by Cori Hilsgen
news@thenewsleaders.com
District 742 early-childhood education hosted its annual Spring Fling for parents and children birth through kindergarten entry May 12 at Colts Academy.
The event is for families in St. Cloud and the surrounding area.
The annual event included a bike/trike rodeo and bike helmet order station, llama petting zoo, ribbon ball toss, face painting, bubbles, sidewalk chalk art, story time, gardening information, scavenger hunt, backyard games, book fair, music and movement, and more.
Organizer and early-childhood outreach director Patti McGreevy said the event is meant to encourage families to enjoy activities outdoors. Planners of the event provided simple inexpensive ideas for families to do in their backyard away from the distractions of television. Activities included tic-tac-toe with Frisbees, gardening, homemade bubbles, face painting, ribbon ball toss with a homemade target, bug boxes made out of juice bottles and more.
McGreevy pointed to a lone child reading in a tent, another family watching a butterfly in another tent and a group of children crowding around a bug table.
“This is my 10th year of planning the Spring Fling for early-childhood education,” McGreevy said. “We have had so much fun providing simple ideas for parents and children to have fun together outdoors and learn from nature. Our Beyond-the-Book station is an absolute favorite. Children are able to choose a book to read with their parent in a tent or on a blanket. Activities are provided to ‘go beyond the book’ by talking about the story, visiting our nature center with live crickets, a tarantula, earth worms and scavenger hunt, and playing in the grass with hula hoops, ribbon balls, bubbles and Frisbees.”
St. Joseph Police officers Matt Johnson and Shane Vernier guided children through the bike/trike rodeo course. Participants had a chance to register for a bike.
“There were lots of kids that came out and learned safe practices for bike riding,” Johnson said.
“It’s nice to see the kids get out,” Vernier said. “It’s a beautiful day.”
Chad and Jennifer Emery from Sartell brought their son Liam, 3, to the event. He took his turn around the bike/trike rodeo route. Jennifer said they especially liked the llamas at the petting zoo.
Lisa Brophy of St. Joseph brought her children Jasper, 3, and Xavier, 7, who also participated in the bike/trike rodeo.
“It’s been really fun,” Brophy said. “They got lucky with the weather and got sunshine today.”
Tiffany Weller of St. Cloud brought her children Mason, 3, and Keelan, 1, who attend daycare at Teresa’s Daycare in St. Joseph.
“It’s a beautiful night out with the kids,” Weller said.
Early childhood staff said they were happy to see good attendance at the Spring Fling.
Adapted phy-ed teacher Deb Johansen, who has worked with the district since 1977, said she enjoyed seeing so many families at the event.
“I am happy everyone is here and having fun,” Johansen said. “The kids are having a blast. This helps families realize there is so much for them to do, explore and see outside in Minnesota.”
St. Cloud resident Robin Braegelmann brought her son Nicholas, 3, to the event. She said they enjoyed visiting the llamas at the petting zoo.
“It (the early childhood program) is a very good program,” Braegelmann said.
West St. Cloud residents Travis and Jenny Denney brought their children Ruby, 5, and Mia, 2, to the event.
“It’s good weather and fun to get out,” Travis said. “The kids liked the bounce house best.”
Judy Kelsch of St. Cloud brought her children Mary, 6, Henry, 4, and Charlie, 2, to the Spring Fling.
“It’s been fun for the kids, with lots of hands-on stuff,” Kelsch said.
A free book was available for each child and pizza, fruit and beverages could be purchased.
Attendees were encouraged to bring a food-shelf donation.
The 742 early childhood program includes early childhood family and special education, preschool and preschool screening. The program provides services for parents and children birth to kindergarten entry. Classes are currently held at Colts Academy, Clearview, Discovery, Kennedy, Oak Hill and Talahi.
The program uses 10 of the Colts Academy classrooms for early childhood-education programs, which include early childhood-family education, school-readiness preschool and early childhood-special education.
There are 203 children ages three, four and five enrolled/attending a preschool program at the Colts Academy location.
McGreevy said they currently have 20 early childhood-family-education classes for children ages birth to kindergarten entrance and their parents/caregivers. The classes are offered during the day, late afternoons and evenings. The early childhood-special education has 95 children with disabilities/developmental delays enrolled.
The preschool program has 23 3-year-olds, 51 4-year-olds and 34 children with developmental delays/disabilities enrolled.
There are 76 licensed and non-licensed staff who serve the needs of the early childhood programs at Colts Academy.
St. Joseph Police officer Matt Johnson guides Liam Emery, 3, of Sartell, at the bike/trike rodeo.
St. Joseph Police officer Shane Vernier helps Jasper Brophy, 3, of St. Joseph, at the bike/trike rodeo.
St. Joseph Police officer Shane Vernier helps Xavier Brophy, 7, of St. Joseph, at the bike/trike rodeo.
Families played and visited at the playground during the Spring Fling held May 12 at Colts Academy.
St. Cloud resident Judy Kelsch and her children (left to right) Mary, 6, Charlie, 2, and Henry, 4, visit the bug station at the annual Spring Fling May 12 at Colts Academy.
St. Cloud resident Tiffany Weller (back) plays with her children Keelan, 1, (left) and Mason, 3, at the playground during the annual Spring Fling held May 12 at Colts Academy.