Local Education & Activities Foundation - LEAF 742

New blog alert!

“We are grateful for LEAF that she got this opportunity to try a new instrument and made a lasting connection with a family member.” – Livy’s mom

Read the full story here: https://leaf742.org/blog/leaf-grant-strengthens-family-bonds/

"It was just supposed to be a practice test," he says!! Way to go, Jacob!

This is the final week for St. Cloud Area School District 742 teachers to sign up for the chance at a $250 Adopt-A-Classroom grant! So far, over 300 teachers have signed up for that chance😲

Sign up today to adopt your very own classroom: https://leaf742.org/what-we-do/adopt-a-classroom/

"Imagine a community that works towards common goals - that builds together, plays together, learns together, and grows together!"

St. Cloud Area School District Anthem We are 742!

Mark your calendars and register by September 22nd!

All St. Cloud Area School District 742 deserve an opportunity to discover what brings them joy through participation in after-school activities! However, some students have barriers to participation - like shin guards, swim caps, or sports physicals. Enter in the LEAF Activities Participation Fund!

Learn more about the Fund and contribute here: https://leaf742.org/what-we-do/activities-participation-fund/

Have you adopted a St. Cloud Area School District 742 classroom yet? You can adopt 1 classroom for $250, and every penny of that goes to what that teacher needs most for their classroom.

Sign up today: https://leaf742.org/what-we-do/adopt-a-classroom/

It's National Arts in Education Week!

Did you know LEAF has a Music Matters Fund? Learn more here: https://leaf742.org/music-matters/

PS. Our director, Natalie, used to be a middle school choir teacher🎤🎼

LEAF's first guest blog! Author: Ayan Oman, District 742's Director of Equity Services

"I learned early to give grace to others. Most of these people will give grace, educate, and share in laughter; however, grace isn’t permission to do it again but an opportunity to do better."

https://leaf742.org/blog/first-impressions/

New blog alert!

"Major gifts from generous donors provide a solid foundation for the success of LEAF. Join other community members who support our youth."

https://leaf742.org/blog/leave-a-leaf-742-legacy/

It's Adopt a Classroom time!

The Adopt A Classroom project provides businesses, groups, and individuals the opportunity to make a difference in St. Cloud Area School District 742 schools. For only $250, you can adopt a classroom! 100% of your tax-deductible contribution goes directly to the classroom.

Sign up today: https://leaf742.org/adopt-a-classroom-now/

How cool is this? A piece of history right here in our district🖤

On this day in 1981, an Apollo command module was placed outside St. Cloud's very own Apollo High School as a gift from NASA. The module was a gift to the school, but they still had to pay transportation fees to get it to the new location. Students raised the vast majority of the funds needed to bring it to the school.

Photo by Pete Hohn, Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Isn't our community grand?

Thank you, St. Cloud Rotary, for your generosity. Members fundraised over $100,000 to ensure our students have access to preschool. Rotary International

Our offices are closed today, but feel free to email us any time at [email protected] and we'll get back to you as soon as possible!

We are proud to announce the winner of the 1st half of 2024’s photo contest! The photo was captured by a St. Cloud Area School District 742 student, Alex Schaefer. He chose a $50 gift card from Scheels as his prize and decided to have us grant $500 to the High School Robotics program.

Learn more here: https://leaf742.org/blog/winner-of-the-1st-half-of-2024s-photo-contest/

Happening now! Thank you, St. Cloud COP House😍

Free Back to School Haircuts Tomorrow!!! Stop by the COP House 12-4pm.

Save the date: LEAF's Annual Learning Renaissance fundraiser!

Date: Sunday, October 27th

More info here: https://leaf742.org/events/learning-renaissance/

There are so many wonderful folks helping and loving St. Cloud Area School District 742 students during the school year! To do: make a plan to say thank you to teachers AND other school staff as well - a quick email, a high five in the morning when you are dropping your kid off, or maybe even planning thank you donuts for a school in your community on a random Friday❤

Tomorrow! Thank you St. Cloud COP House!

How cool is it that we have 3 Language Immersion programs in St. Cloud Area School District 742? Spanish, Chinese, and Somali (the newest addition!).

Check out LEAF's Immersion funds here: https://leaf742.org/what-we-do/immersion-program-fund/

Dual Language Immersion staff are ready to welcome students back to school! ❤️

They're baaaaack! Thank you, St. Cloud Area School District 742 educators, for prepping for a wonderful 2024-25 school year😍

"The LEAF grant helped us to purchase materials for more hands on projects than our school budget would allow. One of the projects was designing t-shirts to encourage others to be drug free. The t-shirts said “My Natural High Is…” and on the back they designed their own picture showing what their natural high is." - Rhonda Juell, St. Cloud Area School District 742 employee

Attention St. Cloud Area School District 742 staff: we would love for you to apply for one of our Fall grants!

Fall Activities Grant application deadline: September 20th.

Academic Grant application deadline: October 3rd.

Learn more and apply here: https://leaf742.org/grants/forms-instructions/

Just a couple weeks until school starts, can you believe it?

Sign up today to bring joy to a St. Cloud Area School District 742 classroom by participating in our Adopt-A-Classroom program! You can choose the teacher/school/grade level, or we can match you with one of the 742 teachers who signed up hoping to get adopted.

More info/sign up here: https://leaf742.org/what-we-do/adopt-a-classroom/

Congrats to St Cloud Crush Baseball players Jaxon, Joe, Max, Drew, and Parker for being named to an All-Area team!

St. Cloud Times announces 2024 all-area baseball team; Foley seniors contend for POY With 10 area schools represented on the 2024 all-area baseball teams, the race for 2024 player of the year came down to two Foley seniors. Both were elite hitting and pitching, who would you pick?

LEAF supports St. Cloud Area School District 742 music programs through our “MUSIC MATTERS” fund🎷

Learn more and contribute to this fund here: https://leaf742.org/music-matters/

Cool opportunity! Help out St. Cloud Area School District 742 and make an international connection🇪🇸

Every year, our district has the opportunity to partner with the Amity Institute and host Amity interns in our Spanish Immersion schools. These interns serve in our classrooms throughout the year, providing support for small groups, teaching lessons, and sharing their culture with students.

Amity interns stay with host families for the year. We are still looking for one host family willing to host an intern. He is a 22-year-old from Valladolid, Spain who has recently graduated with a bachelor's degree in education. He is fluent in both Spanish and English and has previously spent 10 months as an exchange student in Oregon. His interests include skiing, reading, and playing strategy games.

More information about hosting an intern can be found at the links below:
https://amity.org/host-family-information/
https://amity.org/frequently-asked-questions-2/

If you are interested in hosting this Amity intern or would like more information, please contact Jourdan Coliman as soon as possible at [email protected].

Did you know LEAF has 17 current Legacy Funds? Our community is so very supportive of St. Cloud Area School District 742 and passionate about ensuring ALL students have access and opportunity in their education and activities!

Learn more here: https://leaf742.org/what-we-do/legacy-planned-giving/

Monday was 1st day on the job for the teachers new to St. Cloud Area School District 742! Welcome, and thank you in advance for all you will do for our kids and families this school year❤

“As a current member of the Board of Education I donate to LEAF. I am able to see firsthand how LEAF donations are put to good use. St. Cloud Area School District 742 has an exceptional team of educators and great educational programming. LEAF donations help our educators, filling in where funding is short, accelerating learning and improving performance. LEAF is synonymous with improved educational and extracurricular experiences.” - Al Dahlgren, Owner, Once Upon A Child