Tag: Wayzata High School

A Wayzata High School student is making history. Catherine Zorn of Plymouth is the first female from Minnesota to enlist in the United States Army infantry. Zorn, 17, comes from a military family: her grandfather, aunt and brother were also in the military.

Jack Shink. Submitted photo.

Wayzata High School freshman Jack Shink has been named Minnesota’s 2016 Youth Ambassador for the Tourette’s Syndrome Association, an organization dedicated to making life better for all people affected by tic disorders.

Jack represents the state of Minnesota by assisting in media-related activities to spread awareness and raise funds for research and treatment. He shares his personal story, what Tourette’s has meant for him, what it means for those around him, and he challenges people to think about their definition of inclusion.

In March he attended the Tourette’s Syndrome Association’s national conference in Washington DC with 49 other state ambassadors for leadership training and to lobby with both Senator Franken and Senator Klobuchar.

Leighton Zhao said he took the Princeton Review Course in advance and then took several practice tests on his own the week prior to sitting the June 2014 exam. He said some of his courses at Wayzata High School helped prepare him for the exam by working on vocabulary and math. Currently Zhao is taking Advanced Placement (AP) Biology, AP Literature, AP Statistics and AP American Government. Upon graduation he will have taken 17 AP courses at WHS.

Outside of academics, Zhao is on the Science Olympiad Team, Math Team, Destination ImagiNation and plays the clarinet in the WHS Wind Ensemble. He also volunteers at the Chinese School on weekends at Central Middle School and is a tutor at Project For Pride and Living in New Hope.

Zhao said he is currently applying to colleges but is has not decided on his top three choices. He is still undecided for his future major but is interested in math and science.

Michael Cai said he prepared for the ACT by taking the Princeton Review Course. He said his some of his normal course load at WHS also helped prepare him for the exam. He is current enrolled in AP Physics, AP Chemistry, AP U.S. History, AP statistics and AP Composition. Next semester he will be enrolled in Spanish 4, Organic Chemistry and Human Anatomy.

Outside of academics, Cai is on the Quiz Bowl Team, the WHS Cross Country Team, and the WHS Track Team. He plays piano with a private lessons and volunteers at the Plymouth Library and Maple Grove Hospital.

On a recent trip this summer, Cai said he had the opportunity to visit several east coast school and is interested in attending college on either the east or west coast but the University of Minnesota is also an option. He is interested in pursuing a degree in chemical engineering.
Wayzata.com is your source for news and information in Wayzata, MN, 55391, and the Wayzata School District.

Wayzata High School brothers Jacob and Nathan Ritter were named recipients of the Rainbow of Hope award for their work in the community and school.

Wayzata High School (WHS) juniors and twin brothers Jacob and Nathan Ritter were recently named the recipients of the Rainbow of Hope award.

Rainbow of Hope is an award given by Shriners Hospitals each year to three current or former patients who are recognized for contributions they have made to their respective communities and schools, and for overcoming life’s challenges. They are considered to be role models in their community.

The two are a “dynamic duo” sponsored by Zuhrah Temple. While Jacob and Nathan definitely stand alone in their particular areas of interest, they speak loudly as a pair when it comes to being the definition of role models.

The two brothers both consistently maintain a 4.0 GPA, and manage to pull it off while also pursuing outside interests, tutoring, and playing adaptive sports. Both Jacob and Nathan are accomplished pianists, playing at a college level. Recently they planned, coordinated and performed a piano concert at WHS to raise money for Feed My Starving Children. They raised enough money to provide over 1,000 meals, and as a result were recognized by Mark Crea, CEO of the foundation. When they were asked to play piano at the Minnesota Physical Education Conference luncheon held at WHS last year, they agreed as long as they could donate any money they received in tips to Feed My Starving Children.

Jacob and Nathan frequently give concerts at nursing homes, senior programs and assisted living facilities, adjusting their selection of music to meet the needs and musical familiarity of the particular group. In addition to being gifted musicians, the two have won numerous awards for their ability at the game of chess. Jacob was the first place winner in the 2011 Plymouth’s Got Talent competition. Nathan took 1st place honors at the same competition the next year. Enjoying the game doesn’t seem to be enough for these two, so they have taken it another step by mentoring elementary age students eager to learn to play chess.

According to a Shriners International press release, “Both Jacob and Nathan exhibit courage and a strong will to succeed at whatever they choose to do. They are kind, considerate of others, and always willing to go the extra mile for someone else.”

Rainbow of Hope Award recipients receive a monetary scholarship award in the amount of $1000 and their name is placed on the Rainbow of Hope perpetual plaque, which remains on display in the main lobby of the Twin Cities Shriners Hospital

Thanks to supportive voters last February, committees have been busy this summer moving plans forward to add onto to Wayzata High School (WHS) and build an eighth elementary school to meet the needs of our growing resident student population.

These planning committees are made up of representatives from: district staff, parents and students, Wold Architects and Engineers and Kraus Anderson. A full list of committee and subcommittee members can be found in the menu to the left.

After touring other metro schools to see what else is out there and developing guiding principles to serve as a foundation for the design process, the High School and Elementary Core Planning Teams have been working with architects to develop schematic designs.

The preliminary designs for the WHS addition were shared with the Wayzata School Board at its August 25 Work Session and additional input will now be gathered in September and October from user groups, made up of staff, parents, community members and students, who will share their insights on specific aspects of the high school construction project. The schematic design for the new elementary school will be presented to the School Board at the end of September.

Wayzata High School

Once the user group feedback is incorporated, design development will continue and each schematic design will then be analyzed for feasibility based on financial, structural, mechanical and other realities. The design development phase for the high school is anticipated to be final by the end of October or early November. The design development of the elementary school will be complete by late November or early December. It is possible that preliminary site utility work may begin at Wayzata High School yet this fall, with formal ground breaking for both the WHS addition and new elementary school happening in the spring of 2015.

New Elementary School Site Determined

Pending necessary approvals, the new elementary school will be built near the intersection of Lawndale Lane and County Road 47. The new school will be adjacent to property recently purchased by the City of Plymouth at the corner of Lawndale Lane and County Road 47 as part of its Northwest Greenway Plan.

School Boundary Adjustment Process to be Shared this Fall

With the addition of an eighth elementary school, a process to reconfigure school attendance areas and balance enrollment at all elementary schools will be shared with parents and the community this fall. Both the new elementary school and key portions of the WHS additions are scheduled to be open in the fall of 2016.

Safety, Security and Technology Infrastructure Improvements

Remodeling to enhance security was completed over the summer to the front entrance of Central Middle School. Security enhancements at East and West Middle Schools are expected to begin in the spring of 2015 and be completed sometime during the summer or fall of 2015. In addition, a multi-year fiber optic infrastructure update got underway this summer to modernize and increase connectivity to meet our growing and evolving technology needs.

Updates will continue to be shared as the construction projects proceed. For more information, call and leave your questions on the Construction Hotline at 763-745-5050, or send an email to construction@wayzata.k12.mn.us.