Track and Field Season is Underway

By Allisha Enger and Claire Erickson

March 18, 2024

Forest Lake, Minn. – Running is a lifelong activity with many benefits. Track is a great way to get faster, better, and competitive, and the North Lakes Academy Track and Field team is no exception.The NLA Track Team started practices for its 2024 season last week.  The team consists of roughly 70 students from both NLA and Lakes International Language Academy (LILA). It competes with many other schools including Spectrum, PACT, and Legacy Christian Academy. 

The track team competes at competitions called “meets.” These take place at other schools.  Events at a meet always go in the same order, and the track events and field events are at the same time, so athletes typically need to go back and forth between events if they are in more than one. NLA’s first meet is in early April. 

Track is a very interactive and social sport, and many kids join the team to make friends and improve their physique. 

“It’s a fun environment with really kind people who support each other,” said Lucia Woehrle (11), the team manager, “You can get closer with your peers, compete with other schools, and work out”. 

To excel in track and field, one needs lots of practice, according to Coach Hope Christensen.

“Anyone can become a runner, but, to be fast, you need to put in a lot of time and effort. Working on running form and strengthening muscles is a big part of excelling in track,” she said.  

The sport isn’t just about running, either.  There are a variety of options when it comes to track and field.

“There is something for everyone,” Christensen said.  “There are fast sprints, and long distance runs. We also have field events like throwing and jumping events. We also have relay events that are always popular.” 

Track and field athletes condition their bodies by practicing, regularly jogging, and doing breathing exercises, but not all of the benefits of the sport are physical. 

“I think from all the years I have done track, I have not just learned how to be better at the sport, I have learned life skills and tips I need for talking to others and taking care of myself,” said Graciana Conway (10).

Annual Cookie Sale Underway for NLA’s Girl Scouts

By Mae San Nicolas

March 18, 2024

Forest Lake, Minn. – Girl Scout Cookie Season has started in full force across the United States, with beloved flavors such as Thin Mints & Samoas making a return in 2024. 

For starters, not much has changed since last year, except the cost. Cookies have gone up in price by one dollar – your box of Thin Mints will run you $6 instead of $5. Shrinkflation has not come to the boxes, fortunately enough— the packages still contain the same amount of cookies as they did in the past, with the same great flavor. 

There are many places to find cookies. For starters, check outside your local stores for the trademark pop-up booths. You can find them outside any business; the Girl Scouts just have to ask if they can set up shop out front. The Forest Lake Wal-Mart is an excellent place to look. Another good place to buy cookies is from a specific Girl Scout you would like to support, such as a niece or sister; a new QR code system has been implemented where you can purchase directly from the individual by scanning. 

The sales of cookies fund multiple opportunities that give back to the community. Cookie sales provide Scouts with funding for field trips and trips to provide community service, like going to Feed My Starving Children. 

Unfortunately, cookie sales have been slow this year. According to Kassy Sjobolm (11) who has been a member of the Girl Scouts since kindergarten, she has only sold around 500 boxes as of right now. Compared to the past years, in which she has regularly sold 1000 boxes every season, this is a massive decrease in sales.

The sale runs through March 24th, so if you are craving a box of cookies some time this week and would like to support a fellow student at the same time, order cookies directly from Sjoblom using the QR code below.

Annual 11-12 Osprey Wilds Trip a Success

By Zechariah San Nicolas and Dylan Schultz

March 18, 2024

Forest Lake, Minn. – Last November, NLA’s juniors and seniors, as well as NLA teachers Allison Tucker, Chelsie Thielen, Amanda Fredlund, and Halie Weaving, all went on a trip to Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning Center in Sandstone, Minnesota. While there, they participated in many activities like creating makeshift outdoor shelters, playing Predator vs Prey, doing archery and many other cool activities. The weather was damp and chilly (as it is in Minnesota during November), but it was fine for those who dressed for the occasion.

The Osprey Wilds organization is an authorizer of many charter schools across the state of Minnesota; North Lakes Academy is one of them. 

“One of our missions is to teach the youth about the environment, and the Osprey trip is one way that we do that,” said Thielen, who is the school’s Environmental Education Coordinator.  This was achieved by playing fun games like Predator vs Prey, which taught students about food chains, or being taught about the importance of green energy. The students spent time in contact with nature, eating s’mores, going on night hikes, and even building forest forts. The creativity of the students was on full display for that activity. 

“[Some kids] built an entire gazebo between the trees, others put up a rope swing,” Thielen said.  

Despite being in the woods, the trip doesn’t involve any camping.  Students stay in dorms with bunk beds and their own bathroom. They ate locally grown and homemade food, which was reportedly pretty yummy.

The trip was a great way to understand the environment (and how to protect it), while still having fun and giving students the freedom and fun that they deserve.  A wonderful time was had and this year’s juniors are looking forward to their senior trip.

The Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning Center is located on Grindstone Lake in Pine County, Minnesota.  You don’t have to be on a school trip to visit; it is open to the public,and they have several community events a year, including the upcoming Maple Sugar Day on Saturday, March 23, where participants tap maple trees and learn how syrup is made. To find out more, visit ospreywilds.org.

Jack Johnson Shares Secrets for Hair Success

By Torra Berube

We all know Jack Johnson (11), and we all know his hair. Either up in his signature man bun or free and flowing, we’ve all wondered one thing at least once: What is Jack Johnson’s hair routine? Because NLA wants to know what makes his hair so luscious, Johnson shared his hair care routine secrets with The Husky Press in the Upstairs Commons last week.

HP: What shampoo and conditioner do you use?

JJ: I use Aveeno.

HP: Aveeno is an American made skin care and hair care brand. The most common use is their shampoo and conditioner, specifically their dandruff and oat milk, which is labeled as scalp-soothing. What made you start growing your hair out?

JJ: I don’t know, It just kind of happened.

HP: What other, if any, products do you use in your hair?

JJ: Sometimes I use hair masks. I’m looking for something to make it more radiant, more shiny. I also use cocoa butter.

HP: Some benefits of hair masks are diminished frizz, reduced hair damage, and softer hair. Some benefits of cocoa butter are repairing damaged hair and further preventing hair breakage. Jack, would you say that it’s easier or harder to maintain your hair?

JJ: It’s pretty easy.

HP: How often do you wash your hair?

JJ: At least every other day.

HP: The time when someone should wash their hair is different for each person. Some people tend to wash their hair every other day or even every two to three days. But a variety of factors can impact how often you should shampoo. They include age, ethnic background, hair length, hair type, and activity level. Do you use any curly hair products to make your hair more curly?

JJ: Nope, my curls are natural.

HP: Less than 20% of people have naturally curly hair. The percentage gets even smaller when you consider the guys out there who don’t embrace their curls. How much longer do you plan to grow it out?

JJ: I don’t know.

HP: Have you dyed your hair before, if not, would you?

JJ: I haven’t dyed my hair yet but I’ve been thinking about bleaching it; I think that would be kinda funny.

HP: If you were to get your haircut, how much would you want off?

JJ: Probably 8 inches.

HP: How often do you get your hair trimmed?

JJ: I don’t actually get my hair cut. My ends are pretty dead. 

HP: Those hair masks aren’t doing their job then… Opinion on claw clips?

JJ: Love them.

HP: Would you let someone style your hair? Such as boxer braids or a french braid?

JJ: Yes, yes

What is the NLA School Board?

By Ryan Yang

Forest Lake, Minn. – Many people have heard of the NLA School Board, but not everyone knows what it does.  The NLA School Board is a group of parents, teachers, community members, and administrators who manage the finances and make policies for the school. 

The board has four cabinet positions; these are leadership roles within the board, according to Board Chair Doug Hine. The four cabinet positions are Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer. The chair leads the meetings and sets the plan. The vice chair assists the chair in their role. The secretary sends the plan to the public and takes notes that they send to the public. The treasurer looks over the budget and manages it.

There are different kinds of seats on the Board, and these can only be filled by certain people.  The parent seats are held by Doug Hine, Anna Hassmann, and Emma Fisher. The community seat is held by Chris Dale. Teacher seats are held by Jeff Rapp, Allison Tucker, Laura Delvillar, and Mitch Houle.  Cecelia Dodge, the school’s Executive Director, also sits on the Board as a non-voting member.

Board Meetings are open to the public; they can be attended by everyone.  The group meets on the third Monday of every month at the NLA Upper School in Room 203.

NHS Family Dodgeball Tournament in the Works

By Jadyn Cotten

March 14, 2024

Forest Lake, Minn. – The NLA chapter of the National Honor Society plans to have a family dodgeball tournament on Saturday, May 4th. The cost is $25 per person/team, and each team can have up to 10 players. 

Fifty percent of the dodgeball profits go to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), a global organization that works to promote policies and expand access to services that protect all children, according to the UNICEF website. 

There will also be concessions and a bake sale during the tournament, according to Allison Tucker, NLA social studies teacher and the NHS faculty advisor. 
The location and time of this tournament are still to be determined; The Husky Press will provide an update when that information becomes available.

New Location for NLA 6-8 Ski Trip a Big Success

By Taven Berube and Kaylee Gohl

March 13, 2024

Forest Lake, Minn. – North Lakes Academy’s 7th and 8th graders went on their annual field trip to Trollhaugen Ski Resort in Dresser, Wisconsin, on February 14th, 2024. “This field trip allows students to get out of their comfort zones and try something new that only a few kids can do often because of expenses”, said Emily Thompson, NLA Spanish teacher and the organizer of the event.

On this field trip, there are many activities, and not all of them involve winter sports. Students can ski, snowboard, tube, and/or just hang out inside.  If they get tired of hitting the slopes, or if they do not want to ski or snowboard, students hang out inside, where they play games and talk with their friends. 

The location is a change from previous years.  NLA used to bring the students to Wild Mountain in Taylors Falls, Minnesota, but has found it easier to work with Trollhaugen’s management, Thompson said. 

Lots of organization was needed before the trip could occur. NLA staff sent out permission forms to parents that consisted of information about the trip as well as the required ski and snowboard rental forms. Closer to the date of this field trip, staff sent out emails to make sure they had the full head count of who was going so Trollhaugen could get the rental forms filled out.