West school briefs: Minnetonka district hosts Chinese New Year event

District hosts Chinese New Year celebrationThe Minnetonka School District is hosting an annual Chinese New Year celebration on Friday.

The free event, which will take place from 5:30-8 p.m. at Minnetonka High School, gives teachers and community volunteers an opportunity to showcase Chinese traditions with live entertainment, music, food, crafts and activities.

It will feature local restaurants and entertainment from Minnetonka students, the Chinese American Association of Minnesota Chinese Dance Theater and the School of Shaolin Kung Fu.

Olson student wins chess tournamentDavid Floeder, a seventh-grader at Bloomington's Olson Middle School, won first place in the National K-12 United States Chess Federation Chess Championship in Orlando last month. In all, nearly 2,000 competitors, ages kindergarten through 12th grade, participated.

Now Floeder will represent the United States at the World Youth Chess Championship in the United Arab Emirates in August.

New school board member appointedThe Bloomington School Board this month appointed Lyle Abeln to the seven-member board to fill the seat of board member Melissa Halvorson Wiklund, who was elected to the Minnesota Senate.

The board received 13 applicants for the open position, which was narrowed to five finalists, four of whom went through interviews with the board. On Jan. 8, the board selected Abeln, a Bloomington school board member in the 1980s. He will fill out the rest of Halvorson Wiklund's term through the end of the year.

Kennedy students will present "The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice." Jefferson students will present "Middle of Nowhere."

Tickets cost $7 for adults and $5 for students and seniors and will be available at the door beginning at 6 p.m. or can be reserved by calling 952-681-5231.

Both one-acts also will be performed at the Minnesota State High School League's 2013 One Act Play Festival this month at Woodbury High School.

Kindergarten info sessions to startBloomington schools will host kindergarten registration events for families starting this month. Families with a child attending kindergarten in the 2013-14 school year can meet their child's prospective teacher, visit classrooms and tour the school.

The sessions will take place at:

• 4 p.m. Jan. 29 at Hillcrest Community School, 9301 Thomas Road. 952-681-5300

• 5 p.m. Jan. 29 at Indian Mounds Elementary, 9801 11th Av. S. 952-681-6000

• 6 p.m. Jan. 29 at Normandale Hills Elementary, 9501 Toledo Av. 952-806-7000

• 6 p.m. Jan. 29 at Oak Grove Elementary, 1301 W. 104th St. 952-681-6800

• 5:30 p.m. Jan. 29 at Poplar Bridge Elementary, 8401 Palmer Av. 952-681-5400

• 6 p.m. Jan. 31 at Westwood Elementary, 3701 W. 108th St. 952-806-7200

• 6 p.m. Feb. 5 at Olson Elementary, 4501 W. 102nd St. 952-806-8800

• 6 p.m. April 11 at Valley View Elementary, 351 E. 88th St. 952-681-5700

Blessed Trinity hosts open houseBlessed Trinity Catholic School will host an open house for grades four through eight from 6:30-8 p.m. on Thursday at 6720 Nicollet Av. S. in Richfield.

To RSVP or to schedule a private tour, call 612-866-6906 or go to www.btcsmn.org.

Each year, the cities of Minnetonka, Hopkins and Golden Valley, the Hopkins and Minnetonka school districts and the Glen Lake Optimists host a Caring Youth Recognition event to honor the contributions of caring young people.

This year's event will take place at 7 p.m. March 21 at the Minnetonka Community Center.

To qualify for the award, a seventh- through 12th-grader must live in Minnetonka, Hopkins or Golden Valley or attend school in Hopkins or Minnetonka and/or volunteer (unpaid and not as a requirement for a class or co-curricular program) in Minnetonka, Hopkins or Golden Valley. Young people may only be nominated by the organization they are serving.

To nominate a seventh- through 12th-grade student who demonstrates awareness of others through volunteering or other activities, go to www.eminnetonka.com for guidelines and applications or contact Minnetonka Community Relations Manager Jacque Larson at 952-939-8207. Nominations are due by 4:30 p.m. Feb. 1.