Twin Cities south metro school briefs

Parents in District 196 who are interested in curriculum, instruction and assessment issues are invited to apply for the district's Curriculum and Instruction Advisory Council. Applications will be accepted through May 16 for positions at:

• Cedar Park, Echo Park, Southview or Westview elementary schools — one position;

• Diamond Path, Greenleaf, Highland, Oak Ridge or Thomas Lake elementary schools — one position;

• Rosemount Middle School — one position, and

• Eagan High School — one position.

The terms are three years and begin in July. Interested parents should submit an application, available at www.district196.org or by calling 651-423-7739. Applications should be sent to Independent School District 196, Teaching and Learning Department, 3455 153rd St. W., Rosemount, MN 55068, or faxed to 651-423-7897.

The Convent of the Visitation School's all-girls robotics team placed first at the North Star Regional FIRST robotics competition, held at the University of Minnesota on March 22-24.

The Robettes finished the qualification rounds at the North Star Tournament in seventh place and formed an alliance with Chanhassen High School and Eastview High School to defeat the top-ranked alliance in the semifinals, and then went on to capture the title.

The team also won the Judges Award at the awards ceremony and was one of four finalists for the Industrial Safety Award.

The Robettes also won the North Star Regional title in 2011.

The Metcalf Junior High chess team is again the state champion, taking home top honors at the Minnesota State Chess Association Scholastic Chess Championships on March 30 at St. Catherine University in St. Paul.

This is the 27th time the school has taken top junior high honors at state. The team is coached by Brian Ribnick.

The community is invited to learn more about the upcoming May 6 referendum for technology and early learning/security at an information session on Tuesday, April 22. The event will start at 6:30 p.m. and will be held on the third floor of Henry Sibley High School, 1897 Dela­ware Av., Mendota Heights.

The school board unanimously voted in February to put two school funding questions on the ballot. The first asks for a $1.7 million renewal and increase of the technology levy, for 10 years. The second question requests approval of a $11.2 million bond to build an early learning center and expand security measures and remodel the schools' front entrances. The tax impact of both questions for the owner of a $200,000 home would be about $57 a year.