Good News from School District 199

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Here is a glance at district news from the Inver Grove Heights Community Schools website. Click on the bolded headlines to links to photos on the website. 

Middle Schoolers raise almost $1,100 through Cold Noses, Warm Hearts
Three local families will have a little warmer winter this year because of the support from Inver Grove Heights Middle School. Students and staff raised almost $1,100 for Neighbors, Inc. through a Cold Noses, Warm Hearts campaign.  

Student council members and other volunteers used the money to purchase winter gear and other items for the families. The school also received donations from Cub, Target and Walmart. Supporters shopped and wrapped presents for the three families earlier in the month. Thanks, Middle Schoolers, for showing your big holiday and spartan spirit.

Students use solar power to set vehicles in motion
Simley High School students in Ms. Haak's Principles of Engineering class recently designed mini vehicles that could run off of hydrogen fuel cells. The cells were charged by a high-powered lamp, acting as the sun, and the solar power split water into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. Once the hydrogen cells were charged up, students tested their vehicles to see which design could cover the most ground.

Seventh-graders travel through time with the big kids from Inver Hills
Social studies students learned about world history from the big kids on December 8. Students from Inver Hills Community College (IHCC) used display boards to navigate seventh-graders on discussions through time.

The IHCC students shared knowledge about dominant civilizations. Each station focused on a unique time period or society including Egypt, Mesopotamia, Sparta and China.

Presenters from Inver Hills are enrolled in the World History to 1500 course at Inver Hills. This experience was the first stage of a service learning project between IHCC and IGHMS.

Each District 199 elementary school receives the USDA Healthier US School Challenge Silver Award
Inver Grove Heights Community Schools has received a Certificate of Achievement in recognition of achieving the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Healthier US School Challenge (HUSSC) Silver Award for each of our elementary schools.

The HUSSC was established to recognize schools that are creating healthier school environments through their promotion of good nutrition and physical activity. To qualify for the award, schools had to submit a formal application and meet criteria set forth by the USDA and Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). The goal of the HUSSC is to improve the health of the nation's children by promoting healthier school environments. To receive the award, FNS identified schools that have made changes to the school nutrition environment to:
• Serve quality nutritious food meeting federal regulatory requirements.
• Provide students with nutrition education.
• Provide students with physical education an opportunity for physical activity.

Congratulations to the Hilltop, Pine Bend and Salem Hills Elementary Schools for being recognized as HUSSC Silver Award recipients.

IGHMS students and staff raise more than $600 through a Barnes & Noble book fair
[Recently], Inver Grove Heights Middle School hosted a bookfair at Barnes & Noble in Eagan. Students and staff raised more than $600 for the school library. 

Thank you to everyone who came out to support IGHMS. A special thanks to Short Dance Studios and The Heights Ballet Company, Girl Scout Troops 55353 and 53606, IGHMS Student Council and Student Leadership Team Members, and the 7th Grade Art Teachers and Artists.