Volume 2 | December 20, 2017
Programs supported by the Community Education department:
  • Adult basic education (ABE)
  • Adult learning, including Project Power
  • Adventures Plus school-age care
  • Aquatics
  • Community Schools
  • Community use of school facilities
  • Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE)
  • Home School
  • Parent Involvement
  • Preschool
  • Print Shop and technology services
  • Recreation and athletics
  • Staff Development Center
  • Volunteer services
  • Wellness
  • Youth service
A note from Al and Michelle
Wow. We know that we all seem to feel that each year goes by faster than the previous.It sure feels that way to us. We had a very busy fall with so much excellent work happening across our department. And we have heard such heartwarming stories about staff going above and beyond; sometimes in support of other staff (or because we are short of staff), and other times making sure that the learners we serve get their needs met. There is nothing better than hearing a story of someone in our department who did more than what any of us would expect either for a colleague or a learner. Thank you for that.
We recently shared a list of things a leader “must” do. We believe that every one of you is a leader in our program and provides leadership that makes our department strong and impactful.
Sometimes leadership is a formal part of someone’s job; more often it is what each of you do in different ways throughout the week. It may be leading children, facilitating a group of peers to solve a problem, teaching others in your office some new technique, modeling best practices, or a million other ways that each of us is called upon to do.   

Given that we are all leaders, it caught our eye that the first item on the list of “must’s” was that a leader must recognize they are a servant who holds the welfare of followers as a first priority. It’s a bit jargony, but to Al, a servant leader is one that acts on and makes decisions based on a deep commitment to the customers (learners), and to other staff whose work make those programs excellent. 

What is your definition of being a servant leader? And maybe more important for us is to think about is how can each of us become more thoughtful in how we carry out our servant leader responsibilities in the year to come? We wish a relaxing and joyful holiday for each of you. Paz.

Take a look at just a few of the things that our programs have tackled in the first few months of school:



  • Adventures Plus school-age care, Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) and Preschool programs worked with the school district Information Technology team and the program registration vendor, Eleyo, to streamline account management for families. The updates will offer a more user-friendly registration process - which began for ECFE/Preschool families this month and will impact Adventures Plus families in March 2018 - and will simplify viewing and paying monthly invoices moving forward.



Check out more stories about our work at the bottom of this email.
Training opportunities

The Community Education department has worked with TIES to offer technology training opportunities for community education staff.

In addition, new staff members should attend diversity training modules coordinated by Community Education; and any staff with website editing access should attend website training.
Check the staff page on the Community Education website to view the training sessions that are scheduled this year and reserve your spot at www.ahschools.us/CEstafftraining.

Coordinating the tenth annual Community Wellness Day - Jan. 20, 2018
We know that a number of Community Education team members work hard, year after year, to make Community Wellness Day a success. Last year, a record number of over 600 people from our neighborhoods attended to try our sampler classes and gather resources and information from the many local health or wellness-related businesses in our community.

Flyers and posters will begin being distrbuted in our schools and community businesses after January 2. Please encourage the participants that you work with to view the schedule of events at www.ahschools.us/communitywellnessday . We also welcome our staff members who are not part of the planning committee to attend with their own friends and family to enjoy the day. Hope to see you there!
Take a look at the video above, from North Metro TV, promoting last years' event.

View the schedule of activities and events on the Community Education website.
What's trending?

Follow Anoka-Hennepin Community Education on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram to see these stories - and more - on social media.

You are welcome to help us "share" information with your friends and followers. (You may even see your own programs and team members!)

Submit content ideas to Heather Peters , communications coordinator for community education.
The Anoka-Hennepin School District recently sent kindergarten enrollment letters to families with children entering kindergarten next year. Community Education programs help to support families with school readiness.

The Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) team works to provide helpful articles for families with timely, valuable advice from our staff. Articles are published in the seasonal catalogs (giving our catalogs a longer shelf life) and shared on our social media channels.

Roosevelt Community Pool is experimenting with a few new offerings this winter:

Adult learning gift certificates
prove to be another hot holiday gift
Adult learning program coordinator, Noella Fath-Cutter, reported that Anoka-Hennepin Community Education saw an increase in the dollar amount of "Black Friday" gift certificate purchases. The program issued over $1,000 more in gift certificate vouchers than last year, an increase of 20 percent in revenue compared to 2016 sales.
The Parent Involvement team treated visitors on National Parent Involvement Day, Nov. 16
Families and staff members that "popped into" the Educational Service Center to check out the Parent Resource Library Nov. 16 were able to enjoy popcorn, refreshments and conversation with the Parent Involvement team.
We scare hunger - or our youth service students, do!
While many kids across the country were trick or treating, over 100 students from the youth service group at Coon Rapids High School spent Halloween night collecting items for the school’s food shelf through an effort dubbed, "We Scare Hunger." As of Nov. 1, they had collected and sorted over 3,500 items for donation. We are proud of heartwarming efforts like this that occur at our schools districtwide, all year long.
Over 550 people watched a unique Halloween video message on the Anoka-Hennepin Community Education facebook page Oct. 31. View it for yourself.
Anoka-Hennepin Community Education | 763-506-1260
communityed@ahschools.us | www.discovercommunityed.com