Roseville Area Schools Welcomes Harambee Elementary

Maplewood, MN—Roseville Area Schools is thrilled to welcome Harambee Community Cultures/Environmental Science School into the ISD 623 family.

Harambee, a year-round elementary school for students in Kindergarten through 5th grade led by Principal Kathy Griebel, has been part of the East Metro Integration District (EMID). Roseville Area Schools will take on the operation of the school for the 2013-2014 school year.

As an EMID school, Harambee draws students from St. Paul and surrounding suburbs, integrating them into a diverse and supportive school environment. The school has a special focus on Community Culture and Environmental Science.

"We're just so pleased that we have the opportunity to have Harambee join our District 623 learning family," said Superintendent John Thein. "We look forward to a long and fruitful partnership with Harambee students, staff and families."

Although Harambee operates year-round, students attend classes the same number of days as students on a traditional school calendar. Harambee approximately follows a 45/15 model, where students attend school for about 45 days, followed by a 15-day break. Classrooms at Harambee are looped starting in Kindergarten, which means that students stay with the same teacher and classmates for two years in a row.

With the exciting addition of Harambee into Roseville Area Schools for the 2013-2014 school year, Harambee students will be able to fully participate in Roseville Area Schools activities—including Band and Orchestra, athletics, Friendship Connection, and many other new opportunities.

Harambee’s first day of school was September 3, 2013.