Melrose Knowledge Bowl dominated at Region 7 Finals!
Region Finals were held yesterday, March 10th, at SCSU. There are three classes, determined by high school population: A, AA, and AAA. This year, Melrose is competed in Class A.
However, at the Region Finals, all three classes compete together and the winners from each Class are divided out at the end. The top finisher in each Class plus the next two highest scores, advance to the state tournament.
At yesterday's meet, Melrose started the day with a test score of 50/60. This was the highest score of the day with scores ranging from 36-50. Starting in room one for the oral rounds, Melrose never looked back. They won all five oral round competitions facing all AA or AAA schools.

1st Place - Class A Melrose with 126.5.
2nd Place - Class AAA Elk River with 113.5.
3rd Place - Class AAA Sartell with 107.5.
4th Place - Class AA St. John's Prep with 104.5.
5th Place - Class 2AA Albany.
These top five schools are State Bound.
Litchfield finished in eighth as the second place Class A school with 95.5.
This will be the Dutchmen's ninth trip to the state tournament since 1986. However this is their sixth consecutive trip, earning state titles in 2023 and 2025.

Coach Leraas and Coach Hoyt feel privileged to work with these awesome students, most of them since fifth grade. If you see any of the students, wish them "Good Luck" at the State Tournament held at Cragun's in April.

Go Dutchmen!
Back: Logan Kelzer, Eric Sundermann, Andrue Stalboerger
Front: Nina Prout, Ramona Lurken-Tvrdik

#DutchmenPride

5 months ago, Melrose Activities
KB
Good News!
NSPN.tv will be streaming the Section Playoffs Wednesday, March 11th!

Section 6AA Boys Basketball: Melrose vs. Annandale at 7:45pm
Live streaming link: https://nspn.tv/MSHSL/GameStream/30702
Subscription link: https://nspn.tv/MSHSL/?referral=Region5A

#DutchmenPride
5 months ago, Melrose Activities
NSPN.TV graphic
Ready to sign up for the 2026 Dutchmen Trap Team? Students in grades 8-12 should attend our Open House Meeting in the HS Cafeteria tonight from 5:30-7pm. We want all students to get registered for the team tonight! New members should allow 30 minutes to register, while returning members should allow 15 minutes. All participants must have a Firearm Safety Certificate to join. Please use Team Reach to contact Head Coach Cory Ellering with questions.
See you there!!
#DutchmenPride
5 months ago, Melrose Activities
Trap Team
Team Reach
Join us for Open Swim, Open Gym or Open Pickleball today! Grab a friend & have some fun! $2/Person or $5/Family. Exact change is appreciated. Enter door 2.
5 months ago, Melrose Comm. Ed.
Open Swim
Open Gym, Open Swim, Open Pickleball
Ready for Spring Sports?
Next Monday is the 1st Day of Practice for High School Softball, High School Girls & Boys Track & Field, and Sync Swim!!
Get registered here: https://melrose1550a.cf.affinetysolutions.com/

#DutchmenPride
5 months ago, Melrose Activities
Affinety

Do you have an incoming kindergartner? If you didn’t receive a letter about Kindergarten Round-Up, please call the Melrose Elementary Office at 320-256-5160 ext. 1016 for more information. We’d love to connect with you!

#DutchmenPride

5 months ago, Kelly Neu
two kids by and artist easel painting a picture with green grass and clouds. Blackboard list information for Kindergarten round up.
🌟 Dutchmen Spotlight 🌟
Each week we’re highlighting staff members nominated by students and community members. 💜💛
Help us celebrate the amazing people who make Melrose Area Schools shine! 👏
#DutchmenPride
5 months ago, Kelly Neu
Woman with long blonde hair, black shirt, black earrings and a smile on a purple and gold geometric backgroun
A big congratulations to Melrose Band! Our students received a superior rating (highest rating) from all 3 judges at the Large Group Band Contest in Albany. One judge said Melrose was "The best band of the day!"
#DutchmenPride
5 months ago, Melrose Area School Updates
2026 BandContest
Sealed Bid Notice – School Vans for Sale!

Melrose Area Public Schools is offering 3 school vans for sale through a sealed bid process.

📅 Deadline for bids: Thursday, March 5th by 2:00 PM
📍 Where to submit: Mail or drop off at the address below (please mark your envelope “Sealed Bid” and specify which vehicle your bid is for). Each vehicle requires a separate envelope if bidding on more than one.

📬 address
Melrose Area Public Schools
Attn: Zachary Dingmann, Superintendent
546 5th Ave. NE
Melrose, MN 56352

📅 Bid opening: Friday, March 6, 2026, in the Superintendent’s office

For detailed descriptions of each van and additional information, click here: https://melroseareapublicschoolsmn.sites.thrillshare.com/o/maps/page/sales

Don’t miss your chance to bid!
5 months ago, Kelly Neu
sealed bid graphic
🤖⚙️Introducing the Gear Grinders! ⚙️🤖

We are thrilled to announce the launch of our very first FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) team — the Gear Grinders!

This new Melrose Team is part of the internationally recognized FIRST Robotics Competition, where they design, build, and program industrial-sized robots — all while learning hands-on STEM skills, teamwork, leadership, and real-world problem solving.

This is more than building robots. It’s about:
🔧 Learning hands-on engineering skills
💻 Exploring coding and design
🤝 Building teamwork and leadership
🎤 Developing communication and presentation skills
🚀 Preparing for college and future careers

We are incredibly proud of these students for stepping up to start something new and exciting for our school and community. The future is bright — and it’s powered by innovation!

Our team has learned so much so far and the Gear Grinders have one more competition left — wish them the best of luck as they take on their final challenge!

Check out the team and their robot in action here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61587628704449

For more information about joining the team in the future, contact Mr. Lee, Industrial Tech Teacher, dlee@isd740.org

#DutchmenPride #ThatsCommunityEd
5 months ago, Kelly Neu
Robot with red and blue bumpers with balls in it
Group of boys working on a First Robot with black shirts
Boys wearing black shirts and Jeans driving a robot
Girl standing by a bin of balls with a robot in front of them

🎮 Melrose Esports Spring Club – With Melrose Area Community Education for Students Grade 7-12
Compete. Connect. Grow.
Esports isn’t just gaming — it’s a structured, team-based activity that builds real-world skills colleges and employers value.
Students compete from home against other Minnesota schools in a staff-moderated, sportsmanship-focused league while developing:
✔ Communication
✔ Teamwork
✔ Leadership
✔ Strategic thinking
✔ Problem-solving under pressure

Esports is one of the fastest-growing activities at the high school and collegiate level, with many colleges recognizing competitive teams and organized programs.

Game Titles Include:
Super Smash Bros, Minecraft, Marvel Rivals, Fortnite, Mario Kart 8, Rocket League, Chess & more.
(Middle school students under 13 may register for Chess, Mario Kart 8, Minecraft, and Super Smash Bros.)
*Select games will allow students to participate in spring sports at MHS and Esports at home.

📅 Season: April 6 – May 22
📝 Team registration deadline: March 26
🖥 Students participate virtually from home and provide their own equipment and software.

This is a positive, structured way for students to compete, represent Melrose, and grow skills that go far beyond the screen.
For more information contact: kneu@isd740.org
https://isd740.arux.app/course/745/winter-spring-2026/esports-spring-club

5 months ago, Kelly Neu
Kids in 2 pictures facing each other with headsets and keyboards playing video games with coaches watching in the background
Good luck to our Band Students as they compete at Region 5A Large Group Contest today in Albany! We hope you have a good time!
#DutchmenPride
5 months ago, Melrose Area School Updates
Good Luck Dutchmen
Students in grades 8-12 interested in joining the 2026 Dutchmen Trap Team are invited to attend an Open House Meeting in the HS Cafeteria on Monday, March 9th from 5:30-7pm. The purpose of this Open House Meeting is to get registered for the team! New members should allow 30 minutes to register, while returning members should take about 15 minutes. All participants must have a Firearm Safety Certificate to join. Please use Team Reach to contact Head Coach Cory Ellering with questions.
#DutchmenPride
5 months ago, Melrose Activities
Trap Team
Team Reach
🌟 Dutchmen Spotlight 🌟
Each week we’re highlighting staff members nominated by students and community members. 💜💛
Help us celebrate the amazing people who make Melrose Area Schools shine! 👏
#DutchmenPride
5 months ago, Kelly Neu
Woman with a white shirt, shoulder length blonde hair and a smile on a  purple and gold geometric background
5 months ago, Kelly Neu
Woman with Glasses helping a child with dark hair put circles on a wooden peg
Melrose Area Speech Team had an early morning on February 28th to attend the Stillwater Mid-Year Tournament! We are proud to announce individual championships for Aidan Kluempke in Discussion, Esther Kapsner in Ex. Reading, and Teague Dusha in Great Speeches!!
The team appreciated the high level of competition, especially as one of the few Class A schools in attendance. We celebrated our achievements with a team feast in Maple Grove!
Finals:
Creative: Ella Erdman - 2nd; Ava Wensmann - 6th
Discussion: Aidan Kluempke - 1st
Duo: Ella Erdmann & Zoe Hoeschen - 3rd
Ex. Reading: Esther Kapsner - 1st; Rebecca Welle - 5th
Ex. Speaking: Teague Dusha - 2nd
Great Speeches: Teague Dusha - 1st
Humorous: Jada Rausch - 3rd; Isaiah Gilk - 5th
Prose: Annabell Lester - 4th
Storytelling: Zoe Hoeschen - 4th; Isaiah Gilk - 5th
Next-In Finals:
Original Oratory: Brooke Ruoff - 4th
Poetry: Mara Larson - 3rd
Prose: Nell Wiechmann - 6th

Great job, Speech Team!
#DutchmenPride
5 months ago, Melrose Activities
Speech 1
Speech
Speech
Speech
Speech
Speech
Melrose Area Advanced Culinary Students delved into classic Louisiana Cajun cookery this week as they made Shrimp Étouffée. It looks great!
#DutchmenPride
5 months ago, Melrose Area School Updates
Foods Class
Foods Class
Foods Class
Foods Class
Foods Class
Melrose Area Foods & Nutrition Students made calzones last week! Wow! Look at that cheese factor! Mmm!
#DutchmenPride
5 months ago, Melrose Area School Updates
Foods Class
Foods Class
Foods Class
Foods Class
Foods Class
Foods Class
Foods Class
🌟 Toddler Time ECFE! 🌟
Join Ms. Jennifer for a fun morning of stories and smiles!
📅 Tuesday, Mar 10
⏰ 10:30–11:00 a.m.

Free to attend—just register so we know how many little friends to plan for! 💛
👉 https://isd740.arux.app/course/ecfe/697/school-year-2025-26%E2%80%941/toddler-time-ecfe-storytime-hora-del-cuento-de-ecfe-para-ninos-pequenos
5 months ago, Kelly Neu
2 year old boy with big blue eyes and a big open mouth in a white t-shirt looking surprised
Our Fusion 400 Free Relay of Corey Ronning, Hunter Leslie, Zaron Olmschenk and Nolan Fleischhacker finished in 10th place at State today!! #DutchmenPride
5 months ago, Melrose Activities
Relay