The Class Minnesota of 2021 The Wild poised prepares its for deep run exit during during the challenging NHL post- times season Page 4 QuillMon., May 24, 2021 Vol. 57, No. 8 Page 9 Robbinsdale Cooper High School chs.rdale.org/the-quill 8230 47th Ave. N., New Hope, MN 55428 ALSO INSIDE The shooting of Daunte News HAWK STUDENTS WALK OUT Wright by Brooklyn Center police officer prompts pro- TO PROTEST AREA KILLING tests across the Twin Cities to take action. “Our school board-ad- opted equity policy states in part, ‘we commit to Seniors wrap up ensuring fairness, equity tasks to graduate and inclusion as essential principles of our district.’ I From finishing up their am proud that we celebrate credits to turning in our diversity, promote jus- their Chromebooks, tice and respect all people twelfth graders must and students. Our Unified complete many items District Vision empowers prior to commencement students to amplify their voice. We support the First Page 2 Amendment rights of stu- dents and their desire to peacefully demonstrate Graduation in their efforts to affect change,” Burrage said. In order to ensure dis- trict and building support for the walkout, student organizers worked with Cooper administrators on the protocols for the event. “The leadership from Seniors share our Student Council ap- their future plans proached me about having Photo by TARNUE DAVID a student walkout given the Whether it is joining the The protest, which took place April 19 at the Cooper stadium during seventh period, attracted hundreds of students. recent events and how it is military, attending col- affecting our community,” lege or taking a gap year, By SANDY VUE police brutality, and once it the Cooper stadium at 1:20 students the space to be Cooper Head Principal Mr. the Class of 2021 will Quill staff writer was so close to our commu- p.m. Once at the stadium, together as a student group Herman said. “While this take many different paths nity, we wanted to be able organizers welcomed par- to voice concerns and give was completely student starting this summer Cooper students par- to give students a chance ticipants, covered COVID support to everyone affect- planned and led, we sug- ticipated in a school walk- Page 3 to have their voices heard protocols and discussed the ed by police violence,” Her- gested times that may work out on April 19 in recog- and to let them know we reasons for the walkout. man said. in order to get the most stu- nition of Daunte Wright, are behind them as a com- Following this welcome, Cooper’s walkout was dents interested in partic- a 20-year-old man who munity,” Jace Herman (11), there was a moment of si- parallel to a number of sim- ipating as well as review- Opinion was killed by a police offi- a member of Student Coun- lence for Wright and other ilar walkouts throughout ing the use of school items cer in Brooklyn Center on cil, said. victims of police violence, the Twin Cities metro area such as sound, access to the April 11. The walkout was The organizers of followed by comments by on the same date. Robbins- stadium and staff support to planned by the school’s the walkout established student speakers Andrea dale School District Interim ensure the safety of all our Student Council and Spirit a schedule for the event, Tribble (12), Cyrus Jarjay Superintendent Ms. Bur- students and staff.” Committee. which started with inter- (12), Romel Clarke (12) rage said in a statement that “We have been seeing ested students leaving their and Amber Scott (10). she was supportive of the WALKOUT all these lives lost due to seventh period classes for “We wanted to give students and their decision continues on page 2 Wright killing is another outrage Middle school shooting results in no injuries The 20-year-old man was tragically killed A sixth grader at Plymouth Middle School was apprehended after firing a handgun in a hallway near one of the school bathrooms during a traffic stop by a Brooklyn Center of- By MAX REKELA-JASPER ficer who claimed she Quill staff writer meant to use her taser A shooting incident at Plymouth Middle School on April 26 re- Page 5 sulted in no injuries and the arrest of a sixth grade student. At approximately 8:44 a.m. on April 26, the Plymouth Police De- partment was called to Plymouth Middle School after a report of shots being fired. The shots were fired by a sixth grade student, according to Variety multiple news sources. The student fired multiple shots in a hallway outside of one of the bathrooms. According to an article by the Star Tribune, the student took a handgun from his father’s bedroom and brought it to school that day. According to a press release from the district, Plymouth Middle School Assistant Principal Ms. Royston was the first administrator in the area. The Plymouth Police Department and other staff encountered the student, who was unarmed and compliant, according to officials. The student was then taken into police custody without deployment of Blade Runner is any lethal or nonlethal measures. Students at Plymouth Middle School sci-fi masterpiece were put into lockdown for the rest of the morning. According to Rob- Photo by MR. ZUCCOLA binsdale Area School officials, all of the students in the building were The school was placed on lockdown once the incident took place. Director Ridley Scott's safe during that time period. 1982 film is notewor- “No injuries have been reported,” Plymouth Public Safety Direc- perintendent Ms. Burrage said in an email. thy not only for what tor Erik Fadden told CCX Media. According to 5 Eyewitness News, the student’s father said he was happens on screen, Immediately after the incident, false rumors spread that the student “unsure” why his son decided to bring his handgun to school and then but also for what took yelled “black lives don’t matter” during the shooting. However, the proceed to fire multiple rounds into the ceiling. However, the student’s place behind the scenes district later confirmed that the shooting was not racially motivated. father guessed it had something to do with the isolation students have “[This rumor] is totally false information according to eyewit- Page 8 nesses and those investigating the incident,” Robbinsdale Interim Su- MIDDLE SCHOOL SHOOTING continues on page 2 Sports Robbinsdale school board selects new superintendent David Engstrom, a former teacher in Champlin Park and current administrator in Colorado Springs, will start in June By SANDY VUE involving seven candidates. The other finalist was post, he was a teacher, assistant principal, prin- Quill staff writer Dr. Kim Hiel, who is the current superintendent cipal, senior principal, executive director and of Fridley Public Schools and a former educator assistant superintendent for that same district. Robbinsdale Area Schools announced in the Robbinsdale district. While he has been in Colorado for many on April 16 that David Engstrom has been “It will be exciting to have someone new years, Engstrom has connections to Minnesota Twins struggling selected as the district's next superintendent. come in to assess what we are doing well and as well. He taught business and marketing for to find balance "We had two great finalists to choose what areas we can improve on,” Cooper Head seven years at Champlin Park High School. from and we are excited to announce that Mr. Principal Mr. Herman said. “My hope is the new Additionally, he earned a Master’s Degree The team cannot seem Engstrom will be the next leader of District superintendent will continue to collaborate with in Marketing Education from the University to generate strong 281," David Boone, chair of the district’s stakeholders to drive the improvement process of Minnesota. His other credentials include offense and defense school board, said in a statement. "We are so that we can better serve our students while a Bachelor of Science Degree in Broadcast during the same game, proud to bring Mr. Engstrom back home ensuring that Robbinsdale retains and attracts Communications from John Brown University leading to a growing to Minnesota and to the Robbinsdale Area the best staff.” in Arkansas; a degree in Career and Technical number of losses School District." Engstrom is currently the Deputy Superin- Education Leadership from Colorado State Engstrom was one of two finalists the tendent of Achievement, Learning and Leader- Page 10 board selected to continue conversations ship of Colorado Springs District 11 in Colorado, SUPERINTENDENT with following several rounds of interviews a position he has held for three years. Prior to that continues on page 8 Page 2, The Quill News May 24, 2021 WALKOUT continued from page 1 Seniors tackle tasks to prep for graduation One important aspect of plan- ning the event was being cautious From wrapping up their credits to turning in their Chromebooks, twelfth graders must complete many items prior to commencement about the threat of COVID. Orga- off date and location to be an- nizers did a number of things to nounced.” offset any health risks, including When it comes to paying making masks and hand sanitizer fines and fees at the Media Cen- available, and having participants ter, King noted that they can maintain social distancing while only take cash or checks at the in the school stadium. desk. However, students can also “Because we wanted to have pay fines online with a credit speakers heard, the Hawks sta- card by going to https://robbin- dium was our best option and sdale-area-schools-281.square.