STATE DEPARTMENT OF Education Website is expanded

The Minnesota Department of Education has expanded its MNParentsKnow.info website to include research-based information for parents of children from birth through age 5.

In May 2007, the department and its partners launched the site, which offers Minnesota parents a convenient source for information about their child's health, learning, development and safety.

The information added recently for ages 1 through 5 is in addition to the infant information already available on the Website. Ultimately, the department plans to include information through grade 12.

ST. PAUL

College fair is Feb. 23 All students in grades 7 through 12 in St. Paul are invited to the Thinking College Early Fair on Saturday, Feb. 23, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Arlington High School, 1495 Rice Street. Many local and regional colleges and historically black colleges will have representatives to talk with students at the fair. Students in grades 7-12 and their families will learn about the following:

• Financial Aid 101 -- applying for aid, scholarships and paying for college

• Advice from college admission officials on how to succeed at their schools, the application process and admission requirements.

• St. Paul Public Schools' Six Year Plan, which starts in grade nine and continues into the first two years of post-secondary education.

Interpreters in Hmong, Spanish, and Somali will be provided. In addition, the keynote address, "Thinking College Early: The Essentials" will be translated into those three languages for families to hear during the breakout sessions.

The fair is sponsored by Saint Paul Public Schools and Progressive Baptist Church Education Ministries. For information, contact Sharon Cobb at 651-603-4948.

ST. PAUL

Playground fundraiser A gala and auction will be held Feb. 23 to raise money for a new playground at the Rondo Education Center at Interstate 94 and Dale Street. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m.

The new playground will be used by about 2,300 children attending three schools at Rondo, the Benjamin E. Mays International Magnet School, Capitol Hill Gifted & Talented Magnet School and Museum Magnet School. St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman will be the keynote speaker.

Items for auction include an autographed stick by Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom, a Children's Museum birthday party package and a football autographed by 20 Minnesota Vikings.

For more information or to make a donation, call 651-221-0058 or 651-228-1410.

APPLE VALLEY

Hoop-a-thon is March 9 The 11th anniversary Twin Cities Hoop-a-thon to raise money for Huntington's Disease research will be Sunday, March 9, from 1-4 p.m. at Falcon Ridge Middle School in Apple Valley, 12900 Johnny Cake Ridge Road. Hoop-a-thon is a basketball-oriented fundraising event that was created 11 years ago by B.J. Viau of Apple Valley after his mom, Deb, was diagnosed with Huntington's Disease.

In addition to participants shooting free throws to raise funds (last year 13,500 free throws were made), there will be music and games, a silent auction, face-painting and complimentary Culver's custard. For more information about the event, go to www.hoopathon.com.

JAMES WALSH