Cahoots

Cahoots Summer Learning

CAHOOTS is a self-led summer program that keeps academic skills sharp through fun math and language arts workbooks. Memorable CAHOOTS characters engage kids to support creative problem-solving with activities to think, draw, write, and take action. Kids track progress, reflect on their learning, and send/receive feedback and encouragement from a reflection buddy via mail.

How does CAHOOTS work?

Families can register their students for Cahoots from mid-March - early June.

Workbooks are mailed to registered families in the second week of June.
Cahoots workbooks are designed for youth to complete one lesson per week. Lessons are 20-25 questions long.
Families or youth check their own answers online.
After completing each lesson, youth complete their weekly reflection which they mail to their Pen Pal.
Reflections give youth a chance to apply their skills through open-ended questions. Youth are paired with a Pen Pal who they mail their reflection to. Their Pen Pal writes back to them each week.
Youth who complete all reflections end the summer with a prize kit & certificate.

Buddy Biographies

Lizzie Earnest is a proud St. Paul native and a dedicated educator who loves bringing people together, making her a perfect fit for our Summer Community Ed team! Her journey actually started right here as a youth worker for Community Education before she spent years inspiring elementary students across grades 2 through 6. These days, she works as a PAR Lead Teacher for Saint Paul Public Schools, where she mentors other teachers, helps shape the district's future strategic plan, and focuses on creating fun, welcoming, and fair spaces for every single kid. Lizzie is all about building strong community connections and creating unforgettable learning experiences.

Outside of work, Lizzie enjoys spending time with her husband, Kyle, and their two dogs, Ace and Indy. She loves playing sports, swimming, and photography. Lizzie is excited to connect with her Cahoots Pals this summer and looks forward to supporting their learning and growth.

Nikol Gordon is originally from Montana and loves being outdoors. Not camping, she hates camping. OK, she also hates bugs. She likes the mountains and likes to hike short distances, preferably when it is cooler out. She also loves beaches and summer time. She has worked for St. Paul Public Schools for over 20 years, 13 of those at Adams Spanish Immersion. Currently, she is a Flipside Site Coordinator at Highland Middle School. Nikol got her degree in Educational Studies from Augsburg College. She has two adult children, two dogs and two cats, who she loves more than anything. She is known by her past Adams Spanish Immersion colleagues and students and some of her current students, for her crazy hair days, her crush on Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and her goal of reading at least 100 books every year. She also loves all things pop culture: Star Wars, Marvel Comics, etc.

Lauren Paulson is a passionate teacher and performer originally from Woodbury. She holds degrees in both Theatre and Early Childhood Education from the University of Northwestern-St. Paul, and is so excited to return to being a Cahoots buddy after joining the team last year! Currently, Lauren works as the Teaching Specialist at Children’s Performing Arts. She has past years of experience as an elementary teacher, preschool teacher, and teaching artist around the Twin Cities. She has taught classes through St. Paul Community Education and other performance programs around the area, such as Park Square Theatre and Children’s Performing Arts. When she's not teaching or performing, she loves to sing, dance, and spend time outside. Some of her favorite things include: apples, Little House on the Prairie, Frozen, and the color pink.

Teanna Rouillard grew up in Saint Paul and has been working with SPPS Community Ed in a variety of roles for 7 years! Teanna currently is the Flipside coordinator at AIMS, and her favorite part of working with Community Ed is getting to see youth explore new interests and find the things they love that spark passion in them! She likes to read and watch movies and is looking forward to going to the beach and on a few trips this summer!

What happens when you register?

When you register your child for Cahoots, they will receive a Cahoots kit mailed to them in mid-June. This kit will include:

A fun workbook to help review Math and Language Arts.
Weekly reflections and envelopes to mail to their Pen Pal. *stamps are not provided*
6 weeks of lessons for students entering kindergarten; 8 weeks of lessons for students entering grades 1-6.
A game board to track progress.
A prize kit at the end of the summer when they complete their lessons.

How much does CAHOOTS cost?

Cost for Entering K (6 lessons) is $39.
Cost for Entering 1-6 (8 lessons) is $49.
To receive a kit, students must be registered.

Sliding fee options are available for Cahoots. These are designed to provide financial flexibility for community members who may need support in order to participate. We encourage participants to choose the amount they are able to pay. This model helps ensure our programs remain financially sustainable while also promoting equity and increasing accessibility for all members of our community.

What grade should I register my child for?

Are you an organization that would like to offer CAHOOTS in your community?

Offer Cahoots at Your Summer Program!

Bring a fun, reflective academic summer program offering to your community! Contract with St. Paul Public Schools Community Education to offer Cahoots as part of your summer offerings.

Annual Deadlines