School briefs

School board member resigns Michele Helgen has resigned from the Chaska District 112 school board because she is moving outside the district, the district announced.

Helgen informed the district that her job as chief of staff in the Minnesota State Senate had made it necessary for her and her husband to move to shorten her commute.

She was appointed to the board in July 2001 to complete the term of another board member who had resigned. She was elected to four-year terms in 2001 and 2005, and she served as vice chair in 2003 and 2004 and chair from 2004 through 2006.

The school board will discuss the process for selecting Helgen's replacement at its next meeting on March 6. Her resignation was effective immediately.

School readiness workshop set The Hopkins School District will host "Getting Ready for Kindergarten" from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 8, at Eisenhower Community Center, 1001 Hwy. 7, Hopkins.

Parents will learn strategies for helping their children succeed beginning with their first day of class, as well as ways to nurture a lifelong love of learning in their children, school officials said.

The workshop will be led by a principal, kindergarten teacher and licensed parent educator.

Admission is $5 per household. Child care for children kindergarten age and younger is available for $5 per child. For more information or to register, call the Harley Hopkins Family Center at 952-988-5000.

Kindergarten preview The Westonka School District will host its annual "Kindergarten Round-Up" sessions March 6 and 11.

Staff members will discuss half-day and full-day kindergarten options and other topics including transportation, health services, the curriculum and parent volunteer opportunities.

Children will have a chance to visit kindergarten rooms, meet teachers and take a short bus ride with their parents. Free child care is available for siblings age 3 and older. Parents are asked to register for child care at least three days in advance at 952-491-8046.

The sessions are scheduled for 4 and 6 p.m. Thursday, March 6, at Shirley Hills Primary School, 2450 Wilshire Blvd., Mound, and 4 and 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 11, at Hilltop Primary School, 5700 Game Farm Road, Mound.

Both schools still have room for out-of-district students to enroll. For more information or to request registration materials, call Shirley Hills at 952-491-8400 or Hilltop at 952-491-8500.

Please send school notes or other west-metro story ideas to Patrice Relerford at prelerford@startribune.com .