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 27, 2010
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
General Sherman Community Learning Center
Nan (Oatney) Rowe is a graduate of Lancaster High School and Ohio University with a degree in Music Education. and began her teaching career as a high school band director in Vinton County. She and her husband Cliff, also a band director at the time both conducted the bands at Trimble Local in Athens County. Cliff took a new position as the band director at Fort Frye High School near Marietta, Ohio. During this transition, Nan worked at the Community Action Agency of Washington County as an intake specialist and youth job counselor. She returned to the education field as the elementary music teacher and band director for St. Mary’s K-8 school in Marietta. While at St. Mary’s, Mrs. Rowe was named Outstanding Teacher of the Year. The Rowe family returned to Lancaster in 1995 and Nan found herself teaching music and band at St. Bernadette Elementary School along with liturgical music at St. Bernadette Church. In 2001, she began a new career in business in the field of fund raising. 2009 found Mrs. Rowe back in the education filed as the site director of the East Community Learning Center. She is a member of Ohio Music Educators National Conference, former member of Delta Kappa Gamma, member of the St. Bernadette Church Choir, and hand bell director for the youth choir at St. Bernadette.
Thomas Ewing Community Learning Center
West After School Center
Ruthann Petrovay is the new Site Director at the West After School Center. She has lived in Ohio for the past 26 years with her husband, George. Ruthann and George have two children and a new grandson. Ruthann attended and graduated from Ohio University-Lancaster, with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. She was a teacher at West Elementary School, an intake worker with JFS in the Department of Child Protective Services, and a Family Stabilization Case Manager for Lancaster-Fairfield Community Action Agency prior to coming to WASC.
East Community Learning Center
Ashley Fiore is the new Site Director at ECLC. She is a native of New Lexington and has a Bachelor of Science from Ohio University in Hearing, Speech and Language Science. She is currently working on her Master's Degree at Mount Vernon Nazarene University to become an intervention specialist. Her hope is to establish great relationships with the teachers, parents, and students of East Elementary School. There are some returning staff members as well as a few new faces around ECLC this year. The staff is as follows: Terry Carpenter-Program Assistant: Homework, Robin McBroom-Site Assistant and Academic Coach: Math, Sally Cyrus-Program Assistant: Food Service, Stacey Maholm-Academic Coach: Leap Track, Danielle McBroom-Program Assistant: Leap Track, Elizabeth Flowers-Academic Coach: 2nd grade and Kristin Smith-Academic Coach: 1st grade. Make sure to watch out for the new opportunities that are coming for the students of all of the After School Programs!
Cedar Heights Community Learning
Michele is a 1994 graduate of William V. Fisher Catholic High School, and a 1998 graduate of The Ohio State University where she majored in International Studies. After graduating from college, she returned to Lancaster and became a licensed real estate appraiser. In 2007, Michele began working at St. Mary Elementary School and joined the staff of the Tallmadge Community Learning Center the next year. In August, 2009, she assumed the Site Administrator position. She and her husband, Brodie, live in Lancaster and have two dogs.
Tallmadge Community Learning Center
Randy Au is an education professional who has been serving children and their families for over 25 years. He possesses a Masters in School Psychology, as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education.
Randy has been a School Psychologist, educator, as well as a child care/preschool administrator. He directly supervised preschool teachers as the Director of Youth and Family Services at the Lancaster YMCA and then again as the Executive Director of Child Care for the YMCA of Greater Cleveland. Additionally, as a Mental Health Consultant for the Child Development Council’s Head Start, Randy assisted preschool teachers in the areas of behavior, instruction, family relations, classroom environment and child development. Recently, Randy has been the Day Camp Director at the Robert K. Fox Family Y and is in the process of starting a private practice as a School Psychologist.
Randy and his wife, Lynette, have two children. Kael is a recent graduate of Ohio University in Athens and Cameron is a sophomore at Whetstone HS. Randy enjoys spending time with his family, playing basketball and listening to music.
The Education and Vision Committee hosted “Lunch with the Principals” at WASC. The invited guest included the Lancaster City Schools Superintendent and 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 full staff of West After School Center, Inc. came together on Friday, August 20, to learn creative methods of teaching math and reading. Everyone participated in four rotations which included Leaptrack reading, dice games, math card games and the popular Allowance game.
WEST AFTER SCHOOL CENTER SUMMER LUNCH PROGRAM-FINAL NUMBERS!
The West After School Center has finished its third year, serving free summer lunches, this time exceeding 21,000. Serving at nine sites over 50 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, Children’s Hunger Alliance, and the First Presbyterian Church, for their support.
Our kids had a great time this summer. They enjoyed numerous activities, including making pillows and pet houses, 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 summer book club was great fun for the children who attended. They received a variety of reading materials, new books, Highlight magazines, and many goodies for coming back each week. Thank you to the First Presbyterian Church for sponsoring this activity in connection with the summer lunch program.
Reading and Fun!
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.
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
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
Community Care Day
Each September, the United Way of Fairfield County organizes a community volunteer activity to provide service to non-profit agencies such as the WASC. On September 15, we welcome Chief Bailey and officers from the Lancaster Police Dept. who will help with various improvement projects here at our center.
Training Opportunities
Many of the area providers need these required training opportunities to meet licensing requirements for ODJFS. If interested in joining us and taking advantage of local training, contact Chris Kuttler at the WASC, 653-5678, to reserve a spot.
Child Abuse Prevention
September 18, 2010
9 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
at WASC
First Aid and CPR
September 25, 2010
8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
at WASC
Communicable Disease
Saturday, November 7, 2009, 9-3:30
at the WASC,
Fee is $30.00
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 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.
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 $103.00 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, 2010.
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.
ADVOCACY, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, and COLLABORATION
OAA Fall Conference
Quality Training Package for the Afterschool Professional
12 in service hours, many sessions qualify for Step Up To Quality
Networking - Vendors - Great Learning & Sharing!
Join both OAA and NAA with your registration!
call 1.800.909.7665 for more information
October 8-9, 2010
Quest Business Center
8405 Pulsar Place
Columbus, OH
The 11th annual nationwide celebration of afterschool programs will take place October 21, 2010, in more than 7,500 communities. Join the 1 million Americans who take part in Lights On Afterschool to help call attention to the afterschool programs that keep our kids safe, inspire them to learn and help working families.
Plan now to join this national advocacy event
October 21, 2010
