By Celest Stang, Director
In collaboration with all ages, incomes and boundaries, Kimball Area Community Education strives to compassionately and professionally support the needs of our families and the community. Through programs, events and initiatives we provide holistic growth opportunities, peace of mind, exceptional care and educational support.
My name is Celest Stang and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have served as the Director of Community Education in the Kimball Area Public Schools since 2019. Kimball Area Community education is comprised of multiple programs, including: Adult Basic Education, Adult and Youth Recreation, Adult and Youth Enrichment, Facilities and Scheduling, Early Childhood and Family Education, Early Childhood Screening, Four-Star Parent Aware Preschool and Enrichment and Cubs Club, our school age child care program.
It goes without saying that the impact of COVID-19 has not only been challenging for the members of our own district and community, state and country, but our entire world. When COVID-19 hit in March of 2020 and the world shut down, it was then that our community education programming stepped up. During those stressful and unprecedented times, I couldn’t be prouder of the way our community education staff stepped up to the challenge.
In the spring of 2020 when schools were forced to close their doors and offer distance learning, Cubs Club provided free all-day child care for Tier I families to finish out the school year. Thank you to our Cubs Club Coordinator, Holly Barthel, and all of our support staff who were willing to work in-person and provide care and assistance to our Kimball students while they completed distance learning assignments.
Heading into the 2020-21 school year, we welcomed a new Early Childhood Education Coordinator, Lisa Maschino, to the team. Under the helm of Lisa, and the willingness of our preschool and enrichment staff to continue to work during the pandemic, we were able to provide in-person learning and care for our preschoolers during the entire school year. Thank you to Lisa, our other preschool teacher, Elizabeth Mayer, and our amazing support staff who were there every day to educate our young students in person.
Community Education’s efforts didn’t stop there. Not only did Cubs Club continue to offer full-day care for students when the district went into the distance-learning model last school year, but adult and youth recreation and enrichment programs continued as well. Programming may have looked different due to COVID-19 restrictions and protocols, but we were able to safely offer the following in-person programs: Adult Basic Education, Adult Pickleball and Tai Chi, Driver’s Education (both online and in-person), Youth Dance, Golf, Razzle Dazzle Football, Volleyball, Ski Club, Soccer, Basketball, Softball, Baseball, and VEX IQ Robotics.
Led by our Kimball Adult Basic Education instructor, Brenda Mass, the ABE program continues to grow and excel. During the COVID-19 pandemic alone, the program graduated a total of six students. Of those six students, four graduated with high school diplomas and two graduated with GED’s. Thank you Brenda for your continued leadership and passion for this program.
With the support of the -Kimball School Board and Mr. Erik Widvey, the Superintendent of Schools, Kimball Area Community Education was the only school to host an in-person Vex IQ Robotics competition during the 2020-21 school year. Kimball also had the honor of hosting the 2021 Vex IQ Robotics State Tournament, which made it possible for students across the state in grades 4-8 to qualify for the 2021 World’s Competition. Kimball Community Ed was fortunate to qualify two Vex IQ teams for the World’s Competition this past spring, which was quite the accomplishment for the program in just its second season of existence!
Kimball Area Community Education appreciates the continued support of the district and community. We are excited for the new 2021-22 school year and will have educational, enrichment and recreation opportunities for all ages. Visit Kimball Area Community Education online at www.kimball.k12.mn.us or call at (320 -398-7700 ext. 1112 with questions and suggestions.
Before COVID-19, during COVID-19 and after COVID-19, teamwork will always work. -Kimball Area Community Education is here for you. It takes a village and we truly are #StrongerTogether.