Prior Lake-Savage district announces teachers of the year

The Prior Lake-Savage School District has announced its 10 Teachers of the Year, who will be honored at a reception from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on Jan. 16 in the media center at Twin Oaks Middle School, 15860 Fish Point Road, Prior Lake.

The event is open to the public.

They are: Edgewood Elementary School, Rita Kern; Five Hawks Elementary School, Linda Anderson; Glendale Elementary School, Kelley Gerdes; Grainwood Elementary School, Cortney Buck; Hidden Oaks Middle School, Eve St. Mane; Jeffers Pond Elementary School, Megan Waller; Prior Lake High School, Mike Carr; Redtail Ridge Elementary School, Kelly Iverson-Egge; Twin Oaks Middle School, Jaymi Drogseth; and WestWood Elementary School, Kristin Stier.

Rosemount Middle School won first place in the middle school division of a statewide "I Have a Dream" video contest, sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights this fall.

The contest commemorated the 50th anniversary of the speech by Martin Luther King Jr. As part of the competition, students across the state created short videos reflecting on what King's words mean to them today.

The winning videos were announced last week as part of Human Rights Week in Minnesota.

Rosemount's winning submission, titled "The Lunchroom," was produced by a team of 47 students who met after school as part of a film club activity. The two-minute piece features students talking about issues related to race and diversity. The group was advised by Alissa Standon, a communications teacher at the school.

To inform residents about the district's proposed referendum this March, Superintendent Rod Thompson is hosting two different kinds of events.

Six "Rolls and Referendum" events are offered in the morning before school in January and February. Each is held at a different school and will include a sweet roll:

• 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 21 at Sun Path Elementary, 2250 17th Av. E., Shakopee.

• 7:55 a.m. on Jan. 24 at Pearson 6th Grade Center, 917 Dakota St., Shakopee.

• 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 30 at Red Oak Elementary, 7700 Old Carriage Court, Shakopee.

• 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 25 at Jackson Elementary, 1601 Lusitano St., Shakopee.

• 9:05 a.m. on Feb. 27 at Sweeney Elementary, 1001 Adams St. S., Shakopee.

He is also hosting a series of five "Soup with the Supe" lunch sessions in the coming months. These events are all held at 11:30 a.m. at Shakopee High School, 100 17th Av. W., Shakopee. Attendees can discuss the upcoming vote over a warm bowl of soup. Dates are Dec. 19, Jan. 16, Jan. 29, Feb. 19 and March 6.

RSVP is required for all events, and space is limited. To RSVP go to http://tinyurl.com/k2s2pfo.