Golden Apple: Teddy Bear Band Rocks Out at Warrior Early Learning Center Open House | Lakeland News

Duration: 3:10 513 transcript words EN summary

Video summary

The Warrior Early Learning Center recently hosted its open house event, welcoming families to meet the new school community with musical entertainment from the legendary Teddy Bear Band. This group has been delighting children across Minnesota for decades, and their presence at the event helped create a warm atmosphere for parents and students alike. The segment highlights how the band serves as a bridge between generations, bringing together past and present communities while introducing new families to the supportive environment of the school. Founded in 1985 by early childhood teacher Ron Gustafson and a group of dedicated fathers, the Teddy Bear Band is uniquely designed around participation rather than passive observation. Their performances are tailored to different age groups and developmental stages, emphasizing self-expression, spontaneity, and the joy of young children. For many attendees, including principal Martha Smithson and her mother Peggy, seeing the band represented a full-circle moment, as they had grown up watching the group at events like the State Fair and are now able to share that same special experience with their own children and future students. The impact of the Teddy Bear Band extends beyond simple entertainment, as it fosters a sense of belonging and safety within the school community. Every hallway and room at the Warrior Early Learning Center is designed specifically for the students, ensuring that every family feels welcome and valued. The band's long-standing legacy includes statewide recognition, such as proclamations from Minnesota governors and an induction into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame, underscoring its significance as a cultural icon. By inviting the band to perform, the school aims to inspire families to engage with this exciting growth and celebrate the unique bond that music creates among generations. Ultimately, the collaboration between the Teddy Bear Band and the Warrior Early Learning Center exemplifies how community traditions can thrive in modern educational settings. The event successfully kicked off a fun year for the school, reinforcing the idea that education is most effective when it is rooted in joy, connection, and shared enthusiasm. As Lakeland News reported from Baxter, this gathering not only honored a beloved local institution but also encouraged new families to become active participants in a vibrant, inclusive learning environment that has stood the test of time.

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Families at Warrior Early Learning Center got a chance to meet their new school community at their open house Thursday with a little help from the Teddy Bear Band that have been entertaining Minnesota children for decades. Our reporter Xavier Curley has the details in our very first Golden Apple of the year. >> Started by early childhood teacher Ron Gustafson and a group of ECFE dads in 1985, the Teddy Bear Band connects with kids in ways by building its performances around participation and activities designed for different ages and stages. >> To sum up the Teddy Bear Band, it's about participation. It's about being yourself, about celebrating the enthusiasm and the spontaneity of young children, and celebrating the the parents' enthusiasm for their own kids, and having doing it all through music. >> For Gustafson and the rest of the Teddy Bear Band, seeing their longevity through their Ted Heads brings a smile to their face. >> The Ted Heads are parents that saw us when they were little kids, and now they're bringing their own little kids. So, it means a lot. It's it's very satisfying. >> For Principal Martha Smithson and her mother Peggy, this is a full circle moment as the Teddy Bear Band is a familiar part of her childhood that she shared with her kids and now her future students. >> I grew up um at being able to go to the State Fair and see them with my mom and my dad. And then when I had my own kids, now being able to share special experiences with these kids, it's really special. >> I was excited that Martha invited them to well so that all the families in Brainerd and early childhood would be able to take advantage of hearing them, too. So, I just would hope that people are encouraged by seeing this band, hearing about it. This is just one of many ways that they can can be a part of a very exciting growth. >> At Warrior Early Learning Center, the Teddy Bear Band is bringing generations together, while at the same time introducing new generation students to their schools community. >> Every hallway, every room, every space is made just for them. And families feel like it's a safe place for them to where they all belong. They're all welcome here. And we're so excited that we can celebrate our families and kick off a fun year. >> Reporting in Baxter for this week's Golden Apple, Xavier Curdy, Lakeland News. >> The band has received statewide recognition, including Teddy Bear Band Day proclamations from governors of Minnesota in the past, and a recent induction into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame. >> This Golden Apple segment of Lakeland News was brought to you in part by Crow Wing Power, dedicated to providing reliable electricity and a knowledgeable and caring staff to assist you with energy saving programs and tips. More at cwpower.com. Lakeland News is a non-profit news organization. Donate to Lakeland PBS today to support your local news team.