Pilot Program Offers Students Free Cooking Lessons and Other Educational Activities on their Day Off

Pilot Program Offers Students Free Cooking Lessons and Other Educational Activities on their Day Off
10/19/2006 8:48 AM

Ninety elementary students from three East Side schools—Ames Elementary, Eastern Heights Elementary, and Nokomis Montessori Magnet—will learn about safe cooking procedures while preparing a tasty treat as part of a full day of educational activities on Monday, a day off from school in Saint Paul. There is no charge to families for this pilot program, which is made possible through the Second Shift Initiative, a partnership involving the Saint Paul Public Schools, the City of Saint Paul, Como Zoo, Saint Paul Parks and Recreation, and the Saint Paul Public Library.

“Minnesota is second to New York in the cost of child care,” notes Melissa McCollor, principal of Nokomis Montessori Magnet, “so the community is pulling together at Hazel Park to plan something for our children. This gives parents the option of a safe place for kids to go, with educational activities, and it’s free.”

In addition to the cooking classes, activities scheduled throughout the day include arts and crafts, gym games, and table games. The arts and crafts projects will encourage community building, and the table games will help reinforce safety procedures.

Similar programming is planned for other No School days on Nov. 10, Jan. 26, March 9, and March 23. Discussions are also underway regarding the possibility of scheduling activities during Winter Break and Spring Break. Registration information is available at each of the participating schools.

When:   Monday, Oct. 23, 8 a.m.-4:45 p.m.

Where:   Hazel Park Recreation Center
                 945 North Hazel Street
                 Saint Paul