By Jayne Gibson
Director of Austin Aspires

Austin Public Schools Community Education is excited to welcome a new year. We have so much to be thankful for, and all our programs, from Early Childhood and Community Education to Kids Korner and Austin Adult Learning, have new and exciting resolutions for the year to come.

One of our resolutions is to increase collaboration with the community. Our upcoming Preschool Showcase is a prime example of this collaboration. From 10 a.m. to noon On Jan. 18, several county preschools will come together to share information about their programs for the 2020-21 school year. Parents of young children are invited to come to the IJ Holton Intermediate School gym (entering through Door 10) to learn about local preschool options and community partners that offer supportive programming for young children. Austin Public Schools preschool programs will open for registration in late March of 2020.

Another resolution is to offer programs that support the interests and needs in our community. Our Winter Community Education Brochure is out, and registration is open for a wide variety of classes for youth and adults. If you have an interest that is not represented in our brochure, please let us know. If you have a class you would like to offer, we would love to hear from you as well! Our resolution to be responsive to community interest and need depends on feedback from you! In addition, as amazing as it may be, registration for Summer Kids Korner is just around the corner. It is our strong resolution to offer safe, engaging, and fun opportunities for students during the summer months. We look forward to serving your children and families!

Perhaps it is your resolution to give back to your community. If it is, please consider volunteering your time with our Adult Learning program. We offer classes for adults completing their GED and growing their English language skills in our new location at Riverland Community College. We need volunteers to practice speaking English with our students as well as other engaging activities. Please contact our Adult Learning program at 507-460-1860 if you would like to know more about volunteering with our adult learners.

We are looking forward to a great year collaborating with and serving our community.

“Approach the New Year with resolve to find the opportunities hidden in each new day.”
— Michael Josephson