Welcome and good evening. We're going to start with a brief overview of the of Minnitanka High School and all the opportunities that we have as a school and then we'll begin with the program. Again, welcome. >> Welcome to Minnetonka High School. >> Welcome to Minnetonka High School. >> Welcome to Minnetonka High School. We're excited you're here. >> Staff here believe in us.
>> They believe in our ideas, our talents, and our potential. Teachers know we are responsible and give us the independence, space, and support we need to do our best. At the core of Minnotonka culture are the four A's, academics, activities, arts, and athletics. There are classes for
everyone and every intern. >> You can make your own path here and pursue your passions. >> There are many electives to choose from. We also offer the IB diploma program and advanced placement classes. >> Most of us try at least one or more IB or AP class.
>> We also have Vantage, a real world learning based program that pairs you with a professional in a field of your choice. So far, my favorite class here at MHS has been Vantage Global Business. It's really just given me a perspective into the business world where I find
myself to be most passionate. >> Project Lead the Way is an opportunity to explore engineering before college. >> If science is your passion, you can try Minnetonka research and choose an area of research to explore for an entire year. Momentum is a skilled trades program exploring automotive,
construction, manufacturing, and transportation, including aviation. There's some classes to take online to try something new, add flexibility to your schedule, or get ahead. >> Wherever you are academically, you can go further here. At MHS, we're all a family. We're all skippers and we're all
in this together. Reach out to your classmates, your teachers, and you will not be disappointed. >> Every morning before school, you can get help from teachers. >> Visit the writing center and meet with a writing coach. Anchor time is built into the schedule and gives you more time with your teacher. >> We're an iPad district. You can use
Schooly to connect with your teachers and upload homework. Take note of Notability. There are dozens of tools at your fingertips. >> Get a group together and pick a spot to collaborate. >> We have collaborative areas like the port, the lock, the South Bay, and more. Outside of the classroom, join our
world's theater program. >> Check out our choir selections, band, dad van, orchestra, kid orchestra. >> We have visual art classes, IB arts, fashion design, and more. Athletics. We have some of the top athletics teams in the state. We have a large variety of
sports and club sports and worldclass facilities to play in. >> Check out Einer Anderson Field, Veterans Field, and Pegle Ice. >> And the fourth A, activities. This is where you'll find your community and friends here at Man. >> As a freshman, I wish I would have known
uh how many opportunities are here at the high school. >> There are dozens of clubs to join. Fencing, Earth Club, robotics, way too many to name. >> And if you don't find a club for your interest, you can start your own. I like aviation so much I'm starting an aviation club right here.
>> Minnetonka is Minnetonka because of the community we have. Every event we have school comes together whether that's homecoming, heart week, cultural affair. There's so many activities at Minnetonka to be a skipper to be part of our community.
>> Your own path skipper. >> Welcome Minnetanka High School. Welcome to Minnitankka High School. >> Welcome to Minnetonka High School. We're happy to have you here. All right, good evening and welcome. We're happy to have you here tonight to talk about the experience and looking at course options for next year. So the
good news about this event, it is being recorded and so if you want to come back to it and look at some of the requirements, you can do so. I think it's always a good reminder as we look at our school community that we talk about three goals. Making sure students have a strong sense of belonging, looking at engagement, making sure students are learning in a in a curious
way, critical thinking, authentic learning, and collaboration. And the last piece that ties in tonight, one of our goals is helping students find their passion. You can see on the screen that we're a school of opportunities. We're proud of all the opportunities that exist under one roof and how do we help students take advantage of those opportunities. So tonight is really
around the academics. As you look at the screen, the 4A, the academic program that we have as a school and what are those opportunities that students have and each year as they get through the system, there are just more and more doors that open. A few nights ago, we met with the incoming class of 2030, our incoming ninth graders, and they're
there a lot of opportunities, but still not as many as they have in their 10th grade year, 11th grade year. And then each year, again, there more and more opportunities. And we continue to add opportunities at our school. So those are the three goals, relationships, really making sure we have high quality instruction, engagement, and right now
helping students find their passion. Our formula for success that we look at is strong relationships, instruction. Those two pieces combined, the end between relationships and instruction equals our goal is making sure students are successful, respectful, curious,
happy, and engaged students. What is your passion? One of the amazing things about our school is all the opportunities that exist under one roof. Now, granted, we have a another building next to Clear Spring, so the roof is quite extensive, but it is all under one roof, and students can take advantage of
those opportunities. And so each year we add new opportunities and our hope is students find their passion. We work hard to make a big school small. It happens through all the different communities that exist within our school and know the opportunities. So tonight we're going to talk about what some of those passion opportunities are within
our school. Setting your course. So your student is finishing uh right now halfway through their 9th, 10th or 11th grade year and to start thinking about what that course looks like for next year. And our registration process is extensive. you know, you will not be finalizing
registration till President's Day weekend. So, over the next several weeks, there are lots of opportunities for students to look at the look at what might be their path. And I always remind students that the only wrong course for them is if they don't take what they want, if they're just taking what their friends are choosing, sitting down and
spending some time with the skipper log, uh, looking at all the videos that we have for opportunities, and we'll talk about some of the events. So, tonight the purpose is giving you an overview of the credits. I've got department chair and lead counselor Amanda Wavern who's going to walk through some of the credit parts and we'll talk about all the
opportunities and programs that we have within the school. We are a school of opportunities. You heard in the video our our focus on the 4A looking at a strong culture, strong student support, but every year we continue to look at different logos that are part of our experience. One of the
pieces of which I'm I'm really proud of our school is the fact that we are a comprehensive high school that works to make sure each student finds an opportunity within our within our school and finds a way to excel and find their passion and to meet students where they're at. So you look at the screen, there's just so many opportunities and
tonight we're going to walk through those opportunities. And the exciting part is that students, you will be looking at these opportunities right now because many of these doors are open during your 10th, 11th, and of course 12th grade year. What are your graduation goals? So, I'm
going to move from the camera and our counselor Amanda Wavern is going to walk through the opportunities, the credits. There's a lot of information on the screen and I just encourage you that we'll be sending this out afterwards to look through the website and to spend that time figuring out what are the goals and what are the courses that are
going to help meet your goals. So, I'm going to slide out and let Ma Wvern take over. >> All right. Good evening everyone. Hope you're at home and warm for the next couple days. Um, so I'm here, like Mr. Ericen said, we really are the school of opportunity and I'm here just to walk
through how we can u meet your child's gradu uh goals and and have them experience all these opportunities while also meeting um their requirements for graduation, which is very important. So, I also want to highlight um for our students that counselors will be meeting
with all of you coming up here for your registration seminar. So, that's where you will get get to meet with your own counselor um and talk through all this as well. So, just to highlight um on Friday, January 30th, we'll be meeting with the class of 2028, so our current
10th graders. On Monday, February 2nd, um we'll meet with the class of 2027, our current 11th graders. And on Friday, February 6th, class of 2029, our current 9th graders. I also want to just note um on this slide too, as for a class of
2027, I'm sure as you're entering this registration season, you're kind of thinking, okay, I have to make sure I have everything I need to meet that graduation um at the end of that year. And don't worry, all counselors will meet individually with their juniors
this spring. So after the registration process closes, we meet with our juniors and we double check with them that they have all the requirements for graduation, which I hope is um will take some anxiety off your student and you as the parent. We will make sure they are ready to go going into their senior
year. All right. So for many of um students and parents, you've probably recognized this slide and and probably know a lot of this, but just want to cover again that required coursework for graduation. So to graduate from Minnitanka High School, all students will take four
credits of English. Math and science, the minimum requirement is three credits. Um although many many of our students will take a fourth year of both math and science. And then social studies, we need the three three and a
half credits for graduation. On the screen, you're going to note um forward that there are some different requirements um for different classes coming through here. So, if you're a parent who has a rising ninth grader and maybe a junior, u you're going to get to
know some different requirements throughout the process. But don't worry, we're here to help you navigate that. So, for our class of um 2027, you have to end with 22 1/2 credits. And our class of 2028 and 2029, you will end
with a minimum of 23 and 1/2 credits. um you know with the amount of opportunities we have here, students are are usually taking much more than the minimum um total required credits. On top of those four core classes, we
also have um students need a one credit um required before graduation of art. So that's 2.5 classes um to equal that one credit. or maybe you took uh an entire year of choir, orchestra or band that also would have met your art
requirement. This slide also highlights that there are classes that will count towards the art credit that are outside of the art or music department. So, family consumer science has interior design. Um, theater is in our English
department. There's airbrush and technology. So, there's lots of options for your student to meet this requirement. Um this is the first slide with this orange circle and the blue sailboat. This represents um classes that can be taken as Tonka online. So if
you are a rising 10th grader, you have the opportunity and maybe you did in the past, you have the opportunity to take an online class over the summer. If you are a rising junior or senior, you can even take an online class as part of your sixth period day. So counselors
will talk more about that in seminar and um that is an option for our students. This um slide I just want to highlight um that on our art uh web page you can the red arrow is pointing to the arts
credit that um PDF will tell you every class we offer at Minnitankka that does count as the art credit. So, if you're someone who is wanting to finish up that art credit, uh this would be a good place to double check that. And also in the skipper log, um under
every class, if it does come for art, it will be highlighted in the credits section. So, you can see the red circle around credits for graphic arts. This is a class within our teched department, but it does count for 0.5 credit of art.
So, just to help you to navigate the skipper log um when trying to understand what things count for what. All right. All of our students will also need to earn one credit um of uh physical education. So, our physical
education classes, they either have a fitness focus or a wellness focus. And in our skipper log, when you're researching your classes, the title of the PE class will be uh listed and then after it there will be the letter A or
the letter B. Students need to take one of each of those uh an A class and a B class to meet the requirement for graduation. Many of you have maybe already taken a Tonka online class through physic uh with physical education. So maybe you took uh Tonka
online fitness A or Tonka online wellness B. Um that's also an option for students if they would like to complete their PE credit that way. Health. So health is embedded and what that means is we will put health on
everyone's schedules at the beginning of the school year. So students never need to worry about registering for health. We will make sure that's on your schedule. you take health all four years and you will get the 0.5 credit you need for graduation. All right. So, right now I'm going to
highlight a requirement for the class of 2028. Um, your class will need a 0.5 credit of personal finance. You are now rising 10th graders. So, you are now eligible to take that credit. You have to take it
between 10th and 12th grade. So this coming year you're eligible to do that. We also are going to offer a few options um Tonka online over the summer. The uh the list of classes you see on the screen here are the three classes right
now that will count towards the personal finance requirement. So you can take independent living which is under our family and consumer science department, personal finance management um under our business department and we are offering
a AP business principles with personal um finance class uh starting next year also in our business department. That class will be one credit. So that is a fullear class if you are thinking of building that into your schedule.
All right. Now, I'm um highlighting some requirements for the class of 2028. Um you along you also will need the personal finance management um credit. So, I went over that. Um on top of that, you will also need half a credit of
civics. You will take this in either 11th or 12th grade. All right. So after those core classes, then we're starting to um complete our elective credits. So we're going to go over a few of those. Um this side is
just to highlight that elective credit can be found in all different departments. We do not on the skipper log have a you know um a a tab that says electives. You're going to be going into each of these departments to look for different classes that you're interested
in. Here's um just an example on the skipper log. The red arrow when you go onto our skipper log um the red in uh arrow is showing you on the right hand side is the list of all the different departments. And that's where you'll click in to find descriptions of the
class, the course number, um what grade you need to be in to be eligible, and any other important information. I just wanted to highlight too. So, our registration website is very helpful during this process because we know there's a lot of information. So, the
top arrow is how I got here. I went um so if you go to our high school website, student life, then you can go to registration that will bring you to this page. It has um all the listings of all the events coming up. The second arrow down is the grade level planning guide.
So, if you click on your grade level, you will be walked through um all the core classes that you'll have to pick and then a reminder of the graduation requirements, which is also the third arrow on the screen. Um if you click on graduation requirements, it will go over
everything I have been talking about as well. Um I should note too on the planning guide part there is a individual video by one of the counselors walking through the the different options as well. So lots of resources online if this is something
you want to do research on um you know before seminar or as we lead up into uh the open the window opening for Skyward and registering. All right. So, another um program and elective that I want to talk about is
just that world language. Um if you're in immersion, I really encourage you to continue in your um immersion track. Um students that are also in other world language classes. So, if you're in Spanish 2 or three and you want to keep moving forward in that as well, we
really encourage that. World language is not required for graduation, but it it holds so much value. And one very important thing as well is that often for college admission you do need a minimum of two years of a world
language. Um they want it in the same language and if you have room in your schedule they want you to take world language as long as possible. So for our immersion students this um graphic and this uh flowchart is on the
website. So, for sure talk to your Spanish teacher, check in with them about where they see um you heading to next. There's lots of options depending on where you're at right now. Chinese immersion, same pathway obviously, just different um target
language. So, definitely check in with your teacher about that. Um advanced placement. So, uh, many of you have maybe already taken an advanced placement class, but, um, this is a college level class where you get to
take it with the support of a high school student or high school teacher, excuse me. Um, and it's just a great opportunity for you to learn the skills and get be successful in a college level course before going off to um to
university or college in in the future. IB is also college level. AP and IB are more similar than they are different. Um, but just another great opportunity for you to um have that rigor in your schedule and just really challenge
yourself in a maybe subject area that you're really passionate about. IB opens up for 11th and 12th graders. So, if you're a rising 11th or 12th grader, um this would be a great opportunity for you to check out
So, um, for my rising juniors, um, an opportunity that will be presented to you this year or next year is to do the full IB diploma program. Um, this is an oper awesome opportunity that aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and
caring young people who help to create a better and more respectful world through intercultural understanding and respect. Um so IB when you do the full program there is a very prescribed um schedule that you need to do for junior and senior year. So you'll note
at the bottom there um if you're class of 2028 and you are if you're interested in learning more about the IB diploma program and what your schedule could look like, you can schedule an appointment with Miss Herpst who is our AP and IB coordinator and you can find
her in the counseling office. So you come come on right down and meet with Tyler at that first desk and he will help schedule appointment for you. Even if you want to meet with her and talk through the program, that does not lock you into it. It's just you gathering more information. So we encourage you to
check it out. If you are a rising senior and you just want to try an IB um class, there are tons of options where you can just take IB classes and not be in the full diploma program. So definitely check those out.
Okay, next we are going to just to highlight IB a little bit more because it's so wonderful. We are going to watch a video here. So, I'm going to go off camera and then show the video. ID is just fit for everyone. So, there's a way that you can connect to everything that's going on in class. IB is fun
because it puts you in a whole bunch of new situations and that helps you to really grow as a person. I think I found a little bit about myself that I'm someone who likes to think about things in a very organized way. I think Ivy has really helped a lot with teaching myself how I like to learn. >> I've become better at time management.
I've also become a lot better writer because that is critical if you're going to do IB. >> The class structure is a little bit different. The content's a lot deeper. Um, you don't kind of skim over stuff. You really go in depth on each thing. >> I was actually really surprised to find out how eye opening discussions can be. They can sound intimidating at first,
but they really help to broaden your perspectives and deepen your understanding. >> In IB, I have found a group of open-minded critical thinkers. We do a lot of discussions and it's really interesting to hear others points of views. >> Biggest part of it is the group of people that I'm with. I think my friends
make it really fun every day. >> So, um, great video highlighting all the wonderful parts of IB. So on this la on this slide here, 82% of students at the high school um take an AP or IB class to
prepare for college. So counselors are constantly working with students and teachers are encouraging as well. Um you know, just to challenge challenge yourself in areas of interest and that you have a lot of strength in. Um it's it's very helpful to try one of these
before going to college. Um the next thing that's going to come up on the slide here is the pass rate. So 86% of students um who take the IB exam at the end of the year and 88% of students who take the AP exam at the end of the year
pass. So they have they have earned the potential to um earn college credit which is great. What these numbers really tell us is that students are challenging themselves. Our teachers are amazing and and really supporting them through the process. And then our students are doing really well in these
classes. All right, I'm going to bring Mr. Ericson back to talk um a little bit about some more programs. >> All right, so we're going to talk a little bit about Tonk online. Many of you are already familiar with Tonk online. We have many classes that
students are able to take during their four years. And one of the great things about our program, your schedule, your space. Uh what distinguishes Tonk online from courses is the fact that they're taught by Minnetonka teachers that are experienced in online and education as well as traditional education, fully
accredited that flexibly allow students to engage with courses on their schedule, maximize their time, do more and also take courses that are challenging. Every summer we have around a thousand students that take Tonka online classes to accelerate their learning and to
provide more flexibility during their upcoming school year. So great opportunity to look at all the ways through Tonka online. On the screen you see a list of the new courses and so uh they're all listed here and they're also listed in the skipper logs. You can see each year we add new courses that help students find
their passion. So, a number of new AP courses. So, listed on the screen here, new classes. And again, I'll share this list with you in our email. One of our hopes for students before they graduate is how they might take advantage of all the experiential learning opportunities at MHS. So, on
the screen, you see just many words. And so, uh, I'm not going to read all the words. I just want to highlight why we look at experiential learning as a great opportunity for students. Bottom line with with our programs such as Vantage, Momentum Research, it allows students to apply their their learning in a real
world situation and that part of engagement is pretty remarkable. It helps students develop their skills. You the bottom part of the screen help develop their power skills such as communication, collaboration, leadership, problem solving. We've seen students transformed in their confidence based on the courses that they've taken.
Expand options beyond MHS. There are classes that have certifications such as the CNA class within health sciences, advantage, API, that real world setting. And that last piece is connecting students with the broader community. For example, within
Vantage, each student has a onetoone mentor. So this year we have about 620 students in the Vantage program. Each one of those students has a onetoone mentor. Bottom line within these programs, students take their learning into a real world situation, site visits and and really ways that help students
have the highest levels of engagement through these different programs. Back to the slide that you see often the school of opportunities. So, I'm going to highlight a few of the programs tonight. There are so many videos on the website. I'm going to highlight some brief ones this evening. Also on social media, I'll be posting the next few
weeks different testimonials from students about those opportunities. And so, we'll talk about that as well. But just on the Instagram account, you can see some of those videos. 20 seconds that really get students to share in their voice why they like these opportunities. So, Momentum, Vantage,
Project Lead the Way, Minnetaka Research are all part of our school of opportunities in the area of experiential learning. Momentum is hands-on learning. Aviation, automotive, construction systems available in the four grade levels. And I'm going to highlight a little bit of
the different pathways. One that we're really continue to be excited about in his third year is the aviation path pathway. And you can see the classes that are listed here. Intro to aviation, drones, power and energy. If you're continuing aviation, uh you look at how we bundle the class,
the two classes of world history, and also flight instruction. And then the second year uh that we're now implementing for the first time this year which is flight training and global commerce which is meteorology and also uh your flight school and econ. And then
brand new for next year within the aviation pathway is aircraft maintenance. If you're looking at all the career opportunities within the airline industry, aircraft maintenance is one of the highest demand areas, which is the airframe power plant certificate credit, and it's also paired
with higher I'm sorry, pair paired with applied math. So, it's the aircraft maintenance class in the applied math, a two-hour course that is new next year. So, to give you a brief overview of the of the aviation program, here is a one
minute video all about aviation at MHS. When I went on the first field trip and we got to fly a legitimate plane, it made that kind of just sound like something that I really want to do. >> When you start aviation here at Manitaka High School, we're going to get you in a flight simulator, teach you how to fly
in flight simulators, which will eventually take you into an actual airplane at the airport. >> You're flying. >> I got to take off and then I got to fly in the air. I learned how to stay at altitude. I feel like every night I go home to my parents and I get to talk to them about my aviation class. It's so
much fun. I hope to be an airline pilot for one of the major air airlines like Delta or Fun Country, something like that. >> We've flown real planes. We've made hot air balloons. We've made paper planes. We've done a bunch of simulator work simulating what it's like to be in a plane. It's really fun. I expected it to
be more superficial, but we really get into the nitty-gritty of what it's like to be a pilot and what it's like to be a worker in the field. It worked out really well. I mean, the teacher's awesome. >> I definitely want to get more into aviation. I did before, but now even more so. We go through a lot of stuff
that you had learned to get your private pilot's license. We spent a lot of time doing drones. >> Kind of learned a little bit about aerodynamics, like the insides of the airport and like how it all works. It's actually kind of cool. >> If you want to become a pilot or get into the aviation industry, this was a
class that you absolutely should take. If you just have an interest in airplanes, I really think you should take this class because it might just change your mind. This truly is a one-of-a-kind class. It's truly something amazing. So you'll see all the information related to aviation. Also excited about
the automotive pathway. And so you can see on the screen steering and suspension, braking system, electrical systems. We have our own auto bay, four uh four locations, I'm sorry, one location at the high school. So students could pursue their automotive interests. anything from you want to continue and
find a career in the automotive world or you just simply want to understand your car better. We have all this right on campus within the automotive program. And to give you a brief overview what that looks like, here is a short video. >> I'm really interested in working on my
own truck and wanted better knowledge on how to do a natural brake job >> because I wanted to learn about cars and I want to work on them on my own instead of having to always go to a shop or something. learning what different engines are, what different tools we need. I wasn't really sure in the
beginning of kind of what it was all about. Kind of different from traditional high school classes and kind of has broadened my views >> and being able to do everything by ourselves with the instructor just helping around when we need it. >> Apply what I'm going to teach you whether you're going to be doing this as
a professional or whether you're just doing it to work on your own vehicle and maintain it and save yourself some money. be learning about cars in lecture and in lab, but we will also be having industry experts come in and do presentations. >> I found that I could do a full brake job front and rear. Now,
>> I work on my car with my dad all the time and I don't I don't want to sit there the whole time just holding the light. >> Great quote at the end of that movie. Uh so now a little bit more about our construction systems. So this within momentum has two specific uh strands,
math in home renovation and physics and home renovation. One of the keys to all of our classes within their advantage momentum programs is the fact that they're taught several courses in an interdisiplinary way and they're bundled together. So for example, within the math of home renovation, you have
applied math and home renovation. So they're earning a graduation requirement plus an elective credit. uh highlight of math. One of the things they build now we're getting our third ice castle. Um and that is something that uh is like a home on the lake and they've complete
this large process you can see in the screen here within the physics of home renovation. They're building sheds and so those get sold in the community uh through the construction system. So a lot of companies you can see in the screen here and opportunity students to have to apply their learning within the
construction systems. And as well, we'll give you a brief overview of that program in this one minute video. >> I signed up for this course mainly for the hands-on experience and the real world applications. It opens up the trade possibilities for apprenticeships and mentorships. >> It's making me consider whether I want
to go to college or go into the trades where as before I only wanted to go into college. >> A lot of the assignments aren't like paper and a lot more like skill-based keeps me like better engaged. Everything we do is we learn about it then we go do it. The the difference between this and
wood shop your small make a birdhouse cutting boards things like that. In here we build this is more construction. So students can choose between taking the math and home renovation class or you can take the physics in home renovation class. >> Build something and then we'll try to work on the mathematics behind it. The
teachers put a lot of effort to showing how everything would connect to like real world experiences and real jobs and college and like future opportunities. >> From all the site visits like I learned how I can get into the trades, what it would look like when I'm trying to get into the trades. There's other options
besides the four-year college. You can be extremely successful. You can make a very good living and have a long career doing something that you love. Again, that last quote about finding something that you love. That's our hope for students finding their passion and all the different opportunities. Project
lead the way is of course within the high school that empowers students with hands-on experience, teaching the design process, very advanced software usage with design work, real world projects, collaborative learning, and the emphasis on innovation. So, creating models. You can see on the screen a little bit about
project lead the way. Minnetonka research is on the second floor of the building. You can see this is available for 10, 11th and 12th graders. This is having students apply uh an area of interest. So authentic research driven by the students own question. This class is as much as about
the process of learning and doing the scientific research as much as their the product. And this is really for students who have passion for independent work. If you were to stop by a classroom, you would see 15 different projects happening in all areas. And it's not just the traditional science within the
research world. And it's for students who have already completed an AP or IB coursework. Um you can see this graphic on the screen that students are able to select and design projects and work within a diverse set of fields. So it's pretty broad. If you look at all the different areas, the humanities, brain
research. Um, if you're not sure about research, all you need to do is come to the uh event in May, the symposium where students are in the commons showcasing all the things that are happening and all their research. And we have a one minute video to tell you all about
Minnetonka Research. Minnotonka Research is a program where students can take a 1-hour class out of their school day to pursue things that they're interested in. You can choose what kind of research project you would like to do and then work on it throughout the rest of the year. >> My project is exploring how extrinsic
motivation can help athletes push past their limits and really find that next level in their competition. My project is about making deep learning models that can learn other languages other than English. >> Looking at cancer cells and their methylation changes. you're just trying
to find your passion, things that you're just trying to, you know, step your foot in and just test the waters with it. I would suggest taking men research. >> So many kids get to explore their passions and it's just not structured like a regular class. There's something for everyone. You get to be around a bunch of people learning about their own
projects and you can ask them questions about stuff you really never knew nothing about. >> Just being here to like look at these cells like they're right in front of me is pretty cool and like being able to do all that stuff myself like culturing and passaging. I love Minnatonka research because it's a very open-ended class and I get to choose my own schedule.
>> What we're looking for is that students are moving through the process of research. It is not geared towards making sure that they have expected results. This is a great way for them to explore what it means to be in that field answering questions in that world. Any kind of project that you want to do,
you can do that and make it possible at market research. It's really what you decide to make of it. So all within a minute research on the second floor Vantage which is off of uh on 101 right next to Clear Springs. Uh
this is in his 13th year uh as a program started with one strand and 38 students now uh with over 620 students where students are d diving into real world projects onetoone mentor guest instructors site visits projects that they're working on in a variety of
areas. And so you can see on the screen, one moment. Uh oops. I'm going to show you the video first, then all the different opportunities. This is a pretty cool video about what is Vantage. Uh what makes it cool from my perspective is it's all done by students that are all
part of the multimedia communications course and it is a great summary of what is Vantage. The students produced this last year. Welcome to Vantage, Minnetonka's projectbased learning program. >> We're not passive learners at Vantage,
where active learners that solve real world problems for partners. >> One of the coolest things about Vantage is the guest instruction. We learn from a professional from few. For example, if you're enrolled in Vantage Fashion, you'll hear from a local fashion designer.
My mentor has been a huge help. I meet with her once a month to discuss my future company projects and advice on professional development. >> I job found an orthopedic surgeon. Now I know that's the field I want to study. >> My team is working with a local startup
to develop a new marketing strategy. >> We're working with a school we found to make it more sustainable. >> Manage has truly transformed me. I'm now more confident, knowledgeable, and prepared for the future. again produced by our Vantage students. I'm gonna keep rolling here and all the
strands you see on the screen. And so uh if when you receive this video or right now you could take your camera and click on one of the QR codes that'll walk you through all the different strands that we have and they are wide variety. This year we launched fashion vantage fashion
a great opportunity for students. So, all the different programs that we have all at the campus right next to Clear Springs. With that, uh, we're going to talk a little bit about launch, which is a way for students to, uh, think about preparation for courses and have have
some support. So, there's a workshop that happens on August 19th of 2026, next summer, focusing on time management, organization, study skills, and habits. We want students to challenge themselves. We also believe in providing high levels of support and this is just one way students can kick off their year with some additional
support as they look at all the opportunities for the following year. Capstone is an experience for seniors. It is at the end of their senior year and it's again a smaller version of experiential learning. Uh seniors will learn about this while current seniors are learning about it right now but it's
uh it's not a course that they register for. It's just a different way they end their senior year. I'm going to bring back uh counselor Amanda Wubber and talk a little about the whole student. Uh we are committed to supporting the whole student and I always remind families that we have 12 amazing counselors and I always think
important note is that there are counselors available every hour of the day. We have drop-in counselors so students can come in any hour of the day for anything they might need. And right now um you're going to hear a little bit about how counselors work with your students as we support the whole student. So I'm going to step away
again. All right, I'm back. So, like Mr. Ericen said, there are 12 um counselors here at the high school and hopefully many um of you we've already been able to work with you. Um we've been working with your
students all year, all counselors in the fall, met individually with their seniors, help them through the post-secary process. Currently, counselors just ended um their 9th grade meetings. So, we've met with all of our freshmen in individual meetings, which
have been really helpful to just get to know them and make sure that they're feeling supported their first semester of high school. Um on the screen too, you can also see that uh I mentioned Laura Herps before. She's our API coordinator. Norma Gutierrez is our post
secondary counselor. So, especially for rising juniors and rising seniors, um I always encourage my students to um get to know Miss Gutierrez, make an appointment with her. Families, you are welcome to reach out to her as well. She's a wonderful resource here at the
high school. We also have two achievement specialists which are um they're wonderful helping support students and then our four school psychologists. So, for many of you, this graphic is probably familiar. So, this is just a
really great way, a really nice snapshot of all the supports that the counselors provide students here at the high school. We really are that starting point for support. Um, we love getting to know your student as they um navigate through high school. Um, it's really fun
just to um share all their experiences and hear their stories and really get to know them. We really focus on our number one goal is to be that trusted adult for them. We support students in many different ways. So with social emotional support, we connect them to resources,
maybe as small as helping them find where the academic anchor signup is on the hub to providing them with some resources or to you as a family maybe some um higher level mental health support in the community. We do academic planning which is very much highlighted
tonight with registration. And then um each year and as they get closer to graduating, we really focus on that college and career planning. Um so here to just support the whole student. Um this slide is just again a reminder
that the skipper log is your go-to place during registration to do your research and get all your information. Um so if you just go into Google and type in skipper log, it's the first one that first thing that pops up.
Um, I highlighted this already. Just um important places to check if you want um things to count for art and just our registration planning worksheets. All right, I'm going to bring Mr. Ericson back to end the night and talk about some great chances for you to come
to the high school and learn more about all these opportunities. All right. So, as you receive the principal's update on Sundays, you've seen this uh the advertisement for experience Minnatonka. So, if you're a current uh if you're a parent of a current ninth grader, you went to this
event uh about a year ago. And our big push for students really is this is an event for all grades and in particular for current students who are watching tonight's seminar uh or webinar rather. Uh this is a chance where you can learn about the Vantage program, Momentum, our
fax program, our music program, art, all the different things we have as a school in one night. So while this many times gets highly attended by current eighth graders, it is also designed and encouraged for our current 9th through 11th graders to come on site in one
night, see everything. So all the academic opportunities at MHS department presentations Q&A for all grades and we'll continue to promote that in our upcoming communication also during experience similar to experience Minnetonka there will be some
sessions during anchor time so February 3rd 4th and 5th and students will learn about this on the morning show and they'll be located in the hub how to sign up for these sessions is really making sure students have that opportunity during the school day to learn about the different programs. So
there'll be sessions offered during anchor time and then the moment of registration. Again, students register through Skyward, through student access, not through parent access. They will register for their classes. And it is February 10th through the 17th. And I
remind families that that does not mean on February 10th you need to be up at 12:01 a.m. to register for classes. It is not first come, first serve. We look at the registration once it closes and make staffing decisions based on what students request, making sure we honor student requests. There will be a check
in math classes on February 17th so students can make sure that they've got all their information ready to go. Uh counselors, there will have some uh sessions during anchor time as well. That'll be announced. And also in my principal update on Sunday of last week or Monday rather, there was a lot of
details about how counselors will be working with students. If you're a parent of a of a current 11th grader, this is what's in the future for their senior as they walk across the stage at US Bank. And our goal is for students to find their passion during their four years. We
talked a lot about tonight about the relationship piece, the exceptional instruction and engagement. Uh there's not a high school that I'm aware of that has all these opportunities under one roof. And I sometimes encourage families and students, take your time to look at all those opportunities and choose
what's right for you. Our goal is each student figures out the schedule that they like, that they're excited about, and that meets their needs because each student has an individual story and hope and dream of what they want to do at our high school. So, our goal is to meet that, meet the student where they're at, support them, encourage them to try new
things and all the opportunities that we have at the high school because those four years go by quickly. And as these seniors last year uh joyfully walk across the stage and celebrate their accomplishments, it is our hope for every student to have that positive experience at our high school. So, uh, students, if you're watching this
tonight, you learned today that you have a cold day tomorrow. What a great activity to look through all the opportunities you have at Manitonka High School. Take advantage of that time. I want to put one more plug in as I close tonight, January 29th, 5:30, 8:00, experience Manitonka. The entire campus,
main campus is open and all the opportunities under one roof. So, a lot of information we share tonight. That's why there's several weeks to make those choices and to learn about the school of opportunities. Reach out to me with questions to your students counselor. Students, reach out to the resources. Talk to your teachers. Ask them for
advice and guidance as you make the decisions for the upcoming year. Hope you have a great students. Have a great four-day weekend. We'll see you on Tuesday. Families, thank you for your support and your time this evening. We'll be sharing this link as well through email. Have a great night and a great long weekend. Thank you.