By Chuck Friedbauer

Checking out a library book may not top the list of exciting daily activities for a middle school student.

But checking out books may have become a little more exciting for District 112 students with the recent startup of a new library catalog management system. It is designed to engage students more and make book management much easier, while at the same time aiding district reading goals.

On May 31, the school district is holding a reception honoring 23 retirees. "Some are already out the door and others will be here until the end of the school year. We are losing some of the best of the best this year," states the latest District 112 newsletter.

Here are the honorees:

Tricia Adams – Clover Ridge Elementary – 3-4th grade teacher – 10 years

Pam Anderson – Kindergarten Center – Speech – 30 years

Laura Batzli – Chanhassen High – Science teacher – 32 years

By Dorothy Clark-Miles

We at CHS are extremely proud of our graduates.

This is a time for celebrating the results of their rigorous coursework, dedication and commitment over the past 12 years.

The end is finally here: prom; their last baseball or track or lacrosse season; the final band or choir concert; the last of their drama events; the last speech contest; finals; graduation.

By Police Chief Scott Knight

From Monday, April 19 through Sunday, April 25, 11 people have been killed on Minnesota roadways.

By Chuck Friedbauer

The message of freedom of speech can be heard loud and clear at Chaska High School, even if that message is silent.

On April 16, the school held its annual Day of Silence, as one of several events throughout the school year to celebrate and support diversity.

By Chuck Friedbauer

The District 112 Foundation announced Mary Perrine, a teacher at Chaska Middle School East, was chosen as the 2010 District 112 Teacher of the Year.

Perrine was selected from a field of five teachers, including Rob Jacobs of Chaska High School, Jeanne LaMoore of Pioneer Ridge Middle School, Jodi O’Brien of Clover Ridge Elementary and Jennifer Stone of Chaska High School.

The Chaska High School Class of 1975 reunion committee is working on plans for its 35th class reunion on Oct. 9, 2010. In an attempt to contact as many classmates as possible, e-mail your contact information including name and address to Jean Personius at [email protected].

Include information on any other class members that you may have, the reunion committee would like to contact as many people as possible.

By Chuck Friedbauer

The teacher’s contract between School District 112 and the Chaska Education Association was accepted unanimously by the District 112 school board at its last meeting.

The contract covers July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2011. The salary schedule for all teachers will remain the same as that for the 2008-09 contract year.

By Chuck Friedbauer

The basic requirement for participation on a speech team is, well, that the individual can speak.

So the fact that Chaska High School Speech team participant Ellyn Daniel had lost her voice and answered questions about next week’s Speak Easy event in written form was a bit ironic.

“Parents, friends and everyone else in attendance will have a chance to see the talent which is usually hidden,” she wrote.

By Chuck Friedbauer

The District 112 Foundation has announced five finalists for the 2010 District 112 Foundation Teacher of the Year Award.

Finalists include Rob Jacobs, engineering teacher at Chaska High School; Jeanne LaMoore, Pioneer Ridge Middle School media specialist; Jodi O’Brien, first-grade teacher at Clover Ridge Elementary School; Mary Perrine, Chaska Middle School East math teacher; and Jennifer Stone, Chaska High School math teacher.