PROCTOR HIGH SCHOOL UPDATE

John Awsumb will continue his exceptional career as a school leader by taking on the role of high school principal at PHS next fall. John has excelled at every stop he has had beginning in the Proctor school district as the assistant principal at Bay View Elementary. While there he earned the MN Elementary Assistant Principal of the Year award before moving on to be the principal at Jedlicka Middle School. This past fall, John was recognized as the MN Middle Level Principal of the Year and will be traveling to Washington this summer to be recognized by his colleagues. Coming in as the high school principal, John brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience going back to his time in the Twin Cities area working as an alternative learning center administrator, an administrator in Columbia Heights schools, and other very impactful roles. John's energy and passion for building relationships with students and families are what makes him exceptional.

The Weekly Hopper is a student-run news program about all the happenings at PHS. It is shown to the student body every Wednesday during Railtime.

Approximately 120 PHS seniors will be getting their diplomas on Sunday, June 1st at 6pm in the DECC Auditorium to signify their completion of high school. The Commencement ceremony will include native drumming to honor the class, musical numbers by the PHS choir and band, solo musical selections by select members of the senior class, and speeches by the valedictorians of the class of 2025. It will be a great night of celebration for our students.

Over the course of this week, teachers in the high school and middle school did an inventory with every student of the status of their school-issued chromebook. Students showed their advisor their chromebook, showed that it was in working order, and that it had a power source. Chromebooks that are in need of repair should be turned in to the main office so they can be repaired over the summer and returned to the student when they come back in the fall. Over the summer, students should put their chromebook and power source in a safe place so as to not damage them and so they are ready to be used again when school starts in the fall.

Over the past few days, students in 8-11 grade received a hard copy of their class schedule for the 2025-2026 school year. If there are errors on the schedule, students should visit the guidance office before the end of the school year to get the errors fixed. Schedule changes will not be made for reasons like wanting a certain teacher, wanting a certain hour/period, or wanting a class with friends. Our guidance department has worked very hard building our master scheduled that has balanced classes and satisfies the highest percentage of students getting the classes they registered for. If you have questions about your students' schedule, please contact the guidance office.

PROCTOR, MN — Battling through five grueling weeks of wind, rain, and snow, the Proctor Rails Clay Target Trap Team emerged victorious, capturing first place in Conference 4A-1. The team tallied an impressive 12,548 points, outpacing second-place Staples-Motley High School by a commanding 718-point margin.

This dominant performance was powered by strong individual showings across the board. Henry Napoli led the way with a first-place conference finish, followed closely by Laine Graves in second, Austin Carlson in third, and Forstrom in fourth. Additional top male finishers included Nick Pearson (7th), Gabe Bachke (11th), Toby Shunk (16th), and Anthony Smith (21st).

The Rails also had outstanding results among female athletes. Senior Layla Eckstrom finished second in the conference, with Leah Abbott placing 11th and Aarilyn McGregor 18th.

With more than 11,500 student athletes participating in trap shooting across Minnesota this spring, several Rails stood out at the state level. Napoli and Graves each earned 13th place statewide among male shooters, Carlson ranked 41st, and Forstrom came in at 73rd. On the girls’ side, Eckstrom finished an impressive 14th.

These stellar performances earned the Rails several individual invitations to the Minnesota State High School League Tournament, set for June 20 at the Minneapolis Gun Club in Prior Lake. Additionally, the team will compete at the Minnesota Trap Shooting Championship on June 12 in Alexandria, where the top 40 teams will qualify for the state tournament.

With both individual scores and a deep team effort, the Rails have proven themselves a force to be reckoned with in Minnesota trap shooting.

Congratulations to the entire team—great job, Rails!

Proctor Public Schools is launching a new five-year Strategic Plan, and we need your voice. Building on the progress made since 2018—with gains in academic achievement, inclusive practices, college and career readiness, and stronger communication—we’re looking ahead to set clear, community-driven priorities. In the coming weeks, you’ll have the opportunity to share your feedback through a district-wide survey and in-person listening sessions. Your input is essential to ensure the plan reflects our shared values and supports every student. Stay tuned for more details, and thank you for helping shape the future of our schools.

The PHS Guidance Department invites you to visit their page on the high school web page for information on transcript requests, scholarships, CITS courses, graduation info, post-secondary info, enrollment forms, Youth in Action, mental health support, and student-employment opportunities in our community.