School briefs: Hopkins expands immersion programs

District expands immersion programsThe Hopkins School District will expand two language immersion programs to its junior highs starting with the 2013-14 school year.

Spanish immersion will be offered at North Junior High. The following school year, Chinese immersion will be offered at West Junior High, expanding the K-6 Chinese immersion magnet program, XinXing Academy, which started at Eisenhower Elementary five years ago.

This year, North Junior High started an accelerated seventh-grade Spanish course called Juntos, which will be expanded each year.

Blessed Trinity hosts Christmas showBlessed Trinity Catholic School's fourth- and fifth-graders will perform a Christmas program on Tuesday at St. Peter's Church.

They will act out the story of a choir that learns about the Mexican tradition of "Las Posadas," the arrival of Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem.

Shows will take place at 12:15 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, go to www.btcsmn.org.

Benilde newspaper receives top awardsThe National Scholastic Press Association recently awarded Benilde-St. Margaret's student newspaper, the Knight Errant, fourth-place for its website in the national Best of Show contest for schools with enrollment under 1,500.

The Minnesota High School Press Association also recently honored the Knight Errant with five awards: first place for website general excellence, first place for staff editorial, third place for review writing to graduate Logan McMillen, second place for feature writing for senior Emma Eldred, and honorable mention for Page One Design to senior Ethan Perushek.

Music class puts on free performanceAn Eden Prairie High School class, Music Insights, will perform in a show at 7 p.m. Monday at the high school.

The production, called "Colors Outside the Lines," will include singing and dancing by students from the class.

The show is free and open to the public. A small reception will follow in the orchestra room. The class, in its third year, includes general education students and special education students working together in a tactile music setting.

Human Rights essay contest is openThe Plymouth Human Rights Committee is hosting an essay contest for middle-school students this month.

The local winner also will receive $75 while the second- and third-place winners will receive $50 and $25.

For more information, go to www.plymouthmn.gov.