Armatage meeting on busy intersection
ARMATAGE — Principal Joan Franks was working with district and city officials to head-off what she termed “an accident waiting to happen” near Armatage Community and Montessori School in February.
Franks said traffic near the intersection of Sheridan Avenue and West 57th Street was becoming a safety hazard. In February, she appealed to parents for suggestions to solve the problem.
“Over on that particular corner, we just have lot of cars dropping off kids,” she said.
Traffic was worst at about 7:30 a.m. and 1:45 p.m., the beginning and end of the Armatage school day. The placement of an adult crossing guard at the corner had not done enough to prevent children and parents from jaywalking and weaving between cars, she said.
Franks contacted city officials to request a four-way stop at the intersection. She was also seeking parent input on designated student pick-up and drop-off sites for buses and parents in cars.
She said some of the school’s neighbors expressed concern about changing the location of the bus stop.
“Inevitably, whatever plan we have will create an inconvenience for somebody,” Franks acknowledged. “But priority number one is the safety of the kids.”
Rybak promotes college to young students
Mayor R.T. Rybak planned to get elementary school students thinking about college with the launch of the “I Know I Can” program in Minneapolis Public Schools
Feb. 19.
Rybak and about 200 volunteers visited nearly 40 public schools to read to 3rd-grade students from “I Know I Can,” a children’s book that emphasizes the importance of a college education. The effort is a part of the mayor’s Minneapolis Promise initiative focused on removing barriers to higher education.
Ramsey celebrates Black History Month
TANGLETOWN — Ramsey International Fine Arts Center hosts its first Harlem Renaissance Family Celebration 7 p.m. Feb. 26.
“Rhapsody in Black” is a celebration of African American culture set to coincide with Black History Month in February. Students and community members will perform dances, poetry and music, with student musicians playing the popular music of the 1920s, an era when African American culture blossomed in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City.
Artwork and social studies projects by middle school students will be on display during the event, which will also feature refreshments and door prizes.
Southwest senior earns mentor award
FULTON — A Southwest High School senior was recognized for her work with middle school students in the Girls in Engineering, Mathematics and Science (GEMS) program in January, the district reported.
Martha Streng received the Young Mentor Award during the Minnesota FIRST Lego League State Championship Tournament Jan. 26. The award honored Streng for her work with the GEMS students at Field Middle School, who earned the Team Spirit Award in the competition.
The competition challenges middle school students to build and program a Lego robot.
A district report indicated 325 Minneapolis Public Schools students, including both the girls and their high school mentors, participated in GEMS this year.
Washburn places fifth in Science Bowl
TANGLETOWN — Washburn High School’s Science Bowl team finished in fifth place in the state competition Jan. 25 at Macalester College in St. Paul.
In the competition between 30 teams from across the state, Washburn had one of only five teams to go undefeated in the first round, a round-robin competition. Washburn seniors Jordan Shaw, Katie Dahl and Zeke Cato and junior Ian Ingersoll won seven matches, tying for fifth place with a team from Wayzata High School.
Southwest, Anthony plan musicals
Southwest High School and Anthony Middle School both had musicals in the works for March.
More than 100 Southwest students will take part in the school’s production of “South Pacific,” the largest theater production to be staged in the school’s auditorium since its renovation in 2007, the school reported.
Southwest was one of 25 metro-area schools participating in this year’s SpotLight Musical Theater Program sponsored by Hennepin Theater Trust. SpotLight sends evaluators to area performances and honors outstanding performances during a spring awards ceremony.
Last year, Southwest’s production of “Hair” earned several SpotLight awards and honorable mentions.
“South Pacific” is 7 p.m. March 6–8 and 13–15 and 2 p.m. March 16 at Southwest High School auditorium, 3414 W. 47th St.
Anthony students also will perform in an upgraded venue when they take the stage with “Music Man, Jr.” The sound and lighting systems in the school’s auditorium have undergone improvements since last year’s musical, said parent Deb Peterson.
“Music Man, Jr.” is 6:30 p.m. March 12–14 at Anthony Middle School auditorium, 5757 Irving Ave. S.
Reach Dylan Thomas at 436-4391 or [email protected]