Registration for the fall and winter sessions of ECFE* opens at 12am on Thursday, August 23—but for all you die-hards out there, you know that really means staying up TONIGHT until midnight. 😉

I noticed so many new things in the Community Ed Brochure this year that I made sure to catch some time with Super-Jane (a.k.a. Coordinator for ECFE and Bright Beginnings Preschool) just to talk about what all was new and different.

Here are FIVE cool new things you can look for this fall:

1. MORE of Everything! – This year ECFE has more space and two new teachers, which means MORE unique class offerings for your family to take advantage of! In addition to a greater variety of regular parent-child classes, they’ve also added a third session of “Drop-in & Play” and even some parent-only classes. (more on that below)
2. Practice Preschool – Practice Preschool is a 2-hour, 1-morning/week class for kids ages 33 months+ that offers an introductory preschool experience and also has a 30-minute, once per month parent discussion time. If you’re already familiar with the popular “Doing Preschool Together” course, you can consider this “Doing Preschool Together, Lite” 🙂  (Alternately, Doing Preschool Together is a 2-morning/week class that includes a parent-child day and a child-only drop-off day.) These classes are both great options for 3-year olds to get started in a preschool environment without the price tag of a traditional preschool. We did this two years ago and LOVED it.
3. Parent-Only Classes – Unlike the traditional parent-child class that ECFE is known for, these new classes are JUST for parents, and childcare is provided. “Parent Talk” is a 1-hour/week discussion group for moms and dads of young ones to converse about hot topics related to parenting, while “Beyond ECFE” is a weekly group for parents with older kids (up to 3rd grade) to discuss the unique challenges facing their elementary-aged children.
4. Daytime Special Events – This year your family can enjoy fun special events such as a Pirates & Princess Party and a Winter Wonderland party. Previously most, if not all, of the special events took place during the evening, but now each event will also have a daytime option. (And all the at-home moms say, Hooraaaay!!)
5. Dome Days & Nights – YES! You read that right… Fun times for little ones are already planned for the new domed all-purpose facility that’s currently being built at STMA High School. Both daytime and evening playtimes are scheduled in this space starting in December. The cost for open play will be $5/family; check the Community Ed catalog for dates and times. (In case you’re wondering, the free Open Gym at the Community Education building will still be offered, once per month October–May.)

And ONE not-so-new but still awesome thing:

6. Field Trip to Apple Jack Orchard – This is a past event that the ECFE team is bringing back for Fall 2018. On Monday, October 1, you and your kids can ride the school bus from St. Michael to visit Apple Jack Orchard in Delano for a morning of fall fun with their ECFE friends. Activities include a wagon ride, apple-picking demo, puppet show, play area, and more! Cost is $10/person; details in the brochure.

Registration for the fall and winter sessions of ECFE opens at 12am on Thursday, August 23 at stma.ce.eleyo.com.

*ECFE = Early Childhood Family Education