Greetings from the Director
Dear Community Members,
The excitement of a new school year and the fall season is upon us! I hope this finds you as thrilled as I am for another year of great opportunities for our community and its students of all ages!
A few new and exciting offerings include:
- Esports
- A fall river boat tour on the St. Croix
- ECFE fall parent/child classes
If you are seeking a specific offering not available in this brochure, I invite you to reach out to us and express your interests or needs. If you have a special talent or expertise to offer to our community, you may also want to consider becoming an instructor with us. A great way to become involved with Community Education is by joining our Community Education Advisory Council, which works to plan programming, develop resources, enhance collaboration, build partnerships and public relations. Meetings are held in the evenings from 6-7:30 pm at the North Branch Area Education Center. Upcoming meeting dates are October 16, November 13, February 12, April 15 and May 13. If you would like to learn more about joining the Advisory Council, please call me at 651-674-1225.
I look forward to seeing many of you around the community this fall!
Erica Bjerketvedt
Director of Early Learning & Community Education
651-674-1225
Youth Enrichment/Recreation
Cat & Pumpkin Painted Wooden Decoration Ages 12 and older - Sept. 19 / 6:30-8:30 pm
Flag Football Grades 2 and 3 - Sept. 25, Oct 2 and Oct 9 / 5:45-6:45 pm
Home Alone Grades 3-6 - Oct. 4 / 3-5 pm
Power Sports Maintenance: Learn the Basics of Keeping Your Dirt Bike Maintained - Starts Oct. 5 (5 sessions) / 6-8 pm
St. Croix River Scenic Fall Boat Tour
Register through this link or call our office at 651-674-1025.
Wednesday, Sept. 27 11:45 - 3:15 pm
Cost: $45
Esports Fall League
Registration is now open for students in grades 9-12 to be part of the new North Branch Area Esports team!
Esports, short for electronic sports, are organized, competitive video gaming events where players, either individually or in teams, participate in virtual games for prestige, prizes, or simply for the thrill of competition.
Participating in an esports team promotes social development, academic improvement, and cognitive skills. It fosters inclusivity, offers scholarship opportunities, opens career paths in the growing esports industry, and encourages responsible digital citizenship. Integrating esports into schools can enhance personal growth, academic success, and
community engagement for students.
Esports information meeting - Monday, Sept. 11 at 6-7 pm at North Branch Area High School, Media.
Fall league registration deadline - Sept. 15. Fall registration is limited to 25 students. Cost is $150 for the fall league.
The pre-season begins Oct. 2. For more information about Esports, games and league information go to https://www.mnvl.org/. Practice/league event times tentatively planned for weekday evenings 5-7 pm.
For more information or questions contact Darin Marcussen at dmarcussen@isd138.org.
ECFE Parent/Child Classes
ECFE (Early Childhood Family Education) Parent/Child Classes at North Branch Area Education Center Learning begins at birth and we offer parents the opportunity to attend class together with their infants, toddlers and preschoolers on a weekly basis throughout the school year. We will help you learn more about positive guidance, eating and sleeping habits and your child’s development. We also provide a variety of special events and other services designed to deepen your relationship with your child.
ECFE for All Ages Early Morning Class - Starts Sept. 18 (12 Sessions) / Mondays 8-9:30 am
ECFE for All Ages Mid Morning Class - Starts Sept. 18 (12 Sessions) / Mondays 9:45-11:15 am
Evening Family Preschool for All Ages - Starts Sept. 19 (12 Sessions) / Tuesdays 5:30-7 pm
Infant ECFE - FREE Class - Starts Sept. 20 (13 Sessions) / Wednesdays 9-10:30 am
Terrific Tots on the Move - Early Morning - Starts Sept. 22 (12 Sessions) / Fridays 8-9:30 am
Baby Café - Wednesdays 10-11:30 am
Creative Arts
Fall Acrylic Painting Ages 16 and older - Sept. 12 / 6:30-8:30 pm
Flowers and Rocks Painting on Canvas Ages 15 and older - Sept. 14 / 6:30-8:30 pm
Cat & Pumpkin Painted Wooden Decoration Ages 12 and older - Sept. 19 / 6:30-8:30 pm
Swedish Painted Breadboard Ages 15 and older - Sept. 20 / 6:30-8:30 pm
Painted Cement Block Frankinstein or Scarecrow Ages 15 and Older - Sept. 21 / 6:30-8:30 pm
Pumpkin Acrylic Painting Class Ages 15 and older - Sept. 26 / 6:30-8:30 pm
Needle Felting Ages 12 and older - Sept. 28 / 6:30-8:30 pm
Driver's Education
North Branch Area Community Education is pleased to partner with Right Away Driving School to offer a convenient teen driver education program in our school.
Drivers Education Zoom Class - Sept. 11 - 22 / 3-6 pm
Drivers Education Hybrid Class - Sept. 25 - Oct 6 / 3-6 pm
Drivers Education Zoom Class - Oct. 9 - Oct 20 / 3-6 pm
Zumba - Starts Sept. 6 / 7 pm classes
ESSENTRICS: Restorative Fitness - Sept. 13, 20, 27 / 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Family Clogging Beginners Ages 8 & Older - Sept. 14, 21, 28, Oct 5 / 5:30 pm to 6:15 pm
Open Walking Club - Monday - Friday on school days / 4-8 pm / Stop by the Education Center to purchase your pass for just $3.
