Connect-Oct. 21

At Fernbrook Elementary School, special education teacher Sarah Freese has worked with students for three and a half years, creating a supportive learning environment with individualized instruction to help her students succeed.

This school year, three Community Conversations are going to be held to better understand from family and community members what is going well and what needs improvement as well as ensuring all feel valued and heard. District leadership and school board members will host the events, which are set for Nov. 5, Feb. 3 and May 12.

Your help is needed to start the planning process. If you could please take five minutes to let us know your thoughts on our schools via this Google Form. The themes arising from your responses will help inform the topics chosen for the Community Conversations. Additionally, if you’re interested in participating in a conversation, please share your name, contact information and the dates that work best for you in the space provided on the form.

During the Community Conversations, the team will be focused on listening to understand. The goal is to help inform our team of the why behind what is working well and what areas of growth are needed. Knowing this information will guide us toward improving our day-to-day work, making necessary adjustments and continuing to become the best place to learn.

A summary of the results will be shared community-wide. Thank you, in advance, for your partnership on this journey.

Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center fire departments have made rounds to local schools in recent weeks, including Edinbrook and Garden City elementary schools. The firefighters spent time familiarizing students with firefighter turnout gear, showing off their trucks and the trucks' capabilities and providing fire safety education such as sharing the importance of sleeping with bedroom doors closed and having a designated family meeting space outside of the home in case of a fire.

On Oct. 9, Elm Creek Elementary School hosted a group of police officers from across the country who were training to become D.A.R.E. officers. The officers talked to students in all grades about the dangers of alcohol and drugs, safety in the home and what adults in your life you can trust to give you medicine. Check out the feature.