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
September 9, 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
East Community Learning Center
Everything is under way at ECLC. We have jumped back into our rotations of homework, Leap Track, and math. It is important that students have strong reading and math skills to help them stay successful in school.
Mrs. Winters joined us on our first day of programming to introduce herself and to get to know the students. Mrs. Winters enjoyed playing team building and ice breaker games with the students. She will be returning September 26th for two weeks to continue her Youth Development activities.
Mrs. Warner stopped by on Friday to have our first cup stacking session. Students were very excited to see her!
Cedar Heights Community Learning
Our
first week of afterschool was a good one. We have a total of 23 students
enrolled in our childcare and our 21st century programs. Our art
project this week had a global learning element in it and was inspired
by the Aborigines of Australia. We made kangaroos or turtles out of
different types of beans. The pictures turned out great and we will
display them in the hallway at Cedar Heights.
Dinner is back and as good as ever. We really have some good
appetites at Cedar Heights. We all enjoy the delicious and nutritious
meals prepared for us by the staff at the West After School Center.
Tallmadge Community Learning Center
With the first week under our belts, we are looking forward to a great year. There were a lot of familiar faces, as well as some new ones. Mrs. Peresta has Leap Track under way and Mrs. Andres has us heading in the right direction in math. We were able to purchase some new math games at the end of last year and Mrs. Andres has already tried out some of them.
The students were able to get back into the homework routine fairly quickly. Miss Kraft, Mr. Stephenson, and Mrs. Robitzer have the structure and process already in place and they were able to hit the ground running.
On Friday, we moved everything into the library (where there is air conditioning) due to the intense heat. We were able to work in the computer lab, as well as make some arts and crafts with fuse beads.
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
“WASC faces are popping up all over town.” That’s our slogan at the West After School Center for the 2011-12 school year and it is an appropriate one. We have enrolled 45 students in the first two weeks of attendance at this Center alone. This is a great start for a year planned in meeting the academic needs of our students, which now includes Science. And we now have our very own Mr. Science Guy, Tim Huston. This Friday was his first lesson on Optics and Magnification. The children learned to use a microscope and obtained information on simple lenses, which are used in eyeglasses. At the end of Tim’s session, the students received their own samples of an optic lens and a magnifying glass to teach at home what they’d learned.
General Sherman Community Learning Center
Thomas Ewing Community Learning Center
The students enjoyed the first week of the afterschool program at Thomas Ewing and General Sherman after the summer break. New friends were made, staff became acquainted with new students, and lots of stories were told of summer activities. Mrs. Winters (youth development) visited both of the sites and engaged the students in a "survey monkey." This was a new experience for the participants. Mrs. Winters is gathering information for topics that would be of most concern to the junior high population for further discussion.
A new math dice game, "Roll Sixes," was taught to the staff and students. Within five minutes, the game was promptly renamed, "Steal the Pencil." It is a game to promote math skills-the original version has the player count by one's. That was much too easy for our junior high students so we adapted the game and the players had to skip count by two's. We enjoyed success with the two's and moved on to skip counting by three's, much to the chagrin of the students. Next week: skip counting by four's and five's! It is a very interactive game; stop over and watch us in action.
Thomas Ewing Junior High School had its Open House on Thursday evening. The afterschool Center had a display in the cafeteria, along with other school groups. General Sherman will have its Open House this week. Mrs. Draper and Mrs. Rowe met with many prospective parents and students and are looking forward to a great year.
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 six centers to provide for, the West After School Center is always in need of the list at the right.
Donations are appreciated
White board markers
Tissues
Clorox wipes / hand sanitizers
Zip-lock bags (gallon size)
Glue sticks
Colored pencils
Erasers
Crayons
AA batteries
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.
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.
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 $204.76 during the third quarter of this rewards program! (May, June & July).
****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
