School briefs: Hugo's Withrow Elementary receives Blue Ribbon School designation

Updated: September 14, 2012 - 5:36 PM

Staff members from Withrow Elementary School in Hugo will be recognized in a ceremony Nov. 12-13 in Washington D.C. to celebrate its designation as a Blue Ribbon School.

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Staff members from Withrow Elementary School in Hugo will be recognized in a ceremony Nov. 12-13 in Washington D.C. to celebrate its designation as a Blue Ribbon School.

The school at 10158 N. 122nd St. was one of 269 elementary schools nationally and seven in Minnesota to be named a school of excellence by Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education.

Withrow was selected as an "Exemplary High Performing" school because it is one of the state's highest performing schools based on state assessments or national tests.

Schools also can win the award for being "Exemplary Improving," in which schools that have 40 percent or more it its students from disadvantaged backgrounds demonstrate the most progress in improving student achievement levels as measured by state assessments or national tests.

In its 30 years, the National Blue Ribbon Schools program has bestowed the award on about 7,000 schools nationwide.

MAHTOMEDI

Interim athletic director hired at MHS

The Mahtomedi School District has appointed John Baufield as the district's interim athletic director. He takes over for Jeff Whisler, who stepped down in August to take a similar position in the Roseville district.

Baufield has been an athletic director in the Anoka-Hennepin School District from 1975 until he retired at the end of the 2011-12 school year. He will work in Mahtomedi until a new athletic director can be hired for the 2013-14 school year.

NORTH ST. PAUL-MAPLEWOOD-OAKDALE

PSAT/SAT prep class is offered at Tartan

District 622's Community Education will hold a class next Sunday at Tartan High School, 828 Greenway Av., Oakdale, to help students prepare for the PSAT and SAT exams

The class will run from 12:30 to 5 p.m.

Zaps Learning Company will teach strategies necessary for taking the exams, which measure student readiness for college and provide students with the opportunity to qualify for scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship Corp. Call 651-748-7445 to register.

S. WASHINGTON COUNTY

District 833 lauded by SchoolMatch

SchoolMatch, the nation's largest school selection firm, has awarded its "What Parents Want Award" to South Washington County schools. The district is one of 16 percent of the nation's 15,571 public districts nationwide to win the honor.

SchoolMatch used these criteria based on what parents request in schools to choose this year's winners: Competitive test scores, being recognized for excellence by a national foundation or the U.S. Department of Education, competitive teachers' salaries, the amount of money spent on instruction and library/media materials, small class sizes, and program availability at the secondary level.

Bailey teacher wins technology grant

Century Link has awarded at $7,000 grant to Bailey Elementary School teacher Kristine Matulka.

She used the money to buy 25 iPod Touches along with educational apps that can be used by all K-5 students who attend the school at 4125 Woodlane Drive.

Students will use the devices to improve their understanding of math, reading, science and social studies, and will learn how to use technology to look up information and learn interactively, she said.

TIM HARLOW