Newsletters 2018-19 Focus newsletter, [2] Fall

PAGE 7 New ‘Child Care Collaborative’ program honored with state project award Anoka-Hennepin Community Education and area child care providers have partnered with a shared focus “In Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) classes, our parent educators remind families of it all the time; school readiness starts as early as when children are babies and toddlers,” Diane Tich, Early Childhood Coordinator, said. Tich has worked to reach out to area child care centers, and private in-home providers to pilot an award-winning program here in our district. The Child Care Collaborative was inspired by a similar program in St. Paul, but modified for our communi- ty to support child care providers and families with children birth to age eight, year-round. The program will receive a project award from the Minnesota Community Education Association (MCEA) later this month. “We heard that child care providers were feeling isolated,” Tich explained. “They work long hours and don’t always have the opportunity to network with other experts in the field.” The Child Care Collaborative was created through Anoka-Hennepin Community Education to offer child care providers consulting, coaching, and support in an effort to strengthen the alignment between child care providers and Anoka-Hennepin Schools to ensure that children are kindergarten- ready. An early learning educator visits the child care, and together, they tailor a customized plan which may include consultation, goal setting, coaching and access to materials, resources and professional development after taking an in-depth look at the provider’s environment, support for learning and teaching strategies. “All of these kiddos will one day be in our schools, and we want to focus on these children and the providers that are serving them,” Anoka- Hennepin Schools early learning educator, Jeanne Croteau, said. Melissa Kalahar, a child care provider in Champlin, was excited about the opportunity. “My child care is my business, and it’s in my own home,” she says. Discover Community Education! We value the opportunity to bring quality educational programs to our community members, and there is something for everyone. Classes and activities are offered year-round. Register today! Adult Learning Early learning educator, Jeanne Croteau, and Champlin- area child care provider, Melissa Kalahar, worked together to select an apple-themed counting activity for the children in Kalahar’s care in an effort to support school readiness. “The goals that we set and the resources that we select are based on the areas that I want to priori- tize for myself and for the children I care for.” Through collaboration, early learning educators and child care providers review and select learning resources for the children based on their needs. In addition, similar tips and tools may be sent home with the families to build upon the learning at home. ECFE staff and child care providers may choose to enhance the physical learning environment, or focus on the curriculum side of the program by selecting assessment tools or learning activities. “The program really is geared for supporting me,” Kalahar said. “It’s wonderful to have another adult coming in to my child care; I can bounce ideas off of Jeanne and she has all the resources that I need at her fingertips.” “It’s great for providers to be able to ask questions, and we can provide tools and resources aligned with the school district curriculum to better prepare all children for school - for free,” Croteau said. The Child Care Collaborative program is available to area child care providers and centers at no charge. Pass the news along to your provider: ahschools.us/childcarecollaborative. n Dive into fun at Roosevelt Community Pool! Check out the new facility updates: Try aquatic fitness, swimming lessons or open swim Anoka-Hennepin Community Education is proud to re-open Roosevelt Community Pool this fall after making a splash with updated signage and equipment. “The community pool was in need of some cosmetic updates and we encourage community members to visit and enjoy our. new look,” said Michelle Trelstad, director of community education. No matter what your interest or skill level, Community Education offers hundreds of classes year- round for adults ages 18 and up. Classes focus on technology, money, creativity, hobbies, home improvement, parenting, health, fitness and more! Call 763-506-5766 with questions. Adults with Disabilities Specialized classes offer educa- tional, recreational and social activities for adults with develop- mental disabilities that practice life skills to increase independence, communication, and community integration. Call 763-506-1290 with questions. Youth Enrichment The Community Schools program coordinates a wide variety of fun classes and activities to enhance your child’s academic and social experiences after-school, in the evening and on the weekend. Opportunities for students in preschool through grade eight include arts and crafts; science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) classes; language and perform- ing arts; sports and recreation; and swimming. Call 763-506-1260 with questions. Early Childhood Family Education Educational and enrichment classes are available for families with young children ages birth to kindergarten. Classes are offered for parents to attend with children or for preschoolers to learn and practice independence. Call 763-506-1275 with questions about Early Childhood Family Education and Preschool. Anoka-Hennepin Community Education also offers adult basic education, adult/youth athletic leagues and recreational opportunities, aquatic fitness, parent involvement, school-age child care, swimming lessons and tutoring programs for community members. n “We think families will find the facility more warm and welcoming, and we intend to make additional programming changes in the coming months to accommodate birthday parties, private pool rentals and host special events.” www.discovercommunityed.com Community members can enroll in swimming lessons for all ages, aquatic fitness sessions or attend open swim sessions – some of which include the “Wibit,” an inflatable obstacle course. Visit ahschools.us/swim to learn more and register online. Get paid to swim! The pool is always hiring additional lifeguards and water safety instructors. To view open positions visit ahschools.us/CEjobs. n ● Tuesdays from 7:15 - 8:45 p.m. ● Thursdays from 7:15 - 8:45 p.m. Open swim hours: ● Saturdays from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. (“Wibit” inflatable obstacle course open.) (“Wibit” inflatable obstacle course open.) facebook.com/ DiscoverCommunityEd @AHCommunityEd @AHCommunityEd Pool closed: Nov. 6, Nov. 22-24, Dec. 23 - Jan. 1, Mar. 11-16 Presented by: Free for the entire family! Join us for the FINAL Community Wellness Day. Register to attend sessions in November. • Sampler fitness classes for adults • Educational wellness seminars Sat., Jan. 26 I 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Coon Rapids Middle School • 11600 Raven St., Coon Rapids • Early childhood activities • Youth gym sponsored by AKA Sports -- offering multi-sport and fitness activities for school-aged youth • Family book and DVD Swap Learn more: ahschools.us/communitywellnessday Sponsored by:

Newsletters 2018-19 Focus newsletter, [2] Fall | Page 7