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Administrator’s Corner by John Double

Our Albert Lea Area Schools have many learning opportunities for students over the summer and coming up for the 2024-25 school year. Our Early Learning summer programming will be available again. Students looking to have a pre-school experience before attending kindergarten in the fall have multiple opportunities in June and July. How will your students and families continue their lifelong learning this summer?

Our School Readiness summer preschool class runs during the month of June on Mondays-Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This program includes meals and is eligible for Pathways Scholarships and transportation assistance for qualifying families. This program provides a slightly longer day than our standard PreK day. Contact Amber in our Early Learning office at 507-379-4838 for details and to enroll.

Our ECFE Summer Fun Activities have two sessions this summer — one in June and one in July. This program goes from Monday-Thursday from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. There are limited scholarship opportunities available for this program. Each week has a theme, and parents attend on Thursdays toward the end of the class time. Contact Amber in our Early Learning office at 507-379-4838 for details and to enroll.

Registration for kindergarten for the 2024-25 school year is also open. Students who are 5 years old by Sept. 1 can contact Dani Bryant at 507-379-4806 for details and to enroll. Registration information is also available on our website at https://www.alschools.org/. On May 8, our elementary schools will have an open house for families of incoming kindergarteners at our elementary schools.

Over the past couple years, we’ve enjoyed the many learning opportunities that Project Exploration brought our students. Project Exploration has created and expanded community collaborations and experiences for our students. This summer, those opportunities continue with the return of the Terrific Traveling Trailers and several other learning experiences. Whether your youth is interested in canoeing, archery, biking, sewing, tennis or crafts, this summer still has an opportunity for you.

Our Boathouse opens on June 3 with kayaks, canoes and paddle boards for our community to enjoy. The Rock Gym continues offering challenging climbing opportunities with courses being changed regularly. District 241 youth can enjoy these opportunities at no cost through Aug. 31 when the federal grant that funded Project Exploration will end. Make sure to pre-register online and take advantage of this amazing opportunity to try these valuable experiences.

There are so many learning opportunities available this summer in our community. Do your best to find at least one that suits your interests and expands your learning. Registration for our summer classes will open on May 6. Watch for the summer book to be in your mailboxes in mid-May. Let’s continue to Gather, Discover and Grow together as we learn new things this summer season.

John Double is the executive director of Albert Lea Community Education.