MVL's enrollment up six

By RACHEL WEDDIG

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- School began this past week for students and staff at Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School (MVL). The new school year brought six more students for a total of 302 students and three new faculty members for a total of 25 full or part-time employees.

A new addition to the administration is the establishment of a high school principal. Due to administrative changes last year, a principal position was created.

Robert Kindworth is the principal of MVL. He has served in Santa Barbara, Calif. and in Winona before coming to MVL. Besides his duties as principal, he will be teaching two courses of religion.

"I'm the first person to hold the principal position under the structure," Kindworth said. "I'm responsible for curriculum development and the supervision of student and staff development."

Jan Fredrich, Jason Jaspersen, and Ann Parker are the new faculty to MVL. Fredrich had taught part-time at MVL, is now a full-time math and algebra teacher, and also works in the library. Jasperson will be teaching art, and Parker had been teaching part-time with MVL as a phy-ed teacher and now it's a full-time position.

No new classes were put on the schedule for MVL this year. But Kindworth said there are looking at adding a few more academic classes in the next few years such as Advanced Placement English.

This past Monday, MVL held their freshmen orientation day where freshmen were able to find their lockers and classrooms and meet their teachers. During the afternoon, the students were treated to "Wet and Wild Day," as a dunk tank and water volleyball were part of the festivities.

Throughout mid July and August, Kindworth had the opportunity to meet with all the staff individually and is looking forward to a good school year.

"I've had the opportunity to meet all the faculty and I'm not going to try to make any mass changes," Kindworth said. "I want to see how things could be maintained and I want to maintain a climate conducive for the students and staff working together."

MVL has been updating their technology departments over the summer. One operating network computer lab is now in full swing, with a second lab being put in December.

MVL currently has a master plan in place for site development and the addition of a new locker room is next on the agenda. Kindworth said as soon as enough money is raised for the locker room, construction will begin.

Kindworth is excited for the next school year and appreciates the help he's getting from his staff.

"I'm very appreciative of the cooperation of staff and really enjoy being here," Kindworth said. "I'm also very impressed with the quality of students we have here. I'm really looking forward to being here."