WEST AFTER SCHOOL CENTER
MONTHLY REPORT

December 2006

Our mission is to provide opportunities that enrich the educational, social, and cultural experiences of students and families in our community.

620 Garfield Avenue, Lancaster, OH  43130      740-653-5678                  740-653-2402 FAX

Look What’s Happening at the WASC this Month

Dec.1—Registrations open for OU-L & WASC Reading Improvement Class, held five Saturdays, Jan. 13 & 27, Feb. 10 & 24 & March 10, Grades 4, 5, 6 preferred, 1:00-3:00 p.m.  FREE. First Come, First Served.

Dec. 8—Friday Fun Day Swimming at the Family Y, 3:45-5:00 p.m.

Dec. 12 — Christmas Puppet Spectacular — Fun for the Family—7 p.m.

Dec. 13 — Habitat for Humanity Christmas Party, 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 14 -- WASC Board of Directors Meeting, 9:00-10:00 a.m.

Dec. 14 -- Annual WASC Holiday Party (sponsored by Clark-Behrens Insurance), 4:00-5:00 p.m.

Dec. 22—WASC Closes for Holiday Vacation

Email:  pyoung@westafterschoolcenter.org

Visit us at www.westafterschoolcenter.org

Dr. Paul G. Young, Executive Director

Mrs. Jane Hart, Student & Family Coordinator

Mrs. Julie Bibler, Tutoring Program Administrator

Mrs. Chris Kuttler, Office Manager

Adult Learning Opportunities Available at the WASC

Want to improve your reading, writing, math, and problem-solving skills? Do you struggle with fractions and percents and want to improve your math abilities? Do you want to improve your skills so you can be promoted at work? Would you like to obtain training so that you can be successful in another career or attend college? Do you want to obtain your G.E.D.? 

FREE classes for adults are now being offered at a variety of Lancaster locations, included the West After School Center, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:00 - 11:30 a.m. Don't delay -- call today to schedule your orientation. 

 1-800-686-3336 or 740-756-9245.  Ask for Nita or Kim Hill

Friday Fun Day Swimming, Family Y, 3:45-5:00 p.m.

WASC Puppet Spectacular - Blacklight Show

Family Fun Event--Free

Study Shows That Volunteering Helps Senior Citizens Stay Fit

Results from a study conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins University and reported recently in the Journal of Urban Health showed that men and women over age 60 doubled the amount of calories they burned during a school year by volunteering as tutors for elementary students. Those in the study participated in a service program in Baltimore, MD, called Experience Corps. The tutoring activities were found to energize the participants who then did more at home. Volunteering “is really good for you” according to Erwin Tan, assistant professor of geriatrics at Johns Hopkins, and the lead researcher with the study.

Many of our volunteers have provided testimonials reporting a sense of fulfillment working with and mentoring young children. Now, as an added benefit of their service, they can at the same time develop or maintain healthy fitness levels. Fitness and nutrition for children are key components of every 21st Century Community Learning Center. It should be no surprise that the shared learning activities and cross generational experiences have long lasting positive impacts for all participants—young and old alike. To learn more, read online at Journal of Urban Health at: http://www.springerlink.com/content/l57333m389humh7k/?p=29be1f3e648c495eb7763512238621d6&pi=16

Christmas/New Year Vacation - WASC is closed

Dec. 22-Jan. 1

WASC Reopens

Does Anyone Teach Anything Besides Reading and Math Anymore?

Could you imagine going to work and being required, and worse, never encouraged to accomplish more than one or two tasks each day? Your job would quickly become a boring, dead-end endeavor. Yet, educators’ veiled excuses for narrowing the curriculum in order to raise test scores and meet requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act have created a daily school experience much like that for America’s students. In far too many schools, students’ exposure to the arts, music, history, geography, sciences, physical education, and various technologies has been reduced. Courses that were once the elements of a well-rounded education have gradually been replaced by added amounts of reading and math.

It would be foolish to argue that reading and math are unimportant skills. If you can’t read – and read well – learning is challenging. But, the argument must be made that most of the other content and opportunities that students experience beyond reading and math classes are essential for preparing them for higher levels of learning – and the world of work. No wonder increasing numbers of students appear bored, lethargic, and disconnected with their schools. As time passes, the consequences for denying students’ exposure to opportunities that hook their interests and unleash their passions will likely increase the high school dropout rate. That may be overly simplistic – yet current practices must raise concerns. No doubt, good reading and math skills open doors to other areas of learning.  But after the third grade, reading and math is best taught and reinforced through exploration in other content areas. There is danger in too much exposure to pencil and paper, drill and kill activities. They do just that.  They inhibit student interest and motivation to learn.

So what is one to do? It is very difficult to go against the prevailing forces, especially when many students’ current achievement levels indicate the need to boost their reading and math skills. But on the other hand, it is bad business to ignore the many other purposes of public education. A balance must be obtained. Moreover, students themselves need to play a greater role in defining their individual needs, accepting responsibility, setting goals, and planning how they should be achieved. 

Look for changes during 2007 in our after school tutoring program. As we fulfill the 21^st CCLC tutoring requirements for reading and math, we intend to better utilize and expose students to learning opportunities via the computer. That medium is their future – and one with which they will do much of their reading. We will continue to assist with homework, but scheduled within our after school time constraints that meets each student’s individual needs. Most importantly, student involvement until 6:00 p.m. will enable each to explore the arts, learn keys points of geography, learn keyboarding skills and how to use a computer, develop good nutrition and fitness habits, and benefit from one-on-one mentoring. Best of all, as parents finish their daily work commitments, they can learn right along with their children – and enjoy supper at the WASC – all before 6:00 p.m. each day.

Realistically, in the best of schools, there simply isn’t enough time each day for children to learn and experience everything they should know and be able to do. Gaps in students’ learning are increasingly evident. After school programs can help make up the difference, and for many students, before and after school programs are the difference! They create zest and possibilities for positive experiences in other areas of learning and life.

Watch our productions on  the LSN

Channel 6 Time Warner Cable

Healthy Living for Kids

New episodes air at 8:00 p.m. on Thursdays.

We Thank Our Partners

Ohio University-Lancaster (Reading Academy)

The Ohio State University Extension   (Master Gardeners)

The Robert K Fox Family Y (Summer Lunch Program and Recreational Opportunities)

Art & Clay on Main (Summer Art Classes)

Eastside Center for Success (Summer Art Classes)

Lancaster-Fairfield County Community Action Head Start (ELI Classes)

New Horizons Youth and Family Center (Conflict Management Training)

Fairfield County Family, Adult, and Children First Council (21st CCLC Program Support)

Fairfield County Jobs and Family Services (custodial workers)

The Recovery Center (Family Nights)

Red Barn Productions

Sixth Avenue United Methodist Church

Eastland-Fairfield Career Center

Fairfield Foundation (Kitchen)

United Way of Fairfield County

MEAL PROGRAM at the WASC

                 This year, the West After School Center is registered with the Ohio Department of Education as a meal sponsor with the Child and Adult Care Food Program. Because we no longer partner with Lancaster City Schools for snacks, we must provide our own documentation for reimbursement as a sponsor in this program. As a result, family income documentation must be on file at our center.

We can provide 1 free daily snack for all program enrollees, 2 meals (breakfast and supper) based on income verification. We can also serve supper to those students under age 18 for $3.00.  Parents, staff, and adult visitors are welcome to eat supper with the students, 5:30 each day, for the fee of $3.00.

We thank you for your cooperation and understanding with the paperwork requirements as we establish this program and service  to the community.

The flagship program of the West After School Center is the After School Tutoring Program which targets those students needing additional help in reading and math.  But most other programs and services are open to all students and families of

West Elementary School. 

Phone 740-653-5678 for answers to your questions.

Plan Now to Attend the

2007 Strengthening Families Programs

Jan.  29, Feb. 26, March 26, April 30 — 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Free Dinner & Programs for Adults and Kids

The WASC is helping West School purchase a license to Study Island, a leading provider of web-based state assessment preparation programs and standards based learning programs. Students and tutors will be able to access sample test questions from any computer. It is used by 2 million students in over 6000 schools.  More to come later.

LATCHKEY OPENINGS AVAILABLE

Looking for a safe, quality program for your child’s care before or after school?  Check us out, stop by for a visit, or call and speak to one of our staff members. We open at 6:00 a.m. and close at 6:00 p.m. Latchkey students receive many of the same benefits as those enrolled in the after school tutoring program. 

The West After School Center is an independent, non-profit, community-based before and after school child care center licensed by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from everyone at the West After School Center