Indian Valley partnership provides opportunities

Indian Valley partnership provides opportunities
Posted on 01/16/2019
Greenville Learning Center students gather outside the Indian Valley Community Center.Plumas Charter School recently announced a new partnership with the Indian Valley Community Center. Use of that space has allowed PCS’s Greenville Learning Center to expand its enrichment program and facilitate greater community interaction for students.

In December 2018, PCS entered into a rental agreement with the IVCC, which is administered by the Indian Valley Recreation and Parks District. At 209 Crescent St., the community center is only a short walk from the learning center at 212 Pine St. GLC Site Coordinator Andre Essue said the IVCC space is being used for physical education, art, and music starting this week.

In addition, GLC students regularly use the outdoor playground behind the center for recess and PE. Also beginning this week, PCS has assumed responsibility for the IVCC garden space under the director of PCS Outdoor Education Coordinator Courtney Gomola. 

“In the garden, our students will be provided the opportunity to explore soil ecology, plant life, and beneficial insects, and engage in the design thinking process,” said Essue. “In addition, students will be provided the opportunity to be a part of creating a beautiful shared space within their community.”

IVRPD administrator Stephanie McMillan said the group is grateful to have GLC manage the garden. Several groups have worked on it in the past, but it is currently untended.

Speaking about both the center and its garden, McMillan said, “We want to make this space be of use to the community, to help community members and enrich their lives. What better way to use it than working with children?”

Essue said use of the IVCC will increase GLC students’ physical education and other enrichment instruction, physical activity, and knowledge of their natural environment. 

“PCS believes students will learn lifelong skills here that they can apply to various aspects of their lives,” he said. The confidence conditioning PE class, for example, “will help students obtain the foundational physical skills necessary to sustain a physically active lifestyle and healthy mindset.”

“GLC teachers will actively participate in and supervise the enrichment programs,” said Essue. “This will allow educational staff to observe students outside of the classroom setting. Teachers will also be able to embed classroom content into specific enrichment activities.”  

The new enrichment schedule allows GLC students to focus on math and English in the morning at the Pine Street location according to their current academic level, said Essue. “The addition of the enrichment activities will provide students with exposure to educational content that can help improve their performance in core academic areas.” 

IVRPD relies on income from renters like PCS to pay the utility bills and keep the community center doors open, said McMillan. “We want to expand our offerings for young families, to facilitate the rebuilding of our area.”

McMillan pointed out that the center is available to rent for events. Current classes offered at the IVCC include gymnastics, judo, jujitsu, and ballet; McMillan said she would like to expand class offerings for both children and adults and welcomes teachers to contact her. IVRPD is always accepting donations and volunteers as well. To learn more, call McMillan at 530-284-7385 or visit IVRPD.org.

Plumas Charter School serves students countywide through learning centers in Quincy, Indian Valley, and Chester. For more information, call 530-283-3851. To reach the Greenville Learning Center directly, call 530-284-7917.

By Ingrid Burke, I. Burke Writing & Editing
[email protected]


In the photo: Winter weather doesn’t deter these Indian Valley kids! Fifth- and sixth-graders from Plumas Charter School’s Greenville Learning Center on Pine Street made the short walk to the Indian Valley Community Center for their PE class Jan. 15. Back, from left: GLC Site Coordinator Andre Essue, Jocelyn Mckinney, Isabella Barnes, Kara Van Orden, Aubrie Schramel, Kadee Mckinney, Brennen Looney, Liam Carmichael, and teacher Jennifer Van Acker. Front, from left: Marley Carpenter, Jettie Wisniewski, Treyton Enderly, and Adin Lunder. Photo by Ingrid Burke