West metro school briefs

Minnetonka students open their hearts It's Heart Week at Minnetonka High School and the staff and students are raising money for local families in need. Activities include classroom fundraising competitions, a benefit dinner and silent auction, student activities, a dance and sales of Valentine-themed items throughout the week.

Last year, Heart Week brought in $30,000 for Minnetonka families in need of financial support to pay for medical, educational and everyday financial burdens. This year's goal is $35,000.

Throughout the week, students can help raise money by collecting donations, purchasing $5 tickets for Friday activities (athletic tournaments, movies, concerts, etc.) or by purchasing singing telegrams, T-shirts, roses, candy and tickets to the Sweethearts Dance on Friday.

The annual Heart Week dinner and silent auction will be held at the high school cafeteria and served by Tino's Pizzeria and Cafe from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Students, parents and community members are invited to donate an item or basket to the silent auction. Tickets to the dinner are $7 each or $25 for families of four or more, and are available at the high school.

For more information about donating to the silent auction, contact Terri Ellis at 952-401-5751, ext. 71018, or e-mail terri.ellis@earthlink.com.

Main Street School will perform 'Rent' Students from the Main Street School of Performing Arts in Hopkins will perform "Rent" in February, becoming the first high school in the Midwest to perform the popular show that addresses some mature subject matter.

The award-winning musical is about a group of bohemians who fall in and out of love in the age of AIDS. It addresses issues facing its gay, straight and bisexual characters: HIV infection and free expression at "the end of the millennium" in the 1990s.

Shows will be presented at the Southern Theatre, 1420 Washington Av. S., Minneapolis. The opening night show is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Feb. 19. The Feb. 25 performance will benefit the Minnesota AIDS Project, and there will be discussions with Minnesota AIDS Project representatives following the performances on Feb. 19 and 28.

For more information, go to www.performing-arts-school.org. For tickets and show times, call 612-340-1725.

EPHS supermileage car at Science Museum A supermileage car designed and constructed by Eden Prairie High School students in Applied Technology classes last spring is now on display at the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul.

The car is located in the interactive exhibit area and is part of a hydraulic technologies exhibit. Students applied advanced hydraulic and electronic technologies to build the hydraulic hybrid car, which has achieved more than 200 miles per gallon.

The students who designed and constructed the chassis, body and drivetrain are Joshua Bart, Aaron Barthol, Chris Benjamin, Peter Dubenco, Stan Grin, Sean Kelly, John Michelson, Ian Patterson, Michael Printup, Nick Rorem, Sean Sachdev, Andrew Songle, Danielle Thue, Ian Vanic and David Vanschooneveld.

"We are concerned that too many low-income and minority children are falling behind their peers in school," said Eleanor Coleman, executive director of Corporate and Community Partnerships. Coleman said closing the widening achievement gap between low-income and minority students and their white and more affluent counterparts is a priority in the district's strategic plan. Board members and other district leaders plan to attend the meetings and the feedback the district receives will help with efforts to develop a districtwide equity plan.

Refreshments and food will be available from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. For more information about the meeting or child care, visit www.mpls.k12.mn.us or call 612-668-0105.

Board member named to all-state board Orono school board member Martha Van de Ven was named to the 2009 All-State School Board, which is the Minnesota School Boards Association's (MSBA) highest award.

Van de Ven received the honor during a luncheon Jan. 15 at the MSBA's annual leadership conference in Minneapolis. Van de Ven was one of five board members in the state honored for strong leadership, excellence in "boardsmanship," communication skills, visionary thinking and demonstration of concern for students, staff and taxpayers.

She is the first Orono board member to receive the award.

The meetings will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 19 at Pilgrim Lane Elementary, 3725 Pilgrim Lane; 7 p.m. Feb. 23 at Sandburg Middle, 2400 Sandburg Lane; and at 7 p.m. Feb. 26 at Sunny Hollow Elementary, 8808 Medicine Lake Road.

Community members are invited to attend, offer comments and ask questions.

Final formal action on the school closings is expected at the school board meeting held at 7 p.m. March 2 at the Education Service Center boardroom, 4148 Winnetka Av. N., New Hope.

Soul food dinner set for Feb. 23 The fourth annual Soul Food Dinner at Wayzata High School is set for 5:30 p.m. Feb. 23 in the school cafeteria, 4955 Peony Lane N., Plymouth. The menu will include fried chicken with all the trimmings.

Following the dinner, "Daughters of Africa" will be presented at 7 p.m. by the Mixed Blood Theater.

Online GED preparation available GED-i, an online GED preparation program, is being launched statewide to provide a way for adults to prepare at home for the five GED exams, thus easing some of the challenges many adults face in pursuit of their diploma -- transportation, child care and hectic schedules.

Adult Options in Education teacher Elizabeth Miller is serving as the online instructor for the program locally. She communicates with students online and by telephone. She also is available for in-person appointments with students who need help understanding concepts being covered in the exams.

In addition to working online with GED-i, students also can opt to work online as a supplement to a regularly scheduled Adult Options in Education class.

As with all Adult Options programs, GED-i students must first come to Eisenhower Community Center at 1001 Hwy. 7 in Hopkins for an assessment and registration appointment.

Adult Options in Education is an adult basic education program supported through the community education departments of the Hopkins, Minnetonka and St. Louis Park school districts, along with the Hennepin County Adult Corrections Facility.