East metro school briefs

Non-public students can take 'gifted' tests The St. Paul school district offers gifted testing for all St. Paul students in grades one through five, whether they are enrolled in private, parochial or charter schools in St. Paul. The test determines whether a student qualifies for gifted education in St. Paul, and whether they can apply to the Capitol Hill Gifted and Talented Magnet School in the district.

The deadline for registration is Dec. 19.

Non-public school students may register for the following days. The test takes about an hour:

• 9 a.m. (K-2) and 10:30 a.m. (3-5) on Jan. 10, Arlington Senior High School, 1495 Rice St.

• 5 p.m. (K-2) and 6:30 p.m. (3-5) on Jan. 13, District Office, 360 Colborne St.

Registration information is available at gifted.spps.org/Non-Public_NNAT2.html.

District redesigns, reorganizes website The St. Paul school district has redesigned its website "to be better organized while making information more accessible and engaging," according to a district press release.

All the district's programs and school sites will be redesigned to match the district's homepage, while allowing some room for individuality.

The website is at www.spps.org. There is a brief survey on the right side of the homepage.

2 internal candidates seek top school job The South Washington County School District is planning to interview two internal candidates who have applied to replace Superintendent Tom Nelson, who has announced plans to retire from the post next June.

Mark Porter, assistant superintendent for human resources and legal services, and Rick Spicuzza, assistant superintendent for curriculum and assessment, will interview with staff, administration and the community Friday.

The community is welcome to participate in the interview sessions at 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. at the District Service Center in Cottage Grove.

If the board doesn't select an internal candidate, it will start an external search in January. Dragseth said an external search would likely take two to three months.

Questions about the search can be directed to Dragseth (952-210-2790 or mdragseth@comcast.net), Johns (antoinettejohns@nemetro.k12.mn.us) or Ostlund (ostlundbob@aol.com). Or you can call School Exec Connect at 847-220-1585.

Community giving campaign nears end Roseville Area Schools is mounting a districtwide campaign to help those in need this holiday period. All district buildings are accepting donations to help meet the basic needs of students and their families, the district said.

Roseville Area High School is hosting a giving campaign called "Make a Difference" that will run through Thursday, with a goal of raising $5,000 to provide food to district families over winter break. They will collect donations at eight locations in the school, in conjunction with the school's Student Council.

Desired donations include toys and games for all ages, movie passes for older kids, grocery store gift cards (including Target and Wal-Mart), cash/check donations, non-perishable food and new or gently used children's winter clothing.

"With one out of every three students qualifying for the free/reduced lunch program, the need in our area is great," district officials said. "In addition, we have many new families from around the world who are trying to provide warm clothing for their children during our cold winter months."

Teacher gets national ag education award Forest Lake Area High School's resume as a national leader in agricultural education got yet another boost recently. For the second straight year, one of its agriculture teachers was honored with the "Teachers Turn the Key" award, presented by the National Association of Agriculture Educators (NAAE).

Veronica Ward, in her fourth year of teaching at the high school, accepted the award Dec. 6 at the NAAE National Convention in Charlotte, N.C. The award, co-sponsored by the Dodge Truck company, recognizes exceptional agriculture teachers who are in their second, third or fourth year of teaching.

Ward was one of only 45 honorees across the country to receive the 2008 award and one of only two Minnesotans. Joshua Barron of Westbrook-Walnut Grove was the other Minnesota winner. Last year, Forest Lake's Mike Miron received the same award, which has been presented annually by the NAAE for six years.