Thursday, November 13, 2014

Lester Prairie Students Participate in WE DAY CELEBRATION




Star Tribune Photo of LP Students-Read the full article below


STAR TRIBUNE ARTICLE 11/13/14

Students had raised money for homeless youths, food for the hungry, goats for women in Kenya and countless other causes over the past year. Their payoff came Wednesday, when 18,000 like-minded Minnesota youths packed the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul for the second annual We Day celebration.
The energetic crowd cheered with approval as more than a dozen speakers and celebrities urged them to continue their work, part of a global movement advocated by We Day organizers.
“We all have personal challenges, those that keep us up at night,” said Clemantine Wamariya, a survivor of the genocide in Rwanda in the mid-1990s told them. “But we still show up to serve others.”
Since the first We Day Minnesota last fall, students from more than 550 Minnesota schools have participated in one local and one global service project — which in turn gave them a ticket to the We Day celebration.
They volunteered 167,000 hours of community service and raised $378,250 for causes both local and global, said Dean Phillips, state co-chairman of the event.
Gov. Mark Dayton proclaimed Nov. 12 We Day Minnesota, in honor of the volunteer blitz. National Basketball Association legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson offered words of encouragement — and announced a surprise $1 million donation to build schools in Africa.
Kweku Mandela, grandson of former South African President Nelson Mandela, told the packed center that his grandfather paid tribute to the “heroism of youth” the day he was released from prison. He called upon the “young lions” present to set forth and make the world a better place.
In the crowd cheering from the bleachers was Vivianna Russ, an 11-year-old from Minnetonka Middle School West.
“The people here are so inspirational,” she said. “Everyone has gone through their own struggles in life. And they’ve all recovered. It’s pretty amazing.”
Kyaw Hywe and Yussef Elsawy, both children of immigrants attending Humboldt High School in St. Paul, said it felt good to be able to give back to their communities through a food drive.
“It tells the world we can make a difference,” said Elsawy.
From Farmington to Kenya
Their stories were among hundreds represented in the bleachers. For example, Farmington High School and the Farmington School District raised over $10,000 to build schools in Kenya.
Johnson High School in St. Paul participated in the “We Scare Hunger” food drive, an anti-distracted-driving campaign, a blood drive and more.
St. Paul City Middle School collected food donations, volunteered at Bethel Nursing home and collected more than $500 to support a school in Ecuador.
“Today’s generation of young people, the Me to We generation — have the power to create and lead real systemic change through We Day,” said We Day co-founder Craig Kielburger.
“Over 200,000 students coast to coast, from 5,000 schools, earn their tickets to We Day by committing to take action on local and global causes they care about. They are truly moving the needle on some of today’s most important issues.”
Kielburger and his brother Marc Kielburger, of Canada, created Free the Children in 1995 when they were just in middle school. Over the years, it mushroomed into a national Canadian youth movement, packing auditorium-sized events for student volunteers.
The group expanded from its Canadian base to the United States last year. Minnesota was among its first venues, given its national status for community volunteerism.
Teachers see difference
Phillips, the Minnesota co-chair, said an unexpected result has been that teachers are reporting renewed inspiration as well.
Bev Antilley, a teacher at Minnetonka Middle School East, agreed. She said she was surprised by some of her students’ generosity.
“It lets you see the good in the kids, to see them in a different light,” Antilley said.
A news conference during the event drew a variety of student reporters. One was Aly Swanson, a sixth-grader from Wells, Minn. She addressed her question to Kielburger and actor Martin Sheen, who is known for his social and political activism and is a veteran of 12 We Days nationally.
“I live in a town of 2,000 people,” Swanson said. “How can I make a difference?”
Kielburger responded that she could start a service club at school, and that the Minnesota We Day chapter would give her the tools. She could start a “We Scare Hunger” campaign, or a “We Are Silent” campaign to call attention to bullying. She could call the state office, bring in a speaker.
Sheen told the young reporters that he had to overcome two “traumatic” experiences in order to participate in We Day — flying in an airplane and speaking in front of an enormous crowd.
“You have to find in yourself another person,” Sheen said.
That message, of rising above one’s own individual needs to help others, resonated throughout the daylong celebration.
“No government or individual can solve all our problems,” said Phillips. “But an army of thousands of young people around the world can make a difference.”

Friday, November 7, 2014

2014 FIRE PREVENTION POSTER WINNERS

The 2014 Fire Prevention Poster winners are as follows:

 Kindergarten - Mrs. Smith - 2nd Place -Savanah Dammann, 1st place- Alivia Otto, 3rd place - Ayla Bebo
 Kindergarten - Mrs. Kramer - 1st Place - Brielle Christen, 3rd Place - Maggie Manthe, 2nd Place - Dillon Moy
 First Grade - Miss Murphy - 2nd Place- Sybil Tervo, 3rd Place - Gael Lopez, 1st Place - Averi Tritabaugh
 First Grade - Mrs. Brande l- 3rd place - Michael Albers, 2nd Place - Juliana VanZanten, 1st Place - Harrison Engen
 Second Grade - Mrs. Roth - 1st place - Jayden Albers, 2nd Place - Morgan Feltmann, 3rd place - Lydia Lemke
 Second Grade - Mrs. Bayerl - 3rd Place - Kaden Otto, 1st Place - Grace Bayerl, 2nd Place - Miranda Mallak
Third Grade - Mrs. Anderberg - 2nd Place - Megan Tonn, 1st Place - Lily Parrott, 3rd Place - Emma Eckstein
Third Grade - Miss Edlund - 2nd Place - Mason Kutz, 3rd Place - Amelia Meyer, 1st Place - Ava Heimerl
Fourht Grade - Miss Kramer - 3rd Place - Sarai Montano, 2nd Place - Tanner Scheevel, 1st Place - Brooke Heimerl
Fourth Grade - Mr. Kley - 3rd Place - Destiny Moorman, 2nd Place - Chloe Engelke, 1st Place - Brooke Albers
Fifth Grade Ms. Houg - 1st Place - Lindsey Vega, 2nd Place - Trevor Tonn, 3rd Place Jack Behning
Fifth Grade - Miss Kraemer - 1st Place - Riley Haas, 2nd Place - Layne Teubert, 3rd Place - Jenna Heimerl
Overall Winners - Grades 4th & 5th Winner, Lindsey Vega, Grand Champion - Lydia Gueningsman, Grades 2nd & 3rd - Grace Bayerl, Grades K & 1st - Averi Tritabaugh

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

NED Show Visits LP

Never Give Up, Encourage Others, Do Your Best was the message Lester Prairie students heard when the NED Show came to town!  Lester Prairie students and staff attended a lyceum sponsored by the NED Show.  The NED Show utilizes magic and yo-yo tricks to tell the story of NED, who learns along the way to follow these three simple messages to have success and enjoy life.  Kelli Machemehl, a paraprofessional at Lester Prairie Schools stated, "I thought the NED show was great!  (A) good message and very entertaining for everyone." Other staff members agreed, including Lester Prairie Promise Fellow Lyn Anderson, "Kids will always remember what NED stands for."  The lyceum was related to the current positive behavior initiatives and anti-bullying campaign.  

The program was followed by the Club's Choice Elementary Fundraiser "Toss Your Cookie" contest.  Students were selected based on the number of items they sold during the elementary fundraiser.  The winner of the contest was Broc Matthews who won a $15 gift card and a stuffed cookie toy.  The fundraiser each year is set up by LP Parent's for Education and this year raised its largest amount of money yet.  Proceeds from the fundraiser go toward purchases for the benefit of students and have included iPads, musical instruments, upgrades to the library, books, a Lego learning set, and many other wonderful items directly related to student learning.







BULLDOGS BARK 1st QUARTER WINNERS

Lester Prairie School District held their first quarter Bulldog Bark drawing recently.  Students were identified by staff and community members for outstanding acts.  All students who are recognized receive a Bulldog Bark which are on display in the cafeteria hallway.  Students receiving a Bulldog Bark were eligible to choose from prizes including gift cards, a personalized MN Gophers Men's Basketball Autograph Book, and other larger toys and prizes.  The LP Foundation for Education grant was used to purchase many of the prizes earned throughout the year.  Additional prizes were awarded from receipt turn ins at Prairie Market.  First quarter winners were given prizes for helping other students, being polite, and respect.  These character traits are identified in the Lester Prairie PBIS plan and align with the LP Anti-Bullying Program.

 Logan Aagard, Carter Sheehan, Caleb Sebora, Trisha Nyberg, Hayden Theis
 Kalya Lorentz, Evan Lee, Matt Schmidt, Cole Tonn, Paige Bayerl
 Front Row- Claire Thompson, Olivia Radtke, Erica Kolander  - Back Row - Axel Bahena, Anah Lee, Charissa Johnson, Michael Albers, Not pictured - Averi Tritabaugh
 Lindsey Vega, Riley Haas, Layne Teubert - Not pictured - Allison Knoll