School briefs

Last update: January 9, 2008 - 9:06 PM

BURNSVILLE-EAGAN-SAVAGE

Renae Gustafson basketball game

A Burnsville physical education teacher and coach who was killed in a Florida car accident in April will be honored Wednesday at the first Renae Gustafson Scholarship Basketball Game. The 3 p.m. game at Metcalf Junior High School, 2250 Diffley Road, Eagan, will be a face-off between staff and students.

Donations and ticket money will go toward a scholarship for a graduating female athlete from Burnsville High School.

The game will feature the school's jazz band playing as people arrive, and the school's three dancelines will perform at halftime. Friends and family of Gustafson will attend.

Tickets are $3 for students and $5 for adults. For more information, call the school at 952-707-2400.

NORTHFIELD

Climatologist will speak on global warming

Mark Seeley will give a presentation Friday at Carleton College called "Climate Change in Minnesota: Evidence and Implications" in the Skinner Memorial Chapel. Seeley, a University of Minnesota climatologist and meteorologist, can also be heard regularly on Minnesota Public Radio's "WeatherTalk."

The event starts at 10:50 a.m., and is free and open to the public. For more information, call 507-222-4308.

ROSEMOUNT-APPLE VALLEY-EAGAN

Magnet school and Kindergarten Plus applications are due this month

District 196 is accepting applications for its three magnet elementary schools and Kindergarten Plus program for the 2008-09 school year.

Elementary students who live in or outside the district can apply to attend the district's magnet schools, with selection based on a lottery system with district-approved guidelines. The district's magnet schools are Cedar Park (science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM), Diamond Path (international studies), and Glacier Hills (arts and science). The schools will host tours of the magnet schools at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 16 and 17.

Applications, which are due Jan. 25, are available at the district office, the magnet schools or at www.district196.org. Or call 651-423-7911.

Applications are also due Jan. 25 for Kindergarten Plus, the district's extended-day program, an optional program that pairs with traditional morning kindergarten. There is a fee for Kindergarten Plus. To get an application, go to www.district196.org or call 651-423-7933.

Magnet schools and Kindergarten Plus applicants will hear back from the district during the first week in February.

EMILY JOHNS AND SARAH LEMAGIE

Recent South Metro stories

South metro letters to the editor - January 9, 2008

South metro letters to the editor - I recently had my furnace go out and experienced what it's like to live in "the other" Minnesota -- the cold one. There are many people without heat this winter; many just had their heat cut off this week as the winter cutoff deadline passed. I seldom think about this problem, but I resolved to do something besides just think. More