Email from Edina Community Education

AUGUST 2024

August Connection to Community Resources features:

New Car Seat Law, School Supply Drive, Wrap Training
2024-25 School Year Info- Key Dates, School Supplies- how to donate & access supplies: Educational Benefits, Early Childhood Screening ages 3-5
Fall Registrations - Sign up dates, financial assistance, free English classes, Family Literacy
Financial Wellness- Free workshops & couseling
Upcoming Events- Band Together Aug 22, Gear Swap Sept 7-8,

If you have a resource you would like featured in an upcoming newsletter or would like to connect regarding your specific situation, please let me know.

Krista Phillips

Edina Resource Center Manager

Krista.Phillips@edinaschools.org

952-848-3936

In the Community

BAND TOGETHER

Live Music- Games-Raffle

Food Trucks

Fundraiser for Mental Health support within the Edina Schools. All Are Welcome

NEW CAR SEAT LAW

Begins Aug 1

Review what's new

August 18 &19

WRAP is a Free Training for Parents & Caregivers with a child experiencing mental health Challenges

WRAP Training (PDF)

Donations of School Supplies are needed to ensure every students is ready to learn. Click on the wish list above or use the SignUpGenius to add your donations. Edina Resource Center will dis

GEAR SWAP 2024

Donate your good condition or new gear on Saturday, September 7 8:30-2pm

Gear Shop on Sunday, September 8 9:30-1pm

Donate if you can. Donate what you can. All Are welcome.

Gear Swap will accept and distribute

WINTER GEAR- Jackets, boots, snow pants.

Help us gather winter items for students in our schools who cannot afford them. Full range of size child-youth-adult are needed

Learn More

2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR

EDINA FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

AUGUST 26 - GRADES 6-12 1st Day

AUGUST 23 & 26 K-5 Connect/Assess

AUGUST 28- GRADES K-5 1st Day

AUGST 28 - ELC/ECSE 1st Day

FAMILY BACK TO SCHOOL HANDBOOK Your go to place for all the information about the new school year.

OPEN HOUSES

Elementary Schools Thursday, Aug 22

Concord 7:30-9:00 AM

Cornelia 8:00-9:00AM

Countryside 3:00-5:00PM

Creek Valley 8:00-9:30AM

Highlands 4:00-6:000PM

Normandale 3:00-5:00PM

Get Connected Days

South View Aug 13 11:00-7:00PM

Valley View Aug 20 8:30-12pm/ 1:00-5:30PM

Edina High School Aug 22 11:00-6:00PM

School Supplies for Edina Students

Find your School Supply List for 2024-25

Concord Cornelia Countryside Creek Valley Highlands Normandale

South View Valley View Edina High School Edina Virtual Pathways

Get Help with Supplies

Any family who needs assistance getting a backpack & school supplies can connect with their school social worker.

Donate Supplies & Backpacks

Thank you to the many supporters who have donated supplies for students. A Special Thank you to VEAP for their collection of supplies. View our Donation Wish List here: Please donate by Aug 19

Tax Benefits for Purchasing School Supplies

As students of all ages prepare for another school year, the Minnesota Department of Revenue reminds parents and caregivers to save receipts on school supply purchases to claim valuable K-12 tax benefits when filing their taxes next year. Two tax benefits can help Minnesota families pay expenses related to their child’s education: the refundable K-12 Education Credit (income limits apply) and the K-12 Education Subtraction (no income limits). Check out the two links above or this video to learn more about the K-12 education tax credit.

Apply for Educational Benefits

MDE Educational Benefit Applications are now available for the 2024-25. (formally known as Free & Reduced Lunch/Breakfast)

Edina Public Schools

Richfield Public Schools

Hopkins Public Schools

Families approved for Education Benefits qualify for free ACT testing; participation in College Possible program; college scholarships; some government benefits; discounts for things such as Comcast internet service, and discount tickets to various museums such as the MN Zoo, MN Science Museum, MN Children's Museum and more.

Families who received Educational Benefits for 2023-24 should receive their summer S-EBT cards in August or September. This program is run by MN Dept Human Services.

Questions about S-EBT: S-EBT Hotline 651-431-4608

Screen at Age 3

Early Childhood Screening is a quick and easy way to check in on your child's health and development and connect them to amazing early childhood programming before they begin Kindergarten. It is recommended to screen between ages 3-4 to provide ample time for support should a need be identified. Screening is free and takes about 1 hour. Screening is required to begin Kindergarten.

Learn More and Sign up for Screening Appointment

ENGLISH CLASS / FAMILY LITERACY CLASS

ECFE Family Literacy Class-

Edina Early Learning Center

Tues/Thurs 8:30-11:30

Open to families with children ages 0-5 who would like to increase their English language skills and attend Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE). The Family Literacy Class is free for the parents and child. Class includes Parent/Child time as well as Parent Education and language. Adult language testing is required and will take place in August/September. Class begin Aug 29

To learn more and sign-up email Early.Learning@Edinaschools.org or call 952-848-3964.

Free English Class for Adults

Tuesdays/Thursday 9 am-11:30 am

Interested in learning English but don't have a child? Contact Metro South to join the English class offered at the Edina Community Center on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Classes start Aug 29 and testing is Aug 27. Register a www.metrosouth.org

Volunteer with Metro South

www.metrosouth.org/volunteer

ACTIVITIES FOR YOUTH - FALL 2024

Financial Support

Needs-based assistance is available to participate in various youth programs in Edina.

Edina Community Ed

Enrichment Financial Aid Application for 2024-25 School Year

Edina Connect Card

Edina Parks & Rec Camps & Classes and various Athletic Associations. Cards must be renewed every 2 years.

Edina Give & Go

Up to $500 during the school year for Edina K-12 students to participate in Athletics, Arts or Academic offerings.

FOOD RESOURCES

VEAP Food Pantry

Fresh produce, perishables and food items of your preference. Drive-up model is currently used. You are welcome to visit twice per month.

Call 952-888-9616 for an appointment

VEAP Mobile Pantry- open to everyone. Find a location near you. veap.org/events/

Loaves & Fishes

Meals To-Go are available to anyone in need. Locations are available throughout the metro area including Richfield, St Louis Park and Bloomington.

Find a dining site here.

loavesandfishesmn.org/dining-sites/

FARE FOR ALL

Open to everyone. Purchase packs of frozen meats, fresh fruits & vegetables & special buys ($10-$30).

763-450-3880

fareforall.thefoodgroupmn.org /

HUNGER SOLUTIONS

Search for nearby food resources including food shelves, farmers markers, senior discounts and community food distributions

hungersolutions.org/find-help/

Edina Farmer's Market

Thursdays 3:00pm-7:00pm

ends Sept 26

Centennial Lakes Park

Learn More

Printable Food Resource List

FINANCIAL WELLNESS WORKSHOPS

Community Action Partnership of Hennepin County (CAP-HC) is offering a free financial wellness workshops for community members. Program utilizes the FDIC Money Smart curriculum

Aug 22 & 23 | 12:00 PM- 4:30 PM North Regional Library

Sept 14 | 9:00 AM- 5:30 PM online

Sept 26 & 27 | 12:00 PM- 4:30 PM North Regional Library

Learn More and Register for the Free CAP-HC Workshops at

caphennepin.org/what-we-do/financial-services.html

Request a free: Financial Counseling Appt. Renter Counseling Appt. Homebuyer Counseling Appt

Happenings at Southdale & Edina Library

Tech Help for Seniors (Age 60+)

Southdale Library

1st & 3rd Thursdays

1:00 PM-4:00 PM

Aug 1, 15 Sept 5, 19

Oct 3, 17 Nov 7, 21

Dec 5, 19

Call 612-543-5900 to reserve an appointment. Ages 60+

Job Search Assistance & Career Counseling

Aug 15 2-4:00pm Southdale

Aug 22 1:30-4:00pm Edina

Understanding Social Security Benefits

Sept 16 1:00-2:15 PM Edina

Understanding Medicare Benefits

Sept 16 2:30-4:00 PM Edina

Kids/Family Programs

Stories in Spanish

Aug 13, 20 4:30-5 PM Edina

Family Storytime~ returns in Sept.

Wednesdays 10:30-11AM Southdale

Thursdays 10:00-10:30 AM Edina

UPCOMING EVENTS

August 22: BAND TOGETHER

Join the Edina Education Fund for an outdoor concert event benefiting the Heal Together EPS Mental Health Campaign! Music by Aiden Intro, Chutes, Wondrous Wontons, "St Paul" Peterson, Heart of the Beast Puppet Theatre, plus talents of EPS students. Food Trucks, games and raffle. Suggest donation of $20/person $50/family

11 AM-10 PM

Edina High School

Learn More