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2007-2008 MESPA Minnesota School of Excellence
Isle Public Schools, ISD #739
"Developing life-long learners is essential to guarantee a strong, vibrant school and community."
Michael Conner is the principal of Nyquist Elementary School, which houses approximately 300 students in grades K-6 and serves a large contingent of Native American families. Since the physical layout of the building is an open classroom setting, staff can observe students in all locations. This creates a setting where everyone is involved in creating a strong and safe climate for learning.
Nyquist Elementary School is also part of the Rum River Special Education Cooperative. It is through the cooperative that the school has access to behavior specialists, occupational therapists, and psychologists. These resources available to the children and their families encourage the building of a strong collaborative effort between the school and home. One of the growing components of in-house resources are parent and community volunteers and a partnership with Catholic Charities and Experience Works where seniors are recruited to help in various program areas in the school.
The vision for Nyquist Elementary School is one that continually seeks to improve academic performance while also enhancing the working relationships between the school, home, and community. Conner, as instructional leader, actively encourages and supports learning by students and staff alike. The needs of the teachers are constantly monitored in order to achieve success for the students. The teachers are driven to make significant changes in student progress using student data and information. They gather as grade level partners every day to share information and regularly with members of the combined grades to discuss strategies for success. The entire school has also embraced technology as a means to support instruction and ultimately student performance.
At Nyquist ElementarySchool there is a celebration and spirit that surrounds you as you enter the building -- from the pictures and examples of student work, to the friendly students and staff who greet you. All stakeholders in the school and community have collaborated to achieve this warm, open environment. It is in this climate that the school will continue to develop and foster a community of learners.
As principal, Michael Conner believes “that developing life-long learners is essential to guarantee a strong, vibrant school and community. This can be accomplished by the collaboration of all the stakeholders to guarantee a challenging and rewarding educational experience.”
Nyquist Elementary Minnesota School of Excellence Celebration:
May 16, 2008
1 p.m.
Nyquist Elementary School will hold a celebration to honor its Minnesota School of Excellence validation on Friday, May 16. The community has been invited to participate and this will be a vibrant, active event – with children, families, school staff, and community dignitaries. The celebration will be preceded by an outdoor bag-lunch picnic celebration at 11 a.m. (inside, if it rains).
The celebration program begins at 1 p.m. with Native American drummers, followed by the school band playing the school song, and a Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts color guard. During the short program, students from each grade level (K-6) will read their essays on “What Makes Nyquist Elementary a School of Excellence?” The focus will be on the students and the celebration will close, or “lift off”, with an outdoor balloon release!
In addition to the community of school parents, community and education dignitaries will include: Allen Ralston, superintendent, Isle Public Schools; and Matthew Dorschner, Minnesota School of Excellence Program Chair, who will present the Nyquist school community with a Minnesota School of Excellence plaque.
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