Parent Engage 360

New this school year, every student is able to receive one breakfast and one lunch at no cost during the school year due to the state’s Free School Meals program. While the program is new, students will still have access to the same nutritious meals they have come to expect in Anoka-Hennepin.

In the latest Parent Engage 360 Podcast, host Liz Burgard was joined by Anoka-Hennepin child nutrition leaders Noah Atlas (director) and Callie Neumann (assistant director) to learn more about the state's Free School Meals program, educational benefits and the importance of balanced nutrition for youth.

Episode highlights

• The state’s Free School Meals program began in the fall of 2023, allowing every student to receive one breakfast and one lunch at no cost during the school year.
• Learn more about why it's important for families to continue to apply for educational benefits even though school meals are now offered at no cost.
• Neumann discusses the nutritional requirements of school meals by the federal government and the importance of a balanced diet for youth. Learn more about how to eat healthy with MyPlate at myplate.gov.

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.

In the latest episode of the Parent Engage 360 Podcast, host Liz Burgard, district parent involvement coordinator, was joined by Coon Rapids High School principal John Peña and volunteer services coordinator Danille Callahan to discuss the importance of parent involvement in schools.

In the episode, Peña and Callahan discussed their experiences both as parents and in their current roles, and the importance of parents/guardians being involved in their child’s educational journey in a number of ways.

Anoka-Hennepin values parent involvement in education and is committed to offering resources to meet the changing needs of parents and families. The district invites parents/guardians and community members to volunteer or participate on committees as a meaningful way to get involved with the district.

To learn more about becoming a volunteer in Anoka-Hennepin, please visit ahschools.us/volunteer. If you are interested in joining a district committee, there are four committees in need of more members. Learn more about district committees.

Anoka-Hennepin offers 12 schools that provide in-demand educational options such as the arts; science, technology, math, engineering and biomedical sciences (STEM/STEAM), as well as International Baccalaureate (IB).

Specialty and magnet schools are public schools available to all students at no additional cost. These schools, which are at the elementary, middle and high school levels, are designed to provide family choice.

In Episode 23 of the Parent Engage 360 Podcast, host Liz Burgard, Anoka-Hennepin parent involvement coordinator, visited with three curriculum integrators from across the district to learn more about the specialty and magnet programming offered in the district.

Kate Watson, University Avenue Elementary School - Aerospace, Children’s Engineering and Science (ACES), Jolanda Dranchak, Anoka Middle School for the Arts (AMSA) and Lana Rice, Coon Rapids High School - Center for Biomedical Sciences and Engineering (CRHS) joined Burgard to discuss programming at their schools and in Anoka-Hennepin.

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.

Voters in Anoka-Hennepin communities will have the opportunity to weigh in on three ballot questions on or before Nov. 2, considering a renewal of two levies for learning and investing in a new operating levy providing support for all students. Referendum 2021 includes two questions to renew levies to fund operations and technology that would not increase taxes but would extend current funding while supporting student learning. Planning and research obtained from community surveys over the past year demonstrated community understanding regarding the services this funding provides. By asking the community to weigh in now, the school district may be able to avoid cutting resources beginning in the summer of 2022 if the community decides that the questions on the ballot are still priorities in the school system.

In this episode of the Parent Engage 360 Podcast, Liz Burgard, parent involvement coordinator for Anoka-Hennepin, is joined by Superintendent David Law to learn more about the upcoming Referendum 2021. Learn more about the upcoming referendum by visiting ahschools.us/vote2021. Have a specific question? Call the Referendum 2021 hotline at 763-506-7777 or email [email protected].

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 Schools realize the importance of parent engagement in maximizing student success. We hope that providing timely and helpful information through the Parent Engage 360 podcast series will strengthen that bond between school and home with resources parents and guardians can use and share with others.

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.