North metro school briefs

Events set for retiring school superintendent Parents, community members and colleagues will have a chance to recognize Anoka-Hennepin superintendent Roger Giroux for his 32 years of service to the district this Friday.

A drop-in coffee will be held in his honor Friday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., along with an open house with refreshments from 2 to 4 p.m., at the Educational Service Center, 11299 Hanson Blvd. NW, in Coon Rapids.

Giroux will also be honored from 5:30 to 7 p.m., at the Greenhaven Country Club, 2800 Greenhaven Road in Anoka. The event will feature hors d'oeuvres, beverages and a brief program. Cost is $25 a person, which includes contribution to a gift. For more information, call Linda Fenwick at 763-506-1082.

Giroux, 62, has been superintendent for 13 years. His last day is Dec. 31.

High school assistant principal is honored Luanne Wagner, assistant principal at St. Francis High School, has been chosen the Minnesota Assistant Principal of the Year by the Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals. Wagner will be in the running for the national honor at an April conference.

Four high schools named standouts St. Anthony Village High, Mounds View High, Irondale High in New Brighton, and Patrick Henry High School in Minneapolis are among 13 Minnesota high schools to earn silver medals in U.S. News & World Report's 2009 list of standout high schools.

The magazine analyzed academic and enrollment information from more than 21,000 public high schools in 48 states, and recognized about 600 schools with gold and silver designations.

"I just think this notice speaks highly to all the staff and students who work so hard at Patrick Henry High School," Kociemba added. "The bottom line is it's about us all working together and making this a better place to learn."

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, nonperishable food, and new or gently used children's winter clothing.

Roseville Middle School collected toys and other donations, and Student Council members sorted and delivered them to the Fairview Community Center.

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 on 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.