Home of the NORTHERN FREEZE
TC FCCLA Valentine's Sale!
TC FCCLA is selling Valentine's treats!  Items along with your Valentine's messages will be delivered on Valentines day.  Order forms will be sent home with elementary students today.  You can click on the link below to find a pdf

Thanks for supporting Tri County FCCLA
Honor Roll January 2023
One Act Play
Congratulations to Director Melissa Thompson and Assistant Director Keegan Krantz for their triumph at the Sub-Section 31 One-Act Play.  Thespians include Max Severson, Rachael Levenhagen, Ella Kasprowicz, Lydia Hanson, Jaxon Klegstad, Jaxon Melcher, Ari Kuznia, Braelyn Gonshoronski, Jadith Andrade, Josephine Wade, Mari Folland, and Eli Klegstad. With their win, they advanced to the Section Contest in Baudette on February 4th.  Break a Leg.
TC Announces ExCEL Award Winner
Tri-County is proud to announce that Emily Barth has been selected as Tri-County’s recipient of this year’s ExCEL award. The ExCEL Award – Excellence in Community, Education and Leadership – is a unique recognition program designed exclusively for Minnesota high school juniors who are active in school activities, leaders in their schools, and who demonstrate a strong commitment to community service.
 
Emily is an active member of both the Tri-County band and choir. She has participated in solo contests, ensemble contests, and has been selected to multiple Honor bands and choirs. Emily has been awarded the Outstanding Soloist Award 3 times, and has been selected for the Minnesota Band Directors Association State Honor Band. Emily has been active in food drives, and has given her time to helping with Christmas and Halloween pictures for our elementary students. In the summer, Emily has worked with her father doing roofing and feels this has
taught her the value of hard work and improved her work ethic. Emily is the daughter of Andy and Amie Barth.
 
Emily has submitted materials to the Minnesota State High School League and will be judged against other students in our region. The selected students will be recognized on 45TV during the broadcast of the 2023 winter tournaments. Those selected for our region will also participate in an on-court award ceremony during the Class AA championship game of the Girls Basketball State Tournament in March.
Year Book​
It's time to buy the 2022-23 YEARBOOK!  It's on sale now for only $35.  You can purchase online with a credit card at the online store or download an order form and send $35 to your teacher or Mrs. Klegstad in the high school room 214. 
It's memories that last a lifetime. 
Spelling Bee
Tri-County held the annual spelling bee on Friday at 1 pm at the TC school.  We are proud to announce our winner Elijah Sollund and runner up Rhett Pearson.
School Lunches
If you are trying to pay for your child's lunches click the link below to set up a lunch checking account for your child or if you are looking to sign up for free or reduced lunches be sure to click the same link as well
Junior Class Host Craft-Making Event
Cabinetry Students Make Butcher Blocks as Fundraiser
The 11th and 12th grade cabinetry students have been learning how to create butcher blocks and use up some hardwood that is taking up space in the shop. Several decades ago, some hardwood was purchased by the school. A few years ago, students built butcher blocks with walnut, cherry, and maple that had gotten warped over years of poor storage.  This time, the students are using up some rough sawn mahogany that will be best utilized by becoming beautiful butcher blocks as well as some rough sawn birch that Mr. Thompson purchased locally last year. 
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Students have been learning how to use the jointer, planer, table saw, cross-cut sled, hand held router, the new 22” oscillating drum sander, and miter saws in order to make and finish the boards. The students hope to have 17 for sale. They are approximately 12” by 18” by 1.25-1.75” thick and are $75 each and will come with some food grade mineral oil to keep the boards looking in great condition. As beautiful as they are, they are meant to be used.  

Please contact Mr. Thompson via email at thobra@tricounty.k12.mn.us if you are interested in purchasing a block.  Due to the limited number of boards, they are first come, first serve. Any that are left will be on display at tonight's concert. There may be more boards created towards the end of the school year as students finish their nightstand project and have more time. If more are made, it will get put in the paper and on Facebook again. Mr. Thompson and the cabinetry students thank you for your support of the shop programs.

Pictured below from left to right: Gavin Duray, Jace Pietruszewski, Ryder Blazejewski.
​Not pictured: Dawson Walz, Aaron Slaathaug
Helpful Links:
 - E-Learning Plan
 - Safe Return Plan
 - Symptom Quick Reference
Artist Residencies at TC
Students at Tri-County Schools had the opportunity to create with Artists-in-Residence, Katrina Knutson and See More Perspective (Adam Rangal). The residencies were arranged with COMPAS. COMPAS programs are made possible in part by a grant provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board, through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature. This activity is funded by a grant from the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council and the Minnesota arts and cultural heritage fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with money from a vote of the people of Minnesota.
 
Visual Artist, Katrina Knutson created art with students in grades three through six. Students learned about artists and created works inspired by the artists. They worked in a variety of mediums including, painting, drawing, mosaic and collage. Students enjoyed learning about the artists and created many works in the week long residency. Fifth grade teacher, Sarah Novacek commented on the residency, “The kids loved getting to create with different mediums, and putting their own unique personalities into their art projects.”
 
Katrina Knutson was born and lives in South Minneapolis and was raised on working class ethics, street art and hip-hop. Since then, she has lived everywhere from Mexico City to Toronto, studying art and looking for inspiration under bridges, on the streets, and in galleries across North America. Katrina spent 6 years at Minneapolis’ Interact Visual and Performing Arts Center, working with adult artists with disabilities as a painting and drawing instructor, and curating the Inside Out Gallery. Currently, Katrina designs and teaches workshops and classes to youth across the Twin Cities at galleries, art centers, libraries and schools. She is an active community muralist and works on her own studio art, especially during the long cold winters.
 
English students of Melissa Thompson spent a week writing with Spoken Word Artist, See More Perspective (Adam Rangel). See More inspired students to write Spoken Word Poetry based on their life experiences. Students shared their writings in class and one writer will be chosen to be published in the 2023 COMPAS Anthology.
 
SEE (aka Adam) received a 2013 VERVE Grant from Intermedia Arts for an imaginative and ambitious spoken word album entitled The Cosmos According to Your Closed Eyes. He was a semi-finalist for the Million Dollar Saint Paul Challenge, and currently teaches Hip-Hop courses at the West Bank School of Music.
 
SEE has done years of youth work through hip hop and spoken word—dealing with social justice, identity and community engagement issues; has performed at countless venues and festivals; and has spoken at and facilitated workshops at various social justice conferences and retreats. He aims to inspire, uplift and open doors to possibility and imagination with an invitation to self-discovery through meditations on community, history and the expression of pure imagination.
High school art students look forward to a mask making residency in May, with visual artist, Lisa Arnold. This residency is also funded by the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council.
Tri-County Announces AAA Award Winners
The Academics, Arts, and Athletics Award, commonly known as the Triple 'A' Award, honors high school seniors throughout the state who have a 3.0 or higher-grade point average and who participate in League-sponsored athletic and fine arts activities. Eligible seniors must also comply with the Minnesota State High School League Code of Conduct.
 
This year, Tri-County is proud to announce that Jaxon Klegstad has been selected as our boys representative for the Triple ’A’ Award. Jaxon is a member of the Northern Freeze football, basketball, and golf teams. Jaxon was selected All-Conference this past fall for football. He participates in Tri-County’s One-Act Play, is a member of the National Honor Society, and is involved with both Tri-County’s band and choir. Jaxon has performed as a soloist at vocal contests where he has received a Superior rating every year, and was selected Best of Site his Junior and Senior years. He has participated in several honor bands, with the highlight being a member of the Merry Tuba Christmas band. Jaxon plans to attend NDSU to study precision agriculture after he graduates. Jaxon is the son of Daryl and Jennifer Klegstad.
 
We are equally proud to announce that our girls representative for the Triple ‘A’ Award is Isabel Pearson. Isabel is active in both Band and Choir and serves as a section leader. She has participated in solo contests for both. Isabel has participated in volleyball, basketball, track, and softball. She was elected as a Team Captain in both volleyball and basketball. Isabel is a member of the National Honor Society, Envirothon, and FCCLA. As a member of FCCLA, she is currently serving as the Minnesota Northern Area FCCLA President. Isabel plans to attend Northland College to study nursing. Isabel is the daughter of Jonathan and Rachel Pearson.
 
Isabel and Jaxon, along with all the region 8 school’s Triple ‘A’ winners, will be honored at a banquet on February 5th at the Shooting Star Casino in Mahnomen. Of these students, one boy and one girl will be selected to represent the region and participate in an on-court ceremony during the Class AA championship game of the Boys Basketball State Tournament. At that time one boy and one girl will be selected as the statewide award winners and each will receive a four-year $1000 scholarship.
​Home of the NORTHERN FREEZE!
Tri-County Schools is a small PreK-12 public school that proudly provides an exemplary education to students in the communities of Halma, Karlstad, Lake Bronson, and Strandquist.  Tri-County Schools staffs highly-qualified certified teachers in all departments K-12.  With a student body of just over 200 students, every student enjoys a personalized one-on-one education, a small 9:1 student-to-teacher ratio, a large selection of electives and free college-credit classes, and the ability to participate in a wide variety of athletic, art, and academic extra-curricular activities.  We are a small school with big school opportunities that strives to enhance each student to their fullest potential!