Winter 2014
Area
businesses are
supporting
Early
Childhood
Family
Education/
ECFE.
Barnes
and Noble
designated
our preschool
program as a
recipient of their “give a child a book”
campaign. Over 200 books were given
to children in our Bridge to School
preschool and our Family School
programs. Kohl’s store in Apple
Valley has encouraged their employees
to volunteer at our Valentine Party. The
ECFE Advisory Council is working
with Valley Natural Foods to host
the annual Run for Hope 5K. ECFS
Foundation will benefit from the
proceeds of this event.
engage
enrich
inspire
Community Ed Youth
Programs hosted a
free Club Invention
at five elementary
schools. The program
was funded through a
Nordson Corporation
Foundation grant
that Club Invention
received and passed
on to us to share with
District 196 youth.
Over 100 students
were able to participate
in this high quality
enrichment opportunity extending their STEM learning. Funding has been
promised for the program to expand this summer and next fall.
Adult Basic Education /ABE program had 72 adult students successfully
complete the GED this year through December at our official testing site at Cedar
Valley Learning Center in Apple Valley. In the previous 5 years, we had an average
of 48 students complete the GED per each entire school year. In January, a new
revamped test was adopted by Minnesota Department of Education to earn a
General Educational Development (GED) diploma.
Community Ed’s
Aquatics, Certifications
and Training staff
taught Wilderness
First Aid and CPR
for over 35 School
of Environmental
Studies students
during their seven-day
intensive theme session
in February. The
students received high
school credits along
with certification upon
successful completion
of the course.
The Eighth Annual District 196 Parenting Conference was held at Eastview
High School on Saturday, November 2, 2013. Over 200 parents and staff
were in attendance. Approximately 20 volunteers helped on the day of the event.
The keynote speakers were Paul Bernabei and Tom Cody from Top 20 Training.
Participants were also able to attend two of 28 workshop sessions being offered
on a variety of parenting topics. There were 30 booths at the Resource Fair
representing a variety of non-profit agencies in the community.
engaging all ages
Winter 2014
Early Childhood Family Education/
ECFE is especially excited
about the new curriculum for the
Kindergarten Camp Propel
program that is being developed to
align kindergarten with what is being
taught in grades 1-5. A brochure for the
Kindergarten Camp Propel program
went out in the registration packets for
incoming kindergarten students. This
program, formerly known as Summer
Bridge to School, will also align with the
summer school Camp Propel program.
Our annual
Daddy Daughter
Dance will be
held April 19th,
where dad’s and
their daughters,
ages 3-11, will
twist and shout
the night away
at the ‘50s-themed event. Last year,
over 300 dads and daughters
attended to raise over $3,200 for youth
scholarships.
A variety of half-day preschool options are
available for 3- and 4-year olds
living in School District 196
District 196
Connections
Preschool
Come! Learn! Play!
A new class entitled, Intro and Prep for Community Interpreter Training, at the
Cedar Valley Learning Center has 39 adult students enrolled. The class will
explore the interpreter career and prepare our high level English speaking students
to attend a certificate training course. The curriculum was developed by ABE
teacher, Tina Kush and funded through a Minnesota regional transitions initiative.
iPad classes are hot! Enrollment is soaring and new
sections are being added. Instructor, Mike Pahl, has
offered quality, informative and helpful classes on
everything that has to do with iPads for over 80 adults
this winter. Once students take a class from Mike, they
register for more.
In late December, our Aquatics, Certifications and Training staff trained
65 participants in Lifeguarding, Junior Lifeguarding, Lifeguarding
Instructor, Water Safety Instructor, Water Safety Aide, CPR and First Aid ...
preparing individuals to help keep the communities we serve safe.
Did you know? We offer Women-Only Swim Lessons and Open Swim, on
Sundays at 1-2:30pm, now through March 16 at Scott Highlands Middle School
pool, and April 6 to June 8, at Falcon Ridge Middle School pool.
Over 160 adults with disabilities bowl three times per week for 40 weeks
of the year in Project Explore’s bowling league, providing a chance to compete
and meet their friends. Most, if not all, of our activities fill up. Some of them give
our consumers an opportunity to learn some skills (cooking and craft classes) but
more importantly, enhance their social skills. Project Explore provides customized
learning, social and recreational opportunities to adults with disabilities, serving
the areas of Rosemount, Apple Valley, Eagan, Burnsville, Farmington, Lakeville,
Randolph and Savage.
To inform parents about all of
our district preschool options,
a common name and brochure
for all district 3 and 4 year-old
preschool options has been
developed. The Connections
Preschool brochure was mailed in
mid-February to the homes of all
age-eligible children. It includes
a comprehensive listing of all
options that were formerly known
as Bridge to School, Community
Education Preschool, Country
Garden Preschool and elementary
based preschools.