Mounds View Public Schools

Town Hall draws national praise
More than 400 community members attended an education Town Hall event at Irondale High School in January that welcomed U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Governor Mark Dayton, U.S Senator Amy Klobuchar and Minnesota Department of Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius. Irondale was chosen to host the event as it prepares to become Minnesota's first comprehensive early college high school, allowing students the opportunity to earn a two-year associate degree for free - all while still enrolled in high school. A similar program will be launched at Mounds View High School in 2013.

Secretary Duncan said Minnesota's schools are heading in the right direction, and he emphasized the connection between an educated workforce and a strong economy. He and others also discussed the importance of preparing students for post-secondary success and praised the school district's efforts. To hear what others are saying about the Early College program, or to view as video of the Town Hall event which will soon be available, visit http://www2.moundsviewschools.org/irondale/index.asp?ID=2588.

Space is limited

Mounds View Public Schools families and residents are invited to spend Presidents Day weekend lodging in a cabin on Arrowhead Lake and enjoying the outdoors at Laurentian Environmental Center. Activities like dog sledding, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, geo-caching, ice fishing and more are included in the three-day family weekend along with lodging, home-style meals and campfire entertainment. Private and semi-private cabins are available. Space is limited for the weekend of February 18-20, 2012. Visit www2.moundsviewschools.org/laurentian/news.asp?docID=8397 for more information and registration details.

Laurentian Environmental Center and Groupon's G-Team, the philanthropic arm of Groupon, launched a campaign to start a scholarship fund for Mounds View Public Schools students today. To help sponsor a three-day/two-night trip to LEC for Mounds View Public Schools students, please visit http://www.groupon.com/deals/gt-laurentian-environmental-center between now and February 2.

The LEC campaign is available on Groupon's Minneapolis and St. Paul G-Team page now through Thursday, February 2. Utilizing G-Team's collective action model, Groupon followers can pledge support for the LEC scholarship initiative in increments of $8. A tipping point of 56 Groupon contributors or $448 in funds raised collectively by Groupon donors will launch the scholarship fund.