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 7, 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

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

 Math, nutrition, and pizza make a great combination for a learning activity at the East Community Learning Center.  Mrs. Angie Kerns (teacher at St. Bernadette Elementary School) worked with the students on fractions and math concepts as they created an individual pizza.  The project began by playing a fraction game with slices of paper pizza. Mrs. Kerns then discussed the nutritional value of the pizzas. Each pizza contained food from the following food groups of the food pyramid- breads and grains, dairy, and meats.  English muffins were used for the crust of the pizza, then topped with pizza sauce, cheese, and a selection of mushrooms and pepperoni. It was a fun activity. Other activities this week included art week with Mrs. Draper, Math Leap Track, daily exercise, working hard on homework, and projects for Mother's Day. 

Tallmadge Community Learning Center

Last Friday at Tallmadge, we had a very special guest, Ellen Ford.  Ellen is a Folk Life Artist and she taught us several dances, games, and songs from early America.  She plays several instruments and used her magnificent storytelling abilities to enlighten us about the activities students participated in for entertainment in early America.  We played games such as, “London Bridge is Falling Down,” and danced to music including, "She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain.”  A good time was had by all.

West After School Center

WEST AFTER SCHOOL CENTER SUMMER LUNCH PROGRAM

The West After School Center will again be serving lunches at nine community sites, beginning June 7. Last year, WASC served over 23,000 lunches during the summer months, and we hope to increase participation and meet the needs of our children.

Lunch will be available from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the following locations:

Cedar Elementary Playground

East Elementary Playground

Lancaster Club Apartments 180 Sells Rd.

Medill Elementary School Playground

River Valley Apartments

Robert K. Fox Family YMCA

South Elementary Playground

Tallmadge Elementary Playground

West After School Center 

The economic downturn has challenged many families' abilities to adequately feed their children. Help us spread the word that a free lunch is available for children from 2-18 years of age, Monday-Friday at nine locations this summer.

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

ADVOCACY, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, and COLLABORATION

2010 NAA Convention & the Afterschool for All Challenge

Washington D.C.

What an amazing time the lead staff had at the 22^nd Annual National AfterSchool Association Convention and the Afterschool Alliance Afterschool for All Challenge. This conference brought together 2,500 afterschool providers from all 50 states and Australia.  The convention was opened with an inspirational message from Hill Harper, a Harvard graduate with an MBA and a JD. The NAA offered many workshops on a variety of subjects from Learning in Afterschool, Service Learning, and Engaging Community Partners, to Being an Afterschool Champion and many more. The high point for all was the Afterschool for All Challenge Congressional visits. Over 600 conference attendees travelled to Capitol Hill and spoke with over 90 Congressional representatives. We took our message that afterschool programs need to be funded equitably and that the funding should to be dedicated to the 21^st CCLC and not shared with other line items. Afterschool programs have a proven record of increasing our children’s learning day, keeping them safe during the high risk hours from 3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m., and providing healthy meals to those who would not otherwise have them. We were promised support by those who we spoke with and plan on keeping in touch to monitor the ESEA’s (Elementary and Secondary Education Act) progress through Congress.

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 $80 during the third quarter of this rewards program!  (November, December & January).

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.

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 Kaitelin Lansinger and Kayla Crist, 5th Graders at West School, coming soon to Healthy Living for Kids Show

 21st Century CLC Grant Read Bethel UMC, Wednesday,  May 19,  8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

WASC Board of Directors Meeting, Thursday, May 20, 9:30-11:00 a.m.

Last Day for WASC 21st CCLC Programs, Friday, May 21

Healthy Living for Kids Committee Meeting - at WASC

WASC Leadership Mtg. with New Horizon Staff

Last Day for all

WASC 21st CCLC Programs

Summer Lunch Program Staff Meeting