West school briefs: Minnesota sixth-graders eligible for free admission to historical sites

All state sixth-graders can visit any Minnesota Historical Society site or museum free during this academic year, thanks to Sixth-Grade Minnesota History Pass grants.

The pass, which provides free admittance through Aug. 31, 2014, may not be used for field trips, paid programs or specially priced exhibits.

The program has been developed to support new state academic standards, which designate Minnesota history and government as the primary focus of the sixth-grade social studies curriculum.

For more information or to request a pass for your sixth-grader, visit www.mnhs.org/education.

Families are invited to learn more about the Blake School on Nov. 2, 9 and 13.

On Nov. 2, families can explore the Hopkins and Wayzata campuses. On Nov. 9, they are invited to our Upper School campus in Minneapolis. And on Nov. 13, they can attend a community event at the Plymouth Public Library where administrators and faculty members will be on hand to discuss school life, curriculum and activities.

All admissions and financial aid applications must be received by Jan. 31. Prospective families also are invited to attend a financial aid workshop at 9 a.m. Jan. 11 on Blake's Hopkins campus.

The Robbinsdale Cooper High School Marching Band will present "KA-BOOM!" from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1, at the school in New Hope. All proceeds will support Cooper's Marching Hawks and their first-ever band trip. WCCO-TV personality Jason DeRusha will be master of ceremonies.

At "KA-BOOM!", the Marching Hawks' second annual indoor concert, they will perform music from Cirque du Soleil's adventure show "KA."

The Shady Oak Groove Society and the new Cooper High School Color Guard also will perform.

Advance tickets are $10; tickets at the door are $15. Seating is general admission. To order tickets, go to chs.rdale.org or call 763-504-8543.

The Robbinsdale Area Schools' school board is seeking applicants for its financial advisory council. There are three open positions.

Qualifications for applicants for the volunteer, three-year positions include a strong background in finance, economics, and/or accounting, along with experience in school or business finance, and the ability to declare no conflicts of interest.

For information, contact Jeff Priess, executive director of business services, at jeff_priess@rdale.org or 763-504-8037, or Patsy Green, the school board's treasurer, at patsy_green@rdale.org or 763-504-7992.

The application deadline is Oct. 31. New council members will be appointed in December by majority vote of the school board.

To apply, go to www.rdale.org and download the application form, or contact Mary Cebula at mary_ceb ula@rdale.org or 763-504-8012.

Public schools in Edina will start two hours later than usual on Wednesday, Oct. 30. Buses also will run two hours later than usual that morning. Dismissal times and afternoon bus routes will remain the same.

A state-required "Notice of Special Election" mailing to more than 29,000 Bloomington households has some voters confused about the single-page mailing that appears to be a sample ballot, officials said.

The district is seeking voter approval of a Capital Projects Levy referendum to fund school safety and security improvements, and components of its Next Technologies for Learning plan.

The mailing provides notice that Bloomington schools' Capital Projects Levy referendum will be on the ballot on Nov. 5 in conjunction with the city's municipal election.

The notice also contains statutory required ballot language stating, "BY VOTING 'YES' ON THIS BALLOT QUESTION, YOU ARE VOTING FOR A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE," which is contrary to information district officials shared in campaign information.

"Approving the Capital Projects referendum will not cause property taxes to go up for at least four years. The language on the ballot is required by state statute," said Rod Zivkovich, the district's director of finance and business services.

Zivkovich encouraged residents to e-mail commrelations@bloomington.k12.mn.us for more information.

The Hopkins High School Orchestra will perform its annual "Young People's Concert" on Oct. 29, from 5:45 to 7 p.m. in the mall area of the high school. Director Alison Swiggum will lead the orchestra as it performs classic children's songs including selections from "The Sound of Music," "Harry Potter," "The Lion King" and "Beauty and the Beast."

To add a bit more fun, the night has a pajama party theme. Children are invited to bring their favorite stuffed animal, a blanket to sit on, and join the orchestra in wearing pajamas.

Tickets are on sale for "Young Frankenstein " at Minnetonka High School from Nov. 2 to 16. The vaudevillian-style musical is based on Mel Brooks' movie of the same name. While the script has been cleaned up for the Minnesota high school premiere production, the show still features jokes and gags from the film.

Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors (65+) and $12 for youths under 18. For tickets or more information, call 952-401-5898 or go online at www.min netonkatheatre.com.