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

May 15, 2009

A 21st CENTURY COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER
Our mission to is provide programs and services that enrich the educational, social, and cultural opportunities of students in our community

from the office of Dr. Paul G. Young, Executive Director

Visit our website at: http://www.westafterschoolcenter.org

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

Talk about a class act... 

In April. when Mr. Aaron Dorsey, from the National School Board Association in Washington, D.C. visited the West After School Center, the Cedar CLC and the Tallmadge CLC, one of our young students at Tallmadge mistook him for President Barak Obama. To understand how this story developed, you have imagine being a young child in the after-school program on a typical day when suddenly, a tall, slender, good-looking African-American man is introduced to you and your friends, and you hear that he is from Washington, D.C. Well, one of the students thought this guest from Washington DC most certainly had to be President Barak Obama. Even after Aaron tried to explain that he was not, the boy was still determined to meet him, assuming that the President was probably with him, but somewhere out of sight. Despite the staff's insistence that there was no special surprise, one first-grader still had high hopes for Aaron. "Well if you aren't President Obama, where is he?  Hurry up and get him in here.  I have to go home by 5:30!" 

Unable to produce the President for the Tallmadge students, Aaron Dorsey did remember his visit in Lancaster and this week mailed special books to the children in our after-school programs, and one in particular for a disappointed Bradley. Bradley (and all of us) experienced an extraordinary moment after school and because of it, he (and we) are now the proud owners of special book about Barack Obama to cherish with his family (and our students) - forever!

Gift from Aaron Dorsey for Bradley.

West After School Center students admire the book donated for our center's library.

Congratulations to our staff and our board of directors for continued good work and governance.

We thank the principals and teachers in our partnering schools for their assistance this past week completing surveys on the progress of the students enrolled in our programs. All 21st CCLC programs in Ohio must complete annual progress reports about their program services which is compiled by the U.S. Department of Education by Learning Points Associates. Classroom teacher perception of student progress is one important part of the data collection. 

Click HERE for a grant search and complete listing and profiles of 21st CCLCs in the United States.

GOOD NEWS!

WEST AFTER SCHOOL CENTER IS AWARDED THE

FEED OHIO SUMMER LUNCH PROGRAM GRANT for 2009

The West After School Center has been awarded a grant to further expand the Summer Lunch Program for the children  of Lancaster and the surrounding area this summer, beginning June 4. This competitive grant is awarded by the Governor's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (GOFBCI). Last year, the WASC served over 20,000 lunches during the summer months, and we hope to increase participation and meet the needs of our children in families in THREE additional serving sites this summer in Lancaster east-side neighborhoods.

The economic downturn has challenged many families' ability to adequately feed their children. Help us spread the word that a free lunch is available Monday-Friday in nine locations this summer.

Let's work to feed our kids - and have fun together doing it! 

In addition to the grant from the Governor's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, the West After School Center is pleased to announce that grants in support of the summer lunch program have also been received from the Children's Hunger Alliance and Lancaster's First Presbyterian Church.

Look Inside the After School Programs in Lancaster This Week

Cedar Community Learning Center

Eastside Center for Success

Tallmadge Community Learning Center

West After School Center

We thank our volunteers.

The facts

Volunteers supported our program during 114 days of service.

75 volunteers served students with 1000 hours of combined service = $8-10,000 worth of in-kind service for the West After School Center.

"We thank our volunteers for their time and talents working with the students at WASC. This is a great service to our community and a tremendous in-kind service to our mission. Thank you for another outstanding year!"

- Julie Bibler - site director.
 

Look for this new book, which was released at the NAA and NAESP conventions on April 1.

Principal Matters has been designed to help principals and after-school program leaders enhance their collaborative relationships.  

published by School-Age Notes

click here to see more books and resources from SAN.

Ohio AfterSchool Network members are explaining the necessity of quality extended learning opportunities to members of the Ohio Senate as the budget process continues in our state. You are encouraged to contact your legislators and inform  them of the value of investing on safe, secure, nurturing learning environments for our state's children during the at-risk hours after school before parents return home from work. Help us reinstate funding for after school (Sub HB 1) and restore full-time child care reimbursement rates to 25 hrs. per week.

Click HERE to listen to Cyndy Rees from Fight Crime: Invest in Ohio Kids and Paul Young, West After School Center, explain after-school budget needs with Brett in Sen. Carey's office.

Our Goals:

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 meals 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.

Our kids are taking the pledge to live their lives tobacco-free. Click HERE to listen to an interview segment about the Campaign for Tobacco-free Kids being taped for Healthy Living for Kids led by Host Angi Marinacci-Young and featuring WASC Site Director Julie Bibler.

West After School Center

Board of Directors

Committee Meetings

Healthy Living for Kids, Monday, May 18, 11:30 a.m. at the WASC

WASC Education and Vision Committee Meeting, Tuesday, May 19, 10:00 a.m. at the WASC

WASC Board of Directors Meeting, Thursday, May 28, 9:30-11:00 a.m.

WASC Marketing Committee, Monday, May 26, 9:00 a.m. at Clark-Behrens Insurance

Healthy Living for Kids, Monday, June 1, 11:30 a.m. at the WASC

CALENDAR of EVENTS

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

ELI Classes, Rm. 1 & 2 - 8:30-3:15

ELI Classes, Rm. 1 & 2 - 8:30-3:15

GED Class, 9:30-11:30

ELI Classes, Rm. 1 & 2 - 8:30-3:15

ELI Classes, Rm.1 &  2 - 8:30-3:15

GED Class, 9:30-11:30

Dr. Young at OSU-Extension,

10:30-11:30

Extended Learning Opportunities Progress Report Meeting 

Dr. Callihan - Dr. Young

21st CCLC Grant Read, Bethel Church, Columbus

Last Day for 21st CCLC Program Operation

Center closes

Center closes

Center closes

Center closes

Memorial Day

WASC is closed

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

ELI Classes, Rm. 1 & 2 - 8:30-3:15

GED Class, 9:30-11:30

WASC Marketing Comm. Mtg., Clark Behrens Insurance

ELI Classes, Rm. 1 & 2 - 8:30-3:15

ELI Classes, Rm.1 &  2 - 8:30-3:15

GED Class, 9:30-11:30

WASC Board of Directors Meeting, Election of Officers

Cedar Heights Hall of Fame Recognition Assembly

Center closes

Center closes

Center closes

Center closes

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

ELI Classes, Rm. 1 & 2 - 8:30-3:15

GED Class, 9:30-11:30

ELI Classes, Rm. 1 & 2 - 8:30-3:15

GED Class, 9:30-11:30

ELI Classes, Rm. 1 & 2 - 8:30-3:15

ELI Classes, Rm.1 &  2 - 8:30-3:15

GED Class, 9:30-11:30

Summer Lunch Program begins

Healthy Living for Kids Committee Meeting

Dr. Young presenting at Wyoming AfterSchool Alliance Conference, Laramie, WY

Center closes

Center closes

Center closes

Center closes

Center closes

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

ELI Classes, Rm. 1 & 2 - 8:30-3:15

GED Class, 9:30-11:30

ELI Classes, Rm. 1 & 2 - 8:30-3:15

GED Class, 9:30-11:30

ELI Classes, Rm. 1 & 2 - 8:30-3:15

ELI Classes, Rm.1 &  2 - 8:30-3:15

GED Class, 9:30-11:30

ELO Summit Follow-up Meeting, Columbus, Dr. Young

Center closes

Center closes

Center closes

Center closes

Center closes

740-653-5678

WE RECYCLE

740-653-2402 (FAX)

Eastside Center for Success Staff