Meandering Through Mini
By Doug Berg
Meandering Through Mini
By Doug Berg
As Mini-School begins its 17th year, it’s fun for the founders, Randy and I, to look back over 16 years of great memories and a rich tradition and to anticipate what the new school year will bring. It sure started well, with the article on Mini-School in the Sept/Oct issue of Sierra magazine (see Jeff Jambeck’s article). Wow! National, even international recognition! Many congratulations and inquiries about Mini-School (even from other states) have followed the publication of this article and I suppose more will be forthcoming. As fun as it is to get the recognition and get a big head for awhile, the daily happenings at Mini-School and the issues of the kids tend to put it all in perspective. Ah! Fame is fleeting. We sure thank Cynthia Runyan, the writer, the Sierra staff, and Ann Duff, local Sierra Club member who put them in touch with us, for all they did.
As was reported last year in Com-Mini-Cations, the school board okayed Mini-School trips for partial fulfillment of the two science credits now necessary for a student to graduate from Minnetonka High School. With this in mind, Randy and I spent a week this summer developing the concept further, meeting with Mr. Karels from the science department for his ideas (he was a great help!), writing some units and exercises for specific trips, but we’re on firm enough ground now that if a student wants to take the winter trip, for example, for science credit, we could lead him through a valid experience. To date, no student has expressed a need for the science trip experience, but as this year’s 10th grade class, which is the first to need the two credits, gets closer to graduation, I’m sure the option will increase in popularity.
Two excellent trips have gone out from Mini-School this fall (articles on them appear elsewhere in this issue) — Isle Royale and the Namekagon-St. Croix Rivers canoe trip. Seventeen students participated in these trips, the maximum that could. Both trips went extremely well. I enjoyed both groups very much and neither group had any problems that they couldn’t handle. If all the Mini-School trips this year go as well as these two, it’ll be a great year. Students like Howdy Doty, Jeff Jambeck, Paul Peterson, Eric Boettcher, Shelli Arnold, Mike Roufs, and Tracey Wasson are getting to be real trip veterans and provide a lot of leadership on these experiences.
Some other good news is that an agreement with District 287, a consortium of schools, will stabilize Mini-School staffing for this year and may for next year also. The bugs aren’t all worked out yet, but our staffing has not looked so secure since 1982. Also, Mini-School shares all of MHS’ anticipation about the completion of the construction. Next year it looks as though Mini-School should attain more space and more flexibility in our classroom space.
Several students went with Lester last week to Stymie’s (her husband) recording studio. Andy Jones, Jeff Jambeck, Rob Welch, Kris Henning, April Anderson and Mike Roufs learned how the studio works and then Stymie taught them what goes into writing a song. They have plans to compose and record a Mini-School song–should be interesting.
On the alumni front, Tony Zaun (the Bia Z) 1983, continues to maintain almost an “A” average at the U of M. He is in the running to be a foreign exchange student to Uruguay, and hopefully will attain this scholarship as his major is bilingual education (Spanish-English). Scott Campbell (’79) is employed by the International Fitness Corporation. Scott Nissen (’81) is also employed there. Dan Dostal (’79) is also at the University and also carrying nearly a straight “A” average. He had been majoring in Chemistry and is now awaiting acceptance into medical school and is also employed by University Hospital. Some people seem to feel that a Mini-School education automatically disqualifies a person from going to college. Mini-School’s philosophy always has been that if a student can turn a negative attitude around and attain some personal growth in high school, that too, for that particular student, is education, meaningful education which can lead to academic education. Academics can be learned any time, and they are important, but before they can be learned, often the attitude change and personal growth must take place. That’s what Mini-School is about – to help students reach their potential. Tony Zaun and Dan Dostal are prime examples of this. People who knew them in high school would never have predicted that either of them would go to college, much less attain the degree of academic excellence they have. Both credit Mini-School for preparing them for college. There is more than one way to prepare for college!
Gary Bachler “Bach”, “81”, is finishing a bricklaying course at the Vo-Tech school and is doing excellent work. He has maintained sobriety for two years. He is getting married on Valentine’s Day 1987, and is pulling out all the stops – a huge wedding, Caribbean cruise, the works! Congrats!
Also, earlier this year, Mini-School alumni Dave Force (’76) visited with his wife Lynn and their 3-year old boy, Eric. Dave and Lynn are expecting their second child. Dave is employed by the U.S.A.F. and in a distinguished career has attained the rank of sergeant. He is stationed in Florida. Dave and Lynn also made a generous cash donation to Mini-School and for this we thank them.
Lastly, Andrea Bohdan, ’85, gave birth last May 26th to a 9 1b. 15 oz. boy, Scott Michael. Andrea brought him around to show off this fall and he’s a real little tiger.
It’s really fun to keep in touch with all you alumni. If any other of you have news for us, get in touch.
That’s enough meandering for now, and it really is a meander. Take care. Enjoy Com-Mini-Cations.