The Wayzata High School Athletic Hall of Fame is proud to celebrate its inaugural induction class in the fall of 2024. Our purpose is to recognize and honor the accomplishments of the inductees and continue to develop pride in the rich athletic traditions of more than 100 years at Wayzata High School. Nominations are now being accepted in four distinctive categories including: Athlete, Coach, Trojan Award and W-Club. Learn more about the selection process and submit your nomination online on the Athletic Hall of Fame web page.
News & Information
The Family Newsletter is published weekly by Debra Lange. To submit an article request, please email whs.office@wayzataschools.org.
Parents/Guardians of current Wayzata High School students will automatically receive the Family Newsletter and other general information emails at the email address listed in Skyward Family Access.
News
Wayzata High School Headlines
Congratulations to the following Wayzata High School staff members who were recognized as November 2023 WPS Employees of the Month at this week's School Board meeting.
- Dave Droegemueller - WHS Math Teacher & Wrestling Coach
- Stephanie Ebert - WHS Family & Consumer Science Teacher and Career & Technical Education Coordinator
For the second consecutive year, Wayzata Public Schools has been recognized as the #1 Best Public School District in Minnesota by Niche as part of the publication’s 2024 Best Schools and Districts in America rankings. Wayzata High School ranked #1 among traditional public high schools in Minnesota.
District Headlines
On Friday, May 1, students and staff celebrated Spirit Day. We encouraged everyone to wear clothing that reflected their family heritage or personal identity to celebrate our "many cultures, one community" spirit.
On Friday, May 1, students and staff celebrated Spirit Day at Plymouth Creek. All were encouraged to wear clothing that reflected their family heritage or personal identity to celebrate our "many cultures, one community" spirit.
The event was a huge success. We were proud to feature three generations of Wayzata Public Schools teachers and alumnae who organized these events: Fauzia Siddiqui (Wayzata High School), Aliza Mashadi (Kimberly Lane Elementary School), and Eram Mashadi (Plymouth Creek Elementary School).
Central Middle School is very proud to honor and recognize Sarah Paul as the May Employee of the Month! Sarah Paul is a dedicated building substitute who has become an indispensable member of the Central Middle School team. She is known for being up for any classroom assignment and for approaching every challenge with a positive energy that resonates throughout the building. Sarah connects deeply with both students and staff, demonstrating an amazing work ethic and a reputation for reliability. If Sarah is given a task, the staff knows it will be completed with excellence.
Central Middle School is very proud to honor and recognize Sarah Paul as the May Employee of the Month! Sarah Paul is a dedicated building substitute who has become an indispensable member of the Central Middle School team. She is known for being up for any classroom assignment and for approaching every challenge with a positive energy that resonates throughout the building. Sarah connects deeply with both students and staff, demonstrating an amazing work ethic and a reputation for reliability. If Sarah is given a task, the staff knows it will be completed with excellence.
Her recent contributions highlight her willingness to go above and beyond for the CMS community:
- Instructional Leadership: Sarah stepped up to serve as an 8th-grade science teacher for the final weeks before winter break, providing students with a sense of calm, comfort and consistent support.
- Creative Collaboration: During her time in the classroom, she has collaborated with different teaching teams to develop creative ideas and solutions to ensure her students remain engaged and successful.
- Teacher Workroom Enhancement: Sarah went above and beyond to prepare the teacher workroom at CMS, creating a welcoming and functional workspace for her colleagues.
- Trojan Care Closet Development: Sarah was instrumental in clearing out and decluttering the PTA storage area, preparing the space to house food, hygiene, and clothing resources for students.
The following quotes reflect the dedication, creativity, and support Sarah brings to students and colleagues:
"Her can-do attitude is contagious... we appreciate your hard work and positive energy, Sarah!"
"The science team appreciates you! It was awesome to collaborate and see Sarah be creative with ideas on how to make things work for her and her students."
"I knew that I could depend on her to get the space ready... we are now able to better support all of our students at CMS."
Congratulations to Sarah Paul for being named the May Employee of the Month! We are grateful for your dedication and the positive impact you make each day.
The district has selected Amanda Tveitbakk, Katie O’Connell, and Cassie vanKoeverden as the new principals for Gleason Lake, Oakwood, and Sunset Hill elementary schools. These leaders will officially begin their new roles on July 1.
Wayzata Public Schools is pleased to share the selection of three new elementary school principals following a comprehensive and thoughtful process that included input from staff, families, and district leadership, along with multiple rounds of interviews and engagement.
After careful consideration, we are excited to announce:
- Amanda Tveitbakk as principal of Gleason Lake Elementary
- Katie O’Connell as principal of Oakwood Elementary
- Cassie vanKoeverden as principal of Sunset Hill Elementary
Each of these leaders demonstrated a strong commitment to student-centered leadership, academic excellence, and building meaningful relationships with students, staff and families. We are confident they will build on the strong foundations at their respective schools and continue to support high levels of learning and belonging for every student.
Superintendent Chace Anderson shared, “Thank you to the many staff and families who took part in this important process. These are strong leaders who put students at the center of their work and understand the importance of relationships in our schools. I’m confident in each of them and in the future of these school communities. I also look forward to working alongside incoming Superintendent Robb Virgin to ensure a smooth transition and continued success across our district.”
Please join us in welcoming these new principals to their school communities and the district. We look forward to the leadership and partnership they will bring starting July 1 and continuing in the years ahead.