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American Studies class formed to combine American history and literature

American Literature teacher Ms. Anne Marie Dominguez teaches The Great Gatsby to her students in the newly developed class, American Studies, alongside U.S. History teacher Ms. Megan Kern. (Chris Bell)

American Studies class formed to combine American history and literature

February 3, 2012

Nicole Sarquis, Staff Writer

History teachers tend to ramble off unrelatable facts about flappers, bootlegging, and the ease of life in the “Roaring 20s” during a typical U.S. History class, leaving their students with no real understanding of the subject. At the same time, English teachers’ enthusiasm over F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” can only be understood... Continue Reading

Besse stays hot with two more goals against Wayzata

February 6, 2012

Matt Muenzberg, Sports Editor

“We need our Kyle Rau,” said boys’ hockey head coach Mr. Ken Pauly, referencing the former Eden Prairie Eagle who not only led the team in scoring on their way to last year’s state championship, but also consistently showed up when his team needed a goal. BSM’s Kyle Rau is junior forward Grant Besse, who has been on a roll lately, averaging over 2.8 goals a game in his last seven games. He twice found the back of the net and added an assist in a 4-3 win over section rival Wayzata on Monday, Feb. 6. With section seeding on the line, there was a playoff-like atmosphere at the packed Plymouth Ice Center. “I loved it,” said Besse. “I thrive on that stuff.” Head-to-head match-ups... Continue Reading

Rising actors partake in Les Miserables performance

Junior Shannon Galvin rehearses for the upcoming Les Miserables performance wither her fellow cast members. (Giulia Imholte)

Rising actors partake in Les Miserables performance

January 27, 2012

Emily Kline, Staff Writer

Blue Water Theatre Company, one of the Twin Cities’ top performing arts groups for youth, is taking on “Les Misérables,” one of musical theatre’s most famous works, for their winter production. Juniors Rachel Hogen and Shannon Galvin, along with sophomore Rachel Wallace, joined the cast in late November and are currently in rehearsals for the... Continue Reading

SOPA bill is ineffective, inefficient, and infringing

February 1, 2012

Nick Hillson, Staff Writer

The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) is a bill running through Congress in an attempt to curb the illegal uploading and downloading of copyrighted information and programs. Unfortunately, due to extremely vague wording and unclear definitions, the censorship proposed could extend to websites such as Facebook, various e-mails, and any other free forum. Not only is SOPA ineffective for all but the technologically impaired, but it violates our rights and benefits only a small handful of elites. SOPA works by requiring websites and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to search through sent information and to censor any infringing material. Not only does this ignore the privacy guaranteed in the Constitution... Continue Reading

Mock Trial season testifies the team’s talent

The Mock Trial team had a succesful season at several competitions due to immense practice and help from professional lawyers. (Photo courtesy of Jim Vogl)

Mock Trial season testifies the team’s talent

February 3, 2012

Mallory Hoch, Staff Writer

Beginning in October, the Mock Trial team has practiced every night from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in room 121 in preparation for upcoming competitions. Coming to a close on January 31st, the season ended on a strong note, making it to subsections before loosing their last competition. The season commenced with general practices to help initiate new members.... Continue Reading

SportDateOpponentResultW/L
Girls BasketballTue, Feb 07 DeLaSalle54-70L
Boys BasketballTue, Feb 07 DeLaSalle60-59W
Boys HockeyMon, Feb 06 Wayzata4-3 Read StoryW
Girls HockeySat, Feb 04 Totino-Grace9-0 Read StoryW
Boys HockeySat, Feb 04 Spring Lake Park15-0W
WrestlingSat, Feb 04 TBA9th Place
Girls BasketballFri, Feb 03 Spring Lake Park57-39W
Boys BasketballFri, Feb 03 Spring Lake Park67-65 Read StoryW
Girls HockeyThu, Feb 02 Spring Lake Park6-0 Read StoryW
WrestlingThu, Feb 02 Dassel-Cokato21-58L
Girls BasketballTue, Jan 31 Minneapolis Southwest70-38W
Boys HockeyTue, Jan 31 Jefferson7-1 Read StoryW
Click on any sport above to see a full schedule for that sport.
SportDateTimeOpponentLocation
Boys HockeyWed, Feb 08 7:30Shattuck-St. Mary'sShattuck-St. Mary's
Girls BasketballFri, Feb 10 7:15St. Louis ParkSt. Louis Park
WrestlingFri, Feb 10 6:00Chisago LakesHome
Boys HockeySat, Feb 11 2:30Totino-GraceSt. Louis Park
Dance TeamSat, Feb 11 1:00SectionsAustin
Boys HockeyTue, Feb 14 7:00Chisago LakesChisago Lakes
Girls BasketballTue, Feb 14 7:15Columbia HeightsHome
Girls BasketballThu, Feb 16 7:15WaconiaHome
Girls BasketballFri, Feb 17 7:15IrondaleHome
Boys HockeySat, Feb 18 2:30StillwaterSt. Louis Park
WrestlingSat, Feb 18 8:00Section OpponentsTotino-Grace
Girls BasketballTue, Feb 21 7:15St. FrancisHome
Click on any sport above to see a full schedule for that sport.

Family dedicated to service through Helping Paws

Caitlin Ritchie
May 8, 2009
Filed under Student Life

The Michurski family has gone beyond simply serving their community by making their service part of their daily lives by training man’s best friend and placing it with those who often find themselves friendless and secluded from society.  The organization that helps them do this is Helping Paws, a nonprofit organization started in 1983 in order to lend a “helping paw” to those with physical disabilities.

In the organization’s simple one story building and warehouse on the outskirts of Hopkins, dogs are trained from puppies to adults as professional service dogs to help those in need of assistance. Within Helping Paws, there are many opportunities to volunteer and donate, and that’s where the Michurskis found that they excelled.
The Michurskis began their involvement at Helping Paws about six years ago when they trained their first service dog for senior Jack Michurski’s first grade teacher. Ever since then the family has been hooked to Helping Paws’ caring and generous nature.

Mrs. Judy Michurski volunteers at the Helping Paws’ events, spends time in their office, and works as their special projects coordinator, planning fundraisers and setting up their dog sponsorship program, the Blue Coat Benefactors, she said. “It’s such a great job,” she said, “it’s low key so it fits in with all of our schedules, plus it feels great to be able to help people.”

Both Jack and sophomore Katie Michurski spend an overwhelming amount of time helping out as well. “We volunteer at the events they put on and sometimes help with the dogs in public,” said Katie. The kids don’t do all the work though. “I’m the primary trainer,” said Mrs. Michurski, “but everyone knows the dog’s rules and cues, and training is just a part of our daily lives now.”
However, the family has also chosen to take on an even greater role as both fosters for training the dogs and breeders for the new litters of service dogs. They are currently training one service dog, Charlie, that will graduate to be with his new owner this month. They also own a breeding dog and find that that could be the best part of the entire program. “We get to keep the puppies for two months before they get placed with foster families and begin training,” Katie said, “we play with them and then watch them grow up all the way through until graduation, which is really cool.”
However, this joy seems nearly lost for in the end they must allow the dogs that they have spent two years training to graduate. “It’s difficult to give the dogs up after that,” Jack said. “But it’s worth it because you can see what a great difference you make in the world and the life of one person,” said Katie.
As a family the Michurskis have found their involvement with Helping Paws to be a changing experience. Often times for the physically disabled person, receiving a service dog means finally being noticed and gaining confidence, so their respect for these and all people has grown greatly, Katie said. “I have also realized how truly fortunate I am,” said Jack.

This work has allowed the Michurskis to help those truly in need of companionship and compassion. “Even after graduation it is so worth it to see the dog you trained with the person,” said Katie, “We have come to realize what a great thing it is that we’re doing.”  “Helping Paws is great because unlike other charities you can give to, we can see the outcome and the help and confidence we provide for others,” said Mrs. Michurski.

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