "make life easier" for working parents, according to the bill's supporters, now awaits Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton's signature as work begins to wrap up on the 2013 Legislative Session.  The omnibus bill, which means one version of the bill was introduced in each chamber, was approved with small support from Republicans over the weekend, picking up five GOP votes in the state house and four more in the senate.  Sen. Ann Rest of New Hope was the lone "no" vote from the DFL side of the aisle in the Senate, creating the 41-26 margin.  The bill raises the state's method of funding local schools by $156 per pupil for a total of nearly $235 million in new money over the next two years. The bulk of that …

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Same-Sex Marriage Decision, Jablonski and New Fast Food: Pick of Our Patches

This week's selections include a new Taco Bell, more on the Buddhist monastery, another attempt at school levies and a healthier sport drink for young athletes.

Editor’s Note: Every week we bring you a sampling of stories from Patch sites in the west metro: Eden Prairie, Edina, Fridley, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Lake Minnetonka, Maple Grove, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Richfield, Shakopee, Southwest Minneapolis, St. Louis Park and St. Michael. Dibble Introduces MN Same-Sex Marriage at MN Senate: 'A Very Simple Bill' Southwest Minneapolis' state representative introduced his gay-marriage bill at the Minnesota Senate Monday. Kiffmeyer: MN Same-Sex Marriage Bill Betrays Vow that 'Nothing Would Change' Minnesota state Sen. Mary Kiffmeyer, who represents St. Michael-Albertville, recalled promise that 'no' votes on constitutional amendment to ban marriage wouldn't lead to legalization. ZipRealty Lists Westonka …

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Eden Prairie Student Interns in Rep. Paulsen’s Office

“Working with Congressman Paulsen's office has given me the unique opportunity to interact with constituents and advocate for their concerns in Washington."

Eden Prairie resident Katherine Hermanson spent this past spring interning in the Washington D.C. office of Representative Erik Paulsen. Hermanson, daughter of Roxanne and David Hermanson of Eden Prairie, formerly attended Eden Prairie High School. She is attending The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. and will be graduating this summer with a degree in politics and a concentration in political theory studies. “Working with Congressman Paulsen's office has given me the unique opportunity to interact with constituents and advocate for their concerns in Washington," Hermanson said. "It has been an honor and a privilege to work with an office staff which is so dedicated to serving the public, and I will always value the …

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Search Continues, Child Porn Conviction and 'Civil Marriage': Pick of Our Patches

This week's selections include a new Buddhist monastery, 100-meter dash record, Southdale Center on TV, hospital milestone and a record-breaking betting day.

Editor’s Note: Every week we bring you a sampling of stories from Patch sites in the west metro: Eden Prairie, Edina, Fridley, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Lake Minnetonka, Maple Grove, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Richfield, Shakopee, Southwest Minneapolis, St. Louis Park and St. Michael. Police Release Maps in Search for Mandy Matula Eden Prairie police have released maps of the areas where Mandy Matula, the missing Eden Prairie woman, might be located. The areas are in Benton, Carver, Sherburne, Stearns and Wright counties.  3 Years, 3 Months Behind Bars for Ex-City Staffer on Child Porn Conviction Scott Andrew Bradley of Oakdale, who once worked as communications coordinator for the City of Richfield, got the maximum sentence. MN Same-Sex Marriage…

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Five Eden Prairie Students Win $2,500 National Merit Scholarships

The students were selected from a pool of 15,000 finalists.

Five Eden Prairie students are among the winners of $2,500 National Merit Scholarships released Wednesday, the organization announced. This year’s local winners are: The National Merit Scholarship Corporation selected the Eden Prairie students from among 15,000 finalists in the 2013 National Merit Program. The winners are judged to have the best combinations of “accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies.” The number of winners in each state is proportional to the number of graduating seniors in the state. A committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors selected the winners using: This year’s competition began when 1.5 million juniors across 22,000 high schools took the Preliminary …

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5th Grade Math Masters Place High in Regionals

Congratulations to fifth grade Math Masters teams from Oak Point, Eden Lake (Team 1), Forest Hills and Prairie View elementary schools for their outstanding performances in regional competition on April 27 at Apple Valley.