(Editor’s Note: The following article was submitted by Big Lake Community Education.)

Big Lake Community Education took home the first place prize last week for their float in the Spud Fest Parade. 

The Big Lake Early Childhood Parent Advisory council created the float and had families who joined to walk the parade. The theme was “Bee Your Best Way,” which is part of Big Lake’s social emotional curriculum: “Be Kind, Be Safe, and Be a Learner.” 

This is the focus throughout all the district’s Early Childhood Programs which include:

• ECFE (Early Childhood and Family Education) classes, for families with children Birth-Pre Kindergarten. The  ECFE is “Come for your child, stay for you.” No one is turned away. Day and evening classes are available along with free baby classes! 

• Little Learners Preschool, which now has five new outdoor class offerings this Fall, is a Five Star Parent Aware Rated program that focuses on teaching kindergarten readiness skills through play and hands on learning activities. 

• Hive Time, the wrap around childcare is for the children that are in Little Learners Programs that need care before and after preschool. It also is available throughout the Summer and is a Five Star Parent Aware rated program.

“We were able to keep programming going all last year with the amazing support of our families and Big Lake School District,” said Sarah Fritsch, the ECFE coordinator. “The parade float was our way of celebrating all our success throughout such a challenging year.”