Building Strength with Weight Training Club

By Zander Rothstein

Forest Lake, Minn. – North Lakes Academy students are growing stronger thanks to the Weight Training Club. The club is for students who want to get in shape, build muscle, or just lift weights with friends. 

Brandon Rothenhoefer, also known as Mr. R to students, is the staff advisor for the club, and he has a positive outlook for its future:

“I see this club lasting the rest of the year, going into summer, and as well starting next year,” he siad.

Rothenhoefer joined the club when Mitch Houle, NLA teacher and basketball coach, was managing it. 

“He started [coaching] basketball and didn’t want to do both, so he told me I could lead the club myself,” he said. “I’ve wanted to do weight lifting for a while before that point so it was perfect for me.”

If you would like to join the Weight Lifting Club, it is open to all and meets every Monday through Wednesday after school from 2:30 to 3:30 PM.

NLA Aims to Eliminate Cafeteria Waste from Trays, Utensils

By Gavin Maki-Jones

Each year, North Lakes Academy spends thousands of dollars on styrofoam trays and plastic utensils. The school is now applying for a grant through Washington County to eliminate all of that waste by installing dishwashers.  

The waste has been an environmental and financial problem for a long time.  

“We use approximately 24,780 trays at the Upper School per year and 30,975 at K-6,” said Chelsie Thielen, NLA’s environmental education coordinator. 

“Having each person use one tray, a fork, and/or spoon each time they eat lunch adds up quickly: the school spends around $7750 each year on single-use trays and utensils”, Thielen said. 

There’s also the cost of garbage collection.  

“We pay per garbage pickup,” Thielen said. “If we’re throwing away less, we have fewer pickups, so we pay less.” 

There is also the environmental component – putting so much styrofoam and plastic in the trash is not good for the environment, and NLA has an obligation to its authorizer, Osprey Wilds, to reduce waste.

“Osprey WIlds decides whether we get to continue to be a school, and it doesn’t like how much trash we are currently generating.  We need to be better about how we use our resources,” Thielen said.

While there are options like compostable trays, the best solution would be installing a dishwasher. NLA is working with a non-profit called Biz Recycling to write a grant for dishwashers, as well as reusable trays and cutlery, and the cost of installation.  If this goes through, NLA will receive somewhere between $20,000 and $30,000.  

Dishwashers would mean some changes for staff and students.

 “It will give me more work to do,” said Patty Jelinek, the 7-12 lunch coordinator. “To start, I will need to order cleaning supplies for the new dishwasher.” Jelinek will also need to attend to the kitchen more due to having to wash, dry, and store the dishes.

Student opinions are mixed. The majority are in favor of the reusable ones. Some say that the reusable trays are less sanitary; others say they are easier to eat off of. In the end, the majority said that the trays are better for the environment and the students.

 The next step is to improve the district’s recycling program.

“Garbage is taxed heavier than recycling or composting in our county, so we’d likely save a few thousand more by implementing better recycling programs to make sure that all recyclable material makes it into recycling and not the trash,” Thielen said.  “That’s our next project.”

Here Comes the K-3 Musical!

By Lily Lachmiller

North Lakes Academy elementary students will perform their first-ever musical this spring. The play is Ba da Bing! It’s Spring! by Teresa Jennings and features grades K-3. It is directed by Abigail Conzett, the school’s music teacher.

“[It] tells the story of children (played by our third graders) who are tired of waiting for the flowers (played by our kindergarten and 1st graders) to pop up after the long winter. The dandelions (played by our second graders) are disliked for being weeds, but end up discovering how to get the flowers to bloom and save spring.”

While this will be the first musical NLA Elementary has ever done, it is not the first time that Conzett will be directing it. She produced the musical at the first school she worked at, and she is looking forward to seeing new students on the stage.

So far the rehearsals are going great. The kids have already learned three out of the five songs they need to know. The next step is to assign speaking parts to interested students.

“I love this musical, and I think it is a great introduction into musical theater for young singers. It is fun, silly, and, so far, they have all been rock stars in learning everything. I look forward to seeing how they progress and the great show they’ll deliver,” Conzett said.

Conzett is no stranger to the world of musicals.

“When I was in high school I participated in every spring musical our drama department put on and absolutely loved it,” she said.

If you would like to come support NLA Elementary, come to see Ba da Bing! It’s Spring on May 9th in the elementary gym. Time is currently to be determined; The Husky Press will update this information as soon as it is available.

7-8 Teachers Acclimating Well After Move to Upper School

By Dustin Jensen

In January, North Lakes Academy went through a major change: it moved grades 7 and 8 to the Upper School building as part of a greater effort to bring the NLA community closer together. This was a major adjustment for students, but it was also a major adjustment for the 7-8 teachers – Forrest Florczak, Marcia Graetz, Dan Mendenhall, Lynda Nelson-Williams, Jeff Rapp, and Emily Thompson – had to pack up their classrooms and move across 35 as well.

According to most teachers, the transition went well.

“It went very smoothly,” said Thompson, who also added high school courses to her schedule in addition to the move; she now teaches 7-12 Spanish.

“It was mostly seamless,” Mendenhall said.

Multiple teachers went on to show appreciation for parents, staff, and others who helped.

“Staff and students have been supportive and welcoming,” Graetz said. “It was so helpful to have everyone help with the move too.”

All of the teachers felt that the best part about being at the Upper School was seeing former students.

“It’s good to reconnect with former students and interact with students I didn’t have in 7th and 8th grade,” Mendenhall said.

Graetz appreciates the Upper School culture.

“The culture is very inclusive and the students work very hard and are determined to be amazing adults,” she said.

When asking what the hardest part of the transition has been, most teachers agreed that “Creating a new routine” as Mr Florsak put it, has been one of the biggest struggles. 

As for their students, all of the teachers say that the middle school students are doing amazingly.

“[They] are thriving!” Graetz said.

There were understandably some parental concerns about bringing younger students over to what was, at the time, a high school-only environment. When asked what possible closure they could give to the parents who had concerns about the transition, Mendenhall comments, “I would encourage them to talk with their student(s) to get their perspective.  I haven’t heard anything but positive comments from the students.”

This is comforting, especially matched with Thompson’s response:

“I truly believe this was the best move.”

As with every big change, there is room for improvement. Most teachers agreed fine-tuning the schedule would be the best (and this is in the works for the 2024-25 school year). Graetz added that the school should focus on building career-focused opportunities for students

“[We should be] building community and business relationships and job training connections for students so they can better plan for becoming amazing working adults.”

Finally when asked what they are looking forward to for this school, all of the teachers commented on being excited to see the growth of the school and culture.

“I believe that moving to the elementary and secondary building model was a good move for our school. If we look around, we see that this is the most common model for charter schools. Now that we are settling in, I can see why. The Upper School students bring excitement and maturity, and the Middle School students get a glimpse of their future here at NLA. I can’t wait to see how this continues to impact us all!” Thompson said.

NLA Wraps Up 2024 One Act Play Season

By Kaden Hine and Marquise Poncelet

Forest Lake, Minn. – The One Act Play cast and crew just wrapped up its second season in January. The group meets after school from September to January to put together a 35 minute production that is used in an MSHSL competition at the end of January. This year’s play was The Greek Mythology Olympiaganza and featured an assortment of Greek myths, like Cronos, Pandora, Zeus, and the Trojan War.

“I think the concept of the One Act Play competition is super interesting because people who are into theater and art don’t get to compete like people in sports do, even if they want to,“ said Amber Huff (9) who played Pandora and the narrator in the production. “The One Act Play allows actors a chance at entering in a competition where they can actually have a chance at winning.”

The One Act Play helps people grow in many different skills, like acting and how to work background equipment.

“I personally did the sound for The Greek Mythology Olympiaganza this year and it was a lot of fun,” said Izaac Miller (11). “I basically add the comedic sound effects and think up new ideas for sounds we could use.”

The NLA One Act Play cast values the performance they put on, but they care about the cast having fun while doing so. One Act Play member Eztli Tallman (11), who played Orpheus, has this to say to people who might want to join: “It’s so much fun. You don’t have to be good at acting to be in it, you’ll get a role anyway, or you can be a part of the crew. It’s a fun thing we do, and we care less about the competition and more about the fun we have while practicing.”

The Upper School students got to experience the play firsthand, getting time off from school during the day to watch the performance. There was laughter, sadness, and applause from the audience, showing that the performance was very well made and fun at the same time.

Due to the success of the One Act Play over the last few years, NLA has also added a spring play to its growing list of extracurriculars. This year’s production is Game of Tiaras by Don Zolidis. Performances will be Friday, May 10th at 7:00 PM and Saturday, May 11th, at 2 and 7 PM in the K-6 gymnasium. Tickets are $5 at the door.

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.