(Photos) Golden Valley City Leaders are Reading by Example

Noble Elementary students shared a lesson in literacy with important people in the community.

All eyes in Mr. Hubred's fourth-grade class were focused on Golden Valley Police Chief Stacy Carlson as she opened the cover of Bat Night at the Library and began to read last Friday at Noble Elementary School. "I've never met a police chief before," 9-year-old Wynter said. "And I've never had one read to me either." For the past three years, Noble staff invited firefighters to read to their students, and reading specialist Melissa Kivi said that made an impression. "Our kids are coming in further and further behind," she said. "We need to do whatever we can to find new ways to reach kids—especially the ones who are struggling." Kivi figured if firefighters could make an impression, then certainly the mayor or the police chief could, too. …

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More Robbinsdale Teachers Will Learn About STEM

Third- through fifth-grade teachers at Neill, Northport, Spanish Immersion and Zachary Lane will be trained.

More Robbinsdale elementary school teachers will attend Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) training this year. Third- through fifth-grade teachers at Noble Elementary in Golden Valley previously spent 30 hours learning about the "Nature of Science and Engineering," according to a news release from Tia Clasen, communications director. Now they will be joined by instructors at Neill Elementary in Crystal, Northport in Brooklyn Center, the Spanish Immersion Program in New Hope and Zachary Lane in Plymouth. “This is a wonderful opportunity for our teachers, and even more fantastic for our students,” stated Gayle Walkowiak, executive director of teaching and learning for the district. “This means that all third- through …

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Photo Gallery: First Day of School at Noble Elementary in Golden Valley

Teachers welcome back students and kindergartners part with their parents

Summer vacation has officially ended for hundreds of Golden Valley students who returned to school Tuesday. At Noble Elementary School, students arrived at 9 a.m. as teachers opened their classroom doors.  After a brief meeting with parents in Mary Jo DeSmitt's half-day kindergarten classroom, students said goodbye to their parents for their first day of school. Some said goodbye more easily than others. Out on the playground, first-graders reveled in the sun and didn't seem to mind they were at school instead of at home.

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Robbinsdale Science Scores Drop

Compared to last year, the percentage of students who met state standards dropped at nine out of 11 of the district's schools.

Almost two-thirds of the Robbinsdale Public Schools students tested in science in March failed to meet state standards, according to data the Minnesota Department of Education released Friday. While state scores mainly remained flat from last year, most Robbinsdale schools saw a decrease in the number of proficient students over last year. (Details on each school’s performance are available here.) The percentage of fifth-graders who were not proficient increased by more than 6 points over last year, from 62.1 percent to 68.5. Only two elementary schools beat the state average of 54 percent not proficient: the Spanish Immersion School with 46.5 percent and Zachary with 45.9 percent. The Spanish Immersion also improved over last year's …

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Golden Valley Kids Fold Wishes for Japan

The Lakeview, Northport and Noble Adventure Club spends part of its spring break to reach out to victims of the earthquake/tsunami.

Children from Lakeview, Northport and Noble Adventure Club volunteered their time over spring break to make origami cranes to help the people of Japan after the devastating earthquake and subsequent tsumani wreaked havoc on March 11th. Nancy Rzeszutek from Adventure Club, as she has done in the past, looks for great ideas to get involved in volunteering or helping others out. “I get emails from an organization called DoSomething.org and making paper cranes for Japan was one of the ideas that was sent to me before spring break,” she explained. “I spent a whole weekend teaching myself how to make a paper crane so I could teach the students. Well, it all turned into something amazing.” And yes, it did turn into something amazing. The children…

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Robbinsdale Schools Spotlight

First Graders Already Thinking About College? You Bet.

As part of Noble Elementary's College Week, students find out why it's never too early to start dreaming big.

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 anywhere you want to go.” Two tiny kindergarten boys who have barely learned to spell their names now got to tell the bigger boys and girls about Australia…

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Robbinsdale Schools Spotlight

Get Inspired by Supporting Local Artists

Aspiring young Golden Valley and Robbinsdale artists put their work on display this month.

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 teachers and includes work by students in grades 3-12. The exhibit includes two-dimensional and three-dimensional student artwork including jewelry, …

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Robbinsdale Schools Spotlight

Making the Most of Parent Teacher Conferences

Five tips to get the most out of your time.

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 factor in determining a student's' success in school.  With this in mind, and twelve years of either sitting on one side as a parent or the other side …

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Five Things: News and Notes from Around Golden Valley

Geography Bee, Minnesota Scholastic Arts Awards and 125th Anniversary Logo Winners are among the news items this week.

Noble Elementary School Students Compete in Geography Bee On Jan. 6, 10 students in the 4th and 5th grades participated in a Geography Bee at Golden Valley’s Noble Elementary School. Vanessa Jimenez won the Bee, now she gets to take a written test to determine whether she can compete in the Minnesota State Geography Bee. State champions will be eligible to win the national championship and its first prize, a $25,000 college scholarship at the national competition in Washington, D.C. May 24 and 25, 2011. Courtesy: Robbinsdale School District   Arts High School Students Earn Minnesota Scholastic Art Awards This year, student artists at the Arts High School at the Perpich Center in Golden Valley won a commanding number of Minnesota Scholastic…

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Golden Valley Students Put Their Creativity to Work on Cookies

A generous donation from Cub Foods allowed Noble Elementary School's entire 2nd grade class to make gingerbread men.

Talk to most people during the holiday season, and chances are, there are two things you'll find in their homes: presents and Christmas cookies. Just before students at Noble Elementary School left for their winter break on Dec. 17, the entire 2nd grade class took part in several holiday activities, which included making gingerbread men. Chad Evenson, manager of the Cub Foods on 36th Ave and Hwy 100 in Crystal, made a generous donation of cookies and sprinkles to the school so the 2nd graders could participate in the activity. Below are a few pictures from their day. 

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