The students in Learning Center II at Halverson Elementary have been learning about various jobs in the community. Throughout the month of January, students and staff discussed what kinds of positions are held at area businesses such as a grocery store, Wal-Mart, a sit-down restaurant and a fast-food restaurant. Students also met various community helpers from throughout the county during the month of February.

The first set of community helpers was Shannon and Angela Cox. They taught the students about providing lawn care and snow removal services throughout the community. They stressed the importance of responsibility and always doing your best work.

The second presenter was Amber Cox. She discussed how she manages two jobs and showed the students her ShopKo pharmacy uniform. She also talked about her position at the Comfort Inn. Students were interested in room prices.

The Learning Center’s third visitor was Ryan Grimmius from the Albert Lea Bus company. He discussed how the company runs and the training you need to be a bus driver. Students also learned about area businesses that are run outside Albert Lea.

Bob Krier from Citizens State Bank of Glenville discussed how checking and savings accounts work. Students learned the importance that math will have throughout their lives.

Staci Waltman, Del Stein, and Linda Mickelson are all members of the Halverson staff and they discussed the importance of their roles in the school building.

Students were able to practice using their listening and socialization skills with the presenters. Students also used their writing skills to create thank yous for all of the visitors. Learning Center II would like to extend a thank you to all of our volunteers for the time and effort that they put into their presentations.

All-grade spring orchestra concert is March 17

Orchestra students from grades six through 12 will present an evening filled with a variety of music at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, in the Albert Lea High School auditorium.

Sixth-grade students will perform “Gypsy Love Song” as a large group. In addition, Halverson students will perform “Buckeye Salute,” Hawthorne students “Dreidel,” Lakeview students “Lightly Row,” and Sibley students will perform “Ode to Joy.”

The Southwest Middle School orchestra has been hard at work on a fiddle piece called “Cripple Creek” and have been having a blast working on “Mission: Impossible.”

The high school chamber orchestra will perform Scott Joplin’s “New Rag” and Mozart’s “Presto k.156.” The high school orchestra is performing “Russian Sailor’s Dance” and “Jazz Pizzicato” in addition to a couple other pieces. The final piece, “The Blacksmith,” will be performed with the high school and middle school orchestras combining to form a one large orchestra.

Come and support Albert Lea’s orchestra students this St. Patrick’s Day (note time change from the school calendar). Where else can you hear music from Mozart, Joplin, fiddle classics to Mission: Impossible all within an hour and 20 minutes?

ALHS students raise $3,752.36 for Kids Against Hunger

Albert Lea High School students held a competition among first-hour classes to raise money for Kids Against Hunger. Students raised $3,752.36; the goal was $3,000. The top four classrooms are having doughnut parties today for raising: $317.03, $379.54, $383.86 and $751.25.

Elementary art show now on at Art Center

The elementary art show is at the Albert Lea Art Center through March 28. There are more than 300 pieces of art on display from all four Albert Lea elementary schools. Hours are from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.