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Vocations classes host speakers from the Archdiocese

Our Lady of Grace couple Dan and Sheryl Moran spoke to BSM seniors about marriage. (Emma Eldred)

Vocations classes host speakers from the Archdiocese

May 11, 2012

Giulia Imholte and Katie Sisk

The hype turned out to be more than the actual event. In November the Archdiocese announced plans to have speakers on marriage visit all of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Catholic Schools, and what students expected to be a controversial discussion––after reading about the heated question and answer session at DeLaSalle––ended up being an uneventful,... Continue Reading

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BSM hockey players weigh options for their future in the sport

Ryan Collins is one of two sophomores that have recently made the decision to play for the U.S. NTDP next school year. (Emily Kruse)

BSM hockey players weigh options for their future in the sport

May 9, 2012

David Nelson and Peter Best, Staff Writers

Hockey is a fast-paced sport that lives off choices that need to be made in milliseconds. It’s a sport where one wrong choice can be the difference between success and failure. Sophomores Jack Glover and Ryan Collins were given the opportunity to play in the USA National Team Development Program (NTDP), based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This decision... Continue Reading

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Shannon Stroh

(Emily Kruse)

Shannon Stroh

May 21, 2012

Leila Aboussir, Online Photography Editor

Lights come up, voices start ringing, and the band starts playing their instruments. Shannon Stroh has been an avid member of the BSM theater department since her entrance into the school, but is rarely seen on the actual stage. Yet, Shannon’s dedication alongside her sarcastic, witty personality has made her an extraordinary member of the tremendous... Continue Reading

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Fun. releases ‘Some Nights’ album

The band experimented heavily with hip-hop inspired beats and auto-tune––though Ruess’s crystalline voice doesn’t need it. (Vinyl Records)

Fun. releases ‘Some Nights’ album

May 2, 2012

Lauren Effertz, Staff Writer

Three years after dropping their first album, “Aim and Ignite,” the New York-based indie pop band fun. released “Some Nights.” fun. is a supergroup of sorts; lead vocalist Nate Ruess formed the band after the break-up of The Format, guitarist Jack Antonoff also serves as the frontman for Steel Train, and keyboardist Andrew Dost is from Anathallo. Overall,... Continue Reading

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Four speech members place at State tournament

Anna Landis, Juliet Beckstrand, Rachel Hogen, and Sian Last represented BSM at the State Speech tournament where they all placed in the top eight. (Maura Brew)

Four speech members place at State tournament

April 30, 2012

Shannon Galvin, Staff Writer

On Saturday, April 21, BSM speech team members headed to Chanhassen High School to participate in the Minnesota State Speech tournament. At the end of the day, four students, seniors Anna Landis, Juliet Beckstrand, Sian Last, and junior Rachel Hogen, all placed in the finals. Landis placed third in Poetry, Beckstrand placed second in Great Speeches,... Continue Reading

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The Road to Prom
Boys’ hockey takes home the State championship
Pond Hockey tournament organized to raise money for Jablonski
Rising actors partake in Les Miserables performance
SportDateOpponentResultW/L
BaseballMon, May 21 Holy Angels1-0W
Boys LacrosseSat, May 19 Holy Angels15-6W
BaseballFri, May 18 Totino-Grace6-4W
SoftballThu, May 17 Totino-Grace5-0W
Boys TrackThu, May 17 NSConference Opponents7th place
Boys TrackThu, May 17 True Team Opponents5th Place
Girls TrackThu, May 17 NSConference Opponents5th place
Girls TrackThu, May 17 True Team Opponents5th Place
Girls LacrosseThu, May 17 Cretin-Derham Hall11-22L
SoftballWed, May 16 Chisago Lakes10-0W
Boys LacrosseTue, May 15 Spring Lake Park21-0W
BaseballTue, May 15 Bloomington Jefferson7-5W
Click on any sport above to see a full schedule for that sport.
SportDateTimeOpponentLocation
Boys TrackTue, May 29 Section OpponentsTBA
Girls TrackTue, May 29 Season RecordTBA
Boys LacrosseTue, Jun 05 1:00TBAChanhassen
Girls LacrosseTue, Jun 05 1:00TBAChanhassen
Boys TennisTue, Jun 05 1:00TBABaseline Tennis Center
SoftballThu, Jun 07 1:00TBACaswell Park
Boys TrackFri, Jun 08 TBAHamline University
Girls TrackFri, Jun 08 TBAHamline University
Girls GolfTue, Jun 12 TBABunker Hill Golf Course
Click on any sport above to see a full schedule for that sport.

Home > Student Life > Family dedicated to service through Helping Paws

Family dedicated to service through Helping Paws

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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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