Area Learning Center

Help the Backpack Drive

Heather Kuchinka — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 18:09:04 +0000

Students at Northfield Public Schools Area Learning Center (ALC) are looking for donations of backpacks for a program that helps families fill an immediate need.

Each week ALC students in the Work Seminar or Small Business classes stuff an average of 17 backpacks with $15-20 worth of food. The students then deliver the backpacks to school social workers, who give them directly to families.

Along with backpacks, the project can use donations of money or food. Below is a list of foods that will be accepted in specially marked boxes or school offices in the district until spring break begins, on March 25.

ALC students started the program in 2010, after learning that approximately 50 percent of fellow students qualified for free and reduced lunches. With money raised through a cookie sale and a food shelf grant, backpacks with food were made available to any ALC student.

In the fall of 2011, a one-thousand dollar grant from Thrivent Financial allowed the program to send backpacks of food to all three elementary schools, the middle school, the high school, and Arcadia Charter School (formerly known as ARTech).

This year, an anonymous donation of $1,000 from an area business owner will allow more than 400 backpacks of food to be prepared and delivered.

Items accepted for the backpack program include:

Canned tuna and/or chicken
Tuna Helper and/or Chicken Helper
Hamburger Helper (or similar type of boxed meals)
Mac & Cheese
Ramen Noodles
Small containers of spaghetti noodles & canned spaghetti sauce
Single-size serving of pudding, apple sauce or fruit cups
Pop tarts, granola bars, or packaged fruit snacks
Cereal and/or instant oatmeal
Small packages of cookies
Small jars of peanut butter
Juice boxes
Single-size serving microwave meals

2012 Summer PLUS and High School Summer School

Heather Kuchinka — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 18:18:53 +0000

Northfield Public Schools Targeted Services coordinates two summer programs to help boost success for K – 12 students. Interested parents and students can look for registration and contact information at the end of each program description below.

Summer PLUS 2012

Summer PLUS offers structured, supervised activities for youth completing grades K – 8. Licensed teachers lead programming that includes fun, hands-on activities that strengthen reading, math and social skills. Afternoon recreation opportunities will include sports, arts and crafts, music, swimming, guest speakers, and more. The program is offered at no cost to students and includes lunch and two snacks. Transportation will be provided with pick-up/drop-off locations to be determined.

Grades: K – 8
Dates: June 18 – July 26
Days/Time: Monday – Thursday, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Location: Northfield Middle School
Registration: By teacher referral only
For more information contact Patricia Parlin at 507.645.1223.

High School Summer School 2012

High school summer school gives students the opportunity to make up missed credits from the regular school year in core academic areas. Course offerings are dependent upon the number of students enrolled. Students must register for session 1 first, and if there is sufficient enrollment a second session will be offered. Successful completion of a session is worth 0.5 semester credits. To receive credit for a class, students must attend all class sessions and complete all homework assignments. Students and families are responsible for transportation to and from classes.

Grades: 9 – 12
Credit recovery in: English, social studies, math, and science
Session#1: June 11 – 28
Session#2: July 9 – 26
Days/Time: Monday – Thursday, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Location: Longfellow School – 2nd floor
Registration: Northfield High School Guidance Office or Area Learning Center
For more information contact Patricia Parlin at 507.645.1201.

Students Visit 1968 Exhibit

Heather Kuchinka — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:04:35 +0000

On a Feb. 2 field trip, 37 Area Learning Center students visited the Minnesota History Center to see the exhibit “1968: The Year That Rocked the World — A year of extremes. Of war and love. Of brave beginnings and tragic endings. Of political and social upheaval. Of hatred and hope.”

The year saw war in Vietnam, the assassinations of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Senator Robert Kennedy, the Mexico Olympics, the election of Richard Nixon, and even the Apollo 8 mission broadcast on Christmas Eve. The students were also entertained by a History Theatre presentation, watching these events played and sung out on stage.

The exhibit is on view Oct. 14, 2011 – Feb. 20, 2012. Visit http://www.mnhs.org/index.htm for more information.

ALC Graduation Information

Heather Kuchinka — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:32:49 +0000

The Area Learning Center’s 2012 graduation ceremony will be at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 30, in the Longfellow gymnasium.

Seniors who choose to also walk in the Northfield High School commencement on June 3 must attend rehearsal at 9:40 a.m. on May 23. They must also contact Sheila Bird in the ALC front office or at 507.645.1201 for other requirements.

ALC Spring Conferences & Semester Report Cards

Daniel Edwins — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:27:32 +0000

Spring conferences at the Area Learning Center will be held from 3:30 – 7:30 p.m. on March 5 & 6. Parents will be contacted by phone to set up a time that works best for them.

Watch your mailbox for report cards, sent Feb. 3, reflecting grades and attendance for the first semester. Semester II report cards will be mailed after the end of the school year, on June 1.

Northfield HCI Cyberbullying Video PSA Contest

Matt Hillmann — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 02:02:07 +0000

Northfield’s Healthy Community Initiative sponsored a Cyberbullying Public Service Announcement (PSA) contest this summer for Northfield students.

Watch the Northfield HCI Top 10 Cyberbullying PSA entries

Levy Information Meeting

Matt Hillmann — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 20:40:43 +0000

Community members will have an opportunity to learn more about the two proposed levy questions on the Nov. 8 special election ballot. The information meeting will take place at 7 p.m. on Oct. 4 in the Northfield High School Auditorium.

View more information about the District’s 2011 levy election

Fall Conferences

Heather Kuchinka — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 02:31:09 +0000

Fall parent teacher conferences at the Area Learning Center will take place from 3:30 – 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 17 and Tuesday, Oct. 18. Parents will be contacted by ALC staff to schedule a specific conference time.