In the news

Students earn $541.30 for Kids with Cancer

2012-02-21T06:22:00.000-08:00

Pennies for Patients

One goal we have at the ALC is to provide opportunities for community involvement projects each term. Last term, Grading Period Five January, 3rd to February 3^rd, found our students involved in the Pennies for Patients fund raiser sponsored by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The students at the St. Croix Valley ALC generated $541.30 in 5 weeks. :) Way to go students!!

In addition to our students' support, the First State Bank and Trust of Bayport provided the donated service of counting our change and converted the amount to a check for us. This service was made available by a bank employee who is also one of our parents.

To learn more about Pennies for Patients please click on the link below. http://www.schoolandyouth.org/school/Controller?action=loadContent&itemid=91060

Congratulations SAM THOMPSON

2012-02-21T06:09:00.000-08:00

Northest Metro 916 Honors ALC student Sam Thompson

NE Metro 916 Student of the Month

Sam Thompson was honored in December by his Auto Technology instructor as Student of the Month. This award is characterized by students that exhibit good work behaviors, responsibility, regular attendance, as well as being engaged in learning and helping others. Sam attends 916 Career and Technical Center in the morning and the ALC in the afternoon. Congratulations Sam!!

Classroom Partnership Program

2012-01-08T17:37:00.000-08:00

The St. Croix Valley Area Learning Center (ALC) is committed to finding alternative ways for students to make connections to a greater community. As part of this commitment, over the past few years students at the ALC have had a unique opportunity to mentor elementary students across the area – and in turn the elementary students have had great opportunities to learn and grow as well.

Currently three ALC students are working as interns for the Classroom Partnership Program. This program is a collaborative initiative funded through the Minnesota desegregation rule and implemented through the East Metro Integration District. The goal of the classroom partnerships is “to provide and promote integrated opportunities for students, families and staff that support academic achievement and expand cultural understanding.”

ALC students Coner Patterson, Paulino Debuque, and Kelly Fossum have been selected as student interns this year. Once selected to participate, they made a commitment to work directly with teachers and students in the classroom.

Below each student provides personal insight into the impact the program has made.

Paulino
“My part as an intern teacher is to look after the kids, helping them with the activities and help the teachers prepare before the kids arrive at the venue. The teacher would lead the first session and I would observe, then the next session I would do some part of the teaching or lead an activity. As an adult I should be an example to younger kids. If the kids would think of giving up, I would motivate them to finish it and they would. It’s a fun experience to help kids because you know you’re helping that kid learn how to be persistent and I’m learning to be patient myself.”

Coner

One benefit of the program is “when students were paired up in their friendship groups, and you can just tell that they’re not liking each other, but when they learn about something and then put it to use while having to work together, you can just see the connection start, and by the end of it they’re nearly inseparable. One moment that illustrates this was when two students literally got off on the wrong foot after one accidentally hit the other in the face with his musical instrument. But, after lights and lasers (the activity), where they had to really work together to meet the goal of getting the laser to bounce off all three mirrors, they were the best of pals.”

Kelly

“I have seen kids from the groups actually take something away from each partnership. …The kids will always bring up how a lesson from a previous partnership relates to the one that they are currently working on. I have also seen kids get a much better understanding of how they learn and what they are interested in learning about which allows the teachers in the partnerships to shape their teaching strategy to fit each individual student. The partnerships have been a huge learning experience for me both academically and socially. They have given me a sort of behind the scenes look at how the education system works and what kind of characteristics are important in a teacher.”

This program continues to provide a great opportunity for ALC students and helps all students involved learn and grow.

Let's Hear It For Violence Prevention

2011-12-01T06:51:00.000-08:00

Part of the ALC curriculum during the school year is a wonderful collaboration with the Tubman Family Alliance Center. Libby Bottem Violence Prevention Educator works with our students in the classroom setting on topics such as Healthy Relationships and Violence Prevention.

The Tubman organization helps women, children and families struggling with relationship violence, substance abuse and mental health. Throughout the Twin Cities, Tubman provides safe shelter, legal services, counseling, youth programming and community education. Click on the link to learn more about the Tubman Center.

http://www.tubman.org/tubman/
Below are photos of the student groups that participated in the July summer session Violence Prevention MVP (Movement for Violence Prevention) training with Libby Bottem and gained certificates of completion.

WAY TO GO MVP's !!!!

Blog Winners for Grading pd 3

2011-11-15T08:27:00.000-08:00

In the Interactive Media & Design class Kallee Dennis wins the award for creating a wonderful personal blog for her daughter Cheyanne. Kallee posted all the assignments given in class as well as keeping with her personal theme for Cheyanne to someday view. Check her blog out at
http://www.kalleelovescheyanne.blogspot.com/

Heidi Clark loves to work with animals and is taking an Animal Science class at Northeast Metro 916 currently. She wanted to create a blog that expresses her love for animals as well as providing information about specific animals to her readers. Heidi completed all class assignments and kept to her theme throughout her blog. Check her blog out at
http://www.heidi-heidisblogggg.blogspot.com/

THANKSGIVING FEAST

2011-11-08T11:50:00.000-08:00

Let's celebrate our school and all that we are thankful for at the ST. CROIX VALLEY ALC on Wed. Nov. 9th from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Students will be cooking and serving turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, rolls, an a wide variety of side dishes and pies.

Please join us in a celebration of community and academic success that our students are achieving this year.

916 Honors Steve Yang

2011-10-28T11:23:00.000-07:00

Steve Yang

Steve Yang was honored this month by his Auto Technology instructor as Student of the Month. This award is characterized by students that exhibit good work behaviors, responsibility, regular attendance, as well as being engaged in learning and helping others. Steve attends 916 Career and Technical Center in the morning and the ALC in the afternoon. He also works for Fury Motors outside of his school day to put his skills in the classroom to actual use in the career area of Auto Technology. Congratulations Steve!!

The Blog winners are......

2011-10-04T13:20:00.000-07:00

Avery Christenson for most creative design and content her blog on the singer Pink and music has been viewed by people in 3 countries!!! Way to go Avery! Check out her blog at http://guinness101.blogspot.com/2011/09/music.html

Liz Zorn's blog entitled Art As You Live It wins for sticking to a specific theme and providing good content as well as fashion information. Liz also met all the requirements of the class on post topics.
Congratulations Liz!! Check her blog out at
http://artasyouliveit.blogspot.com/

Students remember we still have a lot of GREAT blogs started out in cyberspace and we have time to do SO much more with our blogs. Please see Karla if you would like to learn more and earn credit as you create blogs and maintain them through out the next grading pd. Take the Interactive Media Design class to learn more.

Why Blog?

2011-09-12T07:54:00.000-07:00

In our Interactive Media Design class students are learning how to create and maintain a blog. The following blog post and video link below provide great information on why people should learn how to blog. Plus, it is fun, creative and could possibly lead to supporting you in your future career.

http://www.blogtrafficexchange.com/why-blog-ill-tell-you-why/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN2I1pWXjXI

916 Student Award Winners 2011

2011-05-26T13:19:00.000-07:00


Brady Loberg & Steve Yang

Northeast Metro 916 held their annual awards ceremony on Thursday, May 26th and the ALC had two Outstanding Student Award winners. Brady Loberg is in the Auto Dismantling class and Steve Yang is in the Auto Technology class. Both young men are planning to attend Northeast Metro 916 again next year as seniors. CONGRATULATIONS!

Garden Shed Construction

2011-05-26T13:06:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, May 26th, 14 ALC students took a construction field trip to Retail Construction Services to work on the Giving Garden shed. These students split into groups to work under the direction of Mike, Mary, and Ben. Mary led a crew installing the walls studs. Ben's team did rafters and began to put in the old doors that will serve as the exterior walls. Mike and his helpers laid out and secured the floor joists. When we had to depart in order to catch the end of the session buses, the floor was ready for the plywood, and five of the old wooden doors had been installed.

Planting Day 2011

2011-05-24T13:04:00.000-07:00

Students from the St. Croix Valley ALC joined forces with workers from UPS (United Parcel Service) and RCS (Retail Construction Services) on Tuesday, May 24^th to plant the 2011 rendition of the Giving Garden. The 6,000 square feet of bare black tilled soil was transformed into rows of small green transplants and fresh seeds that are ready to germinate. Following a garden planning session held a couple of months ago at the ALC, Joni of RCS created a colorful map of the garden including both vegetable names as well as colorful icons depicting the produce that will eventually be harvested from each row. Throughout the morning, you would see two or three of the gardeners pause to seek the directions of the diagram before beginning their next task. The ALC students split into small groups and worked with employees from RCS and UPS setting tomato and pepper plants into freshly dug holes, scattering the tiny carrot seeds, and carefully spacing the seeds of corn, peas, and beans. Others helped lay out the rows with string and metal posts. Another group created evenly spaced mounds in which they transplanted a variety of squash and pumpkins. As the earlier tasks were completed the students and their fellow gardeners shifted over to tasks such as planting lettuce, spinach, broccoli, potatoes, and brussel sprouts. The ALC students had an enjoyable and productive morning in outdoors. It will be very rewarding to watch today's efforts turn into produce that will help feed families within the St. Croix Valley.

1st Annual Health Fair

2011-05-23T08:38:00.000-07:00

Students had a great time participating in the 1st Annual Health Fair. 18 different vendors were at the Fair interacting with students by asking questions related to individual booths. Not only were students asking questions they were learning about community services available to them outside of the ALC. We would like to THANK each of the community vendors for attending our Health Fair and hope they will comeback next year as well.

St. Croix Dermatology
The River Valley Market
Holistic Touch
St. Croix Ortho
Lakeview Health
The Big Woods Club Outdoor Recreation for Urban Communities
The Emily Program
Portico Healthnet
Project Life
Tubman Violence Prevention
Institute for exercise medicine and prevention
Wellness Center
The American Red Cross
Gillettee Childrens specialty Healthcare
Know the Truth Program
Henry The Outdoor Mentor Club
Chemical Health Prevention
ALC Food Science
Wellness & Longevity Center

Students ask questions of the vendors at the Health Fair

Community Vendors supplied information for students

See more information about the Health Fair at http://www.stillwatergazette.com/articles/2011/05/20/headlines/953sv_052011_alchealthfair.txt

Congratulations to Kennedy Klingbeil

2011-03-25T12:05:00.000-07:00

Part of the ALC curriculum during the school year is a collaboration with the Tubman Family Alliance Center. Tubman comes to the ALC to educate and work with our students on a variety of mental and social health issues. Libby Bottem Violence Prevention Educator works with our students in the a classroom setting on topics such as Healthy Relationships and Violence Prevention.

http://www.tubman.org/tubman/

This year Kennedy Klingbeil attended the classes at the ALC and wanted to do more. Kennedy attended training and classes outside of the ALC to gain a certification in Violence Prevention. She was inspired to do more to help others and make a difference in people's lives. The staff at the ALC are proud of Kennedy compassion for others and willingness to work toward attaining her certification. A job well done Kennedy!

Field Trip to the Guthrie Theater

2010-12-14T11:30:00.000-08:00

On December 1^st, 21 students and 2 ALC staff members attended the play

The 39 Steps at the Guthrie Theater. The play was an adaptation of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 classic film. It was interesting to see how the author of the play and the four talented actors turned the former thriller into a comedy while playing a huge variety of roles. The creativity employed to simulate the parade scene and the trek across the moors was really impressive. One student liked the play so much that she has arranged to bring a friend with her to watch the play again! It runs at the Guthrie through December 19^th J

P90X Rocks

2010-12-02T11:47:00.000-08:00

Tired of working out and doing the same dull routine? Need a change or a challenge? Take the P90X Fitness Course Challenge. Students and staff embarked on a journey of extreme measures with the P90X training. We have committed to 90 days of intense workouts with nothing but sweat, soreness and the challenge that we will all survive the course.

X-Treme participates

The Univ. of Minnesota Extension Nutrition Education Class

2010-10-25T18:36:00.000-07:00

Food Science is a class that Katie Yankovec (Science Teacher) & Karla McLaughlin (PE& Health Teacher) teach throughout the year to educate and inform students about food. We focus on how food is processed, prepared and sold in our country today. Students learn about the importance of making the better food choices for fueling their own bodies daily.

Megan King is a Nutrition Education Assistant with the University of Minnesota Extension Nutrition Education Program in Washington County. She teaches a class weekly with our Food Science students to introduce different ways to prepare foods and cook in a healthy manner. We all enjoy Megan's classes and the ALC is happy to be teaming up to combat teen obesity in our schools. Better choices regarding foods you eat equal feeling better daily. Below are pictures from our first class of the year. What a better way to start your day than with a healthy breakfast!

Preparing pancakes

Monica Harris

Megan King & Connor Mulcahy

The 2nd Annual 3 on 3 Basketball Tourney

2010-10-06T10:23:00.000-07:00

Nate Eldredge & Cory Spaise

Students and staff participated in a 3 on 3 Basketball Tourney. The event is held yearly to build community among the new students joining the ALC in the fall and to improve our overall fitness level. Good sportsmanship, respect for others and teamwork was exhibited by all. Students could participate by playing, refereeing, score keeping, photography and cheering each other on.

Jump Ball Connor & Emily

The morning session teams: Brekke’s Blazzers, Fast-anDa-Furious, Sledge Hammers, Green Blazers, The B Ballers and Ta BoiAZ. The championship game was Fast-anDa-Furious vs Sledge Hammers. Brothers Tyler and Dylan Peltier along with Kou Xiong of the Fast-anDa-Furious were the winners.

Sarah Norheim fuels up for her game

ElChampino's defending champs

In the afternoon session the teams were: The 9ers, PowerPuff Girlz, ElChampino’s, ALC Ballers, The METS, ALC All-Stars, The Salty B’s and Public Enemy. The two time champions Tom Ament, and Cody Schatz teamed up with Zach Murtley to win and defend their title as champs. It was a beautiful day for outdoor basketball and the students made the day enjoyable for all involved.

Tom Wendt & Evan Johnson go 1 on 1

Afternoon action

Morning games


Kou Xiong for 2pts

ALC Fall Graduation Program 2010

2010-10-04T11:29:00.000-07:00

This year, St. Croix Valley ALC provided the opportunity for fifty-seven students to complete their high school graduation requirements and earn a Stillwater Area High School Diploma. Students, staff and families attended the fall graduation program and reception, honoring those students from the Class of 2010. Although students who complete their credits in June have the opportunity to participate in the graduation ceremony at SAHS, many will also come to the ALC program, finding it more personal and meaningful with the students’ advisors making a special presentation of their certificates, and the slide show highlighting their activities and involvement at St. Croix Valley ALC.

Superintendent Tom Nelson welcomed students and their families and shared some of his own story to drive home the importance of graduation as the next step in their learning and education. Teachers Matt Bergquist and Lori Delahunt read excerpts from students’ Graduation Documents. Students who earn a SAHS diploma through St. Croix Valley ALC must complete an in-depth reflection on their educational journey. Students are instructed to give a thorough examination of the significant events and decisions that have influenced their lives up to this point with a specific focus on how these situations have had an impact on their schooling and attitudes regarding their education. Theses documents are reflective, candid and insightful. Below are a few of these examples from “In Our Students’ Words”.

One thing that I can say for this school and what it’s given me is that I’m succeeding here like I never have before, and like I couldn’t believe possible. I feel intelligent when I come here, like I connect with my teachers in a brand new way, as though I am an equal, and that’s nice. I love being treated like a trustworthy adult.

The challenges and struggles I have dealt with have made me a very self reliant individual and have motivated me to pursue higher education in order to create a more stable and secure future for myself.

For my whole school career as early as elementary school, I have been a statistic. I have been one of “those kids.” Constantly distracted, trouble for teachers, and engaging in drama and fights with other students more than working on getting a good education; I was a classic ‘good heart, bad attitude’ student. Looking back, it becomes more and more clear that since 3^rd grade and from then on into the junior high educational system it just didn’t click. It was not until the St. Croix Valley ALC gave me a chance and accepted me into their program that I finally took ownership of my goal to graduate from high school.

These short excerpts are indicative of the growth we see every day of students who come through the ALC program. Everyone who attended this program can appreciate the commitment and work required to successfully complete one’s high school diploma, especially when life has not given our students a smooth path.

Jake Tobin's Community Service Story

2010-09-29T19:10:00.000-07:00

The Giving Garden wrote an article about one of our student's community service efforts. Read more at the Giving Garden website about Jake Tobin from the Stillwater ALC.

Community Service at Valley Outreach Food Shelf

2010-09-29T12:35:00.000-07:00

Students volunteered to assist the Valley Outreach Food Shelf with their yearly inventory for 2010. Eighteen students worked on clearing shelves, counting, weighing and then recording all food inventory before restocking shelves. Teamwork was the theme for the day. Students worked together and, with other Stillwater community volunteers, they accomplished a large task in one day. The Food Shelf staff were very thankful for our students assistance and impressed with the work ethic they exhibited. Teachers Gina Runck and Karla McLaughlin volunteered along with students. We are very proud of our students efforts to assist others in need.

Valley Outreach is a community based, community-supported, non-profit organization serving our St. Croix Valley neighbors in need of food, clothing, household essentials, and emergency financial assistance. The Food Shelf provides food and other necessities. Dawn's Closet provides gently used clothing, accessories, and household essentials at no cost to men, women and children. The Emergency Fund provides emergency financial assistance to help families in crisis.
If you would like to learn more click on the following link.

Fish Hatchery at St. Croix Falls

2010-09-29T12:02:00.000-07:00

On September 28th, students were able to participate in the annual field trip to the DNR Fish Hatchery in St. Croix Falls. The brook and brown trout raised at this facility are ready to spawn each year during the first week of October. For the past ten years, we have been making the trip to watch this event and see how humans and nature interact in an attempt to preserve an important aspect of our environment in the Upper Midwest.

As we watched, the DNR workers anesthetized the large three-year-old brook (or four-year-old brown trout females). When the trout had calmed enough to be handled, the eggs were stripped from each female into a large plastic bowl. Two different calmed males were used to add milt (fish sperm) to each bowl. The bowl was covered and taken inside where the bad eggs were removed with a special tweezers. The eggs harden for an hour in cold water, are disinfected with an iodine solution, and then measured. About 16,000 eggs are put into each tray and set on a rack with constantly flowing fresh water. The eggs then begin their 54-day wait until the hatch.

Students could ask questions to the DNR workers about the fish and the process during the tour. One student was inquiring how to obtain an education that would allow him the opportunity to work for the DNR. Shanan Martin stated "I learned today that one fish can have up to 6,000 eggs." Science Teacher Tom Wendt's response "1 to 5% actually live." The success of this year’s trips ended with the open invitation to come back anytime to see how the fish are growing. Teachers Tom Wendt and Matt Bergquist accompanied students on the trip.