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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

December 18, 2009

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

From the Board of Directors and the staffs from all of the West After School Center program sites

MERRY CHRISTMAS

and

HAPPY NEW YEAR

see you once again beginning January 4, 2010

This week, the Board of Directors, staff, and students of the West After School Center congratulated Dr. Paul Young on his new position as Executive Director and CEO of the National After School Association. A luncheon with the WASC lead staff and evening planned by the Board of Directors were the highlights of a “Thank You” week. We wish Dr. Young well as he leaves to assume his new leadership role.

See what we've been doing this week -- after-school, and meet some of the special people that make our programs work!

Cedar Community Learning Center

East Community Learning Center

Tallmadge Community Learning Center

At Tallmadge last week, the afterschool program joined with the Lancaster Fire Department and helped wrap gifts in the Toys for Kids toy drive.  We wrapped about 100 gifts for families in our community.  We want to especially thank George Carr and Lt. Downhour from the Lancaster Fire Department for allowing us to be part of their special event (Watch HERE).  We would also like to thank all our families in attendance for their help and support.  In addition, added two new HEROES to our list, Mallory and Chloe.  Keep up the good work!

West After School Center

This has been a busy week for the students and staff at WASC.  “Believe,” an illusion team from the First United Methodist Church, made their debut and performed to a full house of students and their parents. What an exciting night as everyone tried to figure out what they saw and how what they saw happened!

The annual Christmas party was held with the students making Christmas necklaces, beaded Santa’s, and candy cane ornaments. We played Christmas bingo, a highlight of the party. We wish to thank Clark-Behrens Insurance for its generous donation toward the party.

The students at the West After School Center want to thank the many volunteers who have given of their time to tutor this year. The volunteers are a great part of the after school program and provide much support and mentoring to the students with whom they meet  each week. We thank them and wish everyone the very best in the new year!

Children's Author Margaret Wolford (Newark, Ohio) will be visiting our centers in November and December

No Sugar Coating
by Margaret Wolford

"Alana thinks keeping a journal is just one more boring assignment until she realizes her life is anything but dull! Who really is Janamarie? Why does Kimmie act so strangely outside of school? Is making mashed potatoes that big of deal? Join Alana in No Sugar Coating as she solves a mystery or two, learns a lesson about friendship, and endures her mother's terrible cooking. A journal that at first seemed like a dumb idea becomes a place to record the mysterious, wonderful, and sometimes painful happenings in ten-year-old Alana Davis' life. No Sugar Coating may be her first journal, but it won't be her last."

Hear Ms. Wolford at Tallmadge CLC (TBD) in January, 2010.

Five local agencies take referrals for assistance for families during the Christmas holidays. Families must reside in Fairfield County and meet eligibility guidelines. Households may not receive duplication of services. If you need assistance or know families that do, share or use the contact information found to the right to get help.

Salvation Army - 228 Hubert Ave

Christmas Assistance

740-687-1921

Maywood Mission - 1029 S. Broad Street

Christmas Assistance

740-653-4458

St. Vincent DePaul - 424 Locust Street

740-653-6037

Christmas Assistance

Community Action - 1743 E. Main Street

740-653-4146

Thanksgiving & Christmas Assistance

Information and Referral

Thanksgiving & Christmas Assistance
740-687-0500

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

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 $100 during the second quarter of this rewards program!  (August, September & October).

TO USE THE KROGER COMMUNITY REWARDS PROGRAM:

1. Pick up a copy of the registration form from the WASC. It has the scan barcode on it.

2. Simply take the form to the Customer Service Desk at your local Kroger store. They will scan it and your Kroger Plus Card, and with 72 hours a percentage of everything purchased at Krogers comes to the WASC - between now and April 30, 2010.

ADVOCACY, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, and COLLABORATION

Join us in Washington, DC.

Register now for the best convention for professionals in the field!

Click HERE for a link for convention registration.

Watch  Healthy Living for Kids weekly on the Lancaster Schools Television Network

The Goals for our Television Program:

1. Create and sustain a community dialogue and awareness campaign that helps every individual learn to make healthy choices about what and how much they eat as well as how much daily exercise they get. 

2. Encourage children to engage in healthy and productive extra curricular activities at home and at school.

3. Teach families how to prepare foods and economical family meals and snacks.

4. Showcase the wealth of community resources and personnel that can help kids and families develop healthy lifestyles.

5. Demonstrate the positive impact and benefits that participation in before and after school programs can have on children's mental health and social development.

Kids You Should Know - look for this interview with Gerald Stratton and Brandon Mayhorn, 5th Graders at West School, coming soon to Healthy Living for Kids Show

Healthy Living for Kids Planning Meeting, Monday, January 11, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at WASC

Education and Vision Committee Mtg., Tuesday, January 19, 10:00 a.m.

WASC Board of Directors Meeting, Thursday, January 21, 9:30-11:00 a.m.

Education and Vision Committee Mtg., Tuesday, February 9, 11:30 a.m. lunch with principals

Christmas Eve

WASC is Closed

Christmas Day

WASC is Closed

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NEW YEARS DAY

WASC is Closed

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Childcare Program

Childcare Program

Healthy Living for Kids Preview with Executive Director

Healthy Living for Kids Committee Meeting - at WASC

WASC Leadership Team Mtg.

21st CCLC/Childcare Program

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Martin Luther King, Jr.  Day

WASC is Closed

Childcare Program

Education & Vision Committee

21st CCLC/Childcare Program

21st CCLC/Childcare Program

21st CCLC/Childcare Program

Ronald McDonald visits  WASC

21st CCLC/Childcare Program

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