Central Public Schools - Education Is Central

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!

Central High School Student Council is hosting a Blood Drive! Join us on Wednesday, Oct. 22, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Old Gym at Central High School in Norwood Young America. All community members are invited to participate in the blood drive. 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/

Join the NYA Economic Development Authority in partnership with the Central Trades & Advisory Group on Wednesday, Oct. 22 in recognizing and appreciating the manufacturers of Norwood Young America. Local manufacturers will be offering tours of their facilities to local students and the public. Learn about the reality of modern manufacturing careers and their goals of helping the community and future generations thrive.

RSVP by Monday, Oct. 20! To RSVP, please call 952-467-1810 or email economicdev@cityofnya.com

Our second graders were busy in STEAM class last month! They used their creativity and problem-solving skills to create food-safe inventions. These structures were made to keep food safe outdoors and away from mice, squirrels and raccoons.

The holiday season is quickly approaching! 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

As a reminder, there is no school this Thursday, Oct. 16, or Friday, Oct. 17. Enjoy your time away during Fall Recess!

Central Community Education is offering an Adult Enrichment Sourdough Workshop! Join in the stress-free sourdough fun on Thursday, Oct. 16 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Central Elementary. More sessions are being offered, including Nov. 13, Jan. 15 and Feb. 19. The registration fee is $45 per class plus $15 per class for supplies.

Register today! https://isd108.ce.eleyo.com/course/841/fall-winter-2025-2026/stress-free-sourdough-class?fbclid=IwY2xjawNV-_JleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFDb1pyS2x5YWlIa05RdVFyAR7vNWHkuy9Ov0rTbu7ltrAO8WUaC2-FRUsWANsomaK5T-LnjzoyIZQ6cs_ywA_aem_raTJs5eqkNPueqMhq7Kdbg#8030f25b

Last month, our kindergarteners were learning about letters in STEAM class! They spent time making letters using different building materials, including shape blocks, Play-Doh, and LEGO sets. We love to see our young learners’ creativity take shape!

In case you missed it: During Homecoming Week we once again saw one of our favorite traditions take place!

Our senior class had the honor of passing their school spirit down to the newest members of our school community, the kindergarteners. The students gathered on the football field and the kindergarten students were so excited to run across the field and meet the seniors.

Each senior was able to share a Raider pin with a kindergartner and everyone had a great time talking, connecting, and laughing together.

Read more! https://www.isd108.org/article/2447546

Congratulations to our cross country team! Keep up the great work this season!

Central Public Schools received some exciting news from the 2025 MCA Test results and data with strong growth and achievement in many grade levels and areas! Elementary, middle, and high school grades all had something to be proud of, not only with actual scores, but in the strong growth shown over the previous year.

At the September 2025 Board meeting, Curriculum Leader Andrea Kolstad shared a slide that really speaks volumes about the importance of recognizing that community investment truly does translate to return on investment. The big takeaways were:
- Universal Improvement - All three levels—elementary, middle, and high school—showed gains in both math and reading proficiency in 2025
- Reading Renaissance - Dramatic reading score increases: +13.6 points (elementary), +8.7 points (middle), and +11.8 points (high school)
- Math Momentum - District-wide math improvements, with notable double-digit growth at Central Elementary leading the charge
- State Excellence - CPS outperformed Minnesota's state averages in both math and reading across multiple grade levels

Read more!
https://www.isd108.org/article/2449732

Artist of the Week is back at Central Secondary School! Congratulations to the following students from Draw, Paint, and Print Class: Addison, Destiny, Jerra and Sy!