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The friendships and connections I made during my four years at Washburn will stick with me forever. I am so proud to say that I was and still am a Miller. I want to make sure that current Washburn students can say these things about their school 10 years after they’ve graduated too. I want to help ensure Washburn’s success and growth for the future and that is why I’m co-chairing this years Fall-Kickoff event.

Saturday, March 20, 2010 at Java Jack’s, 46th and Bryant

Come join the Washburn High School Foundation and friends for socializing and fun as we start our spring/fall planning with a celebration. Find out about the Miller Music Fest May 7, how we’ll meet our $400K goal this spring, our plans for the fall — kickoff & new silent auction.  Hear our communication plans and share your thoughts about Washburn and the Windows Of Opportunity Campaign with other Foundation Members and friends of Washburn High School.

Many thanks to the people who are working hard to create renewed momentum for Washburn. I have such amazing memories of our school and I hope that students of today, and tomorrow, can create wonderful memories, a solid foundation for future success and enduring friendships at Washburn.

There’s nothing to compare to my experiences at WHS from 1969-73! From my fab colleaqes to the students, in particular, Wahian staff(s)! I sometimes wonder why I ever left.

My name was Carol Eckblad when I graduated from Washburn; I legally changed my name and married, and am now Jansson Thompson.  I have 2 sons and 5 grandchildren.

Washburn is a special place, and the four years I spent there left a lasting impression.  I am now working in the Minneapolis Public School system and I couldn’t be happier.  As a co-chair for the WHS fall kick-off event, I can begin to give back to Washburn, what going there gave me.  I think, if we can keep the enthusiasm felt at the last kick-off event going, Washburn can enter into the next decade with a bang and, be the force in the community it once was.  The Millers have a lot to offer, and I look forward to being part of their South Minneapolis legacy.

Washburn Junior, Antoine Duke, has been chosen to compete in Minnesota’s QUEST FOR THE VOICE Finals.  This is a spoken word competition.  He has made it through preliminaries, and semi finals, and has been chosen as one of the top 20 youth poets in MN! He will be competing for a chance to representMinnesota at the National competitions in LA this summer.  We are so proud to have Washburn represented at the finals!

If you want to come to the finals, they will be March 25th at 6 pm at Moos Tower at the U of M.

Peace Jam

Hello, our Washburn Family!  The Peace Jam group at Washburn High School is doing a service project to help homeless youth. This is a project very near and dear to our hearts. We hope you can help us fulfill our goal of providing basic essentials to our homeless youth in Minneapolis.

Peace Jam is an organization founded to get kids motivated to help people all around the world fight off pollution, racism, sexism and many other threats. This year, the small, but very capable Peace Jam group at Washburn High has decided to aid MPS homeless youth. We are currently asking people at several schools to donate bare essentials. We will give the donations to shelters that provide help for homeless youth.

We ask you now if you could donate a few of the things listed below:

• Lotion – travel size
• Shampoo – travel size
• Deodorant
• Mini soap bars
• Combs/brushes/picks
• Hand sanitizer
• Bus Tokens
• Warm hats/scarves/gloves
• Space Blankets

If you are willing to help and donate these products to us, please contact us at: Lisa.Jensen@mpls.k12.mn.us or billy.perkiss@mpls.k12.mn.us. Or you can just bring materials to Lisa’s office or room 208. Thank you very much and we hope you will help us! The sooner the better and thank you, Washburn Peace Jam.

Create! Don’t Hate, a youth mentoring initiative built around the theme of tolerance, was launched in late January at Washburn High School, a Minneapolispublic school. The program gives youth in underserved communities a real-world experience using design thinking to communicate their ideas, discover their potential, and take action in their communities.

For this initiative, AIGA Minnesota, the professional association for design, has teamed 20 Washburn art students with 20 graphic design students from Twin Cities colleges to create powerful public billboards that address the theme of tolerance in a variety of compelling and thought-provoking ways. This nine-week program is designed to give participating students the tools and guidance they need to create an impactful message which will have broad visibility in their community.

The Washburn students meet weekly with their mentors during Tuesday morning classes taught by art teacher Nancy Hinz. “It is an excellent opportunity for my students to collaborate with talented graphic design students while learning more about the design process and possible career options,” said Hinz. “They are so excited about their work being displayed for the general public to see!”

Lisa Musselman, Director of Volunteers for AIGA Minnesota and project coordinator for Create! Don’t Hate smiled when she commented that, “I don’t know who is more enthusiastic—the high school students or the college-aged mentors. This is definitely a win-win situation for everyone involved. There is lots of creative energy and inspiration going back and forth.”

One highlight will occur halfway through the project, when esteemed professional designers from the Twin Cities design community will join the mentor/mentee teams to offer constructive critiques. Then, during a celebration at the end of the project, several layouts will be selected for display on billboards throughout the metro area.

The Create! Don’t Hate project is an initiative of Design Ignites Change, a nationwide program that challenges students to use design thinking and innovation to explore and create solutions to pressing social problems, and is funded by Adobe Youth Voices and Worldstudio. AIGA Minnesota, one of the nation’s oldest and largest professional design organizations, has partnered with Adobe and Worldstudio to bring the project to the Twin Cities. To learn more, visitwww.designigniteschange.org

From Jeremy B. Graff, CIMA®, CFP® Director of Financial Planning Allodium Investment Consultants

On May 31st my wife Sarah (Soderlund) and I co-hosted a neighborhood house gathering with Mark & Carrie Bachman in the Tangletown neighborhood. We had over 40 people from our neighborhood show up interested to hear about the current state of Washburn High School. We had a very interactive and fun dialogue about the past and future of Wash- burn with many young families in the neighborhood. Our speakers included a current student, parent, teacher, and two alumni, all whom shared their experiences.

One of the reasons Sarah and I are motivated to reconnect with Washburn is because it seems like Washburn’s surrounding neighborhoods have lost some of their community feeling over the past 10-15 years because of the school district’s open enrollment. When we moved back to south Minneapolis in 2001, just a couple blocks from Washburn in Tangletown, we were immediately struck by how few of the high school aged kids went to Washburn. If you can believe it most of the neighborhood kids went to South or Southwest!
Many families that now live in the neighborhood have expressed confusion as to why more kids in the neighborhood don’t enroll at “that beautiful school down the street.” Through the foundation’s house gatherings we are educating Washburn’s neighborhoods about the legacy of the school’s past and its very bright future!

I’ve been teaching French in Minneapolis Public Schools since 1980. I’ve spent 22 of those years at Washburn High School. Many changes have taken place during those years, but one thing has not changed. Fantastic young people still come to Washburn to get an education. The faces and backgrounds of the students have changed, and there are fantastic young people who attend Washburn High School who bring with them incredible resources.

I was invited by David Buck to join the steering committee and represent the staff at Washburn. At first, I hesitated. After all, I am one of the more “seasoned” staff members at Washburn and I could take the easy road and decrease my involvement in the school. However, our commitment to the arts, sports, and high academic expectations for all students has inspired me and kept me energized. I’m looking forward to contributing any way I can to our school.

Nancy Gustafson French Teacher

There is much to talk about after the 2008-09 school year. I want to personally thank all of you who continue to be involved in the Miller family. We appreciate the many ways you contributed: attendance at the fall festival, alumni party, and our first musical, payment of buses to the State games, various other financial gifts. Your continued support is crucial.
The school year ended with students, staff and community proud of the myriad of accomplishments. Athletic teams and individual students continued to excel (State AAA basketball). The Miller music, theater and visual art performances (“The WIZ”) drew in our community and new student participation (Robotics team to nationals). We are proud of the academic successes for individual students (increase enrollment in honors and AP courses) and the overall improvements in the state tests (MCA’s; 13.3 point increase in reading in 10th grade and 5.75 point in- crease in Math for 11th grade).

The driving force behind our success is the enthusiasm, drive and creativity of the people who make all the programs work together. Throughout this past year and into the summer 100% of our staff have been engaged in staff development to learn new strategies and technologies in order to enhance learning and motivate students. It is the staff that will make the difference; the commitment is obvious when you walk through our doors. Along with the beautiful new paint in the hallways and strategic areas around the building, abundant examples of student work are displayed and students are ever present in the build- ing. WHS students are proud of their school and are eager to succeed.

Our belief is that all students and staff are expected to meet high standards through a rigorous curriculum. Therefore, this fall all entering 9th grade students will be enrolled in Honors English and Honors Geography. These students will be on collaborative teams that include English, Geography, and Fine Arts/Fitness for Life. A challenging curriculum for all students will be promoted by the policy of open access to Advanced Placement (AP), College in the Schools (CIS) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. To give more students access and to accommodate the varying paces of students, some AP and CIS courses will be taught over the entire year and or in conjunction with AVID strategies.

The staff at Washburn understands that a great high school opens a world of opportunities for all students and we are committed to providing the necessary knowledge, skills, and experiences to meet future challenges.

From Marianne Melton, IB Coordinator

Washburn, in 2007-08, conducted a feasibility study determining that the IB diploma programme was an attainable goal that would readily meet the needs of its diverse student body. Its emphasis in a holistic approach aligns with Washburn’s ideals to develop students in academics, in the arts and in athletics. To become an “authorized IB school,” schools must ap- ply in several steps and be accepted.

What is IB? The IBO is a non-profit educational foundation based in Geneva, Switzerland offering The Diploma Programme for students in grades 11 and 12, as well as programs for younger students. The Diploma Programme, created in 1968, is a de- manding pre-university course of study, designed for highly motivated students, leading to examinations which reflect attainment of knowledge based on set standards. (For more information on the organization visit its website: www.ibo.org).

WHS is enthusiastically pursuing the application process. IB trained staff is upgrading course outlines and the media center is seeking funds to accommodate international publications and the IB curriculum. By the start of school year 2010 Washburn will need to show evidence of 1)additional staffing for 7 period day with 50 minute periods; 2) additional sessions in world language for all students; 3)strengthened math and science; 4)future staff training, IB materials, professional development, and money for initial and ongoing fees.
All students may enroll in IB courses at Washburn. It is not an exclusive program for an elite few; thus, beginning this coming school year WHS will of- fer Honors For All in grade 9 in Language Arts and Social Studies. After-school tutoring will be available Monday-Thursday.
The IB Diploma Program is designed to help students become the best person they can be, to be: Inquirers, Knowledgeable, Thinkers, Communica- tors, Principled, Open-minded, Caring, Risk-takers, Balanced and Reflective.

“Building a Place We Belong” started take shape last year with a full house for the Fall Fine Arts Kick- Off and the award winning musical production of “The Wiz.” The Hennepin Theatre Trust SpotLight Program presented five actors from “The Wiz” with outstanding performance awards. The instrumental students participated at the State Solo & Ensemble Contest for the first time in many years and two the- atre classes were added to the course offerings.

With the number of students participating in the arts up over 300%, this upcoming year will feature a new select choir, a women’s choir and numerous additional theatre classes. A special project with Vocal Essence, a professional choir, has invited the select choir, Washburn Voices, to participate in their Cantare Program. Students will have the opportunity to work with a composer from Mexico to compose a new work for the Washburn Voices. The SpotLight musical will take place in March. Check the Wash- burn website for dates and details.

The auditorium is the center of all the new activity. The district is doing a number of structural and elec- trical updates this summer. This will not include new house lights, new seats and fresh paint. These will have to wait until additional funding can be secured. Please come take in an art show, a concert or the musical.    You won’t walk away disappointed!

Nancy Lee, Music Department

Many thanks to Greg Brinker of Fallon for putting so much effort into creating this awesome film about Washburn High School, it’s staff, students and community. It’s truly an amazing story about all the good things that are happening on West 50th street, and about all the good things to come. It’s about 18 minutes, but well worth your time. Click here if you would like to donate to our cause if you feel so inclined.

Robotics Team Coach and Washburn Physics Teacher Peter Grul and team members showed the near capacity crowd at the Windows of Opportunity Kickoff event Thursday evening that sports and arts aren’t the only impressive programs with lots of momentum at WHS. Grul, with team members at his side, showed the video above of his team successfully competing at state and regional events.

Kyle Hilding’s last-second kick lifted Washburn over North and gave the Millers their 45th consecutive victory in the Minneapolis City Conference on October 2, 2009. 

Watch Video of new Washburn student who kicked game-winning field goal.

Steve says:

I live in South MPLS in the shadow of Washburn just off of the Minnehaha
Creek with my wife and fellow WHS classmate, Merry Beck (Bergstrom). We
have a 1-year-old daughter named Ilsa Christine. I work for Lazard in
their middle market mergers and acquisitions practice, primarily
advising on the sale and recapitalization of different businesses. Merry
owns a shop and art gallery on 50th and Xerxes called Gallery 360 www.gallery360mpls.com

Both Merry and I remember our days at WHS with great affection. We both
feel that our experiences at WHS have been an incredibly important part
of who we are today. In fact, some of our best friends in the world are
the people that we were friends with during our high school days.

As home owners in the Washburn neighborhood, we are very happy to see a
resurgence of school pride and community involvement in a place that
represents so many good memories for us.

From Star Tribune writer Emily John, (October 5, 2009):

In southwest Minneapolis, a school revival is underway. Washburn High School, which in recent years lost hundreds of students and posted bottom-of-the-barrel test scores, is making a comeback. In the second year of a “fresh start” that has transformed how the school operates, Washburn has turned around much more quickly and dramatically than district officials predicted or could have hoped. Read story on Star Tribune.com

Read the story

As Star Tribune Columnist Pat Reusse points out in his recent story from Sunday, September 27, Giovan Jenkins is a guiding force in the hallways and on the football field at his alma mater, Washburn High School.

Coach Jenkins, a ’96 graduate of Washburn played football for MSU – Mankato. Currently he is in his third year as the Dean of Students at Washburn. Coach Jenkins has been involved with football at WHS for the past 8 years under the guidance of Peter Haugen.

He also has been an integral part of the summer Strength and Leadership Academy that has provided wonderful opportunities for students during the summer months.

“Washburn athletics has always been strong—and we’ll continue to bring out the best in our studentathletes. We believe balance and a holistic perspective is paramount in the development of future leaders.” – Dan Pratt, Athletic Director

“There are just more ideas in any one classroom at Washburn because of the diversity here.” – Luke Ellingson, Student

“I think the students have less peer pressure at Washburn because they don’t look alike, they’re more comfortable and accepting of their individuality.” — Linda Shay, Parent

“We are committed to providing a quality education for ALL the students who walk in our door today, no matter what part of the city they call home. The only way to make this possible is through the effort and expertise of high quality teachers, and a supportive and committed community. We will not settle for mediocrity.” — Carol Markham-Cousins, Washburn High School Principal

“I am a product of public education and I live in this neighborhood. What happens at Washburn relates to me as a member of the community.” – Kate DiCamillo, Author, Newbery Award Winner, Neighborhood Resident

“My experience at Washburn was great. The support I received from my teachers and the Counseling department in particular was remarkable. I thank the school for creating a safe environment where my passion for learning blossomed.” – Ifrah Biyoow, Carleton College Student, Class of ‘05

“The public education I received at Washburn High School paved the way for my future success. Excellence in education does not result from just the availability of resources, but rather from the involvement of the community in ensuring an environment that is conducive to producing a well rounded student. Washburn has always stood for excellence in academics, sports and the arts. I believe in the Minneapolis Public School System an in what can be accomplished through an involved community with dedicated students. Not even the sky is the limit.” – Bob Cabana, NASA Astronaut, Director of Kennedy Space Center, Class of 1967

“The arts are coming back to Washburn in a very dramatic way—buy a ticket, create with our students, contribute to the auditorium—come join our renaissance!” – Nancy Lee, Choir/Vocal Teacher

“Attending Washburn has had a significant impact on my life. It has taught me how to be a great student, provided me with infinite opportunities, and has been my Sherpa up the mountain to college. I am currently waiting on decisions from Harvard and Amherst, my two dream schools.” – Ian Ingersoll, Student, Class of ‘09

John Harden, a member of the WHS Foundation, speaks to the Washburn Community about exciting new developments at a meeting this past Spring.

Welcome to Principal Carol Markham-Cousins’ Page

Under the leadership of Principal Carol Markham-Cousins, Washburn High School is poised to be a leader in urban education once more, helping launch a variety of new initiatives, dramatically reorganizing staff and providing extra resources to improve student performance. Check back to this page from time to time for posts, videos, pictures and content from Principal Carol Markham-Cousins.

The Washburn Boys Soccer program has grown tremendously the last few years. Entering the 2009 season we have close to 60 players participating on three different teams. Our varsity team is stocked with a strong group of younger players. We have twelve 9th or 10th graders playing with the varsity team! All of our players have been working extremely hard since the middle of August and future looks really bright for Washburn soccer in the next few years.

In this video, Washburn’s dynamic new Principal Carol Markham-Cousins paints an exciting picture of of the High School’s future.

In this letter I will emphasize a few highlights and describe some of our goals and challenges for the upcoming year. I want to personally thank all of you who have been and continue to be involved in the Miller family. We appreciate the many ways you contributed; attendance at the fall festival, alumni party, payment of buses to the State Basketball Tournament games, attending our first musical, and various other financial gifts. Your continued support is crucial.

The school year ended with students, staff and community proud of the myriad of accomplishments. Athletic teams and individual students continued to excel (State AAA basketball champions).  The Miller music, theater and visual art performances (“The WIZ”) drew in our community and new student participation (Robotics team to nationals).   We are proud of the academic successes for individual students (increase enrollment in honors and AP courses) and the overall improvements in the state tests (MCA’s; 13.3 point increase in reading in 10th grade and 5.75 point increase in Math for 11th grade).

The driving force behind our success is not any particular program, it is the enthusiasm, drive and creativity of the people who make all the programs work together.  Throughout this past year and into the summer, 100% of our staff have been engaged in staff development to learn new strategies and technologies in order to enhance learning and motivate students.  As I have said repeatedly throughout the community, it is the staff that will make the difference. When we see ourselves working with the students and parents, we become the solution. Throughout this year and in the years to come we intend to retain and attract staff who love their work and are committed to helping students achieve their full potential. The high level of staff commitment is obvious when you walk through our doors. Along with the beautiful new paint in the hallways and strategic areas around the building, abundant examples of student work are displayed and students are ever present in the building. WHS students are proud of their school and are eager to succeed,

Our belief is that all students and staff are expected to meet high standards through a rigorous curriculum. Therefore, this fall all entering 9th grade students will be enrolled in Honors English and Honors Geography. These students will be on collaborative teams that include English, Geography, and Fine Arts/Fitness for Life.  A challenging curriculum for all students will be promoted at Washburn by the policy of open access to Advanced Placement (AP), College in the Schools (CIS) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. To give more students access and to accommodate the varying paces of students some AP and CIS courses will be taught over the entire year and or in conjunction with AVID strategies.

The staff at Washburn understands that a great high school opens a world of opportunities for all students and we are committed to providing the necessary knowledge, skills, and experiences to meet future challenges.

I look forward to more times together this year!

Please Join Us on October 8th at The Parkway Theater

The Washburn Foundation invites you to an evening of fun, music and food at the newly discovered Parkway Theater on 48th and Chicago on Thursday, October 8th. Music will be provided by Washburn Alumni’s own “The Thunderheads.” Food will be provided by Washburn neighborhood restaurant “Pepitos”.

Washburn Connections – Windows of Opportunity Kickoff Event – Invitation (PDF)

Washburn_Windows_of_Opportunity_Press_Release (PDF)

Windows of Opportunity Kickoff Event

October 8, 2009 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM
Location
The Parkway Theater
4814 Chicago Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55417

Price $20.00

6:30pm to 7:30pm — Food service and Cash Bar
7:30pm to 8:15pm – Keynote speaker and Washburn Movie
8:15pm to 9:30pm — Live Music by The Thunderheads

Purchase your tickets online at

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/76566

NOTE: No one under 21 years old will be admitted.

Event Parking is available in the City County Federal Credit Union Parking Lot after 6 PM on the evening of the event. Free Valet Parking is also available in front of Pepitos Restaurant.

For details, call 612-822-3030

Contact:
William J. Senkyr
4817 Chicago Ave So.
Minneapolis, MN 55417
612-827-2928
williamsenkyr@mac.com