By Randy Nelson
This becomes the column to thank all those people who have supported us throughout the year, to review the highlights of the year; and recognize some of our students’ accomplishments.
Former students have kept in contact with us: Simone Wintheiser will be moving to Seattle to attend school, but promises to stay in touch. Elliot Tan has moved north to a farm located between Duluth and Floodwood, and plans to attend school in Duluth next year. Peter Hopf (’89) is a supervisor at a sheet metal fabricating company and is doing well, personally and financially – – he is starting his own computer graphics company soon. David Scott called Doug the other day and Jeff Kinzer has been a frequent caller.
Present students have also been doing some interesting things. Raeann Rasmussen, Chris Wilmot, and Kristie Ennis received the 3rd quarter student recognition award – – congratulations! Ronilyn Rasmussen received the Heart Award at the regional Vo-Tech meeting, and will receive recognition at the HTC Awards night. Jenny Case in her work instructing future guitar players and flutists, has started to put together her own instruction booklets to teach her students – – she claims her books make more sense than some of the commercial books available.
The Outdoor Experiential Trips component of the program continues to be popular – – 40% of the students will have participated on one of this spring’s trips (April to June). This is one of those changes we have seen in the past couple of years – – almost every trip we take now has an alternate or two or three because of the number of students wanting to become involved. This phenomena is well-timed because one of the big changes this year was the purchase of the Mini-School van (after 23 years of using our personal vehicles) which opened up some possibilities heretofore not available.
The work component of Mini-School continues to thrive, with well over half of our students (85) employed. The following students were not only employed all year, but worked for the same employer. Tony Bernatz worked at Softsoap; Jenny Case at Minnetonka Music and K-Mart; Brian Cristofono at Excelsior Union 76; Kristie Ennis at J.C. Penny’s (Ridgedale); Erica Gysland at McDonald’s (Excelsior) – – along with Keith Bartram, Jeff Dack, Al and Casey Wright, Suzy Warner, and Scott Hedtke; Sharon Korzendorfer is finishing her second year at K-Mart; Steve Lauman is at Rapid Oil Change; Jill Maxson is cleaning houses; Angie Peterson is working with Minneapolis Floral; Brandon Petron at Knollwood Theaters; Raeann Rasmussen at Westwind Theaters and Hourglass Cleaners; Ronilyn Rasmussen at Children’s World; Bill Renquist at Cooper’s Super Valu; Justin Weitnauer at Larry Olson Plumbing; Chad Zaback with Zaback Excavating; and David Zytkoskee wrapping up another year at the Minnetonka McDonald’s. I would be hard pressed to find a year in recent memory where so many students have worked the same job through the entire year — both the students and their employers must be doing something right.
On the staff front: Ramona’s baby is due this summer – – the mystery is when. Pauline will be a full time teacher next year (she was .6 this year) when she picks up the .2 Lester had for the Mini-Art class, and starts a class to work with the 9th graders transitioning into the high school (another .2). Joanne is resuming her studies on top of all the things she does for the program. As mentioned earlier, Lester is severing her ties to Mini-School dating back to 1975, as she assumes the responsibilities of Art Department Head and concentrates her efforts in the art area, including the Minnetonka Yearbook – – good luck, Lester! Doug keeps rolling along having just completed his umpteenth trip to the Grand Canyon and two weeks later to the BWCA – – he and I are getting ready for our third annual summer school canoe trip on the Namekagon and St. Croix Rivers.
It amazes me this program has been meeting the needs of its students for twenty-four years. It amazes me because back in 1970, Doug Berg, Pete Hegrenes, Leo Razidlo, and I only had our vision of what Mini-School could become since there were no other programs for a prototype. It amazes me that Mini-School, although joined by other at-risk programs by 1972-73, remained at the end of the 1970’s, as others died for lack of staff and administrative support (certainly not for the lack of students). What doesn’t amaze me is the success most of our students have had as contributing members of society, many owning their own businesses, holding positions of importance in companies, and being involved in their communities.
The support this program receives form the mainstream staff although not always recognized, but always appreciated, makes working at Minnetonka a pleasure. A week doesn’t go by without a staff member asking how a particular student is doing because they remain concerned about that student. The physical education department has been most helpful by providing us with some equipment through the year, and we appreciate their help.
The support this year from the administration has been appreciated, especially the red tape for securing the van. For 24 years, one administrator has stood in our corner supporting this program as the winds of educational whims moved in and out of our district. Dr. Dale Rusch is retiring this year. The support through the years which has come in so many ways will be missed. Dale has run interference for us, negotiated for us, has served as liaison for us, et, al. We wish you a long, healthy, and prosperous retirement, Dale.
The community also deserves some recognition and thanks. Bud Boberg continues to work for youth looking for temporary living situations until differences at home can be resolved. Bud also helped the program by having the equipment box (which fits perfectly on top of the van) donated to the program by the Minnetonka Baptist Church. Jerome Carlson, head of Instant Web, gave a sizeable donation to us earlier this year, which enables us to defray the cost of trips and acquire needed equipment – – thank you! I would like to thank the parents of Mini-Schoolers who would show up at parent meetings during the evening once a month to be informed, offer assistance, to be supportive of the program and each other – – you will never know how important you are to us… and to all those people in the community who purchased the WCCO Weather Calendar from a Mini-School student during the fall fundraiser – – it is your contributions that help us provide many of the opportunities for our students.
I always fear there are many people that should be thanked and recognized that I forget to include, but know you are appreciated. I am proud of this program, not only for what it has been, but what it has become through the years. Research continues to show the approaches to holistic education used for years in Mini-School, are successful in education in general. When it is used with the population of students described as “at-risk”, it is even more effective. When I look at the number 25, and realize the this program is a quarter of a century old, I know that it wasn’t accomplished by luck or magic – – it was a high school, district, community effort and has paid huge dividends for students and society. But we cannot forget the Doug Bergs, Pete Hegrenes’, Leo Razidlos, Lesters, Norm Garneaus, et. al., who have used that support and effort to make Mini-School the successful program it is today.
A little more alumni news by Doug:
Bruce “Tweety” Vomhof – 1975 – I saw Tweety the other day and was brought up to date on the family. 6 Vomhof kids were in Mini-School in the ‘70’s and early ’80’s – Diane, Howard, Bruce, Sharon, Bill and Bob. They were all truly remarkable. All are doing well and are working in everything from auto mechanics, house restoration, tree removal, the minnow business, water softening (of course), to grocery business management.
Jim “J.J.” Jensen – 1975 – J.J., having long ago adopted the Mini-School values of health and fitness – he’s an Outward Bounder and Mini- School tripper of the first order – has taken on a new challenge – long distance running and road racing. The man runs – and runs and runs – about 10 miles or more per day. He’s run a half marathon and is shooting for Grandma’s Marathon on June 18th. He’s also enlisted special ed and Mini para Julie Warren in his mania and she too is loggin’ the miles. I can’t keep up with them.
Meredith “Maud” Clawson – 1988 – Maud wrote me a letter the other day, bringing me up to date on her life. She’s attending Mpls. Community College and was selected by the phy ed department as “Student of the Year.” She will be honored at the Convention Center. She said she was interviewed, in connection with the award, about what schooling was like for her in the past. She told them that school was horrible “until Mini-School.” “And I told them that you brought out the best in who I was and you fueled my energy and worth and spirit as a person.” Thanks, Maud, and congratulations. Also, Maud will be working for the Mpls. Park Board this summer with kids in outdoor activities.
Mini-School just received a real generous donation from Mary and Duane Bagdons, parents of Mini-Schooler Chris who graduated a year ago and is now in the service stationed in Germany. Thank you, Duane and Mary. Your generosity is terrific. We assure you that your gift will go directly to benefit Mini-School kids.