October newsletter

This e-newsletter is intended for Osseo Area Schools Community Education staff

with highlights from Community Education programs.

Shoutout to Community Education staff who attended the Minnesota Community Education Association fall conference in Duluth during the last week of October. Over 500 community educators came together for networking and engaging sessions on professional development and early childhood to adult programming with others from across the state.

Adult Basic Education (ABE) launched additional classes this fall in response to a growing community need to help adults gain skills to support their personal, academic and career goals. The ABE program expansion includes increasing courses offered in driver’s education, citizenship and computer skills from summer-only offerings to now include fall and spring semester opportunities.

In connection to Minnesota’s Driver’s License for All law, in the driver’s education class, students learn the curriculum to prepare for the knowledge exam and can get support to sign up for the knowledge test at a testing exam location. The citizenship course supports students who want to learn about the process of becoming a U.S. citizen and prepare for the oral interview, reading and writing test. The computer skills class offers hands-on experience to learn basic computer skills, empowering students to gain skills and confidence using digital technology.

The new Adult Enrichment Winter and Spring 2025 catalog will arrive in the mail to households the week of Nov. 18. If you do not normally get a catalog by mail, send an email and it can be sent to you. Classes are open for enrollment online or by phone now. There are 70+ new classes included in the new catalog including:

• More Paint Like Bob Ross classes
• Sourdough Bread Starter
• Crash Cake Course
• Oh, You Beautiful Cake!
• Cookie Monsters for Kids and Caregivers
• Mindfulness Meditation
• Detox Your Life
• Better Balance, Fewer Falls
• Intro To Enneagram
• Pregnancy Class
• Mind Mapping
• Candle Making
• Paint Like Monet and Pissarro
• Empty Bowls
• Wool Felt Frog (see attached photo)
• and so many more!

Long-time, talented adult enrichment Baking Instructor Nancy Burgeson joined Minnesota Live on Nov. 1. Check out some of Nancy's best baking tips shared with viewers.

Chess Club: 153 students are learning to play chess this fall. This is one of our most popular afterschool classes for students across the district.

Spotlight on new classes we are offering this fall:

• Yoga for Youth classes at Basswood Elementary School and Rice Lake Elementary School
• Individual Piano Lessons at Edinbrook Elementary School taught by district teacher Jessie Hanson
• Bricktopia (LEGO®) Enrichment Clubs at Crest View Elementary School, Fair Oaks Elementary School and Garden City Elementary School.

Student musical performances continue in November

• Students from Cedar Island Elementary School, Oak View Elementary School, Weaver Lake: A Science, Technology and Math School and Woodland Elementary School have been rehearsing and getting ready for their performance debuts of Finding Nemo.

Carrie Hurkes last day with District 279 Foundation was Nov. 7. We are grateful for her efforts to support scholars Osseo Area Schools. The Administrative and Events Coordinator position has been advertised and we hope to welcome a new member to the team in December.

District 279 Foundation's A Night Out will take place on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, at Edinburgh USA Golf Course. Proceeds from this fundraiser help fund District 279 Foundation’s grants program which supports creative projects for scholars in Osseo Area Schools.

You can get involved in the following ways:

• Register: Gather a group of your friends and make it A Night Out! Registration will open in December.
• Auction Contributions: Donate an item for the auction. Information can be found on our website. Items should be submitted by Thursday, Jan. 9.
• Volunteer: Learn more about activities and sign up here. The volunteer schedule and assignments will be communicated a few days prior to the event.

On Oct. 15, Early Childhood & Family Education (EC&FE) staff hosted a free Family Fun Night at Arbor View Early Childhood Center and Willow Lane Early Childhood Center. The event brought in more than 100 families between both school locations for an evening of activities, story time, snacks, food and fun with EC&FE staff. The theme of the event was One Community For All and featured staff-led activities such as sensory play, art, story time, motor room and gym time.

A highlight for families at the event was the opportunity to show how they say “hello” in home languages and taking home a free book. Family Fun Night events are just one of the ways Early Childhood & Family Education creates opportunities that positively impact our whole community through innovative and responsive programs and services.

Building Supervisors

Rita Apaloo

Habiba Braih

Edwin Criollo

Donaven Dahmen

Kaila Drake

Aram Eskridge

Monica Geerdes

Beth Jameson

Stephane Koueda

Dean Schwichtenberg

Emmaliza Sharpe

Randy VanHorn

Denise Yarbrough

Setup / Tear Down Crew

Ryann Vang

Lead Building Supervisor

Celina & Ryan Price – Osseo Senior High

Janet Weitzel – Congratulation to Janet as she retired from her daytime job at Osseo Middle School. She took a required 30 day break from the district and was hired back as the Lead Building Supervisor at Osseo Middle School.

Lee Bilbro

Ruth Weiler (Ruth will remain in her role as ESC Front Desk Receptionist.)

She has approximately seven years of theater experience and was looking for a way to keep the community a part of her career and make new connections in the theater world. She specializes in sound and property production and did a very similar role for Robbinsdale Area Schools prior to joining the ISD 279 team! She is super excited to get to know all the amazing staff and learn more in the professions of professional drama/theater.

He is looking forward to working with the community and enjoying the different shows concerts and other events. He has a lot of experience in the event industry. Andy worked in hospitality management for many years and spent several years working in the audiovisual field. This is his background, and he looks forward to experiencing more events with the ISD 279 community.

Technical theatre, communication, and community are things she has always highly valued throughout her life. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in communication studies and a minor in theatre arts, she was constantly thinking of ways to combine these different facets of her life. This position with Osseo Area Schools allows her to work supporting the community, fostering love for the arts, and facilitating clear communication to keep everything running. Working with this amazing team at this intersection of her passions will be great.

On Oct. 24 Kidstop/Four Star Express celebrated Lights On Afterschool a day of national recognition to celebrate the crucial role afterschool programs play in providing safe, enriching environments where students can learn and grow outside of school hours. A variety of activities were held at sites to celebrate.

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Email Kathryn Polum, Communications Specialist at polumk@district279.org.

Sept. CE Staff E-Newsletter

July CE Staff E-Newsletter

11200 93rd Ave. No.

Maple Grove, MN 55369

Phone: 763-391-7000

www.ce.district279.org