School briefs: 60-plus students to be teachers in North St. Paul preschool program

High school students will run their own preschool program beginning Jan. 24 at North High in the North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale School District.

The 60-plus students now are learning about preschoolers as part of their Child Development I class, and will take turns teaching and observing the children as they move from "morning circle time" into a curriculum that includes art, storytime, science and math. A high school instructor is present at all times, according to the program brochure.

The preschool will be open from 8:25 to 10:50 a.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays through Feb. 28. Parents are asked to pick up their children on time to ensure student teachers aren't late for their own classes.

Brochure and registration forms are available at tinyurl.com/a5zre63.

Space is limited to 12 children between ages 3-5. The preschool is free, but donations are being accepted to assist with the purchase of snacks and extra supplies.

North High is located at 2416 E. 11th Av. in North St. Paul.

Middle schools given grants for STEM use The H.B. Fuller Company Foundation has awarded $35,890 in "mini-grants" to the South Washington County School District to assist with middle school STEM instruction, emphasizing science, technology, engineering and math.

Teachers at Cottage Grove Middle School were given $2,500 for four "Hominid/Great Ape Skull Replica kits," a district news release said.

Teachers at Lake Middle School in Woodbury received about $10,000 ingrants for purchases that included a classroom set of books entitled "Secrets, Lies and Algebra."

Keith Ryskoski, assistant superintendent of secondary education, said in a statement that the partnership with H.B. Fuller "helps foster innovation in the classroom and creates engaging learning experiences for our students."