Dear Secondary Students and Families: 

Here are just a few highlights from the Secondary Campus!

Five PACT students have qualified for the Minnesota State DECA Competition following their outstanding district performances. This is PACT’s first year participating in DECA, making this achievement even more meaningful. Congratulations to our student competitors and to Advisor Jason Tossey for leading PACT’s inaugural DECA team to such an impressive debut. We are proud of our Panthers and excited to cheer them on at State from March 1-3, 2026.

We held our Winter Concerts at the beginning of December, and our students did an outstanding job. We are so proud of our musicians and the growth they’ve made since the start of the year. Attendance was strong across performances, to the point that we had to get creative to ensure everyone could fit comfortably in our auditorium. We are grateful for the continued support of our families and community, and we appreciate the opportunity to welcome them to our campus to celebrate our students’ talents and hard work. During our January board meeting, Ms. Hedberg and Mr. Reynolds shared with our board and community members about the PACT music program and their vision for our program as we grow and progress. We are thankful for visionary leaders who care about excellence in skills, as well as about building students of character through their program.

Our high school students will have the opportunity to learn in new ways through several new classes next semester. 

We are excited to announce that Industrial Arts will be offered in the second semester. Our new instructor, Mr. Brett Jared, shared that he is excited to be part of the PACT community and to offer students hands-on opportunities, with a focus on safety and practical skills that will be valuable after their time in school. We will be offering Woods 1 and Woods 2 in the second semester, starting January 20. Reach out to Ms. Kaminski (j.kaminski@pactcharter.org) or Mr. Bjork (p.bjork@pactcharter.org) if your student is interested in adjusting their schedule to these courses!

Students will be completing end-of-semester surveys for all of their classes. Feedback gathered from these surveys will be shared with teachers during our mid-year check-ins. Student responses will help guide our ongoing refinement of instructional practices, allowing us to identify areas of success and areas where students may be experiencing challenges. As a staff, we are happy to celebrate successes and ready to grow alongside our students.

Get ready for an unforgettable night of fun, community, and Panther pride at our annual gala! This year, we want to support our athletes in a big way, and the goal is to raise $50,000 to build a brand-new press box – a vital upgrade that will enhance the game-day experience for athletes, families, and fans.

The evening includes dinner, music, games, drawings, and a variety of exclusive items and experiences for guests to claim through written offers throughout the night. It’s the perfect mix of entertainment and purpose, all while celebrating the spirit of our Panther community and highlighting our coaches.

You won’t want to miss your chance to be part of a night that truly makes a difference. Purchase tickets here. The Panthers Booster Club sponsors this event.

Congratulations to all our students for reaching the end of the first semester! We look forward to a long weekend before we come back on Tuesday, ready for semester two!

Warmly,

Dr. Shawn Lohse

Secondary Principal