Parent Engage 360

Did you know that around 34,000 Anoka-Hennepin students ride a bus to and from school each day? The district transportation services department works closely with partners to safely transport students using approximately 380 vehicles traveling more than six million miles annually.

The district services more than 8,000 bus stops traveling to and from more than 60 school sites daily.

In the latest Parent Engage 360 Podcast episode, host Liz Burgard is joined by transportation director B.J. Ison and transportation safety coordinator Jeff Mueller to learn more about what goes into safely planning a school bus route, where bus stops are located and much more. In this episode you will also learn about the annual school bus safety poster contest and how students learn about bus safety throughout the school year.

The Parent Engage 360 Podcast aims to provide parents and guardians with knowledge from experts in chemical health, mental health, internet safety and more, as well as the tools needed to support their children. Anoka-Hennepin hopes that providing timely and helpful information through the Parent Engage 360 podcast series will strengthen the bond between school and home with resources parents and guardians can use and share with others.

Join Liz Burgard, Anoka-Hennepin parent involvement coordinator, as she discusses growth mindset with Blaine High School (BHS) achievement coach Kevin Bross.

In this episode, Bross discusses his role at BHS as an achievement coach and how he teaches the concept of growth mindset to fellow teachers. Bross shared his own experience implementing growth mindset into this daily routine both personally and professionally and why a growth mindset can be beneficial for students and adults alike.

With graduation parties and summer upon us, it is important to be aware of our students' choices surrounding alcohol and alcohol consumption.

Join Liz Burgard, Anoka-Hennepin Parent Involvement Coordinator, as she talks about the effects of alcohol, how kids gain access, and what parameters can be set to prioritize our students' safety and wellbeing. Additionally, learn about what a social host ordinance citation is and how it can impact you as the adult. Liz is joined by Colleen O'Neil, Anoka-Hennepin Schools Chemical Health Prevention Specialist, and Cindy Doth, Youth and School Outreach Manager from Hazelden Betty Ford.

Join Liz Burgard, Anoka-Hennepin Parent Involvement Coordinator, as she discusses all aspects of community, technical, public and private college readiness with Colleen Neary, career specialist at Anoka High School, and Mai Nhia Xiong-Chan, vice president of enrollment at Hamline University.

Tune in as they walk listeners through the processes of pre-college courses, testing, applications and admissions, financial aid, and more. Learn about the resources available from Anoka-Hennepin Schools, as well as other outlets and help prepare your student for their future.

Did you know that there are over 650 students in the Anoka-Hennepin School District that are currently homeless, and 13,000 students facing food insecurity?

Tune in to this month’s Parent Engage 360 episode as we interview Jessica Jasurda, homeless liaison for Anoka-Hennepin Schools, and Rob Williams, founder of Every Meal.

Every Meal is a Minnesota-based non-profit on a mission to fight child hunger and supply kids with food that is nutritious and delicious. Every Meal has been a great partner of Anoka-Hennepin for many years, but even more so during the pandemic. From March 2020 to Sept. 2020, meals have increased by 400% due to the impact of COVID-19.

National Hunger and Homelessness week begins Monday, Nov. 15 and community members are encouraged to help share the message and spread awareness on some of the hardships students are facing.

If you’re looking for a way to give back to the community this holiday season, Every Meal, a 100% community-funded organization, provides the opportunity to volunteer your time at their warehouse or donate to their organization at everymeal.org. Additionally, if you’re interested in working directly with the district, you can donate to Anoka-Hennepin Educational Foundation’s Agility Fund at ahef.us or contact your local school directly to inquire about needs.