Community Education News
Fall 2019 Community Education Catalog arrives!
Arriving to Bloomington homes this week -- the Fall 2019 Bloomington Community Education catalog! Inside this 56 page catalog, you will find almost 20 new Youth and Adult Enrichment classes including several new cooking classes, a new preschool soccer class, and an adult Chinese language class. Longtime favorites return including our annual Holiday Cookie Bake & Take classes--register early, these fill fast! Check out all the great selections offered this fall...and circle August 7th on your calendar so you can register for your favorite class.
Metro South Offers Online Learning
During the 2018-19 school year, Metro South offered students online learning options. Students have been encouraged to improve their English language learning and academic skills outside of class through MobyMax and Edmentum online learning platforms. This opportunity has been an overwhelming success and students have provided positive feedback about how they enjoy being able to learn more outside of class. As of June 30, 2019, 946 Metro South students have utilized the online learning platforms and have earned a total of 15,661 online learning hours.  

In June, Metro South offered a month long contest with fabulous prizes awarded to the top 3 individual student hour earners and a pizza party for the class that earned the most total hours.  The top winner was:

Nimo Kulane - 239.25 hours. She won a $25 gift card donated by CUB Foods and a messenger bag with donated treats and school supplies.

Brigid Erickson's Monday through Thursday morning class earned the most hours as a class, with a total of 418 hours. The class celebrated by winning a pizza party.

Metro South looks forward to increasing their distance learning hours in 19-20. The plan is to offer students more online learning platforms to foster their academic growth.
Did You Know?
In the span of 24 hours, Bloomington Community Education staff moved over 150 students, 9 camps, some Extended Care, piano lessons, and a dozen staffers from Olson Middle School to Jefferson High School due to a mechanical issue at the middle school. Rooms were found for all SLAM camps for the rest of the summer, instructors notified, accounts adjusted, and parents/students contacted. Thank you to everyone who helped make the transition as smooth as possible. A special shoutout to the custodian team at Jefferson High School for their fantastic response to our need!
Employee Profile
Introducing.......Tracey!
Tracey is one of the first faces who greet you when you visit the Community Education office or call the main phone number. And while she started in the district in 1991, she has been with Community Ed since 1993! Tracey handles registration for adult and youth enrichment classes, among her many other duties. She said her favorite part about this job is interacting with the community and all of the great people who take our classes. Tracey also said she enjoys our superb team of coworkers and it truly feels like a family when coming to work. She admits that if her career took a different path it would have been to be a zookeeper or ranch worker, but short of that, she loves what she does at Community Ed. Tracey is not only an employee, but also a participant, taking many of the classes we offer over the years and says her favorite is probably the Bonsai Tree class. She says there are just so many classes to choose from and each one offers something unique. While Tracey says she looks forward to retirement at some point, for now she loves coming to work every day. We couldn't be more happy to have Tracey as part of Community Ed for over 25 years!
Did You Know?
Bloomington Public School employees receive an amazing discount by becoming members at our Activity Centers. A single adult membership is only $192 a year! For less than $200 a year, you can walk the track or use the equipment in the fitness/weight room, along with the other amenities. To take out a membership, stop by either the Jefferson or Kennedy Activity Centers and talk to our friendly staff.
Next Month
We hope you enjoyed this edition of the Bloomington Community Education newsletter.
Coming next month: 2019-2020 School Year Starts.
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