Twin Cities south metro school briefs

Dora Eiger Zaidenweber will speak next week about her experiences as a survivor of the Holocaust, including her time at a forced labor camp in Radom, Poland, and concentration camps at Birkenau and Bergen-Belsen.

Zaidenweber is a frequent speaker and will also be presenting her newly published family memoir, "Sky Tinged Red," which tells the story of her father's time at Auschwitz.

The presentation, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21, at Shakopee High School (100 17th Av. W., Shakopee) is free and open to the public.

Her appearance is sponsored by the high school's German Department, with support from the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas.

The Metcalf Junior High chess team excelled at the National Junior High Chess Championships, held April 25-27 in Atlanta, with 26 members making the trip.

The school's championship team took sixth overall, with Alex Gude winning a trophy for top player under a 1400 rating. The Under-750 team won the national title, beating out 56 other teams, with a team score of 25 out of 28, a national record. Noah Helke led the team and took home the national individual title with a 7-0 record.

In addition, the Under-1000 team tied for third and the Under-1250 team placed ninth. In the speed chess competition, Metcalf took third place as a team. The team is coached by Metcalf math teacher Brian Ribnick.

There will be time for comments and questions. More information on the budgets can be found on the district's website at www.isd197.org. Go to"school board" at the top, then click on "Board Briefs" for the April 21 and May 5 meetings. The board's work session will be held right after the budget meeting.

The district is accepting applications for one elementary school parent position on the districtwide Gifted and Talented Advisory Council (GTAC). Applicants should have a child who has been identified as gifted and talented. The position's three-year term begins Sept. 4, 2014.

The council is made up of six resident/parent members and nine employees from the district. Its purpose is to make sure the community understands the district's gifted and talented programming and to provide input on curriculum and program planning.

Meetings are held four times a year at the district office in Rosemount, typically from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Applications are due by June 1. The application is available at district196.org or by calling 651-423-7739. Completed applications should be mailed to Independent School District 196, Director of Teaching and Learning, 3455 153rd St. W., Rosemount, MN 55068, or faxed to 651-423-7614.

Weinmann, who has been teaching for 26 years and currently teaches seventh-grade social studies, is being honored in the Teacher Achievement category.

While at Northfield Middle School, Weinmann developed the Student Community Outreach Program Experience (SCOPE), a partnership with Carleton College, the Northfield Historical Society and many volunteers to provide enrichment opportunities for gifted students. The students have the chance to conduct their own research on Northfield history for two hours each day.

Educators are first nominated for the award by students, parents, colleagues or community members. Once teachers accept the nomination, they must provide additional information to a panel that reviews and ranks nominees.

Six educators received statewide honors and seven were named regional honorees for the 2014 WEM Outstanding Educator Awards.

The awards are given by Synergy and Leadership Exchange, a nonprofit. More information can be found at www.synergyexchange.org