Spring at Hastings Community Education A Photographic Essay

Community Health Fair A collaboration with Allina Health, Regina Medical Center and the United Way of Hastings brought a GIANT COLON to the high school on March 9.

The Bridge The Bridge is a group of HHS students and Senior Center Program members who meet on Fridays at Tilden for coffee, conversation and various activities— including making sushi!

This year’s theme was Back to the ‘50’s! The Annual Daddy Daughter Dance is a collaboration between the Y and Community Ed. Help from YFPC and the SHIP students at HMS make this a successful event for all! This year’s theme was Back to the ‘50’s!

The Boomer Advisory Council The Boomer Advisory Council is a group of Baby Boomers and those in organizations who work with and for Boomers, including the City, Dakota County Communities for a Lifetime and DARTS. The Advisory Council provides input and suggestions on programs and activities offered through Hastings Community Education, geared specifically toward the needs and wants of Baby Boomers. If you were born between 1946 and 1964, the US Census Bureau says, “You’re a Boomer!” The Council won an Public Health Achievement Award from Dakota County in recognition of its work to promote the health of the public.

In May, the Early Learning Advisory Council held their first ever fundraiser. Motivated by learning that 32% of students attending our preschool programs receive fee assistance, they decided to hold the Little Learner Scholarship Fundraiser: Garden of Giving 2013!

A generous grant from the United Way of Hastings led us to challenge the community to help meet or exceed their $3,000 donation.

4 Star rating from parent aware for hastings’ early childhood programs! Parent Aware is a state wide rating system which identifies high quality early childhood programs for parents. Congratulations to Early Childhood Coordinator Michelle Thompson and her outstanding staff for earning this award.

Spring-o! Following the success of the fall’s Turkey Bingo, we offered Spring-o on a less than spring May evening!

Late last summer, the first conversations about building a patio behind Tilden Community Center began. With support from the Hastings Senior Center Program Advisory Council, talk turned to reality. We now have a patio!

Fundraising continues for the patio construction costs Fundraising continues for the patio construction costs. The backyard design includes a Celebration Pathway, which will be paved with commemorative bricks. 4x8 bricks are $30. 8x8 bricks are $60. You can obtain a brick order form by calling Hastings Community Ed at 651/480-7670 or go online to www.bricksrus.com/orderhastin gscommunityed.

Local artist Dale Lewis brought over this fine fellow to put on display here at Tilden.

At its Annual Awards Banquet, the Community Education Advisory Council recognized three outstanding community contributors. Early Childhood Teacher Anna Tlougan was awarded the Community Education Lifelong Learning Award. Senior Center Program Members Ann and Bill Sylvander, accompanied by grandsons Croix and Ryder, were awarded the Bernie McCoy Service Award.

Strategic Plan Setting up our future work, we developed a Strategic Plan that will guide Hastings Community Education. It’s goal may seem simple: to expand the impact of Community Education in Hastings—School District 200. The results statements will move the department in some exciting new directions. We’re continuing to work on the plan over the summer and will share more in the fall.

And finally, our new website is up! www.hastingscommunityed.com Thanks to everyone involved in Hastings Community Education and Tilden Community Center for making a difference in the lives of the entire Hastings community.