The Minnesota School Boards Association has set Feb. 22-26 as School Board Recognition Week in Minnesota as a time to build awareness and understanding of the vital function an elected board of education plays in our society.

The Braham Area School District is joining all public school districts across the state to celebrate School Board Recognition Week to honor local board members for their commitment to Braham and its children and to recognize the important contributions board members make to their communities.

The key work of school boards is to raise student achievement by:

• Creating a vision for what the community wants the school district to be and for making student achievement the top priority;

• Establishing standards for what students will be expected to learn and be able to do;

• Ensuring progress is measured to be sure the district’s goals are achieved and students are learning at expected levels;

• Being accountable for their decisions and actions by continually tracking and reporting results;

• Creating a safe, orderly climate where students can learn and teachers can teach;

• Forming partnerships with others in the community to solve common problems; and

• Focusing attention on the need for continuous improvement by questioning, refining and revising issues related to student achievement.

The citizens of our community and our students benefit every day from the countless hours and dedicated energies of their local school board members.  Board members unselfishly contribute their time and talents toward the advancement of public education.  They represent a continuing commitment to local citizens and decision making in public education.

We would like to take this opportunity to Thank the Members of the Braham Area Schools’ Board of Education for their hard work and dedication:

Mr. Steven Eklund – since January 1998*

Mr. Lowell Luebeck – since January 2000

Mr. Dan Klemz – since January 2004

Mr. Max Eng – since January 2006

Mr. Craig Hammond – since January 2008

Mr. Anthony Cuda – since January 2008

Mrs. Tammy Ceaglske – since January 2010

*Mr. Eklund also served on the School Board from July 1983 through June 1989.

Front row:      Treasurer Lowell Luebeck, Chair Steven Eklund, Superintendent Gregory Winter, Craig Hammond.

Back row:      Tammy Ceaglske, Anthony Cuda, Clerk Dan Klemz, Vice Chair Max Eng.

Dennis Siltman, Head Custodian, at the Braham Area High School passed away on Tuesday, 2/2/10 following a massive stroke. Funeral arrangements are as follows:

Visitation will be Friday, 2/5 from 4 to 8 pm at the Braham Evangelical Lutheran Church on County Rd 4.

There will also be visitation at 12 noon on Saturday 2/6/10 before the service at the Braham Area High School.
Funeral Service  will be at 1 pm at the high school.
There will be a lunch at 2:15 in the high school Commons and interment at GRASS Lake Cemetery at approximately 3:45 pm.

On Saturday January 30th, nine Braham students participated in the North East Minnesota Band Director’s Association Honor Band held at Duluth Denfeld High School.  In all, 25 schools were represented.  The day consisted of rehearsals and sectionals and concluded with a concert.  The 6-8th grade band was directed by Mr. Charlie Leibfried and the 9-10th band was directed by Mr. Dan Eaton.  The Braham students were:  Morgan O’Brien, Sammie Kreyer, Abby Salmonson, Rachel Eskuri, Kelsey Knapp, Connor TenNapel, Andrew Camarillo, Ariel Ramstad, and Grace Zierden.

Braham Area Elementary second graders had a great time making “silly cylinders” as part of their geometry unit in math.  They were very creative!  A big thank you to all parents, guardians, and grandparents who helped and supported them.

Geometry is FUN!

Janelle Walker, Physical Education teacher, was surprised by the DAPE (Adaptive Physical Education) students on Friday, 1/22/10 in honor of her retirement. The DAPE students presented her with flowers and a special thank you for her work with them.  Janelle has taught in the Braham Schools for 24.5 years!