Fall 2013
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Over 500 adult students are enrolled in ESL,
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this September, which is up 13% from last September.
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We are excited to report that we have just been awarded an MDE Pathways II
Scholarship grant for $73,330. Parent Aware 4 star rated programs were eligible
to apply for funds to serve preschoolers in need. Our project will provide
a preschool program to children residing in the Cedar Knolls community. This
funding will allow us to transport children to Thomas Lake Elementary for class.
inspire
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Our new summer program, Preventing Brain Drain, was a hit! Two Dakota Hills
Middle School teachers inspired 51 sixth and seventh grade middle school
students in this math enrichment program.
Middle school kids “rocked out” by forming rock bands,
learning about music theory and participating in group lessons
this summer in an academy setting. At the end of the week, they
performed a concert for their family and friends. Use/download a
QR Reader app and scan to view a video.
uVIEW
VIDEO
Community Education staff learned about the generational styles of
Traditionalists, Boomers, Generation X and Millennial via a keynote speaker from
BridgeWorks at the back-to-school kickoff. Staff gave the workshop rave reviews
and are referring to what they learned, in conversation and implementation, to
better serve our current customers and attract new ones.
This summer an inaugural program,
SWAT (Service with a Twist), involved
6-8 graders in service learning projects
and career exploration activities. The
program, SEALS (Students Engaged in
Active Leadership and Service), has been
extended this school year!
Over the summer Early Childhood Family Services assumed the preschool
program formerly known as Country Garden Nursery School. Country Garden
and the district’s Early Childhood Special Education program had a strong
collaboration in place to provide integrated classrooms for their students and the
community preschoolers at Highland and Thomas Lake. Now, 120 students
are enrolled in the Community Ed Preschool (formerly Country Garden).
enriching all ages
enriching all ages
Fall 2013
More than 2000 kindergarten through fifth grade students took part
in the summer correspondence course GRASP to enhance their reading and math
skills. Students completed weekly assignments and those completing at least 70%
of the assignments received a certificate. Of the parents surveyed following the
summer program, 96% said they would participate again next summer. Comments
received were overwhelmingly positive!
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To better align our literacy practices for prekindergarten to grade three,
Early Childhood Family Services and Early Childhood Special Education are
focusing on joint training opportunities for their staff and staff from community
preschools. National speaker, Lester Laminack, presented Building Literacy
Effectiveness in the Early Childhood Classroom in August. The collaborative
literacy presentation focused on choosing rich literature for read-alouds, building
a library for the early childhood age group and incorporating literature and writing
throughout the classroom day. There will be another joint training of staff on
November 27 that will focus on the implementation of literacy practices in the
classroom.
Thursday, November 14, is recognized statewide as National Community
Education Day. District 196 Community Education staff will be reaching out to
all school staff on this day to share a small treat along with information
regarding the availability of programs to all families.
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Community Education spearheaded the Back-to-School Supply Drive in an
effort to ensure that every student comes to school prepared and ready to learn!
Staff collected donations and also worked to pair community organizations and
businesses with a school and worked to collect the appropriate supplies needed.
All 18 elementary schools, our six middle schools and three of our
high schools benefited from the generosity of our community givers.