The Indian Education Program at Crookston Public Schools had a fun afternoon at the pool Thursday. Program Coordinator Dave Emanuel said it’s an annual reward for a good year. “Today, we’re down at the pool,” said Emanuel. “I run the Indian Ed Program for the Crookston School District. Today is a reward program for the kids who have been working super hard in school, getting their homework done, behaving in a positive way, and just doing things the right way. Every year I bring them down to the pool toward the end of the year right before MCAs and kind of a reward and thank them for being such good kids.”
Even in a year that’s been far from normal, attendance in the program is booming. “The one constant has been my Indian Ed Program,” said Emanuel. “It’s been kind of neat. The numbers have been just skyrocketing with my after-school cultural program. Even my kids who are distance-learning are coming in and participating. It’s so big, I’ve had to split it now. I used to be able to do everybody as one, but I’m getting 45-50 kids. So, I’ve had to split it with the younger kids one week, then the older kids. Today is from third grade and up. MCA tests are coming up, and they are starting to get ready for that. Two years ago, we were the highest in the state of Minnesota, so I’m hoping they try hard and give it their best again.”
