Educating More Than Students in Perkiomen Valley

is offering classes on scuba diving and Social Security planning, and they’re not just for students.

According to its mission statement, the Community Education programs offered by the district are designed to “encourage parent and community involvement in education, to promote activities that address community needs, and to facilitate the use of the district’s facilities for the greater good of the community."

Classes and workshops for the Late Spring/Summer 2012 session are enrolling now. Click here to view the brochure and registration form.

Anyone – even those who live outside of the Perkiomen Valley School District – can participate in the programs. Each class, many of which are taught by faces familiar in the district, has individual age limits and other registration requirements. (Organizers figure there aren’t many 5-year-olds who would be interested in Social Security planning.)

“The instructors are often former or current Perkiomen Valley teachers, but some are members of the surrounding community,” said PVSD Community Education School and Community Engagement manager Jessica Lester. Some of the instructors are paid, and others teach without compensation.

The benefits the Community Education program provides extend far beyond those taking the classes; they also help out the district.

“The programs do benefit the district financially, since any profit that is generated from the program goes back into the general fund,” Lester said. “In the 2010-11 school year, the Community Education program made a profit of $77,358.”

Classes are held in various school buildings throughout the district, with all of the pool and swimming programs – PVSD Community Education’s biggest draw – obviously taking place in the high school pool.

“Our pool programs are very popular – probably because there is such a wide variety of programs, appealing to all ages,” Lester said. “Other popular programs include Aquasize, Pilates, Yoga, Zumba, Photography, After School Sports, Silver Knights Chess Clubs, and our Summer Fun Camp.”

New for this year are the Ranger Aquatic and Scuba camp, as well as the Water Polo Clinic for students in grades six through nine. The two workshops on Social Security and Medicare planning are also new.

Some classes have already begun, and others have been canceled because there wasn’t enough interest in them, Lester said.

There are four ways to register for PVSD’s Community Education programs

• By mail: Send completed registration form and check or money order to the Perkiomen Valley School District office, 3 Iron Bridge Drive, Collegeville, PA 19426.
• Online: Click here to fill out the registration form online. Payment must still be mailed or dropped off at the district office.
• In person: Complete the registration form and bring it with your check or money order to the Perkiomen Valley School District office, 3 Iron Bridge Drive, Collegeville, PA 19426.
• By phone: Call the office at 610-489-8506, ext. 1125 to reserve a place in a class. Payment must still be mailed or dropped off at the district office, and your registration won’t be complete until payment is received.

If you’re a resident of the district, and over the age of 60, consider applying for a PVSD Gold Card, which allows you to enroll in many of the Community Education classes at a savings of 50 percent.

“With the card, seniors can also attend all musicals, dramas and at-home athletic events free,” Lester said. “To get one, just bring proof that you are 60 or over to the district and fill out an application.”

For future sessions, if you have an idea for a course you’d like to take, or teach, get in touch with the Community Education staff. Lester can be reached at 610-489-8506, ext. 1142, or jlester@pvsd.org. Or contact Chery Leh at 610-489-8506, ext. 1125, or cleh@pvsd.org.