Eden Prairie Schools Community Education
Family Resources Program Newsletter - August 2017
As summer winds down, we hope you are looking forward to the excitement and energy the upcoming school year brings to the community. This edition of the Family Resources Program e-newsletter features a new section that celebrates community collaboration. Every month, we will highlight an example of how different sectors are coming together to make Eden Prairie a better place. This communication will continue to serve as a tool to build greater awareness and connection to local resources.

One upcoming opportunity for collaboration is the community discussion on equity facilitated by Jeff Duncan-Andrade on August 29th (details below). We hope you can join us and share this opportunity with your networks.

If you have examples of collaborative projects, suggestions, other content you would like included in the future, or if you do not want to receive this e-newsletter, please feel free to contact me.

Thank you,
Molly Patil
Family Resources Specialist
Eden Prairie Schools - Community Education
mpatil@edenpr.org 952.975.6942

EDEN PRAIRIE SCHOOLS BACK-TO-SCHOOL OPEN HOUSES: 8.24.17 - 8:30.17
All elementary schools, Central Middle School, and Eden Prairie High School will hold Open House events to welcome students and their families prior to the first day of school. The first open house begins on August 24th at CMS, with most will taking place on August 30th. View the schedule on the district website .
EQUALITY OR EQUITY: WHICH ONE WILL YOU FEED? COMMUNITY DIALOG WITH JEFF DUNCAN-ANDRADE: 8.29.17
Jeff Duncan-Andrade, Ph.D. and national expert on community responsive education and founder of the Roses in Concrete School, will be returning to Eden Prairie to help the district kick off the school year and facilitate a community dialog on equity on Tuesday, August 29th. Join us to learn about the issues facing today’s underprivileged youth and families, and hear examples of how our community and schools can partner to address these issues. Gain better understanding of our community’s role in supporting youth and families. The free community presentation will take place in the Eden Prairie High School Auditorium from 4:30 - 6 p.m. Learn more at www.edenpr.org/Andrade .
PARENTING FORUM WITH JEFF THELEN: 8.29.17
St. Andrew will host a parent forum featuring a presentation by Jeff Thelen on Tuesday, August 29th from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. “What Kids Keep Telling Me” features a thoughtful and pointed list of observations youth make about their parents Jeff has developed over his 15 years working with youth in the community. Learn more by visiting the St. Andrew website .
PRAIRIE BREWFEST: 9.9.17
For those 21+, the Eden Prairie Community Foundation’s annual Prairie Brewfest event will be Saturday, September 9th from 3 - 6 p.m. at Purgatory Park (or the SW Station ramp in the event of bad weather) and will feature beer, food trucks, and live entertainment. Purchase advance tickets for $30 at the EP Liquor Stores, Kowalski’s or at www.prairiebrewfest.com.
LIBRARY BUILDING PROJECT COMMUNITY MEETING: 9.13.17
There will be a community input meeting regarding the upcoming Eden Prairie Library Building Project on Wednesday, September 13th from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. at the library. Join library staff and project architects to learn more about the renovation and share your ideas. For more information, visit www.hclib.org/buildingprojects .
LIVING IN EDEN PRAIRIE HOUSING 101 CLASS: 9.18.17
This course kicks off the Living in Eden Prairie Series, designed to help introduce immigrants and those who are new to Eden Prairie to the community and local culture. The class will be Monday, September 18th from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. and will provide an overview of the various housing options in Eden Prairie, some differences between renting and owning, housing-related resources and more. Class is $5/person. Financial assistance and child care are available. Learn more and register on the Community Education’s Registration Site .
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IMPACT COUNCIL (CEIC) MEETING: 9.21.17
All are welcome to attend the bi-monthly meeting of the CEIC on Thursday, September 21st from 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. at SouthWest Transit Station. This meeting will feature a presentation by SouthWest Transit regarding transportation. Learn more about the CEIC by visiting Community Education’s website .
VOLUMES AND VINES: 9.21.17
The Friends of Eden Prairie Library are hosting a tasting event and fundraiser on Thursday, September 21st from 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. at Olympic Hills Golf Course. Learn more on the event website.
5K FOR EP SCHOOLS: 9.23.17
The Foundation for Eden Prairie Schools is hosting its 10th annual fundraising 5K the morning of Saturday, September 23rd. The early bird registration fee is $30, and proceeds benefit the Foundation’s teacher grants program. Learn more on the race website .
SCHOOL SUPPLIES AVAILABLE FOR THOSE IN NEED
Families experiencing financial hardship can access free school supplies for K-12 students through a new collaborative program aiming to better serve students by ensuring more relevant supplies and convenient processes for families. Learn more by visiting the program website .
UP-TO-DATE LOCAL COMMUNITY RESOURCES COMPILED ONLINE
The Family Resources Program website includes a Community Resources section containing contact information for a wide variety of local programs and services for those in Eden Prairie. The site is organized by category and features resources related to topics such as child care, recreational or volunteer opportunities, emergency shelter, and mental health care.
LIBRARY HOSTING CONVERSATION CIRCLES FOR NON-NATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKERS FRIDAY MORNINGS
Non-native English speakers are invited to the Eden Prairie Library to practice English and make new friends in an informal, volunteer-led setting, and learn about the library, too. Conversation Circles will take place Friday mornings from 10:00 a.m. - noon beginning August 18th. Free; registration not required. View this flyer or call the library for more information. In English, call 612-543-6275; in Somali call, 612-543-8756; in Spanish, call 612-543-8510. 
EDEN PRAIRIE SCHOOLS COMMUNITY EDUCATION OFFERING LIVING IN EDEN PRAIRIE: AN ORIENTATION TO LOCAL CULTURE SERIES
Eden Prairie Schools Community Education is partnering with a variety of service providers to offer a series of eight classes for immigrants and refugees to help our newest community members learn about the local customs and norms of our community. The first session, Housing 101, will be September 18th. Learn more and register at www.edenpr.org/LivingInEdenPrairie . Contact mpatil@edenpr.org to learn how you can help.
EDEN PRAIRIE SCHOOLS VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
You can make a significant impact on our learners and our community by volunteering with EPS. Volunteers invigorate each classroom and contribute to a nurturing and vibrant learning environment. Whether you can volunteer every day, every week, or once in a while, there is an opportunity for you! There is flexible scheduling that can work with almost any availability. You can select grade levels (early childhood – 8th grade) and subjects that appeal to you. There is access to various trainings related to literacy and education throughout the year. Learn more and sign up at www.edenpr.org/volunteer .
MENTORS NEEDED FOR 2017/2018 ACADEMIC YEAR
The new Eden Prairie Schools Mentor Program is in need of mentors for the 2017/2018 academic year. The STRIVE Mentoring Program, which has been coordinated by the Eden Prairie Rotary Clubs and has paired mentors with high school students, has expanded to serve middle school students as well. The program especially needs male mentors. If interested, please contact Lisa Wood at lwood@edenpr.org or 952-975-8067.
PRAIRIE VIEW STAFF VOLUNTEER TO PROVIDE WEEKLY BOOK HOUR
Staff from Prairie View Elementary, in collaboration with complex management and the YMCA, are volunteering on Tuesdays at Briarhill Apartments to offer a book hour. The program provides free books for kids, one-on-one reading, and a group read aloud. Learn more by contacting Kerry Hallee at khallee@edenpr.org .

Eden Prairie Schools | Community Education | 952.975.6940 |  ComEd@edenpr.org