by Dr. Michael Rivard
School Superintendent
There’s no doubt about it: Sartell-St. Stephen ISD 748 students and staff are doing amazing things. This month I would like to highlight a few outstanding academic achievements and inspiring performances in the arts, all of which reflect the dedication, talent and hard work of our students and staff.
Academics
- SHS Knowledge Bowl team qualified for Regional competition.
- SMS student Ava Jacobs was honored by the Central Minnesota Optimists Club for her essay, “How Optimism Has Paved My Road to Success.”
- SMS student Ingrid Johnson placed third in the regional spelling bee and placed second in the recent MathCounts competition with her team and individually.
- SMS student Madison Evans, a freelance reporter for the “Newsleaders” newspaper, won first place at the Minnesota Newspaper Association for her inspiring article, “Sartell boy’s personality shines as he battles cancer.”
Fine arts
- SHS Orchestra, Choir and Band have incredible (free) spring concerts.
- SMS Ensembles have an outstanding (free) concert.
- SHS student Henry Johnson represented us at the State Jazz Honor Band.
- SHS students Jacob Burditt and Lily Rosso received “Best in Site” at the Central Minnesota String Instruments Contest.
- Our theater students continue showing excellence on and off the stage.
- The SHS one-act play “The Amazing Lemonade Girl,” made it to the state festival and also raised more than $3,500 for childhood cancer research.
- Our SMS students put on a fantastic performance of “The Hobbit,” showing the depth of talent in our theater program.
Our staff
- SHS teacher Karrie Fredrickson was named a Minnesota Teacher of the Year candidate. This recognition highlights her dedication, passion and exceptional contributions to the success of our students.
- SHS teacher and Knowledge Bowl Coach Alex King was voted as 7AAA Coach of the Year for the second year in a row.
- RIS teacher Marianne Golembeski was recognized as Teacher of the Month from a local radio station.
Our community
It’s truly an exciting time for the Sartell-St. Stephen School District, and I want to thank all of the residents who voted in our recent special election. Your support for Question 1 (Riverview’s HVAC) is a clear sign you believe in the value of the education we provide and in our students’ future. This approval is more than just a vote. It’s a partnership between our schools and our community, and it’s going to make a big difference for our students and staff. Thanks to your support, we can continue offering excellent academic programs while maintaining our schools. The HVAC upgrades at Riverview Intermediate School, built back in 1969, will help modernize this building, improve the air quality and create a better environment for our students and staff.
At the same time, we also acknowledge the outcome of Question 2 (SHS outdoor facilities), which didn’t pass. We understand there are important questions about future funding, and we’re committed to listening and engaging with you on these matters. In the coming months, we will provide opportunities for you to share your thoughts so we can make decisions that reflect our community’s priorities. I’m hoping to continue our conversation by inviting you to join me for this month’s “Common Grounds” event from 9-10 a.m. Saturday, March 8 at 2nd Street Coffeehouse.
Thank you once again for your continued partnership in supporting our students and schools. Your involvement is what makes our district such a great place, and we couldn’t do it without you. We look forward to many more conversations with you about how we can continue to build a thriving, supportive educational environment for all our kids. Together, we’re making a lasting difference in the lives of our students.
