By Ramona Anderson
The 27th year of Mini School is coming to a close. The staff and students are looking forward to summer coming and seeing students complete their high school careers. Seniors that are close to graduating are feeling pushed, and pulled, to get work finished and credit earned in order to graduate on time. Seniors that are coming back next year are struggling with all the graduation activities and wishing it was them. Sophomores and juniors are trying to complete all the things necessary for the year to end. At this time we are making the plans for Recognition Night, getting the senior yearbook done, putting together a slide show, organizing and finishing Com-Mini-Cations, conferences, classes, and through all this we still have another trip going out.
Fourth quarter is always our busiest time of the year for trips. Doug started the whirlwind with his three week trip to Canyonlands and Mesa Verde National Park with 8 students – Justin Streeter, Lance Hamlin, Mike McGinn, Ann Kohman, Mike Ennis, Phil Lynott, Chris Robertson, and Josh Chowen. When Doug got back he tagged off Randy and he took off with 8 kids hiking in the Black Hills. He took Austin Manship, Kortnie Hansen, Tanya Shierman, Emily Richards, Clint Fero, Josh Day, Bill Gallagher, and Scott Bakkelund for a very windy trip. When he returned he tagged Doug and Doug was off again for a BWCA canoe trip that with our spring(?) weather, was more like a winter trip. They had all kinds of weather (including snow). Doug took Lacey Landt, Eric Thomas, Chris Robertson, Jessica Juneau, Mike Phelps, Marcelle Dorenkamp, and Gabe Peterson. Doug said it was a great trip and a strong trip. He now has tagged of with Pauline and she will take 7 girls to Carlton County for a whitewater rafting trip on the St. Louis River. We were able to get a few day trips in also. A group of students was able to go to the Festival of Nations at the civic center. Pauline and I took a group of 12 students to the Minnesota Zoo and to see “In the Deep” at the Imax in 3-d. That was really great!
Through ail the chaos we have had students graduating throughout the quarter and have tried to be creative with our classes to keep students focused at school. Pauline and I were able to run a kite block together combining science and math. Pauline also did an ethics class related to ethics in experimentation. Randy has run blocks on the sixties and “What do you know” and I have been able to run my spaces block looking at creativity and design.
Next year will bring changes. There will be a new principal in the building. There will be a new schedule. There will be major construction. Mini-School will likely change location. As always, Mini-School will adjust and carry on, during its best to help kids adjust, mature, and become self-actualized.
As I write this Pauline is working hard to complete her master’s degree, Joanne is going on a belated honeymoon on a rafting trip through the Grand Canyon with husband Brad and pup Hazel, Randy plans this summer to read, run, and coach soccer, Doug plans to canoe race, paint his house, and maybe go sea kayaking in Washington, and I plan to get bigger as George and I get closer to the birth of our second child… Zachary has decided to name the baby Santa Claus.
Mini-School would like to wish everyone a great summer. Next year -Mini school year 29.