Local hoopsters carry teams to academic titles

Boys' basketball players at New Life Academy in Woodbury and at Stillwater Area High School won their respective academic team championships in Section 4, the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association reported recently.

New Life Academy captured the Section 4 title in Class AA while Stillwater prevailed in Class AAAA.

The state is divided into eight sections.

According to New Life Academy coach Doug Linton, his team carried a 3.2 grade-point average, best among the region's 16 teams in Class AA.

"I feel confident they will continue this success in the classroom as they move forward," he said of his players in a news release.

Team members received certificates commemorating the honor.

Richardson Elementary School in North St. Paul played host recently to state legislators touting the benefits of all-day kindergarten.

He and other legislators visited the school on March 25.

The North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale School District is one of two Washington County area districts now offering free all day, every day kindergarten, with the other being the Stillwater Area Public Schools. School leaders in the Forest Lake and White Bear Lake area districts voted recently to begin offering free all-day kindergarten this fall.

The Cottage Grove and Woodbury area chambers of commerce are offering $1,000 scholarships to high school seniors who plan to attend two- and four-year higher-education institutions this year.

A key factor in deciding who will receive a scholarship is the answer to the question: "If you were to return to your community following your education, how would you be involved in the community and what would you do to improve it?"

Students also are being asked to describe volunteer and work experience and academic achievements.

The application deadline is Friday, April 12. Students can go to their counseling offices or to the Cottage Grove and Woodbury chamber websites for application information.

Students and parents can explore postsecondary education options at a college fair on Tuesday, April 9, at Tartan High School, 828 Greenway Av. N. in Oakdale.

Admission officers from two- and four-year colleges will be on hand, along with military representatives, a school district news release said.

Door prize drawings will be held throughout the event, which runs from 3 to 5 p.m.