West metro school briefs

Middle school starts STEM programRockford Middle School will become a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) magnet school next fall called the Center for Environmental Studies.

The school, which will have an environmental focus on energy and ecology, was granted $200,000 by the Northwest Suburban Integration School District to research and develop the program.

Spanish academy is movingThe International Spanish Language Academy will soon have a permanent location.

The Minnetonka charter school, based at Faith Presbyterian Church for four years, will move this summer to 5959 Shady Oak Road.

The move was made possible by help from the Charter Schools Development Corporation, a national nonprofit that has helped hundreds of schools by providing financial assistance and help with facilities.

The 210-student K-6 immersion school has been authorized by the Hopkins School District since it opened, but will now be authorized, or sponsored, by Innovative Quality Schools.

The school is currently accepting applications for next fall.

Seventy-five students from grades 3-6 will perform in the shows at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets are $10.50 for ages 17 and under, $12.50 for seniors and $15.50 for other adults. Call 952-979-1111 for more information.

St. John's Lutheran wins national tourneyThe seventh-grade and eighth-grade St. John's Lutheran School boys' basketball team recently won its age division in the National Lutheran Basketball Association of America tournament in Indiana.

The Chaska team beat out 32 teams from 16 states to take the top prize.

Hillcrest School wins arts grantBloomington's Hillcrest Community School won a $20,124 grant for video and jazz arts from the Minnesota State Arts Board to fund professional video expert Mike Hazard and local Jazz artists Ruth MacKenzie and Joan Griffith to work with K-5 students during the 2011-12 school year.

Benilde hosts free college fairBenilde-St. Margaret's is hosting a college fair from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday in the school's Haben Center.

The event will feature more than 100 college and university representatives and is free and open to the public. For more information, go to www.BSMschool.org.