School news around the town

By Sarah CR Clark

Murray Middle School

Eric Dahlberg retiring

After 35 years of teaching music in schools as far away as Oskaloosa, Iowa, and many within the Twin Cities metro, Murray Middle School’s band and orchestra director, Eric Dahlberg is retiring this June.

Dahlberg has taught music at Murray for the past 12 years and coached its award winning debate team for the past nine.

       “Mr. Dahlberg has served many years both inside and outside the classroom showing people how special music can be,” said Murray Principal Jamin McKenzie. “He has enriched the lives of thousands of students and gifted Murray and other communities with countless performances.”

Two Murray performances are among Dahlberg’s top teaching moments.

“I will always remember Murray students performing in Washington, D.C., at the WWII Memorial. While performing the National Anthem, a veteran was near the orchestra and was saluting the flag while we performed with the Washington Memorial in the background,” Dahlberg recalled of a spring 2018 trip.

A similar moment occurred in the rotunda of Colorado’s State Capitol Building in 2016, when senators and other government officials stopped among the space’s many levels to listen to the students’ music.

Among the biggest challenges of his career, Dahlberg contended was “definitely teaching via distance learning while students were mandated to stay at home at the onset of Covid-19.”

He explained, “I found it extremely difficult to assist with troubleshooting malfunctioning instruments and evaluating student progress through video meetings.”

A cellist himself, Dahlberg plans to teach some weekly private music lessons. And in retirement, he also hopes to camp, travel and spend more time with his family.

When asked for some parting wisdom for his students Dahlberg said, “Others may depend on you and you have the choice to be successful and help others be successful with you! Don’t give up when something gets difficult. Keep trying. The reward may still be waiting for you at the end!”

McKenzie said, “Murray will always have a special place in our heart for him and for the arts he has brought to our school and our neighborhoods. We wish him nothing but the absolute best in a well- earned retirement and journey into the next adventure of his life with his wife and kids.”

Sarah CR Clark lives in St. Anthony Park and is a regular freelancer for the Bugle.

St Anthony Park Elementary School

For the first time, St. Anthony Park Elementary School will have an assistant principal join the school’s administration.

SAP Elementary School’s new assistant principal starting in August will be Gina Hass.

“The addition of an assistant principal will allow me the opportunity to work much more closely with the teachers on professional development, instructional improvements and meeting student needs,” said SAP Elementary School Principal Karen Duke.

Currently assistant principal at The Heights Community School, Hass has worked in St. Paul Public Schools for 22 years as a district coach, a teacher and an administrator

Since SAP’s enrollment is higher than many other St. Paul Public elementary schools and other schools are experiencing declining enrollment, the school district moved some of its assistant principal positions for next school year.

Submitted by Karen Duke.

Twin Cities German Immersion School

Holocaust Remembrance Day

More than 100 people attended the opening of the Jewish Community Relations Council’s “Transfer of Memory” exhibit commemorating Holocaust survivors in Minnesota, held at the Twin Cities German Immersion School on Wednesday April 27.

JCRC Executive Director Steve Hunegs, exhibit photographer David Sherman and TCGIS Director Kirsten Christensen spoke on the importance of Holocaust remembrance and education.  The exhibit was open to the public through May 13.

         Submitted by Rich Iwen.