NEWS
from the West After School Center,
Inc.
620 Garfield Avenue
Lancaster, OH 43130
740-653-5678 740-653-2402 FAX
Email:
westafterschool@westafterschoolcenter.org
Visit us at
www.westafterschoolcenter.org
August 26, 2011
from the office of Julie Bibler, Executive Director
This weekly update is distributed via email to the WASC Board of Directors & Staff, Volunteers, School Staffs, Parents, State and National Afterschool Advocates, Providers, and Community Leaders
WE
ARE
21st CENTURY
COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS
Our mission to is provide programs and services that enrich the educational, social, and cultural opportunities of students in our community
The Education and Vision Committee hosted “Lunch with the Principals” at WASC. The invited guest included the Lancaster City Schools Principals from the schools where we have afterschool programs, the Site Directors and WASC Board Members. This was a great opportunity for all to communicate and share ideas for the coming school year.
The West After School Center's staff attended the Education Council's "Off to a Great Start" conference this past week. We want to "Shine On" and continue to help expand the boundaries of afterschool.
The full staff of West After School Center, Inc. came together on Monday, August 22, to plan for a new year!
East Community Learning Center
The East Community Learning Center is excited to begin a new school year. We have many new activities planned for this year and are eager to begin the program. Our staff participated in the "Off to A Great Start Conference" in Columbus last week to learn new strategies, hands-on activities, and communication techniques to implement into the program this year. Finally, we would like to welcome Garrett Warner, our new program assistant. We are sure Garrett will be a great asset to our team!
Cedar Heights Community Learning
On August 17th and 18th, the staffs of the afterschool programs attended the "Off to a Great Start" Conference in Columbus. It was a great training with several good workshops from which to choose. Each staff member was able to further his or her session knowledge and commitment to afterschool. Workshops offered ranged from exercise and diet, to math and science, to mental health and integrating community service into our programs. We look forward to meeting and brainstorming together to share everything we learned. We also look forward to sharing these new skills, games, and techniques with our afterschool students.
Tallmadge Community Learning Center
It is amazing how time flies. It seems like only yesterday that it was the last day of the program and we were looking forward to a long summer. Well, summer is over and school is here. As a staff, we are looking forward to a productive school year. While we feel that things went well last year, there are always little things that we can improve upon. Various things that we are looking at are: some new behavior incentives, a financial literacy component, and adding some more variety to our reading program.
Keep in mind that the tutoring program begins on Monday, August 29th. All paperwork must be completed before your child can begin so if you have not done so, please contact Randy @ 740-475-9229 or rau@westafterschoolcenter.org. We are looking forward to another exciting year.
West After School Center
Friday, August 12th, ended another successful Summer Childcare Program at the West After School Center. The program ended just as it began, with enthusiasm and excitement. The last community activity here at the Center was attended by a group from the Crestview Manor Nursing Home. This group, called “CHATS” (Children Helping Adults To Smile), came to play shuffleboard with the students who attended WASC this summer. Wheelchairs, walkers, and two Swiffer mops made hitting masking tape balls across the Center floor a breeze. The points scored here came in the form of a unique relationship between the players on both teams. Thank you to Linda Donovan, activities coordinator at Crestview, and Stacey Maholm, child care assistant at WASC.
General Sherman Community Learning Center
Thomas Ewing Community Learning Center
It is
great to be back working with the prospective students in the after
school programs at General Sherman and Thomas Ewing Junior Highs. We are
busy interviewing students for the programs and hope to build upon the
success we experienced last year. The programs will begin on August 30
at Thomas Ewing and August 31 at General Sherman. Many great activities
are planned as well as focusing on math, reading, and homework.
Our staff is a key ingredient to the after school programs and we have
returning and new staff members for our programs. At General Sherman,
we have returning Kent Kerns, a veteran of the after school program and
a 6th grade teacher at General Sherman. He is a perfect match for the
after school program. New this year are Greg Leasure and Janice
Richard. Both come to us with education backgrounds and will be
excellent additions to the staff at Sherman. Heather Malley, Christine
Kennedy, and Student and Family Coordinator Ashly Draper are returning
to Thomas Ewing. It is wonderful to have them all back with us. New to
the staff will be Aaron Malley.
Gert Young will be a great addition to both schools; she will be teaching music and band at both General Sherman and Thomas Ewing.
WEST AFTER SCHOOL CENTER SUMMER LUNCH PROGRAM-FINAL NUMBERS!
The West After School Center has finished its fourth year, serving free summer lunches, this time exceeding 22,600. Serving at nine sites over 49 days with a staff of 18 people was a great accomplishment and a benefit for the children of Lancaster. We want to thank our partners, the Lancaster City Schools, Head Start, Fox Family Y, Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio and its Choice Food Pantry, for their support.
Science Fun at West After School Center
We want to thank Tim Huston for the Science Fun Days at WASC. Mr. Huston introduced the children to a hands-on world of science. He brought concepts of electricity, magnets, magnification, weather, buoyancy, light, and refrigeration to the Center every Monday afternoon. Tim allowed the children the experience of making a project while learning the fundamentals of science. A big “thank you” goes to Mr. Huston for these programs.
Our kids had a great time this summer. They enjoyed numerous activities, including making yarn dolls and kazoos, working on art projects, and, of course, swimming at the local pool. A big THANK YOU to our summer staff for making this an enjoyable summer for all of our childcare kids!
The West After School Center, 21st CCLC before and afterschool programs for school-age children, were informed that our programs have passed the annual inspection and will continue as a one-star-rated Step-Up-to Quality Center.
Congratulations to our staff and our board of directors for continued good work and governance.
WANTED!!
A FEW GOOD PEOPLE
Experience not necessary
Do you have one hour a week to make a difference in the life of a child?
We need volunteers at all our locations (WASC, East, Cedar Heights and Tallmadge).
To learn more,
contact Ruthann Petrovay at 653-5678
Our volunteers are key to our success.
We appreciate the many community agencies that help students and families with acquisition of their back to school supplies. Likewise, with a limited budget and four centers to provide for, the West After School Center is always in need of the list at the right.
Donations are appreciated
regular markers
tissues
Clorox wipes / hand sanitizers
Zip-lock bags (gallon size)
glue sticks
colored pencils
erasers
crayons
AA batteries
The West After School Center would like to thank our community partner, The Girl Scouts of Ohio's Heartland Council, for providing a summer crafts program at the WASC and East Elementary School summer lunch programs. The children enjoyed making a variety of crafts, including swap pins that are traded at summer camp.
The West After School Center wants to thank Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio and its Choice Food Pantry for providing families at all six of our 21st Century CLC’s with bread, bagels and English muffins. They will continue to support us in the coming weeks and months.
The West After School Center is a provider for the Ohio Benefit Bank. If you are in need of assistance related to childcare, food, health coverage or home energy needs, please call the WASC at 653-5678 and set up an appointment to do a quick check to see if you might qualify for help.
The Kroger Community Rewards!
You can help support the
West After School Center
every time you shop at your local Krogers. It's simple. Just sign up and every time you shop and have your Krogers Plus Card scanned, a portion of the amount comes to the West After School Center. Encourage your friends to help us - and support our mission!
Thanks to our supporters.
We received over $182.49 during the third quarter of this rewards program! (February, March & April).
****TO USE THE KROGER COMMUNITY REWARDS PROGRAM:
1. All current and new members must enroll after April 1, 2011.
2. Please log on to
www.krogercommunityrewards.com
and click on "Ohio" to register your Kroger Plus Card. After registering, a portion of each purchase you make using your Rewards card comes to the West After School Center, Inc.
Save the Date!
April 2-4, 2012
Dallas, Texas
