School briefs

Sky Oaks student gets a nod in national science contest Matthew Dorow, a sixth-grader at Sky Oaks Elementary in Burnsville, was one of 13 Minnesota semifinalists named this month in a national science competition for fifth- through eighth-grade students.

Dorow submitted a school science fair project called "How Many Wheels = Maximum Speed?" to the Society for Science & the Public's 2008 Middle School Program. Nationwide, 300 semifinalists were honored, from which a list of 30 finalists was chosen last week.

Candidates for school board will share views at public forum Learn more about Lakeville school board candidates and their views at a forum hosted by the Lakeville Council for Gifted and Talented. The event will be held on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the library of Cherryview Elementary, 8600 175th St.

Carleton professor publishes children's picture book Laura Goering, a Russian language and literature professor at Carleton College, is celebrating the release of her first children's picture book this fall. "Whistling Wings" tells the story of Marcel, a young tundra swan tired out by winter migration.

River City Books in Northfield will host a book release party for Goering on Saturday at noon. The author will also sign books at 11 a.m. Oct. 4 in St. Olaf College Bookstores in Northfield.

Rosemount middle school teacher wins award for finance education Sally Sexton, a teacher at Falcon Ridge Middle School in Rosemount, will be honored by the Minnesota Council on Economic Education at an annual celebration this fall.

Sexton will receive the Thrivent Personal Finance Award, an honor for educators who use original activities to teach students about finance, at the Oct. 29 EconFest at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis.

Candidates will summarize their views and answer questions about education issues facing Minnesota. Audience members will be able to submit questions and visit with candidates after the event.

The forum will run from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the lower-level multipurpose room of Falcon Ridge Middle School, 12900 Johnny Cake Ridge Road.

Alumni will be honored at homecoming football game The Lakeville School District will kick off the homecoming football game at Lakeville North High School on Friday and honor three former students with Distinguished Alumni awards.

The late Bob Steele, class of 1949, served in the Korean War and in the Army Reserves for 20 years, retiring as a first sergeant. He owned Steele Furniture in Farmington for 20 years, and was active in local VFW and American Legion chapters.

Brian Vucinovich, who graduated in 1970, is an active member of the Lakeville Jaycees, the Lakeville Lions and community events such as Pan-O-Prog.

A reception for the alumni will be held at 5:30 p.m.

Memorial tree planted A plaque and a tree planted last week in the playground of Pearson Elementary honor 11-year-old Nick Hagadorn, a former student who died July 11.

Hagadorn, who finished fifth grade at Pearson, died four days after he was hit by a pickup truck while riding his bike in Shakopee, near the intersection of 17th Avenue and Marschall Road.