The Pine River-Backus staff will host a kindergarten roundup Thursday, April 25, as an opportunity to register for kindergarten next year.

Two 30-minute sessions are available, starting at 3:30 or 6 p.m. Registration will take place in the elementary gym. Kindergartners are invited to a classroom for fun activities while parents meet with the principal and other school staff.

Kindergarten roundup is open to PR-B parents who will have children in kindergarten in 2013-14 and their 2013-14 kindergartners.

Nisswa Student Council members learned Thursday, March 28, that the 1,000 food items the elementary school student body collected in March will help babies up to grandparents who use the Lakes Area Food Shelf.

Don Messick of the food shelf visited with student council members and learned how they collected so many food items, plus $103.

School staff member Ilda Johnson set the 1,000 food item goal. With her help, the student council passed out 275 brown paper bags donated by Schaefer’s Foods to students to remind them to bring food items to school.

On March 21, Nancy and Glenn Krause presented a program at the Nisswa Community Center entitled “Seasons With the Bears” for those interested in learning more about the Minnesota black bear.

The presentation was sponsored by the Black Bear 4-H club, who supported the North American Bear Center in 2010 with a $100 donation. The young people of the club thought it was fitting that they support black bear research because of their club’s name.

Oompa Loompa, Dom Pah Dee Doo

Wonka’s coming to a stage near you!

Oompa Loompa, Doom Pah Dee Dah

Come see a show, don’t travel too far!

On Friday, April 19, my seventh production as PR-B’s drama director will open to the public. This year we proudly present Roald Dahl’s “Willy Wonka” based on the popular children’s book “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”