With chip bags, soda bottles, and seam-bulging suitcases in tow, the Robbinsdale Cooper High School choirs boarded buses Friday for their roadtriip to New York City for their spring break tour.  “I’m so excited to see all the sites I’ve always seen in movies and heard about... Statue of Liberty, Times Square, and Broadway,” says senior Lizzy Schutz. Energy was high and students jumped in to help the bus drivers load countless suitcases as parents stood looking on, wondering if they’d even get a wave before their teen bounded off. Under the leadership of their director, Sheryl Brame the …

Hundreds of feet padded into the gym, and children sat cross-legged, eyes wide, and leaned in to get a closer look.  These pig-tailed, fuzzy socked and jean clad Noble Elementary students were so quiet you’d think it was the principal’s office. What’s amazing about these kindergarten through 5th grade students is just their focus, but that their focus was on college. Noble Elementary in Golden Valley is getting the word out that college education is for everyone and the time to start dreaming is now.  From Africa to Antarctica, teacher Jackie Smith explained, “Your learning can take you …

You may be used to the high school music concert where the audience claps politely at students who learned to perform a song we've all heard more than once before.  Proving that music can do much more, Robbinsdale Middle School brought people to their feet and history to center stage Friday night in its "The Evolution of African-American Music" concert. The evolution took the audience from the 1600's all the way to today's Black Eyed Peas.  This history lesson had the crowd shouting its approval more than once. Making the evening even more special, singer, songwriter and educator Bruce A. …

If it's been a while since you stimulated your artistic intelligence, why not consider supporting a group of local artists?  There's a unique exhibit just minutes from Golden Valley.  “This is a great way to brighten up your day," says Katie Miller, who teaches art at all nine elementary schools in the Robbinsdale District.  "Students produce beautiful artwork, and you can see their development and growth.” Artwork by students from the Robbinsdale District is on display March 2 through April 6 at the Ridgedale Hennepin County Library. The annual show is put together by art and classroom …

Gas this week is at $3.60 a gallon, tax day is looming, and my car’s check engine light is on... again. Now that my daughter is headed to college next year, the thought of finding a way to afford it is downright overwhelming.  But then I consider this - spending a little time finding just one scholarship now could mean saving her thousands of dollars in loans after graduation. If you're like my daughter and me, and you're willing to put in the time, the obvious question is, "Where do I start?" To answer that and a myriad of other questions, I looked no further than the guidance offices at …

Wading through more than 400 postcards, Lauren Hildebrand gestures across a large table filled with just a sample of what has come in from Alaska, Tanzania, Thailand, Italy and Israel. “We’ve seen cards from pole to pole, from Antarctica to the Arctic Circle," she says. The postcard program at Robbinsdale Middle School (RMS) began last fall to give students a truly hands-on experience about cultures and locations thousands of miles away. “We are dealing with lots of kids in poverty.  Some of them have never traveled outside of the metro area,” says Hildebrand, coordinator of the International…

You stand in line in the gym or wait in kiddie-size chairs outside the teacher’s door and when the moment arrives you want to appear involved, interested and insightful but all you can think to say is, “So how’s my kid doing?” You’re not alone.  When it comes to parent teacher conferences most parents want to make the most of their time, but few know what to ask and many find the shuffle at the middle and secondary level from teacher to teacher unproductive. According to a 1994 United States Department of Education survey, the amount and degree of parent involvement is the most influential …

Pencils are down and the results are in.  Eighth grade students at Robbinsdale Middle School (RMS) and Plymouth Middle School (PMS) recently received the results of the Explore Test.  This test, created by the same company that writes the ACT, provides students with nationally normed scoring information to help them better prepare for the ACT college entrance exam and also provides feedback on possible career choices. According to the district office, 419 PMS and 163 RMS eighth grade students chose to take this optional exam offered in November. Because the test is written by the ACT …