Lester Prairie Public Schools
Submitted by Lester Prairie Public Schools
A commitment to excellence is what Lester Prairie Public Schools demonstrate to the community through pursuing excellence inside and outside the classroom in a variety of ways.
Independent School District 424 is made up of both the public elementary and high school in Lester Prairie.
Both these schools are housed in facilities located in one convenient building at 131 Hickory St. N., in a residential neighborhood of Lester Prairie.
Lester Prairie School administrators are Elementary Principal Pam Lukens and Superintendent/Secondary Principal Mike McNulty.
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The schools are comprised of about 400 students. The high school averages about 33 students per grade, while the elementary school averages 19 per class. There are approximately 70 non-resident students enrolled, as well.
The faculty at Lester Prairie is committed to education, and totals 32 certified teachers and administrators. The average amount of experience of teachers is about 17 years.
All teachers have at least a bachelor’s degree, while several have acquired additional graduate credits or a master’s degree.
The staff development committee provides opportunities to attend professional workshops. Administrators hold a specialist degree and are upgrading their knowledge base.
With the growth and technology of this day and age, Lester Prairie Schools will keep up with the times. For instance, the school’s media center has a computerized catalog and checkout system and a computer resource library.
The school utilizes technologies such as e-mail, networking, “online parent,” Honeywell Instant Alert, on-line classes, and Internet through its computer labs. All classrooms have Internet access.
The school also has the ability to transmit and receive educational opportunities through an interactive television system (ITV). The system links the school with surrounding districts and college campuses, such as Ridgewater College and St. Cloud State University. Further, the elementary school boasts one or more computers per classroom and computer lab instruction.
Junior and senior high school students have an opportunity to utilize technologies directly in their education. This includes programs in computer-aided drafting, computer applications, and tech prep curricula. In fact, development of these programs are, in part, influenced by a technology committee made up of staff and local residents to establish needs for the future.
Educational highlights in the elementary include monthly formal art lessons with a certified art teacher. A comprehensive fine arts program also brings students into contact with professional artists, as well as a young authors’ conference.
Field trips are common, as well as participation in competitions such as a science fair, geography and spelling bees, and fire prevention week activities.
Beginning band is available as early as grade five, and can include individual lessons.
A DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program is targeted to fifth and eighth graders.
Opportunities for the older kids include college prep courses with foreign language instruction, business education, a comprehensive science and math program, and classes such as economics, and human anatomy. Also available are courses in woodworking, welding, and small engine repair.
For the college bound, there is $13,000 in post secondary scholarships available.
Extracurriculars are not in short supply at Lester Prairie Schools. These include sports such as football, volleyball, cross country, girls basketball, boys basketball, wrestling, cheer leading, track, baseball, and softball. Declam competition and one-act play are also offered.
Lester Prairie has been paired in all-school sports with Holy Trinity of Winsted for three years. The pairing contract agreed to by the two schools will continue through the school year 2011. Many programs are sponsored by the Minnesota State High School League and football is part of the Minnesota Christian Athletic Association conference.
Other activities sponsored by the school include student council, Future Leaders of America, yearbook staff, choir, band, jazz band, fall musical, spring play, peer tutoring, problem solving, Knowledge Bowl and National Honor Society.
The community of Lester Prairie is supportive of the school, with a number of organizations supporting the school in a number of different ways. These organizations include a Booster Club, the American Legion, the American Legion Auxiliary, the Lions Club, a community TV channel, and the local newspaper.
The school also has a very active Community Education program, providing life-long educational opportunities for students and adults. Activities include adult classes, trips, crafts, family programs, youth sports, and open gym.
Early Childhood Family Education concentrates on birth to four-year-old children with their parents.
Kids Depot provides an appropriate and fun child care program for elementary children after school and vacation days.
Little Learners preschool is a two-day tuition supported pre-school for children 3 to 5 years old to prepare for kindergarten. It is licensed by the Minnesota Department of Human Services, and includes busing.
High school students have post-secondary education options available, in which they can begin work on their degrees.
Finally, Adult Basic Education (ABE) provides free, individualized instruction weekly for adults to obtain their GED or learn English as a second language.
