[0:04] Hello everyone. Welcome to the Inside [0:05] Wisetta podcast. Been waiting a long [0:08] time for this episode. My boss is on for [0:12] this one. So that is super exciting for [0:15] everyone. [0:15] >> Sure is. [0:17] >> Uh today, if you're listening on the [0:20] 13th, it is National Community Ed Day. [0:23] So we decided it would be great to talk [0:26] about community ed. So joining me today [0:30] is Jenny Eert, director of community at [0:33] and my boss Hillary Dish, the out of [0:36] school time youth coordinator. [0:38] >> Yeah, good job. [0:40] >> And Julie Mink, who does adult and [0:42] volunteer work for community at. So I [0:46] know all of you prepared diligently, so [0:48] I'm going to go off script right away [0:52] um because I told you not to prepare. [0:55] When I say community ad, what is the [0:58] first thing that comes to mind? [1:00] >> The first thing that comes to mind is [1:02] really around connection and um [1:06] providing opportunities for learning. [1:08] Like we exist because we want to be of [1:10] service to our community. So, community [1:12] gets to be creative and entrepreneurial [1:15] and um listen to what our community [1:17] needs and to really be of service in a [1:19] way that is different in in addition to [1:22] what happens in our K12 programming. [1:25] Hillary [1:25] >> fun, [1:27] >> all those things that Jenny said. And [1:28] then we like to have fun. So, we get the [1:30] opportunity to hang out with kids and [1:32] adults and babies and teach them, but [1:35] teach them in a way that they don't even [1:36] know that they're learning. So, a lot of [1:38] fun happening. [1:39] >> What about you, Julie? [1:41] >> I think just lifelong learning. We [1:43] really do serve birth through adults, [1:44] and I think that's really unique in a [1:46] school district and in a community. [1:50] That's a really good segue to what I [1:52] want to ask you, Jenny, is you talked [1:54] about, you know, when people think of a [1:58] school district, they think K12, right? [2:01] And [2:02] community ad does do the birth to older [2:06] adults, like that lifelong learning. [2:10] What is the most exciting part about [2:12] leading and being part of a group that [2:14] impacts so many different lives in a [2:17] wide variety of ages? [2:20] >> Yeah, it is that impact, right? We get [2:22] the opportunity to to really listen and [2:26] think about what do people need and to [2:28] really be of service. Personally, I I'm [2:31] grounded in service. That's what draws [2:33] me to this work. And I think we have 300 [2:35] dedicated staff who feel that same way. [2:37] they want to serve and it looks like a [2:40] million different things and every day [2:42] it gets to look different and every year [2:43] it gets to look different. So I find [2:44] that to be really inspiring. Um it keeps [2:47] me coming back. I think it's what keeps [2:48] our staff coming back on a regular basis [2:50] and I think it's what has our community [2:53] coming back to our programming. [2:54] >> So there's a lot that happens in [2:56] community ed. Um the three of you here, [2:58] there's so many different areas. A huge [3:01] part of what happens in community ad is [3:03] after school. So Hillary, what happens [3:06] after school? Oh goodness, we have a lot [3:08] of awesome things that happen after [3:09] school. So, we provide child care for [3:12] students in grades K through five after [3:14] school. Weisetta Kids Childcare um which [3:16] is a big part of our programming. Um [3:18] non-school days and summer is included [3:20] in what we do with Weisetta Kids. We [3:22] offer a lot of really awesome youth [3:23] classes after school. So, kids in all [3:26] grades really can opt to um join a class [3:29] and do something that they have an [3:31] interest in. Um, we have an amazing [3:34] volunteer club at the high school that [3:36] we service our our students. There's [3:39] about 800 about 854 to be exact uh [3:42] students in our volunteer clubs in grade [3:44] 9 through 12 who every day, every [3:47] weekend are out in our community um [3:49] doing service learning and service [3:51] opportunities and supporting our [3:52] partners, our community partners in [3:54] providing volunteer um opportunity or [3:57] our services for them. So, that's really [3:58] awesome. They do that. And then really [4:01] our facility rentals is a really big [4:03] part of our afterchool program too [4:04] because we rent all of our spaces out to [4:06] our youth associations and classes and [4:10] all of the things that kids want to [4:11] participate in after school. So a lot of [4:13] options. [4:15] >> That is a lot. [4:18] >> Julie, on the adult side of things, what [4:22] how does community at engage adults in [4:24] the community? So, our community at [4:27] adult program offers close to 500 [4:29] classes a year, um, both in person and [4:32] online. Um, most take place in the [4:35] evening at Central Middle School. Um, [4:38] and they're open to anyone in the [4:40] community. Um, topics, um, we have a [4:44] very wide variety of topics. We have [4:45] cooking classes, fitness, wellness, home [4:48] care, um, technology, parenting classes, [4:52] um, and much more. So, [4:54] >> laundry camp, right? [4:55] >> Laundry camp with Patrick Richardson. [4:57] Yes. [4:58] >> Topic. [4:58] >> Yes. Um, and then community ed also [5:01] offers um adult basic ed classes um for [5:05] those who are looking to obtain their [5:07] GED or to learn English. [5:11] >> That's a lot. Obviously, that's a an [5:14] oversimplification of everything that [5:15] happens in community ad. And I [5:17] >> Oh, I got to butt in because that's not [5:18] everything. [5:19] >> Yeah. Keep keep going. Right, [5:22] >> the floor is yours. [5:23] >> Thank you. Uh, if you've seen our [5:26] catalog, there's a wheel always [5:28] highlighted somewhere in it that shows [5:29] all the variety of programming and Julie [5:30] and Hillary just talked about a lot of [5:32] it, but there's more that we do, [5:33] especially within our early learning [5:35] program. So, I think a podcast episode [5:37] or two ago, [5:38] >> Michelle Bador on to talk about early [5:39] learning. So, you can go listen to that, [5:41] but also part of community ed. [5:44] >> Also part of community ed. So that [5:45] includes preschool, early childhood [5:47] family ed, early childhood screening and [5:49] outreach. Um we serve 850 to a,000 [5:52] families in that program every year. So [5:54] that the impact to those younger [5:56] families through community ed is pretty [5:57] significant. We also operate the [5:59] district's welcome center. So enrollment [6:01] through 4K through 12 grade students and [6:04] families happens through community ed. [6:05] Now that's new programming that we [6:07] offer. And then we also do a lot of work [6:09] in partnerships. So um whether it's with [6:11] interfaith outreach, the YMCA, the city [6:13] of Weisetta and a variety of other [6:14] groups, we really look at how do we [6:16] bring our work into the community in new [6:18] ways through partners. [6:20] >> And which wheel, which part of the wheel [6:22] is your favorite. I'm just kidding. [6:26] >> Uh moving on. [6:26] >> The middle the middle is the logo for [6:29] community ad. So that is my favorite [6:30] because it encompasses everything. [6:32] >> So you mentioned right away that [6:35] community ad almost functions like a [6:37] small business, right? like it's [6:39] compared to, you know, how a school [6:42] district is funded uh for the vast [6:44] majority of it. Can you briefly explain [6:47] how fees and, you know, from classes and [6:52] other programs help support the broader [6:54] district goals and allows for some of [6:57] these services and partnerships you [6:59] mentioned? [7:00] >> Yeah. So, community ed operates in a [7:02] separate fund from everything else in [7:03] the school district, which is considered [7:05] the general fund. So that's your K12 [7:07] educational programming happens through [7:08] the general fund. Community Ed has its [7:10] own fund in which is primarily um [7:14] developed through our programming and [7:15] program fees. So whether you've signed [7:17] up for a class or you're coming to [7:18] childare or you're going to preschool, [7:20] there's a cost associated with it. Our [7:22] programs really are designed to be self- [7:24] sustaining, meaning that our fees are [7:26] really covering the cost to do the [7:28] programs. Um, we are a service [7:31] organization and so those costs are [7:32] primarily just paying for staff to be of [7:35] service to our community as they sign up [7:36] for those different programs, but we do [7:39] have some state funding that supports [7:41] programs like early childhood family ed [7:42] so that we can offer those at reduced [7:44] and and or no cost to families. And we [7:46] also partner and look for grant [7:48] opportunities. So, one area that Julie's [7:50] worked really hard on is a grant through [7:52] Partners for Healthy Kids in which we're [7:54] able to offer free parent and family [7:56] education opportunities because of that [7:58] grant partnership. We also partner with [8:00] Interfaith Outreach to provide early [8:02] childhood and youth scholarships. Uh [8:05] last year there were 265 kids that were [8:08] able to take youth classes thanks to the [8:10] great opportunity scholarships through [8:11] interfaith outreach. So, that goes [8:13] through our budget, but it's really a [8:15] part of the partnership work that we do. [8:17] we think of a school day, you know, 8 to [8:20] 4, 9 to 4, whatever our hours are, [8:22] right? There's a lot of facilities in [8:24] the district. I think I'm trying to [8:26] think back to some presentations from [8:27] Dr. Anderson, but he when we did the [8:29] podcast with him earlier this year, he [8:32] talked about way like he I forget how he [8:34] phrases it, but something about having [8:36] like your you have the entire community [8:39] is are is your customers, your students, [8:41] right? It's not just the the people [8:44] inside on a school day. So, how does the [8:48] ability for the public to rent and use [8:50] district facilities transform like a [8:52] regular school building into something [8:55] else outside of like the normal school [8:56] time? [8:57] >> Yeah, for sure. Um, when I think about [8:59] that, I just think about like the sense [9:00] of belonging, right? Like by us renting [9:02] our facilities every night and on [9:04] weekends, it allows the community to [9:05] come in and really gain that sense of [9:07] belonging in the school district, even [9:08] if they don't have kids anymore. Um, I [9:10] think about all the different plays and [9:13] performances and sports, tournaments and [9:15] things that use our facilities. Really, [9:17] we're open and shout out for to Tommy [9:20] Waslick, our uh facility manager, [9:21] because he manages all this. But really, [9:23] it's like almost every single day of the [9:25] week, pretty much every hour of the day, [9:28] it seems like. So, he does a great job [9:30] and we just we we encourage people to [9:31] come in and gain that sense of [9:33] belonging. We have beautiful buildings. [9:34] Um we're very lucky to have a a great [9:36] district with great facilities and we [9:38] want people to be able to see those and [9:39] enjoy them. So um renting a facility is [9:42] something that you really can um get [9:44] that sense of belonging in the district [9:46] when you come in and use them. That's a [9:47] part of a way for us to recognize the [9:49] investment that our community makes in [9:51] our school district. They're all [9:52] taxpayers. We have these buildings [9:53] because of of the investment that our [9:55] community makes and we want to make sure [9:57] there's an opportunity for people to [9:58] come in and enjoy it and use it for what [10:00] they need to use it for. Uh we do an [10:02] annual report to the state of Minnesota [10:04] on um all of our work in community ad [10:06] and so we pulled the numbers recently [10:08] and it was about 120,000 hours of rental [10:10] time [10:11] >> that our community made use of our [10:13] facilities and we're just excited that [10:15] people can come in and enjoy them and [10:16] experience them. [10:17] >> So another way people can get involved [10:20] and and get into these facilities is [10:23] through volunteering. How does community [10:25] ad facilitate district volunteers? [10:28] >> Well, I can talk about our adult [10:30] volunteers. Um, we coordinate the [10:32] elementary literacy volunteer program [10:34] which places community volunteers with [10:37] elementary students to read one-on-one [10:39] once a week throughout the school year. [10:41] We started back in 2005. So, that's an [10:43] an exciting thing to celebrate and it's [10:46] been the program has just grown and [10:48] expanded as our district has grown and [10:50] expanded over the 20 years. So, um we [10:53] have about 175 community volunteers part [10:56] of the program and serving over um [10:58] reading with over 200 students [11:00] throughout each week. [11:01] >> Do you have anyone that's been involved [11:03] in the volunteer program for maybe all [11:06] 20 years or a long time a feelood story? [11:09] >> Yes. Um we have some volunteers who have [11:12] been with us for 16 or 17 years. Many [11:15] have been with us for over a decade [11:17] which is amazing. they they um they've [11:19] stuck around and seen the the change in [11:22] the district over 10 years. Um many stay [11:24] at their same school throughout that [11:26] time too. Um some even reading with the [11:28] same teacher, same teacher's classroom [11:30] throughout those 10 years. So yeah, last [11:33] year we had a volunteer who joined the [11:35] program who actually was a student who [11:38] had an elementary literacy volunteer [11:40] read with them as a student and they [11:42] said that um it made such a big impact [11:45] in their life that um they knew that [11:47] they wanted to give back and do that [11:49] when they could. So um she volunteered [11:51] on her lunch break at work. She worked [11:53] full-time and and made it work in her [11:55] schedule. So that was pretty cool. And a [11:58] big part of that work with our [11:59] volunteers is is um sharing the love of [12:02] reading. So we have adults that are [12:04] coming in and um are another positive [12:06] adult in children's lives to really help [12:08] them grow that love of reading. And [12:10] that's that powerful kind of ripple that [12:12] we're seeing with that person coming [12:13] back. [12:14] >> So if someone's listening right now and [12:16] they're like, "This sounds great." [12:18] >> How do they get involved with [12:19] volunteering? [12:20] >> Yeah. Well, we still have students who [12:22] are looking for a volunteer so they can [12:24] reach out and and um we provide training [12:28] and orientation and onboarding and and [12:31] all of that and support throughout the [12:32] school year. [12:33] >> So, we mentioned the welcome center. So, [12:35] this is a new part of community at the [12:37] district. Um it's a busy time for the [12:40] welcome center right now. Uh [12:41] kindergarten enrollment is open. So, [12:44] that's exciting for 26 27th school year. [12:47] How does the welcome center and the [12:50] early learning school help start that [12:52] journey with with our youngest families? [12:55] >> Yeah, there's kind of two parts to that. [12:56] The first is the early learning school. [12:58] Uh we like to see it as that's where [13:00] school starts for our families. Whether [13:01] you're taking an early childhood family [13:03] ed ECFE class with us, uh starting [13:05] preschool with us, or if you're coming [13:07] in to do Connect with three in an early [13:08] childhood screening, we want to be there [13:10] to support you, to get to know you and [13:12] your student and your family and do [13:14] every everything we can to help you [13:16] navigate schools and have you have a [13:17] great start with us in Weissa. And then [13:19] on the welcome center side of things, we [13:20] do enrollment for anybody who's new [13:23] coming into the district or have a new [13:24] kindergartener or child at any age K [13:26] through 12 to enroll. Again, we want you [13:29] to uh be able to ask your questions, get [13:31] you pointed in the right direction, help [13:33] you navigate. Things that can be new if [13:35] you're coming from a different school [13:36] district or out of state or out of [13:38] country. Schools and how systems work [13:40] can look different. So, we're here to [13:42] listen and support you and point you in [13:43] the right direction and get you all the [13:45] information that you need. [13:46] >> I want to come back to I'm kind of [13:48] caught up on youth classes by set of [13:51] kids out of school time. just the the [13:55] amount of students that are involved in [13:57] those. Do you have like numbers of how [13:59] many students are involved in all of [14:01] those programs and like you mentioned [14:03] was 896 [14:05] for volunteer club? [14:07] >> 854. [14:07] >> 854. Yep. Nailed it. Um [14:10] >> what about those other programs like how [14:11] just how many students come through all [14:14] the youth on the youth side of things? [14:16] >> For sure. So Wisetta kids currently we [14:18] have 1785 students that are registered. [14:22] um and that is about 250 more than we [14:24] had last year. So, we really truly are [14:27] committed to growing the program and um [14:29] you know, part of that comes with [14:31] obviously making sure we're staffed. Um [14:33] but making sure our staff are trained [14:35] and preparing prepared to work with the [14:37] students every day. So, that's a big [14:39] part of what we do to um make sure that [14:41] we can grow. Um so, that's Weisetta Kids [14:43] volunteer club. And then for youth [14:45] classes currently to date, so September, [14:48] October, November, we have seen over [14:49] 1,600 kids come through. um or register [14:53] um for a youth class this fall. So I [14:56] shouldn't say yeah today to register [14:57] either take one or going to take one by [14:58] winter break. So that's pretty exciting [15:00] as well. So quite a few kids. [15:02] >> What are some of the youth classes like [15:04] if people are listening and wondering [15:05] like what classes can my kiddos take? I [15:08] mean there's there's a wide variety. [15:09] >> Wide variety. Yeah. I mean anything from [15:12] numerous different art mediums. [15:15] >> Drama. Chess is a very popular one. Lot [15:19] of STEM. Um a lot of sports. We do a lot [15:22] of sports for those students who, you [15:24] know, want to dabble in maybe something [15:26] new or try something new. We can offer [15:28] um different opportunities for that. [15:31] Outside, a lot of outside stuff being [15:33] done, nature stuff. Yeah. Really, we try [15:35] to we try to do a wide variety so that [15:38] anybody's interest can be met. [15:40] >> So, and really to explore new things. [15:43] So, [15:43] >> yeah, for sure. [15:44] >> A class might last for four to six [15:46] weeks. So your your child doesn't need [15:47] to be specializing in this particular [15:49] thing. It might be, oh, I want to try [15:51] out theater, so let's take this class [15:53] and see how it goes. Or, I'm interested [15:55] in chess. Or, I heard pickle ball was [15:56] very, very popular like this past [15:58] summer. [15:59] >> And really allows people to start [16:01] dabbling in it and then go from there. [16:03] If they want to do more, we can [16:04] certainly have expanded deeper dives [16:06] into their interest. But it's what I [16:08] like about community ed is that kids and [16:10] adults can really just start to explore [16:12] things that might be of interest to [16:14] them. Yeah, that's great. It's a [16:16] lifelong learning piece, right? [16:17] >> For sure. [16:18] >> Okay, so I'm going to go around the horn [16:20] and I'm going to ask each of you, what's [16:23] one program or service that community [16:25] offers that you think is absolutely [16:28] absolutely fantastic, but people might [16:30] not know about. [16:31] >> Okay, I'll start. So, we have a [16:34] partnership with Weisetta Parks and [16:35] Trails and we offer their we provide [16:38] their parks and trails programming [16:40] within the city parks and we with that [16:43] we're able to do a lot of great outdoor [16:45] classes that otherwise we might not be [16:47] able to. So, like ice fishing, yoga on [16:49] the beach, pickle ball at Bell Courts [16:51] this winter. We have dog sledding coming [16:54] up. So, [16:55] >> fingers crossed. [16:56] >> Yes, we need some snow, but we're very [16:58] excited. Um, so it's just a unique [17:00] partnership in that um we're we're able [17:03] to provide that and um and provide more [17:06] for our community then in that way too. [17:08] >> I'm envisioning Michelle and our team [17:09] doing a snow dance for uh yeah, we've [17:11] had dog sledding scheduled for a couple [17:13] years and then it's happening this be so [17:16] much snow. [17:16] >> It's going to snow. [17:17] >> Hopefully everyone's prepared. Mhm. [17:20] >> Um I would say so our youth classes that [17:23] we just kind of touched on um in [17:25] previous years it's been very popular [17:27] with our K through5 students and in the [17:29] last couple years we've really launched [17:30] a new middle school program for youth [17:32] classes. Um so Katie Lee and Michelle [17:35] Renin who are also amazing spent a lot [17:37] of time um surveying families and having [17:40] lunch with middle schoolers to gain all [17:43] the insight on what middle schoolers [17:44] need and want. And in the last 2 years, [17:47] we've started to put together um some [17:50] really awesome middle school [17:51] programming. So, both after school [17:52] classes and really in the summer, um we [17:55] are providing more opportunities for [17:56] middle school students to take classes, [17:58] participate in all the things we just [18:00] mentioned, sports and um arts and drama [18:02] and all of that great stuff. Um and [18:04] we've really seen a need for that. And [18:07] so, we've continued to survey families [18:08] so we can do our best to continue to [18:10] meet that need as time goes on. It's a [18:12] hard question because I feel like [18:13] there's so many things within community [18:15] ed that makes us unique and special and [18:16] we're always changing and growing. So, [18:18] there's always something new to talk [18:19] about. But, um, one thing that I I tend [18:23] to hear in the community is around early [18:25] childhood family ed. So, I feel like I [18:26] always hear one of two things. One is, [18:28] "I've never heard of it. I don't know [18:29] what it is. Tell me more." And the other [18:31] is, "Yes, I love ECF. I did it 10 years [18:35] ago. The people who I was in ECF with [18:36] are my lifelong friends. It's the best [18:38] thing ever." And so I always want to [18:41] consider how do we close that gap [18:42] between people who know about it and [18:44] don't know about it because the folks [18:45] that are able to be part of it really [18:47] see it as a life-changing opportunity. [18:48] So early childhood family ed or ECF is [18:51] an opportunity for parents with young [18:53] children, babies to come together, [18:55] daytime, evening class options, a whole [18:57] wide range of price points all the way [18:59] down to free. We want it to be [19:00] affordable for everybody, but you get to [19:03] learn from other parents and then also [19:05] learn from early childhood educators. We [19:07] have a licensed parent educator that's [19:09] part of that. So, you can have your [19:10] questions be asked and just um dive in [19:13] and and learn alongside other families [19:15] with children your age. [19:17] >> This might be a good opportunity to [19:18] tease an upcoming podcast we're going to [19:20] have with a parent educator and we're [19:23] going to it's very selfish on my part. I [19:24] have young kids at home. So, it's just [19:26] like why won't you know our son eat [19:28] dinner? So questions like that of I [19:31] think with for families with younger [19:33] kids it can feel kind of isolating and [19:35] you don't have a lot of answers right [19:37] away. So the getting involved in ECF [19:40] just making those connections and having [19:43] some of those answers is again very [19:46] selfish on my part but it's wonderful. [19:49] >> You're always learning as a parent. Yep. [19:52] >> So we've talked a lot about what [19:54] community does so I want to shift a [19:56] little bit to what's coming. So, what [20:00] exciting new things, expansions are [20:03] being planned for community at over the [20:05] next uh year or so? [20:07] >> One of the one of the pieces that we've [20:09] been working a lot on is um larger group [20:12] events that we might be able to do to [20:14] bring community together to uh have [20:17] additional opportunities to connect. So, [20:19] it's it's a little bit uh crazy to think [20:21] about planning for summer, but this is [20:23] the typical time in community ed where [20:24] we're all in on planning for what's [20:26] going to happen next summer. And one of [20:28] those things will be a fun family event [20:30] where we get to launch uh all of our [20:32] summer programming. Think about fun [20:34] things to do. We're still working out [20:36] the details of what that will include, [20:38] but um you'll want that on your radar [20:40] cuz you'll want to bring your family out [20:41] and come and experience some good time [20:43] to connect and then learn about what [20:45] we're doing. I think it's important too [20:46] to remember that community ed is like [20:48] ever changing, right? So like we're [20:50] always meeting our customers needs. [20:52] >> Everything's new. [20:53] >> Everything's new all the time. It almost [20:54] feels like so while I don't have some [20:56] shocking big answer to this like we're [20:58] constantly reaching out to families and [21:00] serve our families and our kids and our [21:02] adults and everyone and just saying like [21:04] is this working for you? If not like [21:06] what else do you want or need? And then [21:07] we meet those needs. So um you know I [21:10] think about our like I said our middle [21:11] school programming like we're continuing [21:12] to grow that and and figure out [21:14] different ways to serve that population. [21:16] Um, our jump start to Kay program is a [21:19] program for students um, entering [21:21] kindergarten um, where they can come in [21:23] for a morning or an afternoon and spend [21:25] some time with a kindergarten teacher [21:27] ahead of starting their kindergarten [21:29] year and just kind of see what it what [21:31] it means to be a kindergartener, right? [21:33] So, we started that two years ago and [21:34] every year it's continued to grow and [21:36] we've continued to kind of shift things [21:37] to meet the needs of the teachers and [21:39] the families. So, just things like that [21:40] that I think it's important to remember [21:42] that we're we're ever changing always. [21:44] So, [21:45] >> and even in with within our more [21:47] established programs like Weisetta Kids, [21:49] we want our staff to be creative and [21:51] thinking about how it's engaging and fun [21:53] for students. So, we had a number of [21:55] staff who wrote grants last year again [21:57] to partners for healthy kids to think of [21:59] new activities and new fun things to do [22:00] after school. We look at new investments [22:02] and how do we do additional programming [22:04] that really helps kids explore their [22:06] interests in that area as well. For [22:08] sure. [22:08] >> Anything for you, Julie? New and [22:10] exciting? [22:10] >> Um, I'm thinking of events. We also have [22:13] a new family dance. Um just kind of a [22:16] fun, you know, come and dance. It'll be [22:18] a photo booth, a DJ, some bingo, some [22:21] crafts. So, just adding new events for [22:24] our families. Um and then, um I'm super [22:27] excited to be bringing in Michelle Iard. [22:30] She's a national best-selling author. Um [22:32] and she's going to do a presentation for [22:34] our parents on essential parenting [22:36] conversations. um it'll be a webinar in [22:39] January and it's it's um exciting to be [22:41] bringing in um such well-known authors [22:45] who are able to share this great [22:46] information with our parents. So, [22:48] >> and these are one of the free [22:49] opportunities that is funded by partners [22:51] for healthy kids as well as a [22:52] partnership that we have with our [22:53] district liaison committee which is our [22:55] PTA and PTO presidents and [22:57] representatives. So, excited to have [22:59] those opportunities to just continue to [23:01] connect and collaborate and um put [23:03] resources together that are of service [23:05] to our parents. Mhm. [23:06] >> Okay, we're going to do some rapid fire. [23:08] >> Here we go. [23:09] >> Any [23:10] >> ready? [23:11] >> Buckle up, everyone. [23:13] >> Anyone can answer these. If you could [23:15] instantly add one [23:18] perfect impossible class to the [23:20] community catalog, what would it be? [23:23] >> I have one. I would do time travel. Take [23:27] them back in time, right? [23:29] >> Wow. [23:29] >> I know. I might have Googled that. You [23:33] you went definitely down the impossible [23:35] route. Okay. [23:36] >> I was thinking like yoga with an animal [23:38] or something and time travel. [23:39] >> We already do. We did go yoga. [23:43] >> There's not much we don't do. So, I have [23:45] to go to the Google [23:46] >> Hillary. I would sign up for that class. [23:47] >> See, take them back. No technology. Back [23:50] when you just run free. [23:52] >> Time travel. [23:53] >> Swear. [23:56] >> That sounds amazing. [23:57] >> Where would you time travel to? [23:59] >> 1990. [24:00] >> Wow. [24:01] Mine was way less fun and just [24:03] practical. And I'm going to go back to [24:04] dog sledding is because we've been [24:05] trying to do it for three years. So the [24:07] impossible seems to have snow at just [24:09] the right time in Minnesota. So that's [24:11] that's what I'm going for is we are [24:13] going to do dog sledding [24:14] >> this year. [24:15] >> That's a good [24:16] >> fingers crossed. [24:17] >> Well, I was thinking of so we have [24:19] Patrick Richardson who we work with who [24:21] is the laundry evangelist and he does [24:23] laundry camp with us but it's just a [24:25] speaker presentation. [24:27] >> I was thinking well why can't we just [24:28] get 25 washing machines? Yeah. [24:31] >> And it's going to be a hands-on laundry [24:32] camp where everybody brings their [24:34] laundry and he does a [24:36] >> it's like a mat situation. [24:38] >> Yes. Yes. With the expert [24:40] >> hands-on tutorial. [24:41] >> You know, this could grow into other [24:42] things cuz now we do a lot of camps for [24:44] youth. So, what would it look like to do [24:46] more like other camps for adults? So, [24:49] start with laundry camp and then who [24:51] knows where it could go. [24:52] >> Well, there is a lot of hands-on adult [24:54] like the bike repair class. Um, that's [24:57] obviously very hands-on like electrical. [25:00] Yeah. Plumbing. Mhm. [25:02] >> Yeah. You can be be a pro at everything. [25:04] So I think Yeah. I'd say like flying. [25:12] >> Okay. [25:12] >> Let's make it happen. Impossible. Yes, [25:14] that was the [25:15] >> That is impossible as of now. Uh what is [25:18] one word that describes the vibe of [25:22] community ad? [25:24] >> Collaborative. [25:25] >> Connection. [25:26] >> Oh, see you guys took both of mine. I I [25:28] was going to let you all go first. I'm [25:29] like, "Oh, okay." Um, I'm going to give [25:31] a longer answer. It really is around [25:33] connection and collaboration. Like [25:35] everything we do centers on who are we [25:37] collaborating with. From our community [25:39] members who are helping us design and [25:41] program and and meet their needs to um [25:44] our school administrators, our our [25:46] leaders in all our buildings, our staff [25:48] who are really there working alongside [25:50] of us to make this happen because [25:52] community is just a department, right? [25:54] We we do this important work but we we [25:56] do it only because we can collaborate [25:58] with all the various departments and [25:59] school leaders in order to make this [26:01] happen. So it's really key. [26:02] >> It's a lot longer in one word. [26:04] >> It is. [26:05] >> It's fine. We'll allow it. [26:07] >> You can cut that out later. [26:09] >> That is great. I would say community and [26:11] even though it's part of the name, but [26:12] >> yeah, [26:13] >> just Okay. What is the number one thing [26:15] a student should do before after school? [26:18] >> I'm going to say Wisetta Kids. [26:21] I think they should uh explore things [26:24] that are new and of interest to them. I [26:26] think our youth classes are just this [26:28] really amazing opportunity to [26:31] see see what might be of interest to you [26:32] and dip your toe in a little bit and do [26:35] some little little learning. [26:38] >> I I think I'm going to agree with both [26:39] of them just to keep the peace amongst [26:41] all my staff. [26:44] >> You could do a facility rental [26:47] facility [26:47] >> rent facility. Yeah. Uh, sign up for the [26:49] volunteer club. [26:50] >> Yeah, exactly. [26:51] >> Take some driver's ed classes. [26:53] >> Yes. [26:54] >> Yes. [26:55] >> What is the most surprising talent [26:57] you've seen a community volunteer or [27:00] instructor possess? [27:02] >> I do get to work with a lot of really [27:04] fascinating people with all sorts of [27:06] great talents. Um, one one instructor [27:10] that I have teaches music classes and [27:13] what's unique is that they're just one [27:14] night, one session classes like come [27:16] learn how to play the guitar or the [27:18] piano and it's like instant piano for [27:20] hopelessly busy people. That's the title [27:22] and you come and you learn in one night. [27:24] It's a specific way of playing the piano [27:26] and you walk away and you can play a few [27:28] songs. I just think that's a really Oh, [27:31] and did I mention they're online? [27:33] >> So, you're you're learning from your [27:34] home in one night how to play the piano. [27:36] I just think that's a very specific [27:38] talent on being able to teach that. [27:40] >> Okay. So, someone that's listening, they [27:43] might have not have not yet gotten [27:45] involved in community ad. How do they [27:49] get started? [27:52] >> There are lots of ways to get started. [27:54] Community ed exists because of our [27:56] community. Like, we want them to be [27:57] involved. We want you to be involved. I [27:59] want to speak directly to them, right? [28:01] One easy way is to tell us what you [28:04] need. Be in connection with us. We're [28:05] here to listen. Send us an email. Give [28:07] us a call. We want to hear what you need [28:09] and how we can be supportive. I think [28:11] the other easiest way to get connected [28:14] or to start dabbling in community ed is [28:16] through our classes because they can be [28:18] one time, they can be online, they can [28:19] be just a couple of weeks after school [28:21] and it's a wide range of interest areas. [28:24] So visit our catalog um jump on our [28:26] website and just explore what might be [28:28] of interest to you. [28:29] >> So wisettaschools.org/ org/ community ad [28:32] there is if you go to about and then [28:34] catalog you can find the catalog it [28:36] comes out three times a year um fall [28:39] winter spring summer um so you can keep [28:42] an eye for those um they might be in [28:44] your mailbox if you live in the district [28:46] but you can find it online and then you [28:48] can register for classes online through [28:51] um it's called LEO the it's the [28:53] registration site you can get there from [28:55] the community ed website as well by [28:57] hitting the register tab and you can [28:59] register online, get started, and [29:02] there's no better way to celebrate [29:04] National Community Ed Day than to take [29:07] community class. So, any partying [29:10] thoughts before we sign off? Any words [29:13] of wisdom for people that are like, "Oh, [29:15] this community thing sounds pretty [29:17] cool." [29:18] >> We just hope to see everybody soon in a [29:20] class or camp or volunteering or in [29:23] whatever form they'd like to to partner [29:25] with us. [29:26] >> Yeah, I agree. I mean, we're also very [29:28] flexible in community ed, so we try to [29:30] meet everybody's needs in whatever way [29:31] we can. So, like Jenny said, reach out. [29:33] Um, we'd love to hear from you and help [29:36] us to meet your needs. They nailed it. [29:40] >> Well, that's it. Um, if you're listening [29:42] to this after next, it's be Thursday the [29:45] 13th. You can time travel back to [29:48] Community Hunt Day and celebrate. Uh, [29:53] that's it. Thanks everyone for listening [29:55] and uh we'll talk to you soon.