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Doing Your Homework at Home
Homeschooling in the Maple River Community The month of September marks the beginning of the school year. For many students, it means new...

Jason Lee Willis
Sep 25, 202411 min read


The History of Daly Park
This video features interviews with Bill Daly, whose father sold the land to the county, the current park manager, as well as a...

Jason Lee Willis
Sep 25, 20241 min read


2018-Kayla Rigdon
"It's a Good Day to Be an Adult and an Eagle" NOTE: As a teacher, there were moments when I’d toss out a “hard” question during...

Jason Lee Willis
Sep 12, 20247 min read


The School Never Sleeps
Head Custodian Nicole Quiram Keeps the Facility running year 'round. With the end of summer, students and staff return from the corners...

Jason Lee Willis
Aug 22, 20246 min read


2013-Jessica Landsteiner
"It's Good to be an Adult and an Eagle" NOTE: I have nightmares about the infamous “canoe disaster of 2012.” I know I looked right into...

Jason Lee Willis
Aug 15, 20247 min read


The Ultimate Wingman
"Brad Lawson Demonstrates Excellence in Assisting" Life gives a person chances to lead as well as times to follow. For Bradley Lawson,...

Jason Lee Willis
Aug 9, 20247 min read


2004-Jessica Anderson
"It's a Great Day to be an Adult and an Eagle." Note: Just like Clark Kent would meekly go about his work without fuss or complaint,...
maplerivermemories
Jul 29, 20245 min read


SOUND AND SPECTACLE
"The Enduring Tradition of Maple River Marching Band." Having engaged in a five-minute duel with random strangers for a small eight-foot...

Jason Lee Willis
Jul 19, 20249 min read


The Golden Years-Jane Caldwell
In July, I was able to sit down and visit with Jane Caldwell about her life in retirement and also some of her memories of working at...
maplerivermemories
Jul 18, 20241 min read


Marching to His Own Beat
“Wyatt Birr ‘Walks the Walk’ with Leadership.” Kids these days. Social Media often portrays Gen Z and the forthcoming Gen Alpha as...
maplerivermemories
Jul 18, 20246 min read


2008-Seth Anderson
"It's a Good Day to be an Adult and an Eagle." Note: All Day SA, as the nickname implies, was apparently relentless on the basketball...
maplerivermemories
Jul 15, 20245 min read


2010-Caio Thomas
"It's a Good Day to Be an Adult and an Eagle." Note: It was a beautiful day on the Blue Earth River paddling with my NHS students. While...
maplerivermemories
Jul 8, 20245 min read


The Golden Years: Jim Swanson
On Friday, June 28th, I sat down with my former colleague (and current neighbor) to discuss retirement. The problem? This man hasn't...
maplerivermemories
Jun 28, 20241 min read


1999-Katie Maras
"It’s a Good Day to be an Adult and an Eagle." (Note: No other student scared me as much as Katie Maras. Why? Oh, she knew all the...
maplerivermemories
Jun 27, 20247 min read


Origin of Amboy's Red Cow
Order a burger at any restaurant in Minnesota and I’m sure you’d get 10,000 variations, but if you order the Red Cow Burger here at Amboy...
maplerivermemories
Jun 26, 20242 min read


2017-Chandler See
"It's a Good Day to Be an Adult and an Eagle." (Note: Some students took notes. Others wrote down your jokes. While I stopped teaching in...
maplerivermemories
Jun 26, 20246 min read


Vaulting to New Heights
Batman needs Robin, and for head track coach Nathaniel Kenne, he needs a team of Robins to help manage such a large team. One of his...
maplerivermemories
Jun 25, 20244 min read


2005-Danielle Smith
"It's a Good Day to be an Adult and an Eagle." Note: 25 students helped make the 2005 yearbook, but only 1 stayed to finish it: Danielle...

Jason Lee Willis
Jun 6, 20246 min read


1996-Sarah Kauffmann
"It's a Good Day to be an Adult and an Eagle." (Originally published in the Maple River Messenger) Note: High School Office Secretary...

Jason Lee Willis
May 10, 20244 min read


2002-Darin Mays
Note: The duo of Darin Mays (and Josh Boertje) became Maple River’s first state speech medalists, and as their speech coach, I felt...

Jason Lee Willis
May 2, 20246 min read
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