Aviation school at Blaine elementary is taking flight
by Sue Austreng
Staff writer
For all those kids who’ve ever dreamed of going to the moon, for every kid who’s ever wanted to blast off for outer space, a new District 11 specialty school awaits your attendance.
University Avenue Specialty School for Aviation, Children’s Engineering and Sciences (ACES) hosts an open house Tuesday, Jan. 11, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Image courtesy of Anoka-Hennepin School District
Come this fall, University Avenue Elementary School will take flight as the only aviation and aeronautics specialty school in District 11: University Avenue Specialty School for Aviation, Children’s Engineering and Sciences (ACES).
To prep for take-off, the school hosts an open house Tuesday, Jan. 11, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Families are invited to tour the school building and learn more about the specialty programs and partnerships that will adorn the aviation and aeronautics atmosphere.
ACES partnerships
While attending the specialty school, ACES students’ education will be enriched through the school’s unique partnerships, partnerships that include:
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
• The Space Foundation
• Jackson Middle School’s observatory
• St. Catherine’s University
• The Minnesota Department of Transportation Aviation Division
• Anoka County Airport
• Civil Air Patrol
• STEP High School
• Anoka Technical College
Mary Fonken-Holden, director of student services for the district, described the unique features offered with those partnerships.
“The students will connect via video with NASA to view flights and inter-solar system projects. Astronauts and scientists and engineers from the University of Minnesota who work with NASA will visit the school,” she said. “Students will also work with NASA personnel and Dee McClellan, Jackson’s observatory coordinator, during monthly field trips to the observatory.”
Through the partnership with St. Catherine’s University, female fourth- and fifth-grade students will take part in the Girls in Engineering, Math and Science program (GEMS).
GEMS, a Saturday program, will offer girls chemistry, engineering, and biology workshops on the university’s St. Paul campus.
Those workshops will be taught by female professors and engineering/science college students.
According to Fonken-Holden, the Department of Transportation will take students where the public cannot go, including flight control towers, on board aircraft, to National Guard Centers, and on airport tours.
“The Minnesota Glider Club will bring in a glider (on the first day of school),” Fonken-Holden said, reporting that organizers are attempting to bring in a Black Hawk helicopter, as well.
Unique school
University Avenue ACES will be one of just two aviation magnet schools in the state, and will also offer all-day, everyday kindergarten.
The only other aviation magnet school in Minnesota is Farnsworth Aerospace, which is in the St. Paul School District.
According to Fonken-Holden, University Avenue’s diverse student population mirrors the population at Farnsworth and, she said, “(Farnsworth) has been very successful since it became a specialty school.”
“This is exactly what we need,” she said.
Examining ACES
Opening the University Avenue ACES means adding engineering and aeronautics curriculum to the district’s guaranteed curriculum, said Fonken-Holden.
With a growing need for workers in jobs that require math, science and engineering, Anoka-Hennepin School Boardmember Marci Anderson, whose district includes University Avenue Elementary School, said providing opportunities in those subject areas was ideal.
“It also works well as a feeder program into the CEMS (Center for Engineering, Mathematics and Science) program that is currently offered at Blaine High School,” Anderson said. “I would love to see University and Blaine High School become a statewide beacon for kids and families who love science and want to immerse in that focus of learning.”
“There’s lots of interest, lots of excitement. We’re thrilled to offer this specialty school in District 11,” said Fonken-Holden.
There are currently only 120 student spaces still available at University Avenue ACES, so Fonken-Holden urges parents to complete the application process before the first application deadline, Jan. 15.
The lottery system is used to select students and during the week of Jan. 31, lottery notification letters will be sent to selected families, Fonken-Holden said.
Selected families have until March 4 to accept and enroll their child in ACES.
Application can be completed online via the Northwest Suburban Integration School District website (www.nws.k12.mn.us).
Sue Austreng is at sue.austreng@ecm-inc.com
