(VIDEO) Armstrong High School Jazz Ensemble I Concert on April 11, 2013

The ensemble shared the AHS stage with Bethel Jazz Orchestra and New York trumpeter John Raymond. Enjoy video of the full concert here.

Here is a full 85-minute video of the Armstrong High School Jazz Ensemble I concert at AHS on April 11, 2013, when the high school musicians were joined on stage by the Bethel Jazz Orchestra and New York trumpeter John Raymond.  See the concert above or at the Robbinsdale Area Schools channel at YouTube.com.

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Obituary: Ruth Esterberg (Lussky), Former Robbinsdale School District Nurse

Service is April 1, 2013 at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Plymouth.

Ruth Esterberg (Lussky) of Maple Grove  Aug. 14, 1936 - March 26, 2013   Born Ruth Ristau. Preceded in death by her first husband, William Lussky. Survived by children Kenneth Lussky of Anoka; Karen (Kevin) Prevost of Madrid, Spain; Linda (Dale) Lokkesmoe of Lakeville; eight grandchildren; and husband Allan Esterberg.  Ruth worked as a school nurse for Robbinsdale School District for 26 years, volunteered for PRISM, and was an active member of her church. Memorials can be directed to Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church.  Service Date: Monday, April 1, 2013  Time: Visitation 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.; funeral service 11 a.m.  Location: Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, 5005 Northwest Blvd, Plymouth Information provided by Gearty-Delmore Funeral …

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Local Engineers Give STEM a Boost at Olson Elementary

Members of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) at the University of Minnesota stopped by to help students learn about engineering through hands-on demonstrations.

Sonnesyn Elementary Gets 'Buzzy' Raising Money

The school's principal promised to dress up like a bee if students raised more than $300.

During a recent book fair Sonnesyn Elementary School students were busy raising money and keeping their principal "buzzy." The school raised $573.44. The incentive was prompted by new principal Leia Ward who set goal levels for the student community, which were surpassed, for a recent coin collection during its book fair. The coins were to help earn books for classrooms. Ward set four different goal levels. The first level was if students collected $75 worth of coins she would play outside with the students during recess. If students raised $150 she would sing a song on the morning announcements. If students raised $225 Ward would color her hair black and yellow for the day, in honor of Sonnesyn's mascot, the bee. But if students raised $…

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New Employees at Robbinsdale Schools

At a board meeting on Monday night, the Robbinsdale School Board officially accepted the new hire of 20 new employees into the school district.

Twenty new faces are walking the halls in Robbinsdale School District buildings this year. At their meeting last night, by approving the consent agenda, the Robbinsdale School Board officially accepted the new hires into the district. Here's the list of new teachers and employees: Meadow Lake Robbinsdale Armstrong High School Robbinsdale Cooper High School  Robbinsdale Middle School Forest Elementary School Neill Elementary School Robbinsdale Transition Center Sonnesyn Elementary School Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion School Plymouth Middle School Floating Between Schools Northport Elementary School

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Robbinsdale Schools See Modest Increase On MCA Tests

Numbers are going up for 2012 MCA reading and math testing results for the Robbinsdale School District

According to Robbinsdale School District press release: Proficiency on state reading tests increased as a whole for Robbinsdale Area Schools, and increases in proficiency rates for both math and reading at various levels continue to build a solid foundation for success in the future. Noble Elementary, for example, has made large gains over the last two years, experiencing an eleven percentage point increase in students proficient from 2010-2012 on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) in reading. Forest Elementary had an eleven percentage point increase in students proficient in math in just one year, and Northport Elementary has made a six percentage point increase in students proficient in math in a year’s time. Proficiency in …

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Robbinsdale School District Approves Bus Contract

The Robbinsdale Area School Board approved a three transportation contract.

  According to a press release from Robbinsdale Area Schools: On Tuesday morning, the Robbinsdale Area School Board approved a new three-year contract with its custodial-transportation bargaining group. The agreement was structured as a collective bargaining agreement and as a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that includes the resolution and settlement of the grievance brought forth by the group’s union.  The three year contract includes a wage increase that is similar to the increase for other employee groups – 1% the first year, 1.5% the second year and 1% the third year. In addition, 21 full-time driver/custodian positions will remain in-house with Robbinsdale Area Schools. Seventeen of those driver/custodian positions will be assigned…

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Plymouth M.S. EA Gets Top Recognition

Victoria Arabanos was named the 2012 Educational Assistant of the Year for District 281.

Victoria Arabanos, an Academic Behavior Support supervisor at Plymouth Middle School was named the district’s 2012 Educational Assistant of the Year. Arabanos, with past experience serving in the military, brings a strong example of leadership, confidence, discipline and character to her students, serving as a supervisor for In-School Suspension (ISS) at PMS.  “I have supervised ISS for ten years,” said Arabanos in her screening survey.“Over the years, I have learned the most important technique of all is the ability to listen and read between the lines, so to speak, when dealing with students.  I allow them to tell me in their words the reason they are in ISS, and help them discern what went wrong through a step-by-step process.” Self-…

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New Leadership at Several Robbinsdale Area Schools

Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion and Noble Elementary will each have a new principal this fall.

Editor's Note: The following content was provided by the Robbinsdale School District. Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion School staff and students will have a new leader next fall. John Osorio has been selected as the principal of Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion School and will be recommended to the School Board on Monday, May 21, 2012. He is currently the assistant principal at the Paul and Sheila Wellstone Dual Immersion Magnet School in St. Paul, having served in St. Paul Public Schools for seventeen years, where he has focused on instructional leadership, differentiation, and working with data to guide instruction. He has worked closely with family and community groups to develop shared leadership and build connections to student learning. Mr…

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Robbinsdale 281 Singers Shine At Regionals

Singers from both Robbinsdale high schools placed well at regional solo/ensemble contests.

Robbinsdale Area Schools vocal music students took the stages once again at the Region 6AA Solo/Ensemble contests, and proved again how strong the arts programs are in the district. Singers from Robbinsdale Armstrong and Cooper choirs competed in the Solo/Ensemble Contest April 24 at Minnetonka High School. The two high schools had a combined 105 entries in events and 61 out of 65 total Armstrong events were given superior ratings while 32 out of 40 Cooper events were given superior or excellent ratings. Additionally, Cooper and Armstrong singers earned 9 of the 13 total Best of Site Awards for the contest.  Individual Best of Site awards were given to the Armstrong Chamber Women, Tim Delonge, Emi Chen and Kristy Hatfield duet, Kyle …

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