Just because one or two people do this, it doesn't mean that the whole organization is like that. First of all, do you have enough evidence to blame each Jehovah's Witness for that crime?

YES, YES, YES! THANK-YOU!!!! I haven't even bothered to read the blogs lately b/c they have all been the same.

How about the lack of representation of banners in the new H.S. gym? Anyone who cares one way or another needs to e-mail a school board member before their next meeting on Jan. 14, 2008.

I can understand that the school officials want it to look nice etc., but not to put up the original 2005 Basketball or 2007 Volleyball Championship Banners immediately is ridiculous.

I agree, Justmeagain. The town I came from was a power house wrestling in the 60's & 70's and had a large welcome sign and each time any state title was won it was added to it.

In the old H.S. all of the Pictures you saw on the walls of the main hallway, by the Auditorium, were the representation of most all other activities. If not a picture then there was the wall plaque with names dating back several decades. (These items have also not been put up in the new H.S.). I think that putting these somewhere near the new Auditorium would be an appropriate place to represent these students from their past years accomplishments.

I think that sports get more visable recognition in the sense that people of a community are looking for a way to be apart of something, especially if you are new to the area (as it was for our family 19 yrs. ago) or an old-timer.

We have raised our family here and have enjoyed all school activities. Shakopee has one of the best Vocal departments around along with that it ranks high in the Plays it puts on annually.

As far as the time/physical aspects, I personally have known several of our players who have also exceled in the non-sport activities and are actually at morning voice lessons, small ensamble, am ball practice, school day, practice or game, sing national anthem, play their game all in one day and are National Honor Society members. That to me is dedication to the extreme. Oh, did I mention that the past 2 or 3 years that the Boy's BB team was also Conf. and Section Academic Champions. So to sum it up I agree that any activity demands a lot of sacrifice on any students part.

If I were to meet you and find out that you were a new person to Shakopee I would tell you all that I have said here and encourage you to attend all of the above. I would also tell you that the people who you meet are usually a part of the core group that helps with Derby Day's or any other community event. (Not all but some).

P.S. DON'T FOR GET TO E-MAIL THE SHAKOPEE SCHOOL BOARD b-4 their Jan. 14, 2008 meeting if you are concerned about any of these items.
To get their e-mails go to shakopee.k12.mn.us go to School Board/members.

I understand your feelings of not belonging and how tough it is to get into a community that had been small for so long.

I was bound and determined to make the best of it, at that time our oldest daughter was in 1st grade and I was pregnant with our 5th child. I was able to stay at home for the most part with our kids so I got to know the neighbor kids who were several years older than ours and were eventually in upper level activities etc. I would make sure to make it to their events with all 5 of our kids even though in car seats. Maybe that's how people remember me etc.

I have always loved school activities, basketball and teen-agers, so they were my in, in the community. Hopefully you have your own area that you enjoy being a part and can find an area where you can participate in the community. I'm sure that you have heard of the saying that 20% do the work and the other 80% don't care and say so, whether it be good or bad.

There was a Welcome Wagon in town and her name was Jan Ploof, I think she has since retired. I inquired about the position in Shakopee a few years back. The program was run out of Chaska I think. I didn't get the job, but had I, I would have only had a small portion of Shakopee b/c it has gotten so large. I think that there are several ladies who are covering the area. I remember that they would make a phone call, not just show up. It's unfortunate that you didn't receive their services.

BACK TO THE MAIN TOPIC THOUGH...WHERE ARE THE BANNERS FOR THE TWO STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS THAT HAVE BEEN WON RECENTLY IN SHAKOPEE???? HOW ABOUT ALL THE PICTURES OF STUDENTS WHO HAVE EXCELLED IN ACADEMICS AND OTHER EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES????

E-MAIL THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS B-4 JAN. 14, 2008. shakopee.k12.mn.us

New to the space, relatively new to the town, and my kids didn't go to SACS, so I'm on the outside of the old guard.
I do find it odd that in a beautiful new school, there are a number of things missing that you see everywhere else. I originally thought the lack of banners was because no one had gotten around to moving them. But after six months, I think the custodians could have found an hour or two to get them moved. Certainly the state championship banners are a given, especially in a town that has had very limited success athletically in the past twenty years or so. But, what about the wrestling banner, the state sportsmanship banners, and the BB records banners that still hang in the junior high, or how about banners or some type of signage that acknowledges the other teams in the conference? In the town I came from, when a team won a state title, there would be a billboard planted along side the biggest road coming in to town within days of the championship. Success was celebrated and used as a positive motivation for other students to follow and strive for. I'm not sure who is making the decision to not hang the banners, but whoever it is just doesn't understand high school activities. It appears to me that these decision-makers are more concerned about the school being a showcase to themselves and their decorating sense than they are to acknowledge the efforts and successes of the former students. email the board shakopee.k12.mn.us