North Branch Area Early Learning

🎶 Join us for an unforgettable night of music, fun, and community! 🎶 📅 Tuesday, July 8, 2025 📍 North Branch Central Park We're bringing the Church of Cash — a top-tier Johnny Cash Tribute Band — to the park for an evening that’s sure to get your boots tapping and your heart singing! 💃🕺 🎤 Schedule of Events: 🍔 Food & Fun kicks off at 6:00 PM — enjoy food trucks, a bouncy house, sidewalk chalk, and more! 📚 Storytime with a special guest reader at 6:45 PM 🎸 Concert starts at 7:00 PM ✨ FREE ENTRY – Bring your family, lawn chairs, and dancing shoes! This event is made possible through generous support from the East Central Regional Arts Council, with funding from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Let’s make it a night to remember. Tag your friends, spread the word, and we’ll see you there! 🌟 #ecrac #artslegacy

Chisago County is hosting its first Fix-it Clinic on July 15 at the North Branch Library! Something broken? Bring it to a Fix-It Clinic! Whether it’s small appliances, clothing, electronics, toys, or other household items, volunteers will help you fix or mend your things for free. Funding for this event is provided by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's Statewide Waste Reduction and Reuse grant. No pre-registration required. Items should be carry-in size for hands-on repair. First-come, first-served. Limit 2 items per household. Items accepted until 30 minutes before the event ends. See fliers for more details about the clinic, how to donate, and how to volunteer.

🎶✨ You’re Invited! ✨🎶 Join us for a vibrant Native American Dance & Drum Exhibition at North Branch Central Park on Tuesday, June 24! 🌟 Special Guest: Keith Secola – renowned Native musician bringing live music to life 🎪 Bouncy House | 🌮 Food Truck | 🌽 Farmers Market 🕕 6:00 PM – Dance Exhibition, food & fun kick off 📖 6:45 PM – Storytime with Books for Better MN 🎤 7:00 PM – Live Concert begins! This is more than a concert—it's a celebration of culture, community, and summer fun! ☀️ 📍 Central Park, North Branch 🎟️ Free & open to the public! 🎨 This event is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the East Central Regional Arts Council (ECRAC), thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. #ecrac #artslegacy

Coming up in Community Ed! Dungeons and Dragons Grades 6-12 starts June 24 / 9 - 11 AM Dungeons and Dragons Grades 6-12 starts June 26 / 9 - 11 AM Fidget Toys & Slime with Kidcreate Studio (Ages 4-12) June 26 / 9 AM to 12 PM Life of a Honey Bee Grades K-5 June 27 / 10 AM to 12 PM Registration here: https://northbranch.cr3.rschooltoday.com/public/getprogram/ or call 651-674-1025.

A Perfect Summer Kickoff! 🎶Thank you to everyone who came to the Summer Concert Kickoff at North Branch High School Viking Plaza! The evening was filled with joy, community spirit, and incredible music. 👏 A special shout out to the North Branch Area High School Band for opening the night with energy and heart—you made our hometown proud! 🎺 Thank you to the Minnesota State Band for bringing your talent and tradition to our community. It was truly an honor to host you. 👏 Thanks to the East Central Regional Arts Council (ECRAC) and the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund for making this event possible through their generous support. And finally, thank YOU—our community—for showing up with your families, your lawn chairs, your laughter, and your love for live music. Nights like these are what make North Branch so special. Be sure to join us at the North Branch Central Park next Tuesday, June 24 and experience the Native American Dance and Drum Exhibition along with musical artist, Keith Secola. #ecrac #artslegacy

Summer Concert Kickoff 📍 North Branch High School Stadium (Viking Plaza) 📅 Tuesday, June 17, 2025 🕕 Activities begin at 6:00 PM 📖 Story Time at 6:45 PM 🎶 Concert at 7:00 PM Join us for a fun, family-friendly evening to kick off the summer! This free event will feature: A special performance by the North Branch Area High School Band at 6:30 PM A concert by the renowned Minnesota State Band Sidewalk chalk fun A bouncy house A guest reader sharing stories with kids If it rains, the event will be moved indoors to the North Branch High School Auditorium, so you can count on a great night—rain or shine. This concert is made possible by a grant from the East Central Regional Arts Council (ECRAC) with funding from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, thanks to the voters of Minnesota. Bring your family, invite your neighbors, and help us start the summer with music and memories!

Liberty Kids & Lasting Lessons As the school year wrapped up, a 5th grade teacher shared a meaningful snapshot from the recent Fun Run. Inspired by their study of the American Revolution and the animated series "Liberty Kids," students chose a patriotic theme for their class flag—complete with American flag bandanas and hand-held flags. The image captures more than a moment; it reflects pride, unity, and a deeper understanding of freedom and sacrifice. The teacher noted that while we may not be on the front lines of war, we are on the front lines of preparing the next generation—and that teaching, guiding, and protecting students is one of the most important responsibilities we carry. A powerful reminder that love, sacrifice, and freedom are all deeply connected—and worth passing on. ❤️💙

At this year's Fun Run, Sunrise River School and North Branch Area Education Center together raised more than $70,000—thanks to the incredible support of our families and community! These funds will go directly toward enhancing student experiences. A heartfelt thank you to all the families who participated and contributed. We extend a special appreciation to our local businesses for sponsoring t-shirts for over 1,400 students—your generosity helped make this initiative a success!

Concerts in the Park kicks off on Tuesday, June 17, with a performance from the Minnesota State Band at NBAHS Viking Plaza! Story time starts at 6:45 pm, and the concert at 7. It's going to be a great summer of music!

Sunrise has a new addition to their playground thanks to the grant from the North Branch Area Education Foundation - a playground communication board! This is a simple tool that helps children who have trouble speaking express themselves while playing. The board shows pictures, symbols, or words for common things kids might want to say—like “I want to swing,” “let’s play,” “help,” or “my turn.” Children can point to the pictures to share their thoughts, feelings, or needs, making it easier for them to join in the fun and interact with others. It supports communication for all kids, especially those with speech or language challenges, and helps create a more inclusive and friendly play space. We are looking forward to seeing it positively impact our students for years to come! Thanks North Branch Area Education Foundation!

The Viking Newsletter - May/June 2025 is now available at this link: https://secure.smore.com/n/np82q Have a great summer!

Students at the Ed Center had their Fun Run this week to raise money to enhance student experiences. Students and staff walked, ran, skipped, and danced for a good cause!

NBAMS 6th grade Spanish students spent a week creating games to teach Kindergarten Spanish students basic conversation words. The 6th graders then visited the Ed Center and spent the class period teaching and playing their games with the younger students. Sounds like fun!

🎉 What a BEARY special night! 🎶🐻 Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Teddy Bear Band event at the North Branch Area Education Center on Wednesday, May 28th! Families brought their favorite teddy bears and enjoyed an evening filled with music, dancing, laughter, and community fun. From sing-alongs to picnic blankets, the smiles were endless—and even a few teddy bears got in on the dancing! 🧸 A huge shoutout to our food trucks for keeping everyone well-fed, and to the weather for giving us the perfect evening. 🌤️ Couldn’t make it? Don’t worry—this won’t be our last family-friendly event, join us this summer for Concerts in the Park beginning June 17 (flier included in photos).

A Warm Welcome at Sunrise River Elementary! 🌞📚 Last Friday, kindergarteners experienced something truly special—a joyful welcome from the first graders and staff at Sunrise River Elementary School! 💛 As they arrived, our students were greeted with cheers, handmade signs, and plenty of smiles from the first-grade friends and teachers. The excitement was contagious and set the tone for a wonderful visit! Each kindergarten class was paired with a first-grade buddy class. Students listened to a story read by a first-grade teacher, asked thoughtful questions about what to expect next year, toured the school, enjoyed snack time, and had a blast on the playground. It was a day filled with connection, curiosity, and confidence-building—making the transition to first grade just a little less mysterious and a lot more exciting.

Today the Class of 2025 continued a NBAPS tradition of walking through all district sites. Graduates get to experience the congratulations of students for their incredible accomplishment while the graduates provide inspiration for younger students. Here are some photos from NBAMS and the Ed Center: https://www.facebook.com/nbapschools/posts/pfbid02fPPCwm6BPAB9fEMAwSc4Zjv8Wuks1WNRnpEqqyzeruiYFvzDrCPRwgyFutvPfGYRl

SUN Bucks helps eligible children get the nutrition they need when school is out. For more information, please click on this link: www.fns.usda.gov/summer/sunbucks

Coming up in Community Ed! Drivers Education Zoom Class Starts June 9 / 8 - 11:00 AM Drivers Education Zoom Class Starts June 9 / 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM Youth Pickleball Grades 3 - 9 Starts June 9 / 5 - 6:30 PM North Branch Varsity Football Team Camp Grades Entering 9-12 Starts June 9 / 10 AM - 12:00 PM Child and Babysitting Safety Grades 4-8 June 11 / 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Home Alone Grades 3-6 June 11 / 12:30 - 2:30 PM Registration here: https://northbranch.cr3.rschooltoday.com/public/getprogram/ or call 651-674-1025.

Community Service Day was amazing! Thanks to all our partners in North Branch, Harris, and Stacy, for helping NBAPS teach students about sacrifice and being a good neighbor! Students always represent their communities, families, and school district so positively and help with great enthusiasm. Thanks to students and staff who participate and make every CSD a memorable one! Check out the photos from the day here: https://www.facebook.com/nbapschools/posts/pfbid02h8qYPs3JeHGx4dufbjSU3fz781N8mSDZ18aqPW1RRiCPR8TPG2zf6DhqkU7d2Cw9l

🚗✨ What a night at the Vehicle Fair! ✨🚒 A HUGE thank you to all the incredible community partners who brought their amazing vehicles for families to explore at our FREE Vehicle Fair last Thursday! From emergency vehicles and garbage trucks to construction equipment, farm equipment, and school buses - your participation made this event unforgettable. Many families came to the North Branch Education Center to climb, explore, honk horns, and learn more about the wheels that keep our world turning. 🍦🚧🚓 Hosted by: North Branch Community Education & Early Childhood