Central Public Schools - Education Is Central

This morning, Mrs. Hammers and Ms. Street welcomed students with smiles, treats, and uplifting notes to remind them just how valued, cared for, and appreciated they are here at Central!

The cast and crew have been hard at work preparing for the fall show, Shrek the Musical, Jr.! Costumes have been fitted, sets are being painted, props are being created, lines and dances are being memorized. The cast and crew are very excited about where the show is going and can't wait to share it with our community.

Save the dates to see the show in the high school auditorium!
- Thursday, Nov. 20 at 7 p.m.
- Friday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 22 at 4 p.m.

Winter Sports registration is currently OPEN! To register, go to our website (https://www.isd108.org/) and click on the "Payment Portal" at the top right of the page or go directly to the RevTrak Web Site (isd108.revtrak.net).
Registration for Gymnastics (gr. 7 - 12) Girls Basketball (gr. 9 - 12) and HS Knowledge Bowl (gr. 10 - 12) will close on Nov. 5. Registration for Wrestling (gr. 7 - 12) and Boys Basketball (gr. 9 - 12 only) will close on Nov. 12.

Contact Kari Crown at kcrown@isd108.org with any questions.

We came across some old sports banners in storage and wanted to offer them to anyone who may enjoy a bit of Raider nostalgia before we dispose of them.

If you’re interested, please email kcrown@isd108.org
and include the sport and year of the banner you’d like.

Banners must be picked up from the office Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

We’re proud to feature 7th grade artists with their stunning chalk pastel landscapes! Inspired by the work of Claude Monet, students explored color blending, light, and atmosphere to create Impressionist-style scenes. Each piece began with a bold black glue outline to define key shapes, then was brought to life with layers of soft, vibrant chalk pastels.

Congratulations to B, Orin F, Tiara J and Aubree S for being named artists of the week!

Come check out the Haunted Woods and help NHS collect non-perishable food items to support the Southwest Carver Food Shelf.

It’s “o-fish-al,” our first grade students love STEM class! They recently made fishing poles using sticks and string, and then made a game out of shaping their hooks to catch various types of fish on the floor.

Winter Sports Meeting TONIGHT!!! All WINTER athletes (in grades 7 - 12) and their parents are encouraged to join us in the auditorium TONIGHT at 6:30 for important information, schedules, and meetings with the coaches!!

Football is in Goodhue today for the second section playoff game!

Goodhue sporting events are cashless ticketing events. They are not able to take cash payments for admission.
Tickets cost $11 for Adults and $6 for students and may be purchased in one of the following ways:
1) Pay with a credit/debit card at the gate
2) Buy ahead of time digitally at this link: https://gofan.co/event/5116069?schoolId=MN19578

All Football Fans must enter at the West end of the field.

Live Stream: https://www.youtube.com/@GoodhueActivities1

Central Public Schools families are invited to request a meal kit and/or gifts during the holiday season. All information will be kept confidential.

If you, or a family you know, would like to receive assistance, please share and complete the following forms by Tuesday, Nov. 4.

Season of Thanks: https://forms.gle/mDi54sHXvXBk1axM8
Season of Giving: https://forms.gle/FYE9dKBGgcMwgtbz8

Today we launched our new Central Futures series with a panel of post-secondary recruiters. Representatives from SMSU, Crown College, Ridgewater, and Normandale joined us to share insights on educational opportunities available to Central High School students.

Stay tuned! Upcoming Central Futures events will feature panels of recent graduates, military veterans, business professionals, and community members working in the trades.

There is one more week to share your voice about school lunch!

Our food service provider, Taher, is asking our students to complete a short survey by Friday, Oct. 31. Take the survey today! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VH3HVR8

Ready, Set, Thrive! Explore some exciting upcoming Community Education programs for all ages! Registration is open for next week’s events:
- Basketball Clinic (K-2nd): Oct. 27-30
- Young Rembrandts Drawing Class: Oct. 27
- Child and Babysitter Safety Class: Nov. 3
- Stress Free Sourdough Class: Nov. 13
- Youth Wrestling: Nov. 18
- Thanksgiving Floral Arrangement: Nov. 19

Register today! https://isd108.ce.eleyo.com/

Our third graders have been busy in STEAM class! Groups of students created games using mainly supplies from nature to keep everyone entertained. It was exciting to see the variety of games created using different materials.

Our amazing 4th graders just wrapped up reading Roald Dahl's "The BFG"! To make the story come alive, we engaged in a fun mental yoga activity where the students created a giant fork, just like the one in the book. Since everything in the giant's world needed to be multiplied by four, the students took on the challenge of adjusting their measurements accordingly.

To bring their creations to life, they used their giant forks to pick up various items around the classroom. It was a tough project for many, but we saw some incredible teamwork and creativity on display!

Don't have dinner planned for tonight? No worries! Join us at the Norwood McDonald's from 4-7 p.m.! McDonald's will donate 15% of all sales to Central Public Schools. We hope to see you there!

Today, Oct. 22, is the Central Student Council Blood Drive! Stop by the Old Gym at Central High School any time from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. All community members are welcome! For every pint of blood donated, three lives are saved.

Be sure to register and you’ll receive a $10 Amazon Gift card! https://www.redcrossblood.org/

LAST HOME GAME OF THE SEASON TONIGHT! Dress warm and cheer loud!

Please note, passes are not accepted as this is a playoff game.

$10 Adults (18 +), $5 Student (K-12)
Raider Ticket Info: All tickets must be purchased online or VIA card reader at the door (No cash box at the gate)
https://www.vancoevents.com/us/DJTE
Spectator Expectations
Streaming Link: https://fan.hudl.com/usa/mn/norwood-young-america/organization/10583/central-high-school

Our 4th grade students recently wrapped up a powerful unit in our reading curriculum featuring the story Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio. This inspiring memoir tells the story of Peg, a 12-year-old girl from Austin, MN, who contracts polio and must navigate the challenges of recovery. One surprising and heartwarming element of her journey was how learning to play the accordion played a role in her healing.

To connect literature to real life, our students wrote friendly letters to Mrs. Heckert, a kindergarten teacher here at Central who happens to be an accomplished accordion player. In their letters, they asked if she would be willing to share her musical talents with them — and she graciously agreed!

All three 4th grade classes were treated to a live accordion concert by Mrs. Heckert. It was a wonderful experience that brought the story to life in a meaningful and memorable way. We are so grateful to Mrs. Heckert for sharing her time and talents with us!