Edina Public Schools

Last week, we came together to celebrate seven seniors from Edina High School’s special education program (and one very beloved service dog) at our adapted graduation ceremony. Surrounded by family, friends, classmates, and staff, each graduate was recognized for this important milestone.

Congratulations to M Ali, Nicholas Coffitt, Makayla Levy, Daniel (and Napa) Martin, Addison Otremba, Annabelle Robinson, and Jeanette Torres Alpizar! 🎓

The ceremony included student speakers reflecting on their experiences in Special Education and Unified programs, performances by the EHS Concert Band and Choir, and personalized video messages from each graduate as they crossed the stage.

Congratulations to these graduates and the entire Edina High School Class of 2026. We are so proud of all you’ve accomplished and look forward to continuing the celebration at commencement tonight. 💚

As AAPI Heritage Month comes to a close, students in our Chinese classes wrapped up the school year with experiences that brought language and culture to life. 💚

This spring, our middle school students explored Chinese culture beyond the classroom through immersive learning experiences! This included a four-day Concordia Language Immersion Camp for 8th graders and field trips to the Chinese Garden and Asia Mall for 6th- and 7th-graders.

From practicing their Chinese language skills in real-world settings to exploring food, art, traditions, and community spaces, these experiences helped students deepen their cultural understanding while creating lasting memories together.

“The students had a wonderful time, and it was such a meaningful experience for them,” said Zhuo Wang, Chinese teacher.

Thank you to Ms. Wang, staff, administrators, and parent chaperones for helping make these meaningful opportunities possible for students!

Happy AAPI Heritage Month! 💚 Congratulations to Highlands Elementary paraprofessional Ms. Marilyn Keo, who was recognized as AAPI Educator of the Year at the fourth annual Edina Asian American Alliance AAPI Month Festival. Surrounded by friends, family, colleagues, and the Highlands school community, Ms. Keo was celebrated for the impact she has on students every day.

The festival brought Edina together for a celebration of culture, connection, and community. Guests enjoyed performances, music, food, exhibits, and activities highlighting Asian cultures and traditions. Edina High School students played an active role in the celebration through the AAPI Student Union, Black Student Union, Chinese Club, Mosaic, and South Asian Society.

Thank you to our friends at Edina Asian American Alliance for bringing our community together and including us in this meaningful celebration!

📸 Martinus Photography

Congratulations to our graduating Edina High School seniors earning the Minnesota Multilingual Certificate or Seal! 🎓🌍 These students demonstrated exceptional skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in multiple languages, meeting rigorous standards set by the Minnesota Department of Education and the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.

Congratulations to:

Anna Bennet – French and Russian
Geraldo Pinos – French and Spanish
Lorenzo Raigosa-Irizar – Spanish and Portuguese
Elena Rapallini – Spanish and Italian
Lily Sannes-Eckhoff – French and Spanish
Felipe Vasconcelos – Chinese and Portuguese
Nancy Vega-Hernandez – French and Spanish

Additionally, across Edina High School, students demonstrated proficiency in American Sign Language, Amharic, French, Italian, Latin, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Tamil.

This year’s recognition totals include:

📘 112 Bilingual Certificates
🥇 117 Gold Seals
🌟 87 Platinum Seals

With additional AP scores arriving in July, we expect these numbers to grow and anticipate that nearly 45% of the Class of 2026 will earn recognition for bilingual or multilingual achievement — the highest percentage in school history!

Well done, students, and thank you to our world language teachers and staff for inspiring and supporting multilingual learning. 💚

Our community recently gathered to honor Edina High School seniors Ava Trigger and Charles Caine at the district’s annual American Indian Graduation Honoring Ceremony, celebrating their cultural heritage, achievements, and what’s ahead.

Family, friends, staff, and elders came together for this ceremony, which included preparing a Spirit Plate and singing to the Four Directions. Graduates were also presented with eagle feathers, traditionally gifted at important milestones and hand-beaded to reflect each student’s unique journey, along with quilted star blankets representing new beginnings and the support of their community.

Thank you to Elder Jerry Dearly, participating drummers, and everyone who helped make this celebration possible. Congratulations, Ava and Charles!

We recently recognized twenty-three remarkable retirees for their combined 458 years of dedicated service to our students, schools, and community. During the celebration, school and department leaders shared reflections and gratitude for the many ways these individuals have impacted generations of Edina students and families.

“It would be impossible to tally the miles of bus routes driven, number of tests and papers scored, minutes of student contact, meetings attended, or phone calls answered by all of you,” Superintendent Dr. Daniel Bittman said. “Even more difficult to quantify is the energy, creativity, commitment, and unique talents you have each contributed every day.”

Please join us in celebrating this year’s retirees:

🔸 Ginny Anderson, SpEd Para, 5 Years
🔸 Sue Aura, Para, 24 Years
🔸 Gayle Balcer, SpEd Teacher, 26 Years
🔸 Pamela Dalton, SpEd Para, 14 Years
🔸 Deb Decker, Building Support Staff, 10 Years
🔸 Doug Eischens, Social Worker, 26 Years
🔸 Nathalie Godin, Teacher, 25 Years
🔸 Laura Hanson, Learning Specialist, 23 Years
🔸 Anne Lee, Health Associate, 15 Years
🔸 Anne Lindquist, School Nurse, 15 Years
🔸 Luis Millan-Mateos, Teacher, 36 Years
🔸 Susan Moses-Zirkes, Psychologist, 14 Years
🔸 Van Nelson, SpEd Para, 54 Years
🔸 Janet Nelson, Due Process Specialist, 17 Years
🔸 Darrel Olson, Bus Driver, 12 Years
🔸 Yvonne Peralta, Teacher, 25 Years
🔸 Mark Perlich, Bus Driver, 13 Years
🔸 Lisa Petersen, Office Assistant, 11 Years
🔸 Shannon Steven, Teacher, 18 Years
🔸 Nawal Suliman, Kids Club Lead, 1 Year
🔸 Paul Tessmer-Tuck, Teacher, 13 Years
🔸 David Tolrud, Night Lead Custodian, 27 Years
🔸 Kim Wand, Para, 22 Years

Thank you for your dedication, compassion, and commitment to excellence. Your contributions will continue to be felt for years to come, and you will be greatly missed. We wish you all the best in your retirement and new adventures ahead! 💚

The Edina High School French program wrapped up its 3rd exchange with George Duby High School in Aix-en-Provence, France, this school year. 🇫🇷

Our 10th- and 11th-grade French students hosted 20 French students, then traveled to Aix-en-Provence in February, immersing themselves in the culture, cuisine, and language along the way. This experience brings students one step closer to true language proficiency and the Bilingual Seal.

Interested in joining the 2026–2027 exchange? Edina High School students can talk to their French teacher for more info!

After a highly competitive statewide audition process, a remarkable group of our student musicians has been selected for the 2026–2027 MMEA All-State Ensembles — one of the highest honors a high school musician in Minnesota can achieve! 🎶👏 This accomplishment reflects their talent, dedication, and consistent commitment, along with the support of our outstanding music staff.

Please join us in congratulating these outstanding musicians:

All-State Choir

🔸Lilah Iwanin – Soprano 2
🔸Savannah Kamp – Soprano 2

All-State Orchestra

🔸 Callum McMyler – Bass
🔸 Anna Bach – Violin
🔸 Carissa Goldstein – Viola
🔸 Evan Le – Cello
🔸 Julia Ma – Viola

All-State Band & Jazz Ensembles

🔸 Asher Kaufman – Trumpet, Jazz Band
🔸 Max Berkholz – Percussion, Orchestra
🔸 Yamato Takahashi – Clarinet, Concert Band
🔸 Sage Lewis – Clarinet, Symphonic Band
🔸 Saira Kaka – Flute, Symphonic Band
🔸 Anna Migliori – Flute, Symphonic Band
🔸 Cecilia Ruesga – Flute, Symphonic Band
🔸 Liam Hage – Trumpet, Symphonic Band

Congratulations, students!