The Shakopee Police Department invites youth ages 15 to 20 to come and check out Police Explorers during a “1st Nighter” event set for 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16 at Shakopee Police Department, 475 Gorman St.

This information night will show interested youth what it is that Explorers do, from learning about police and police scenarios to volunteer work, ride-alongs and participation in community events.

West Metro Learning Connections (WMLC) has a new satellite location in Savage.

Come to the open house on Friday, Sept. 12 from 5-8 p.m. to meet staff, take a tour, enjoy a roasted hot dog and play air hockey, or other games.

Go to the Web site at www.wmlc.biz or contact Janet Gressman at the Excelsior Corporate Office at (952) 474-0227, extension 206, for more details, for the exact location of the school and to RSVP. 

Fall classes in Savage will run from Sept. 22 to Nov. 22. Individual meetings prior to the open house are also available by appointment.

By Joanna Miller, Correspondent 

The discussion about removing a rare forest located on Prior Lake High School property will continue after a split vote Monday night (Aug. 25) cut down the hopes of some Prior Lake-Savage Area School Board members.

By Keighla Schmidt, Staff Writer

With doors opening for students in just a few weeks, Director Cynthia Sherar has been hard at work to prepare Aspen Academy Charter School for its inaugural year.

After being approved by the Minnesota Department of Education nearly two years ago, classes are slated to begin Sept. 2.

But before the school opened its doors, parents were asking for more. When the idea for the school was initially proposed, it was to be an education center for kindergarten through second grade students.

By Shawn Hogendorf, Correspondent 

When Michael Benjamin graduated as valedictorian of the Prior Lake High School class of 1993, he was also voted, “most intelligent” “most likely to succeed” and “most likely to change the world.”

St. John the Baptist Catholic school has openings for the 2008-09 school year. Registration is still open.

For more information or to arrange a tour, call (952) 890-6604. View their Web site at www.stjohns-savage.org.

By Ruth Anne Maddox, Joanna Miller and Keighla Schmidt, Staff Writers 

The ups and downs of education can be seen in state test results on the math and reading Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA-II) for the three school districts that serve Savage. While some students pushed proficiency levels past state averages, some rankings fall below state standards.

By Joanna Miller, Correspondent

A new Prior Lake High School policy will leave ball caps – and other head gear – in the field this fall.

Prior Lake Assistant Principal Jeff Pawlicki gained approval from the Prior Lake-Savage Area School Board Monday to ban head coverings in the high school building Monday.

By Joanna Miller, Correspondent 

Preliminary statewide totals show that 10th-graders’ reading proficiency increased in 2008.

The Minnesota Department of Education announced this week that 75 percent of these students met the state’s new, more rigorous reading graduation requirements.

Prior Lake High School seniors celebrate as they complete commencement ceremonies Friday, June 6 at Dan Patch Stadium. Click here to view more graduation photos.