Teachers, Staff Plan to Serve Dinner at Blackberry Pointe

Thursday, Jan. 19 will be the fifth "Schools in the Community Night" in District 199. This meeting is at from 5-6:30 p.m.

The Inver Grove Heights Community Schools officials are hosting nine of these events at local apartment complexes throughout the school year; three within each elementary school's attendance area. The events are part of an action plan for each elementary building; an outcome of strategic community focus groups.

Community members are encouraged to stop in and discuss school issues and meet with staff members.

The goal of "Schools in the Community Night" is to develop and strengthen relationships with families by hosting informal gatherings in their neighborhoods. Staff, including building principals, cultural liaisons, teachers, early childhood family education staff and Annie Platek, the Youth Program and Resource Development Coordinator, all attend the event and provide a light supper for the families.

"The students have been so excited to see their teachers at ‘their place,’ Platek said. "The interactions have been extraordinary and the feedback from both the families and the staff has been very positive."

"Schools in the Community Nights" have been at Bridgewood Apartments, Skyline Village, Pearlwood Estates, Rolling Meadows Cooperative. Stops throughout the rest of the year are scheduled at Salem Green Apartments, Prairie Estates, Lake Cove Apartments and at the Katherine Ordway Natural History Study Area off of Inver Grove Trail in the spring.

Another "Schools in the Community" event will  take place at Salem Green Apartments on Thursday, February  16 from 5-6:30  p.m.