Skating at the Renaissance Depot Hotel - check online for dates and times - The Depot Skating Rink has been named as one of the top places to skate by USA Today. It is housed in an 1899 Minneapolis train depot, hence the name. The floor to ceiling windows creates the illusion you're outside, and a bonus of the location is that there are food and drinks close by.

It’s Minnetonka’s 'hottest' new club: Winter Running. This club is for those who don’t have a winter sport and are looking to stay in shape during the harsh Minnesota coldness. Now, if you aren’t in cross country or track, I can understand why running in sub-zero temperatures isn’t exactly “appealing.” The endurance associated with running can be a challenge for some. In addition, running in the cold can make it much harder.

Nordic, or cross-country skiing, is thought to have been developed over 4500 years ago in the Scandinavian regions of Europe. The tradition continues here at our school. The Minnetonka High School Nordic ski team, or TNR for short, began their season at the end of October.

Lately, you may have heard that your teachers won’t be assigning homework over winter break contrary to past years at Minnetonka High School. For obvious reasons, this alleviates any added stress in past breaks and allows for more time to be spent with loved ones. However, it’s important to note the effects of ditching a homework routine for ten days of break.

In recent years, high schools, including Minnetonka, have begun to approach Christmas in a new, more secular way. In the First Amendment to the United States Constitution lies a religious clause, and within that clause, the Establishment Clause. The opening lines of it are as follows: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” This is coupled with an implication: The separation of Church and State. Seeing as our school is public, Minnetonka HS is an institution of the state and therefore the school must not show religious favoritism. And so, our dilemma is born.

As the cold weather finally starts to come in through Minnesota, all of us rush inside, increasingly eager to get a break from the biting temperatures. However, some students aren’t getting as much of a break as they’d hoped for. You may have noticed the abundance of students bearing winter coats as they walk through the halls. Or, maybe you’ve overheard the same phrase over and over again between classes: “I’m freezing.” Whatever the case is, it’s undisputable - the school is cold.