In the Loop: “Ask not what your community education can do for you…tell it!”

I usually use this blog to share the good news of the great work done by Hastings Community Educators over the past month.  Not that this wasn’t the case in January–indeed, as always, it was–but I thought I would switch it up a little and tell you what’s on tap for February/early March.  We also are examining a couple different ways we conduct our work and are in need of your input.

On tap for February #1: The Senior Program Valentine’s Dance, February 13 

There’s nothing quite like live music to get your toes tapping, which always makes me want to get up and dance!  The Eric Thomas Duo will be on stage at Tilden Community Center on Monday, February 13, 2-4 p.m.  If you don’t care to dance, you’re welcome to listen to some fabulous music!  Refreshments will be served and you don’t have to be a member of the Senior Center to participate.  The cost is $3 and registration is requested in advance by calling 651-480-7689.  Rumor has it Superintendent Collins may come by to trip the life fantastic.

On tap for February #2:   Myth or Truth?  I should pay off debt with the highest interest rate first to get out of debt quickly, Thursday, February 16

This class is recommended by our Adult Enrichment Coordinator, Zena Stefani.  Living frugally is cool again!  Build momentum on your debt snowball.  To sign up, go to http://register.hastingscommunityed.com/course/winter-2012/how-to-get-completely-out-of-debt#

On tap for February #3: Mother-Son Superhero Saturday Afternoon, February 25

While I can’t guarantee that this guy, Captain America, will be in Hastings for the Mother-Son Superhero Saturday Afternoon, February 25, 4-6 p.m., Hastings Middle School, I can guarantee there will be Superheroes at this event!  An organization known as Minnesota United Superheroes will appear in costume to delight mother/son superhero duos.  Games such as Rescue the Mom! and Kryptonite Toss are planned, along with the always popular bounce houses.  Our own community Superheroes, members of the Hastings Police and Fire Department, will be on hand.  Everyone is welcome to dress in costume; bring cameras and autograph books.  Pizza and pop will be available for purchase.  Register at www.hastingscommunityed.com.  Really, you don’t want to miss this.

On to the ways YOU can help your community through Community Education

Opportunity #1: Unity Through Community on Cable Channel 15, 6:30 p.m.

I’ve just started hosting a cable show where the topics focus on services and programs provided by Community Education.  I hope to bring many of those in our community who we collaborate with in to the show.  Who would you like to see interviewed or what topics would you like to see covered on Unity Through Community?  Drop me an email: mobrien@hastings.k12.mn.us or call me at 651-480-7672.

Opportunity #2: The Community Education Catalog

You know that wonderful Community Ed catalog that comes to your mailbox a couple times a year?  The one you can also pick up at a variety of places throughout the Hastings community?  We’re considering making some changes in the catalog and perhaps in ways we provide information about our classes and programs to you.  Here’s where you come in: we’re looking for community members willing to spend 1/2 hour with us to provide feedback on proposed catalog changes.  All you need to bring is yourself!  In return, you’ll receive either a gift certificate for $10 off an upcoming Community Ed class or a FREE walking button.  Where do I sign up?  A couple easy ways:  go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WBWZFZJ email me for dates and times at mobrien@hastings.k12.mn.us or call me at 651/480-7672.

Opportunity #3: Boomers, Arise!

A little aside here–last weekend, my husband, Dan and two of my daughters, Molly and Maggie, and I went to a fabulous exhibit at the Minnesota History Center.  1968 shows through a variety of media the momentous events which occurred during that year.  And sure enough, there was mention of “record number of baby boomers flood college campuses.”  So if you would be like me walking through the exhibit, narrating where I was and what I remembered about the events documented there, we’re looking for you.

Earlier this fall, we convened the Boomer Summit.  The results of that evening’s conversation are in, yielding a number of themes we want to bring back to the community and discuss what happens next.  To that end, we are seeking volunteers to serve on (for lack of a better name) a Boomer Advisory Council that will help shape the direction of Hastings Community Education’s programs and activities “coordinated especially for those in their pre-retirement and retirement phase of life.”  Inaugural meeting is Monday, March 5, 6:00 p.m., Tilden Community Center.  RSVP to Laurie Thrush, lthrush@hastings.k12.mn.us, 651-480-7689.  We look forward to seeing you there!

In the Loop: These buildings are YOUR buildings

Happy New Year!  For those among us who enjoy all manner of outdoor winter sports, hopefully we will see substantial snowfall soon.  For those who are not particularly fond of same, rolling into January with negligible snow means there are fewer chances for it to accumulate this winter.  Something for everyone, perhaps, in the beginning of the new year!

Not long ago, I was at Hastings High School in the late afternoon, enjoying the walking track in the field house.  That particular day–and I’m not kidding–there must have been about 100 children, teens and adults on the five courts, in addition to the dozen or so people using the walking track.  I was extremely happy to see the citizens of Hastings using the buildings that their taxes have built and continue to effectively support.  And that evening, there were probably youth athletics, community meetings, classes and other activities going on not only in the high school, but at Kennedy, McAuliffe, the Middle School, Pinecrest and now Tilden.

This is exactly as it should be.  The concept of the Lighted School House began in 1967 with Gov. Harold LeVander who first suggested the lighted school house concept, which gave birth to community education. His idea was to use the school facilities after school, at night and weekends for community activities.  The idea has grown in all communities throughout Minnesota.  In 2010-11, 101 different groups, most from the Hastings community, utilized the school buildings, resulting in 33,000 plus participants being able to take part in activities beyond the school day.

“The policy of the Hastings Public Schools is to encourage the use of school facilities by citizens living in the district.  The implementation of this policy requires both individual and community cooperation.  Certain rules and regulations are necessary in order to ensure that all community members have equal access to district facilities; to effectively administer this policy and to support ongoing care and maintenance of facilities used.”  From the Community Use of School Facilities: Philosophy, Rules and Regulations, Building Use Charges.

The process to request use of a classroom or other space in a building is relatively simple.  You can go online to www.hastingscommunityed.com and click on the link to Facilities Use. There you will find everything you need to know, including the permit form which needs to be filled out and sent to the Community Education office by fax, email or regular mail.  You can also drop it off, if you’d like.

Most people, even those requesting space, don’t know what happens once that permit is submitted, so I’ve asked Marijo Norman, our Community Ed secretary who is the heart and soul of this permitting process, to describe what she does when she receives a permit.

“I first check the location to make sure that the space being requested is available on the date and time it’s being requested.  Depending on the location, I check with the classroom teacher (for example, the foods lab at the high school).  I always check with Athletic Director Tom Johnson to make sure that the gyms are available, if that space at the high school is being requested.  Once that’s done, I process the permit.  (Editor’s note: this involves using a web-based facilities request program.)  Copies of the permit are then emailed to the person who requested it; to the building custodian; to the principal if it’s at an elementary school and sometimes to the classroom teacher.”

All after school activities, including those sponsored by the schools, are also permitted through the Community Education office.  School sponsored activities always take precedence in the building.

Marijo goes the extra mile if a request is submitted, and she finds that the space is already permitted.  ”I try to get people to compromise.  First I’ll ask the person who sent the permit if they could change their date or location and I’ll tell them what is available.  If all the gyms are permitted by one group and another is looking for a gym for an event, I’ll call the first permit holder and see if they can share their space.”

I asked Marijo what helps her the most in the permitting process.  She says, “A request that is exact–a specific date, time and location.  It is pretty hard when there is a request to just fit in an event somewhere.”

In 2012, we look forward to seeing you in one of the six Hastings Public School buildings, participating in a Community Education class–you should have received your Winter Community Education brochure; remember, you can register online at www.hastingscommunityed.com–or at a community event.

In the Loop: Boomers and Better at Tilden

Many people I know say that Thanksgiving is their favorite holiday.  The expectations are pretty clear–eat, eat, eat some and enjoy the warm company of family and friends.  One of our foreign exchange students once said, “What’s that day where you just eat all day, watch football and play games?  I want to come back for that!”

We in Community Education are thankful for everyone who contributes to making life better in Hastings, every day, in every way.  I think there were a couple examples of that during the month of November.

The first happened on November 3 when 50 members of the Boomer Generation (those born between 1946 and 1964) and some born before that came together for the first ever Hastings Boomer Summit.  Following a Boomer comfort food meal of meatloaf and mashed potatoes, community members engaged in a conversation about what could happen that would enable you to feel fully engaged and energized by your involvement in the community?  Subsequent questions asked what one area do you think that the City of Hastings and Community Education could step up their leadership to significantly improve the benefit we deliver to the community, particularly for Boomers and if the City of Hastings and Community Education had no limitations, what bold steps would you ask it to take for Boomers?  Before the end of the year, we will work with students in the Community Education Director Licensure cohort at the University of St. Thomas to look for themes in the conversation.  From there, we are coming back to the Boomers and Better to determine what needs to happen next.  Stay tuned!  If you were unable to attend the Summit and are interested in this continuing project, contact me at mobrien@hastings.k12.mn.us or 651-480-7672.

On November 16 we held the first of 4 Coffee and Conversation evenings designed to bring Boomer and Better participants together to discuss issues of interest.  The premise is pretty simple.  A guest speaker with expertise on the topic presents information that is hopefully new learning for about 15-20 minutes, then the group with its own unique expertise shares ideas, asks questions, provides insights.  The initial topic, what if we want to go away for the winter, afforded those gathered a chance to learn some travel tips from the presenters and each other!  By the end of the hour, people had learned about a great device that acts not only as a timer, but also can notify a pre-loaded phone number if the temperature gets too low in your left behind house.  They had shared where they winter and offered resources, including websites, to each other.  Our next Coffee and Conversation is scheduled for January 19, 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Tilden, when the topic will be what if we’re helping care for our grandchildren? Pre-registration is requested for this free event.  You can register online at www.hastingscommunityed.com or call the office, 651-480-7670.

The Senior Center held its annual Thanksgiving Dinner, christening the gym with its first major event.  150 people participated and while there was turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing left over, there weren’t any leftover desserts!  (The Tilden staff was pretty bummed out about that.)

Table decorations made by students in the Oasis Plus program

Not quite wall to wall folks in the gym, but almost

The dessert table--you can see why there weren't any leftovers

Now that we’re into December, our Community Education focus is truly out and about in the community.  Our Youth First Planning Council (YFPC) is currently involved in the 10 Days of Giving project, heading up a coin drive taking place at Hastings High School and Hastings Middle School.  They also will be active in the stop that the Holiday Train makes in town on Sunday, December 11.  You can check out more about these activities that benefit Hastings Family Service on our Facebook page, Hastings Community Education.  You have to be a member of Facebook to visit the page.  Once you do, be sure to “like” us and spread the word!

 

In the Loop: Home, Sweet Home

If you’ve ever moved from one home to another, you know that it takes awhile to get settled in.  There are important steps in the process–getting things out of boxes; finding what box you put something into; making the new spaces work in a way that perhaps the old spaces didn’t.  For awhile there is the frenzy associated with combining the every day routine with the meeting the demands of your new place.  Then slowly, but surely, the new space assumes a life and rhythm of its own and somehow you begin to feel at home.

One comment I have heard repeatedly about Tilden is just that: people coming into the building feel at home.  I don’t think there is any higher compliment to the work done by the Community Education staff and program participants than that.

We threw a housewarming party in the form of an Open House on Tuesday, October 25.  Over 200 people accepted the invitation to take a tour of Tilden!  If you were unable to join your friends and neighbors here that day, remember that the coffee is always on to welcome you.  Following are a few photos taken during the Open House.

 

 

 

Enjoying coffee and cookies in the Welcome Center

 

 

Susan Hernlem, Kids' Campus Coordinator, finishing a tour

 

Jean Filkens, Volunteer Extraordinaire, kept the popcorn popping in the Bistro.

 

 

 

 

 

 

October is a busy month for our early childhood programs.  Two big events happened at Tilden: a visit from the Hastings Fire Department, which meant a field trip into the parking lot to see the fire engine, and, of course, Halloween!  Enjoy these photos showing our youngest learners at work.

The children paraded through the halls of Tilden, visiting other classrooms, offices and the Senior Center.

WOW! Even the adults in the building were enthralled by the visit from the Hastings Fire Deparment.

The Annual Halloween Party co-sponsored by Hastings Community Education, Hastings Park and Recreation and the Hastings Y drew one of its largest–if not THE largest–crowds on Friday, October 28.  Approximately 1700 people attended; admission was a food item for Hastings Family Service (HFC) or a donation to the Youth First Planning Council (YFPC) scholarship fund.  2 truckloads of food were sent to HFC!  And each spring, YFPC members choose a scholarship applicant for a scholarship, which is funded with dollars raised by the Council throughout the year.  $224 was donated at the Halloween Party.  Following are photos of some of the costumes seen at the party!

On Monday, October 31, the Senior Center sponsored a “Spooktacular” Fashion Show luncheon, with members of the Center modeling some of the clothing that was then available right at Tilden for purchase.   During the show, an early childhood classroom paraded through in costume, a great addition to the afternoon!  Here are a few of the lovely models:

We kicked off November with the 2011 Hastings Boomer Summit.  If you were born between 1946 and 1964, you are a Baby Boomer!  Boomers were invited in for dinner and to share their ideas on how the city of Hastings and Hastings Community Education can work with them to meet their needs.  50 people participated in this event and they were sent away with a request to share what they learned with 5 other people.  Hopefully you will be hearing from one of them in the future, especially if you’re a Baby Boomer who was unable to attend the Summit.

And I have a request for you, too–if you are on Facebook, please go to our new Facebook page and like us

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hastings-Community-Education/186830071395985

What a glorious fall it’s been, both outdoors and in our home, sweet Tilden home.

In the Loop: “I feel like I have a new job without having to learn it all over again.”

This (or something close to this) is what Senior Program Coordinator Laurie Thrush said the other day, regarding living at Tilden Community Center.  There is so much energy, excitement and vitality in our building!  And it is contagious.  Let me share a story with you.

This happened the first week that all Community Education and Early Childhood Special Education programs were operating in Tilden: Adult Basic Education, including English Language Learning; Community Education Preschool; Early Childhood Family Education; Family Learning (a program for adults learning English and their children); School Readiness and the Senior Center.  Gaby Postiglione, the Adult Basic Education coordinator, was taking the English Language Learning (ELL) class on a tour of the building.  When the group passed the Welcome Center, one of the ELL students noticed a group of women from the Senior Program who meet together to knit or crochet.  One thing lead to another and the Seniors were encouraging the ELL student and her husband to sign up for all the wonderful activities offered through the Senior Program!  I heard they are interested in the yoga classes held in the fitness room, as well as the hand crafts.

To say we are thrilled to be in and pretty well settled is an understatement.  And we’re ready to share Tilden with all of you!  Mark your calendars now for our Open House on Tuesday, October 25, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.  Beginning at 9 a.m., there will be building tours on the 1/2 hour, coffee and cookies in the Welcome Center and probably a few door prizes, too!  Spread the word as we believe, “All Are Welcome Here.”

To whet your appetite, enjoy this powerpoint that shows much of the Then and Now of Tilden Community Center.

Tilden Then and Now

In the Loop: The ‘Community’ in Community Education

We all belong to many communities, many of them identified by the word itself.  We belong to the Hastings community, perhaps to a faith community or a community of others who share the same hobby.  A community is defined by sociologists; biologists; psychologists; anthropologists and business.  For most of us, what we know about community is the way we feel when we’re part of it–safe, secure, honored, respected, accepted.  We belong.

“We believe that Community Education can happen everywhere” is one of Hastings Community Education’s beliefs, underpinned by the belief that community happens everywhere.  Let me give you an example.

My husband and I have lived in the same neighborhood for over twenty years.  For much of that time, our house was identified as “that house where all the teenagers live,” because, with 4 children who are 7 years apart, that was true.  It is a neighborhood where many people walk–and many walk with dogs, including my husband and myself.  Bubba is our nearly 15 year old rat terrier/terrorist and Hank our 4 year old beagle aka Mr. Social.

Hank

And while I may not know all my neighbor’s names, I do know their dogs–and vice versa.  The dogs have built a community of their owners.  When our beloved beagle Emmitt passed over the Rainbow Bridge 4 winters ago, that spring the dog community stopped by not only to meet the then new puppy, but also to inquire about Emmitt.  Upon sharing that he had died, one woman turned to her husband and said, “See?  I told you something happened to him!”  To me, she said, “We always looked forward to Emmitt’s braying at us as we came by.”  And the other day as we were walking,  a neighbor called, “Wait a second!  Chloe wants to come out and see Hank.”  Communities build, I think, is much the same manner.  We pay attention.  We open doors.  We look around, not just straight forward.  We stop what we are doing to appreciate the moment.  And by doing that, the community expands and belonging grows.

Bubba

When I accepted the position of Community Education Director, I was particularly excited about the prospect of Tilden becoming a Community Center.  Community Education staff has worked together, building the Tilden community, even while doing their work out of McAuliffe, Westview Mall, the Senior Center.  As the days in our individual spaces draw short and the prospect of living under one roof at Tilden Community Center along with our friends in Early Childhood Special Education draws near, community building heightens.  We previewed how much fun it will be to be co-located with the Senior Center when they moved out of their Ramsey Street location and into Westview for the past two months.  That part of our community has brought with it a vibrance and energy which has been infectious.  We only look forward to its growth at Tilden.

So when are we moving?  Well, if you received our Community Education catalog, our cover banner advertised that We’ve Moved!  Not quite.  As of today, our early childhood programs staff are setting up their classrooms.  School will begin for Hastings’ youngest learners on Monday, September 12. Adult Basic Education also begins on Monday, September 12. If you  have school aged children, Kids’ Campus is ready and waiting for you at Kennedy, McAuliffe and Pinecrest–as well as our new Oasis Plus program at Hastings Middle School on Fridays and school release days. The Youth Planning Council at Hastings High School is gearing up for another year of service. Enrichment classes start at various locations in September–check the catalog or online at www.hastingscommunityed.com.    Some staff members will be remaining at Westview as we wait for all aspects of the building to be completed, so we are here to answer your questions and take your registrations.

Believe me, we can’t wait for you to come, take a class, have a cup of coffee with friends, or just visit!  Planning is already in the works for a community wide Open House where you will be warmly welcomed into Tilden Community Center. We anticipate that, as John O’Donohue wrote,  Tilden will be a place where, “… great transformation and discovery become possible when belonging is sheltered and true.”

You belong at Tilden.  See you soon.

In the Loop: Sweet, Sweet Summertime and Community Education

There have been so many exciting activities going on this month!  Often I found myself thinking about how what I had seen or participated in on a particular day would be a great addition to the July blog.  So let’s getting rolling.

Last summer, when I came on board here in Hastings, I was literally invited on board the Let’s Go Fishing pontoon on one of its afternoon fishing excursions.  It was my good fortune to be invited along again with the Adults With Disabilities program.  Though no fish were caught, everyone enjoyed a couple hours on the scenic St. Croix River.

The heat and humidity has slowed our kids’ programs down just a little.  The parks based PITS program did cancel for three days when the heat index was well over 100.  But since many Community Education enrichment programs are held indoors, these were–and continue to be–great alternatives for kids and families seeking ways to be active.  One such offering is the Monday EdVentures, a collaboration which brings together Camp Horizons campers and PITS kids.  On July 11, we welcomed the University of Minnesota Raptor Center to the high school commons.  (Don’t worry, the instructor from the Raptor Center put down a tarp for the birds!)  I was thrilled with how much I learned that afternoon and the kids in attendance were absolutely enthralled with their “nose-to-beak” experience with a red-tailed hawk; peregrine falcon; owl and American eagle.

Were you at the Rivertown Days Parade?  If you were, I hope you saw a contingent of Community Education participants marching in the parade, advertising our impending move to Tilden Kindergarten Community Center.  A HUGE thank you to everyone who took part in the parade, as it was one of those extraordinarily hot and humid days.

Look!  They’re all still standing and smiling at the end of the parade!!

Ah, Tilden.  Demolition has been completed and the construction process is moving right along.  I’m going to include a few photos here, as well as links to more pictures.  (I’m documenting the progress throughout the summer.)  Suffice it to say that the Community Education staff is anxiously anticipating this upcoming move as we sincerely hope all of you are looking forward to participating in classes and activities with us, throughout the community and at Tilden, too!

If you’ve driven by the building, it’s hard not to notice that the parking lot is undergoing construction, too!

This window faces out onto the parking lot and River street.  The wall will be knocked out for the new main entrance into Tilden.

Looking from the main entrance, you will be able to walk through Tilden to what will be doors out to the west end of the building.

Want to see more photos of the Tilden construction?

http://www.shutterfly.com/lightbox/view.sfly?fid=fe72e0dc8e3628175b2f2841c4d4a52e