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< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment May 2024 Student of the Month Kylie Waytashek Kylie is the daughter of Nicole. When asked about how family has impacted her, Kylie had this to say, “My family has taught me many things in life. They have taught me to be strong willed, show respect to others, to always be kind, and how to persevere during lifes challenges. I enjoy spending time with my family by going to sporting events, playing cards, spending time outdoors, deer hunting, watching movies, and playing games with my two little cousins. My family has always encouraged me to be the best that I can be. They always have supported me through the ups and downs of life. I am always thankful for my family.” During her time at Royalton, Kylie’s favorite class was Human Biology, “My favorite class in high school was human biology with Ms. Gerads. Human biology was memorable because I was able to learn so many new things about the human body. The reason human biology stood out to me was because of all of the various labs that we did. Some of the labs we did were dissecting baby pigs and analyzing sheep hearts. I would suggest this class to others because you get to learn so many new things about the human body, and how our systems work.” Kylie was asked if she had to pick a teacher that she really enjoyed in class, her response was Mr. Chris Coppicus, “My favorite teacher is Mr. Coppicus, our band teacher. He is my favorite teacher because he always makes class time enjoyable. Throughout my four years in band, Mr. Coppicus took the time to get to know me. Mr. Coppicus would always ask me about my life and how I am doing outside of school, and would often ask about my many basketball ventures. He inspires me to be a leader and to be someone others can look up to, just like he always was for me.” In school Kylie was involved in some different activities, “The activities I am involved in at Royalton include Basketball, Track and Field, and the Royal Ambassador Program. The biggest reason I enjoy each activity is because I get to spend time with all of my friends, while also trying my best to be a role model for the younger kids. Through my involvement in these activities, I have gained many friendships, new core memories, and have learned how to be the leader that I am so that I can have a positive impact on the students younger than me.” When asked about some special memories that she has from high school, there were a couple that came to mind, “My favorite high school memory was attending all of the sporting events. I got to spend time with my friends, while watching my classmates participate in a sport that they enjoy. I also have two specific memorable events that I took place in. The first one was during my freshman year of basketball; we beat #4 seeded Holdingford at their place in playoffs as underdogs being the #13 seed. We won 53-48 in overtime. The second event was this year at BBE when I broke two school records in one game, with one being for the most points in a game with 39, and the second being for the most threes in a game with ten.” Next year Kylie will be attending Valparaiso University on a basketball scholarship. “I am attending Valparaiso University and I am wanting to pursue a degree in biochemistry on the path to become an orthodontist and I will also be playing on the basketball team. I chose Valpo because I love my coach’s beliefs and my teammates’ energy and attitudes, and I fell in love with the campus itself. Once I stepped on campus, I knew that Valpo would be my home for the next four years.” Kylie’s advice to high school freshmen was this, “Advice I would give to the freshmen would be to make all of the little moments count throughout high school. Another big piece of advice would be to get involved in as many high school events and activities as you can, because through these you will meet friends, and you will get to experience new things that you might not have thought were interesting to you at first. I know it might seem cliche, but high school really does go by fast.”

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment February 2024 Student of the Month Brooke Wenner Brooke is the daughter of Robert and Carol. Brooke’s family has helped her grow and learn, “The two biggest lessons I have learned from my family is to strive to always be kind to people and to never give up on my dreams and ambitions. I enjoy going on family road trips up to Duluth, hanging out by the fire during the summer, or simply just talking about life in the living room with my family. My dad, my mom, and my sister Breanna are all huge role models in my life who are all super hard working and compassionate for others. They encourage me to make as many relationship bonds as I can, be ambitious about my goals, and make sure I try to put a smile on people's faces. They encourage me to do amazing things but the most important thing of all is that they encourage me to be myself and love myself.” At Royalton High School Brooke participates in many activities, “The first activities I joined were volleyball and softball and speech. These sports have offered many friendships and connections that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I have met some of the most amazing people whether they are students at Royalton or students from other schools. I gained a sense of teamwork, management skills, and a lot of patience as a result of being in these sports. Other activities I have joined have been YES club, the Royal Ambassador program, drama/theater, student council, and Minnesota Honor Society. My involvement in these areas has made me develop so many new skills and given me life lessons that I will cherish forever.” Looking at her classes Brooke says her favorite class has been Independent Art, “My favorite class is my art independent. I love this class because it’s a way where I can show my creative abilities, and I don’t have to follow a guideline as to how to create my art. An art dependent gives you the freedom to create any art you want so I really got to use both my problem-solving skills, but also my imagination. I love that I got to use this class as an opportunity to be able to tap into my almost silly and childlike self. Another reason why I love this class so much is because of the people in it. I absolutely adore my teacher, Mrs. Tordsen. She is such a ball of light and just being in her class makes me ten times happier. I also love my friends of course and during this class I can talk with them, and have a stress-free hour to hang out with them.” When asked about some her favorite teachers at RHS, Brooke had this to say, “All of my teachers greatly impacted me in their own unique ways, so it’s hard to decide but if I had to narrow it down, I would have to say that Ms. Meek and Mr. Koenig are teachers who have made a huge impact in my time during high school. Ms. Meek is such a special person to me because not only has she been my teacher, but she has also been my coach, and she has honestly felt like another cool aunt! Ms. Meek is the type of person you always wish to have in high school. She is there whenever you need help in school, advice in a sport, or even if you need a person to cry to. I will miss my random pop-ins into her room to bother her about life and her contagious laugh. She inspires me to stand up for what I believe in and encourages me to be the strong woman I am. Mr. Koenig has also been a huge role model in my life. He is a special person to me because I know I can always count on him if I ever need to talk. His goofy personality makes it so fun to be around and I know I can easily joke with him. Through having him as a teacher and student council advisor I have seen that he is truly such a kindhearted person who would be willing to do anything for his students. All of my teachers have played a role in shaping who I am today, so they all hold a special place in my heart. Brooke’s favorite high school memory was her trip to New York, “The high school memory that stands out above all the others is when the drama and choir groups took a trip to New York. This trip had many ups and downs however I still think about this trip almost every day. I loved that I got to share my first experience in New York with some of my best friends. My favorite parts of the trip were when we went to Coney Island and swam at the beach and looked for sea glass. I also loved when we watched the Broadway shows, The Lion King and Hamilton. However, my favorite part of the trip was when we would debrief about our day. No matter the ups and downs of the trip, I will always remember this vacation. Outside of school Brooke’s activities include, “The main activity I participate in outside of school would be working with kids at MAP. I work at a program called MAP over at Royalton Elementary school. During the summer and school year the children get to hang out together, continue learning new things, and go on awesome field trips where they can flourish and really connect to one another. This is where they can truly be children and escape from whatever may be bothering them elsewhere. I started working at MAP because I love to see the joy in children, and I want to be the role model for them and so they know I will always be there for them. This job has taught me to have more patience for others, try my best to make others happy, and to be in the present moment. Along with her favorite high school memory Brooke also had another experience that she will cherish. “My favorite school event was when we took a trip to Craguns for our student council retreat. This was one of the best trips because there were so many activities we got to do. We participated in ice breaker activities with people from other schools, we got to listen to motivational speakers talking about leadership, and have some pretty awesome food. However, my absolute favorite part was when we were able to go to the pool to swim and sing karaoke and then have a big dance party at night.” As to what she plans to do next year and where she sees herself in 10 years, Brooke had this to say, “I will be attending the University of North Dakota this upcoming fall. I will be majoring in business and working toward receiving my bachelors. After I finish with college, I will be working to start my own business as well as advancing in the marketing field. I’m still debating on exactly what I’m going to invest into for a business, however figuring that out will come with time. The question of where I will be in 10 years is a harder one for me to answer because I’m a very easy going, go with the flow kind of girl. I’ve thought about what life would be like however I’m not super strict with how my life has to go. I only hope to have a sustainable job in order for me to support my family, and to be able to have the freedom of working on different hobbies. I believe hobbies are very important for happiness so this would be something I would need.” Brooke’s advice to high school freshmen is this “Make sure you stay true to yourself. Don’t change anything for anyone if you’re not comfortable with it. If you feel overwhelmed or like you need a change then please do it. Do it for yourself because at the end of the day this is your experience and you have the ability to shape who you are as you grow into adulthood. Make these next four years the best you possibly can because I promise you, time flies by.

< Hall of Fame Jerry Goedderz Distinguished Educator (1975-2008) Inducted May 2013 Jerry Goedderz was an admired educator for the Royalton Elementary School for 32 years. Jerry attended high school at Crosby-Ironton and after graduation he enrolled at Brainerd Junior College and played college baseball for two years. He transferred to St. Cloud State University and graduated with a BS in Elementary Education in 1975. Jerry began his teaching livelihood in Royalton in 1975 where he taught 4th and 6th grades during his career. In 2006, he was named the Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year. Jerry’s calling to serve extended far beyond the classroom as he coached varsity baseball for six years and junior high boys’ and girls’ basketball for a number of years. Jerry has many notable achievements. He spearheaded the establishment of the Nature Center at the Elementary School. Jerry, along with fellow colleague Linda Martin, began the first of many Deep Portage trips for the 6th grade students. Even after his retirement, Jerry continued to support many school activities in countless ways. As a distinguished community member, he has led many initiatives and worked to establish many activities for elementary aged students, especially the “Take a Kid Fishing” program, which takes place in both winter and summer. Jerry has been an active member of the Royalton Lions for 30 years, a Melvin Jones Fellowship recipient, and credited for taking the lead role in the formation of Platte River Day in 1994 after attending a Blandin Leadership Program. Jerry serves as a substitute teacher and bus driver for the Royalton School District and is a member of the Royalton American Legion. He is on the board of directors for the Pine Country Bank and Friends of Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. In his spare time, Jerry has been very active in his outdoor activities such as fishing, hunting, volunteering and umping baseball and softball games. Jerry has been married for 30 years to Audrey, a fellow educator at Royalton Elementary, and has two children, Josh and Andrea, who are graduates of RHS.

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment May 2023 Student of the Month Nola Blais Nola is the daughter of Travis and Nadine. When it comes to family Nola says they have been very important to her, “My family has taught me that hard work can get you anywhere. My Mom and Dad are very hard workers and they influenced me to work hard for what I want. I really enjoy boating in the summertime with my family the most.” At Royalton High School, Nola participated in sports and activities, “Throughout high school I have taken part in Softball, Yes Club, and Knowledge Bowl. I have played Softball for a long period of my life. I enjoy the team, program, and being around my friends and making memories. YES Club is something I joined as a senior to and would definitely recommend to anyone thinking about joining. Being outside and seeing different aspects of nature and energy conservation is something I had no idea could be so intriguing. Last but not least is the Knowledge Bowl. I loved Knowledge Bowl. It was such a fun environment. I made a lot of new friends and a lot of wonderful memories at our meets!” When it comes to her classes Nola says her favorite classes are science classes, “My favorite classes are any science classes with Ms.Gerads. She has taught me a lot considering I have taken Biology, Ecology, Zoology, Forensics and Microbiology. As for a favorite teacher in high school, Nola says she has a couple her favorite, “One of my favorite teachers is definitely Ms. Menden. Not only because she is a great English teacher but also because she is so knowledgeable about life and is truly a wonderful advice giver. She is very influential to me because she has seen me at my worst years of school all the way into my best years because she is also my homeroom advisor. One of my other favorite teachers would have to be Ms. Tordsen because she is so wise beyond art. She makes the school environment so inclusive and welcoming.” Outside of school Nola spends a lot of time with family and friends, “Outside of school I love to spend time with my friends and family. I spend a lot of time with my grandparents every week. I set aside time to spend with them because they are pretty much my best friends, they have taught me so much and I really do not know where I would be without them. I also enjoy traveling. My favorite vacation was probably Tennessee which I recently took with my family. I also enjoy my job as a cashier at Coborns. I have been a cashier for almost 3 years and I really enjoy it.” When asked about her favorite memory and activity of high school, this was Nola’s response, “My favorite high school memory was winning the 2022 Homecoming Olympics. Why this is my favorite memory is because everyone was so excited including me and we were all just living in the moment. it was a great time for the class of 2023. Not to mention the football team won the big game that day against Paynesville. The best activity I was involved in was the Yes Club tubing trip this winter. I had such a blast with all my friends and it was a beautiful sunny day and it just was such a fun time. Believe it or not we got all almost 60 of us down the sledding hill at one time. It took a couple of tries but eventually we got it!” Nola’s plans for her future are these, “Next year I will be attending Central Lakes Brainerd for Dental Assisting. I enjoy working with people and I eventually hope continue my schooling to become a Dental Therapist. My long-term goal is to make enough money to do a lot of traveling with my significant other. I hope to buy a house and continue my education in the dental field.” Nola’s advice to high school freshmen was this “My advice to a freshman would be to never sell yourself short. Every person has different capabilities and not everyone is the same. I would say do not be afraid to be different. All throughout high school people want to blend in and be the same but I would say be weird and be different because you will not regret becoming the own version of yourself that you were meant to be. Make new friends and enjoy every moment because it sure does go by fast!

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment December 2017 Student of the Month Amy Zabinski Amy Zabinski is the oldest daughter to Rich and Sharon Zabinski and she was named the December Student of the Month by the faculty of Royalton High School (RHS). Amy has two younger sisters, Kim and Carrie, and they are currently attending Royalton Middle and High School. Her parents are incredibly supportive of her, they always push her to be the best she can be, and they are always there for her supporting her decisions. Her parents have been very supportive of all of the various activities she has taken part in over the years, and they always encourage her to try new things and join different activities and clubs. Amy’s favorite class is SPANISH because Sra. Lindsey Gruber has been the greatest teacher! In her three years of Spanish classes, Sra. has always found a way to teach class in a fun way! Sra. Gruber comes to class each day with a positive attitude and eagerness to teach us another language. Thank you for making Spanish AMAZING! Sra. Lindsey Gruber states “Amy is a ray of sunshine that brightens my classroom every day. She continuously finds the positive in everything and is dedicated to succeeding in all areas. No matter the task, Amy always puts forth her best effort. This also includes helping others to succeed. Her kind and helpful spirit will take her many places, and I wish Amy all the best in her future endeavors! Amy honestly states, “There are too many AMAZING teachers to choose just ONE favorite”. All of the teachers she has interacted with have been incredibly supportive and pushed her to succeed and never settle for any less than her best. Mr. Jeremy Schaa, Amy’s NHS (National Honor Society) teacher states “Amy is a very positive, happy student who is often smiling which helps put others in the school at ease, and brightens their moods”. Amy’s FFA instructor Mr. Robert Skwira states “Amy is a kind hearted and hardworking individual who always has a smile on her face. Amy treats others the way everyone wants to be treated. She gets along with everyone and will help everyone out. She cares very much about her family and faith. Amy strives to do things the right way. Amy has a bright future ahead of herself!” Michael Marschel is her Cross Country coach states “There really isn't any one kinder than Amy Zabiniski. Her hard-working, positive attitude will bring her very far in life. Royalton is lucky to have her.” Amy is involved in quite a few activities; she was inducted into NHS in the beginning of her junior year. She took part in the “One Act” competitions her junior and senior year. She ran for the Royalton Cross Country team for 3 years and track for 2 years. She has been in four high school play productions including, “Persuasion, Pride and Prejudice”, “Give My Regards to Broadway”, and “Two Fronts”. She is a dedicated member of the Royalton FFA. She was in speech for one year and performed a duet for choir contest with her best friend, Emily Prokott. They dedicated almost every spare moment they had to their duet, and it paid off when they received a score of 49/50 at the competition. Amy has also taken part of large group choir and band contests where she received superior ratings for their performance pieces. She is also a dedicated member of her hometowns church choir and youth group. Her favorite High school memory actually consisted of a series of four days spent on a cruise ship. She had the opportunity to take a cruise with members of her school band in March of her junior year. Those four days were amazing! She spent time with her classmates and fellow band members on the cruise ship and had the time of her life. Amy plans to attend Winona State University and enter into the nursing program to receive her Registered Nurse license. In ten years she hopes to be helping people as a Registered Nurse. The advice Amy would give to freshmen is “Don’t let your years get away from you! When everyone says the years are going to fly by, BELIEVE THEM! Senior year catches up to you faster than you could ever imagine, and when it does, you are going to be left wondering where the time went. Cherish every moment you have before it all turns into a memory!”

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment < Back December 2018 Artist of the Month Kylee Berg Kylee Berg, the daughter of Steven and Tammy Berg was named Royalton High School's December Artist of the Month. Berg, a junior, has been part of the Royal yearbook program, and took Photography this year at the high school. "I have always been interested in art since I have been able to hold a crayon in my hand. Art is a special and relaxing hobby of mind, and not just a hobby but a great class to take in school. I remember how excited I was to have my very first art class in 6th grade. It was an amazing and fun experience for me. I learned so much as a Middle Schooler and enjoyed Halverson's classes every since. I have taken different art classes, such as Painting, Painting 2, Drawing, Yearbook, and Photography. Each class has made me grow as an artist, and learn the different ways you can express yourself through art. My parents have always been encouraging me to do art, and they still do to this day which I thank them for doing such. I believe Photography is one of my favorite art classes I have ever had with Mr. Halverson because I learned different techniques to take great pictures of people in my school, family, and pets. My goal is to take Photography 2 next school year because I learned how much I enjoy taking pictures." Royalton High School Visual Arts Instructor Carl Halverson believes that Berg has the ability to not just listen to what is being taught in the classroom, but apply what is learned far above what an average high school art student would be able to complete. "Over the years, I've had conversations with typical students who have had a tough time applying what was being taught in an art class. One student mentioned, in art classes, all she remembered was that "The Primary colors are Red, Blue and Yellow." I found humor in this response too as I followed this remark up when talking with a math teacher at our school when I echoed this logic explaining to him that, "In Math, all that we learned was 2 + 2 = 4," and in History, all that was taught was , "in 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue," stated Halverson. "At least some students are sharp enough to realize, that the ocean Blue, is indeed a primary color!" Halverson added with a grin. "It's just the opposite with a talented art student like Kylee Berg." added Halverson. In her first six weekly photography assignments that are displayed on the board, she scored at the top of her class, based on techniques taught and rules applied that are far above the average, "Primary colors." The top left displays Berg's photoshop skills in a movie cover-self portrait design piece which use tools like color adjustments, layers, perspective, as well as technical placement, composition, and rotation of subject matter. Her top center portrait uses formal balance and is an extraordinary example of subject placement, in which the background of the circular composition enhances the subject itself, as she strikes a rather symmetrical pose. The top right photographic assignment displays beautiful use of linear perspective that leads the viewer's eyes from the volleyball player in the foreground, all the way down the bench to the standing coach. The American flag, hanging overhead at the top left of the frame, gives a sense of power and stability in not only it's shape, line, and color, but in the representation of a typical icon found in a school gymnasium. The bottom left, displays a macro lens shot of colored pencils that employs a wide open aperture (opening in which light passes through), combined with a fast shutter speed (the length of time that the frame was shot). Not only does the use of line pull the eye back through the standing rows of color, but the depth of field (caused by the ISO and SS of the shot) slowly blurs the focus, increasing the depth even further. The bottom center photo was an assignment contrasting texture with color. The Red flowering cactus is placed in a Green pot (the color's complement or opposite), and the green is carried through to the prickly dark green spikes which emerge from the silky moth pedals. Finally, the bottom right piece uses "The rule of thirds," which in photography composition, is as basic as the three primary colors are to art itself. Keeping major components from the center, Berg carefully presented the center of interest (the trail's ending point on the horizon line), so that the lines of the trail lead you the viewer's eyes down the path. The treeline on the left is almost a perfect third, while the treeline on the right carries more weight, occupying almost exactly two-thirds of the total composition. Ansel Adams, the father of photographic black and white composition in the eyes of many a viewer, is studied as a reference in Photography class at RHS. Adams himself would be impressed to see a high school junior understand and apply some of these same basic elements and principles of design as well as rules used in a photographic sense." Berg may be one of the few, gifted art students who may be earning AP Studio Arts college credit next year as she begins taking 24 photographs which are graded by a college board nationally. Royalton High School's Art department averages over 90% in passing criteria, (one of the highest percentages in the state), when completing and sending art portfolios to the college AP board. The last two RHS student-artists to complete the AP portfolio scored 5's, which ranks as "excellent" and at the top of the college scoring rubric nationally.

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment < Back December 2017 Artist of the Month Adam Beam Adam Beam is the son of Rick Beam and Amy Klosowski of Royalton. He was chosen as Royalton High School's December Artist of the Month. Beam, a junior, didn't consider himself to be artistic enough to earn this honor. He found out that art classes at Royalton High School welcome students who wish to explore their talents, and that it's not just for those who are gifted in the "drawing or painting" areas. "I took the class with the idea of just trying to get my Fine Arts credits to graduate from high school," said Beam. "Mr. Halverson lets students work with whatever materials that they feel like working with in the Art Tech class that I am in. Since I like working with wood, when he mentioned that we should choose a subject that has some kind of meaning to us, I chose to design a sign for my grandparents. Gene and Cindy Gottwalt raise Whitetail and Red deer which I can see from the front window of my house. Sometimes, I help my grandpa do chores which includes feeding the deer. The sign took a lot of time in class and even more out of class. All the letters and deer images had to be cut out of wood, nailed, glued and painted. My class has a lot of very talented artists and I am honored that I earned Artist of the Month. Students work hard and like art classes because Halverson makes them feel like what they are doing is important." "Adam actually completed this project in the Fall, but I had seniors who had already earned the award the first few months, so he waited patiently," stated Royalton High School's art instructor Carl Halverson. "I really enjoy watching students find a way to connect their work to something that is personal. I've seen so many students forget that they are even in an art class once they are inspired by a thought, memory or idea that comes from the heart. After taking quite a few woodworking classes in high school myself, I can appreciate the hours of hard work, patience and concentration that go in to completing a Design project like this one. I think that one of my favorite parts of teaching is helping a student like Adam, catch a spark with an idea, and then, using his God given strengths and abilities, design his project in his own way. Few students create and produce a piece of work in high school, that may well outlive themselves. I believe that Adam, along with many of his classmates in our RHS art classes, will continue to do just that. Could you say that it's just a piece of a Legacy? Yup, I knew that you could."

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment November 2022 Student of the Month Connor Carlson Connor is the son of Dail and Shelly. Connor believes his family has played a big role in his life, “My family has taught me the importance of working hard in school and sports. I enjoy spending time with my family any way possible. Some of my favorite activities to do with them are kayaking, hiking, and biking. My older siblings are my main source of encouragement because they had excellent grades in high school, and have encouraged me to do the same.” Connor spends a lot of his time helping out and participating in Royalton athletics, “The sports I am in are football, basketball, and track. I enjoy these sports because I am able to work with my friends and teammates in order to achieve a goal. I am also in the YES club. I enjoy the YES club because we are able to work together as a club to better the environment. Another activity I am involved in is MHS. In the Minnesota Honors Society, we are able to help out the community. I gained useful skills such as time management by participating in these activities during high school. Outside of school I am involved in the youth basketball programs. I help out in both the summer and winter basketball camps. I enjoy helping out in the camps because it gives me an opportunity to work with the kids and get to know the community. By working at the camps, I was able to gain useful communication skills.” When it comes to his classes Connor says his favorite is physics, “My favorite class is physics. The students and the teacher are the reasons physics stands out from other classes. I suggest other students take physics because it has a good class atmosphere and the teacher makes lessons easy to understand.” As for a favorite teacher in high school Connor enjoys having Mr. Baumann as a teacher. “My favorite teacher at Royalton High School is Brad Baumann. He teaches in a way that makes learning fun and interesting. He also provides plenty of work time in class, so students do not get overwhelmed with homework.” Connor has a few memories that come to mind from his time at Royalton. One of them took place on a trip to Fort Ripley and the other was a class project, “My favorite high school memory is when the YES club went to Fort Ripley. Our club split into groups and competed against each other in their courage course. After the course, we toured around their facilities and looked at their armored vehicles and weapons. Then my favorite project during high school was installing a solar light on Royalton’s school sign. It is my favorite project because my classmate and I were co-leaders and were able to design the entire project ourselves. We even presented the project to the local lion’s club, so they would provide the funds to buy the solar light and solar panel.” After graduating high school Connor plans to attend a 4-year university, “Next year I plan on going to either UMD or NDSU to pursue a degree in engineering. I decided to become an engineer because I enjoy math and physics.” In ten years, Connor has this idea. “After finishing college, I plan on returning to the area, and getting a job as a mechanical or electrical engineer.” Connor’s advice to high school freshmen is, “Work hard in your classes and get your homework done as soon as possible. You also need to be able to balance school and social life.”

Royalton School partners with Mid State Education District to offer early childhood family education classes and early childhood screenings. Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) What is ECFE? We recognize that parents are a child's first and most significant teachers, ECFE offers a variety of classes and resources for parents and children from birth through kindergarten age. ECFE helps build healthy families and sets the stage for parent involvement and children’s success in Kindergarten to Grade 12 education. Let the adventure begin by checking out our ECFE classes! ECFE Classes Early Childhood Screenings The early childhood years from birth to the start of kindergarten are an important time of rapid learning and growth. Screening is a brief, simple procedure used to identify potential health or developmental problems in infants and young children who may need a health assessment, diagnostic assessment or educational evaluation. Screening in early childhood supports children's readiness for kindergarten and promotes positive child health and developmental outcomes. You can expect a call from Royalton Public Schools Early Childhood Screening Coordinator when your child is between 3.5 and 4 years of age to set up a screening date. Or you can schedule an appointment online at: https://royalton.arux.app/search/all-programs or please contact the Community Education office at 320-584-4002 to schedule an appointment. Why Early Screening is so Important The early childhood years from birth to the start of Kindergarten are an important time of rapid learning and growth. Early Childhood screenings should be completed between the ages of 3 and 5 years. Screening is a brief, simple procedure used to identify potential health or developmental problems in infants and young children who may need a health assessment, diagnostic assessment, or educational evaluation. Screening in early childhood supports children's readiness for kindergarten and promotes positive child health and developmental outcomes. Early Childhood Screening is required for entrance in Minnesota’s public schools or within 30 days of enrollment into kindergarten. LITTLE ROYALS PRESCHOOL Our Little Royals program is open to all students who are 3 OR 4 Years old by September 1. Our preschool has earned 4 Stars in the State’s Parent Aware Quality Rating System. This is the highest possible rating given for high quality preschool programs. This rating means that the Little Royals Program uses the best practices to make sure children are ready for kindergarten. Enroll Community Education director Jennifer Noble The mission of Royalton Community Education is to create and provide non-traditional educational opportunities for individuals, young and old, to engage in lifelong learning and to enrich their lives and the community in which they live, play and work. Now is the perfect time to embrace new learning opportunities, connect with others, and explore activities that refresh both mind and body. Royalton Community Education is excited to offer a diverse range of community education programs designed to help you grow, discover new passions, and stay engaged with the world around you. If you have any questions about our school, programs, or activities, please feel free to contact me at 320-584-4002.

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment May 2020 Student of the Month Mackenzie Beam Royalton Faculty and Staff would like to announce that Mackenzie Beam has been named the Student of the Month for May. Mackenzie notes that her family has helped her get to where she is today in more ways than she can think of. They have shaped her into the person she is by always being there for her when she needs them most, and push her to always do her best. She states that she is grateful for her five siblings because they have helped her find her way through life and allowed her to follow in their footsteps. Her family has taught her to always go after her dreams and if it doesn’t work out, she will always have their support and her faith to get her through it. Mackenzie’s favorite classes this past year were STATS and English. These were her favorite because the class atmosphere was always high and energetic. Ms. Menden and Mr. Silbernick made their classes enjoyable to be in, which made the hour go by fast. She notes that her favorite teacher is Ms. Menden. Although she has only had her for one year of English 12, she has made a big effort to really connect and get to know all of the students in Mackenzie’s class. One of her favorite things is that Ms. Menden was always smiling in class and made everyday fun, exciting and full of energy. At RHS, Mackenzie has been involved in Y.E.S. Club, Spanish Club, Minnesota Honor Society, and Student Council. She explains that she joined all of these organizations to try and get out of her comfort zone and be more involved. Her favorite High School activity was Student Council, especially in setting up for Homecoming. It was one of her favorites because seeing all of the other students having fun, smiling, and laughing was a great reward for all the hard work they all had put into that week. Mackenzie believes that she gained some leadership skills and more confidence by being involved in these various activities. Chris Coppicus, Royalton High School Band Director, would like to highlight that, “Mackenzie is a quiet leader in the band. She comes to class with a smile on her face everyday and puts in the work. Now that we are distance learning I am finding that Mackenzie is a stronger clarinet player than I first thought and she will be greatly missed next year.” Outside of school, she is involved in 4-H through Benton County. In the Spring, she gets pigs and raises them until August when they are taken to the Benton County Fair to show. She has a lot of fun making memories with her cousins at the fair, as well. Mackenzie’s favorite High School memory was when the power went out this past Fall and all the Seniors gathered in the Lion's Den in a circle sang songs and made memories. Next year she will be attending the University of Wisconsin, River Falls, majoring in Elementary Education. She is planning to teach either first or second grade. Tammy Shaughnessy, Kindergarten teacher at Royalton Elementary School states, “Mackenzie has been a student intern in my kindergarten class since the beginning of the school year. She has always been very reliable, showing up every day prepared and ready to jump into action with the students. She spent a lot of time reading with the kindergartners, playing learning games, assisting with small-group activities, helping with writing, and countless other activities. The students loved having Miss Mackenzie come into our classroom and they always hoped they were the next ones who got to read with her. She has an extremely kind heart and is so respectful of all students and their unique needs. Even in our unprecedented situation, where students may be feeling bombarded with distance learning, Mackenzie reached out to me and asked if she could join the Google Hangout with the kindergartners. The kids were very happy to see that Miss Mackenzie was able to join us.” Her advice for High School Freshman is, “soak it all in because the time really does go by fast!”

Early Childhood Center Staff directory Paraprofessional Noelle Allord Early Childhood Center Email Paraprofessional Becky Bzdok Early Childhood Center Email Preschool Teacher Stacy Huls Early Childhood Center Email Paraprofessional Jessica Nielsen Early Childhood Center Email Paraprofessional Jenny Solorz Early Childhood Center Email Paraprofessional Shelia Wirth Early Childhood Center Email Paraprofessional Sharon Baron Early Childhood Center Email Special Education Teacher Brandi DeGier Early Childhood Center Email Paraprofesssional Kara Kloss Early Childhood Center Email Paraprofessional Jennifer Oldakowski Early Childhood Center Email Preschool Teacher Leah Suska Early Childhood Center Email Preschool Teacher Amanda Billig Early Childhood Center Email Paraprofessional Jennifer Eiynk Early Childhood Center Email Paraprofessional Patricia Matykiewicz Early Childhood Center Email Custodian Steve Reinhardt Early Childhood Center Email Preschool Teacher Bailey Warzecka Early Childhood Center Email

senior artist Spotlight Through art education, our students learn how to use tools and materials and experience art by exploring. The art classroom is a place where students learn problem-solving and critical thinking skills while getting the opportunity to express themselves. The artist is not a special kind of person; rather each person is a special kind of artist. ~Amanda Coomaraswamy Artist Spotlight Grace Balling Grace's dedication to her craft is unmatched. She takes every opportunity to create and is always willing to lend a hand, whether it’s helping fellow artists or tackling large-scale projects—like the incredible mural she's pictured with here. Hardworking, generous, and endlessly creative, Grace brings so much to our Royal art community, and we can't wait to see where her talent takes her next!