Prescott CLC connects students to agriculture through storytime with Nebraska's first lady

October 2, 2023

Prescott Elementary’s Community Learning Center (CLC) students welcomed Nebraska First Lady Suzanne Pillen on Sept. 27.

The state’s first lady helped bring agriculture to life by sharing a story with the students. Pillen read Right This Very Minute as part of the state’s Agriculture Literacy Week. She wanted to use the book to help the students connect that lots of the food on their plates is produced by Nebraska farmers and ranchers.

“I learned about farming and how it's important to Nebraska,” Prescott fourth-grade student Vivienne said. 

“Books are interactive and require kids to think. I am passionate about helping kids think about how agriculture is a part of their everyday life,” First Lady Pillen said.

Prescott’s CLC serves more than 100 kids. The reading session with Nebraska’s first lady exemplifies how Lincoln’s CLCs help further learning before and after school.  

"We appreciate Mrs. Pillen's visit to our Prescott Elementary Community Learning Center today and highlighting the importance of agriculture in our state," Lincoln CLC Director Nola Derby Bennett said. "Lincoln CLCs are an essential learning partner with Lincoln Public Schools and provide students with a variety of academic and enrichment activities after school to connect them to our community and what they learn during the school day.”

The CLC initiative supports 30 LPS schools in the development and implementation of high-quality extended education opportunities, weekend and summer enrichment programs and other supportive services for students, their families and the surrounding neighborhood.  

“I think my favorite part about CLC is you're staying after school and like hanging out with my friends and doing these cool activities,” Prescott fourth-grade student Estes said. 

Lincoln’s CLCs are centered around a community school model with lifelong learning as one of the core principles. There are 20 elementary, six middle and four high schools with a CLC.

“Ideally, the school would function as a centerpiece of the neighborhood. Today, it's good to just have someone here who has a connection to the neighborhood,” Prescott CLC Site Coordinator Raina Engelhard said.

Learn more about Lincoln Community Learning Centers at https://clc.lps.org/schools/.

Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

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