Matt Podhradsky asked us to put XMAS in May on our calendar for May 3. Please talk with Matt if you’d like to serve on its Board of Directors.
FINEMASTER and HAPPY DOLLARS
Without a Finemaster to brighten our morning meeting, our Happy Dollars seem to be missing also. Matt Podhradsky’s son is on Chaska’s Junior curling team, and recently won a Championship. Matt shared his happiness, as did Gretchen Oppriecht for the Knowledge Bowl team, and Dr. Rathke, for her invitation to speak to us. Greg Anderson was happy that Cindy’s ankle injury is healing.
ROTARY EXCHANGE STUDENT - Marcos Alonsos
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL
Phil Solseng presented the club flag from Durban, South Africa. He provided its donation history, coming from 1993 student Thabi Gulube, who became a physician. Russell Cunningham, our student in 2004, also came to us from South Africa. Last week’s flag was from Ringe, Denmark, donated by their exchange student Lisa.
Exchange Student: Marcos Alonsos
Thanks to Ken Hiller for giving us photos of Marcos cooking for his school friends, and Matt Szybnski for hosting Marcos and encouraging him to experience ice fishing and catch and release.
Nate Manaen is now a member of our club and works as the Assistant Superintendent of School District 112. Nate’s mother was raised in Minneapolis and his father was born in Nepal. Hopefully, we’ll hear more about Nate’s world travels.
Presentation: Dr. Erin Rathke – Portrait of a Graduate
Celi Haga introduced Dr. Erin Rathke, the Superintendent of School District 112, who last spoke with us in July 2024. She shared an initiative –“ Portrait of a Graduate” – that will provide “a framework that outlines the key skills, competencies and attributes a school or district believes students should develop by the time they graduate.”
When complete, this work “has the potential to enhance student readiness for college, careers, and life, particularly as ‘human skills’ become increasingly critical in an era shaped by AI and automation.” In keeping with the Mission, Core Values and Strategic Directions that guide the Superintendent and District educators, Dr. Rathke is collecting feedback from students, staff, parents, community members and business to define those skills. We were able to participate in a Thought Exchange with smart phones. A QR code provided the key to enter the input process. We were also able to rate the relative importance of attributes given by others.
Dr. Rathke encouraged us to thank the district’s educators whenever we get the opportunity.
In her Q + A minutes, Dr. Rathke discussed the Science of Reading initiative, voter referendums, and the difference between temporarily fully-funded and actual costs. She believes the present Bubble of enrollment will dissipate and therefore an additional high school is not needed.
Contact Information: 952-556-6110 or email RathkeE@District112.org
Note from John Roebke: Invocations can be a faith traditional prayer, or a meditation, or inspirational verse or quote. Brief 20 – 30 seconds. Light-hearted is okay. Option: focus on our Mission of Service Above Self. Need an idea – Google Rotary Invocations. Not a personal talent? Don't wait, tell me NOW, 612-790-7067, john.roebke@live.com. I will be glad to name another. If I forgot that you told me not a talent, please forgive me. Remind me. If not a good DATE, trade with a mate.
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