WEST AFTER SCHOOL CENTER
NEWS & OPINION

November 2008

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

Dr. Paul G. Young

Executive Director

 Mrs. Chris Kuttler

Office Manager

 Mrs. Julie Bibler

WASC Site  Administrator

 Mr. Moses Garcia

Cedar CLC Site Administrator

 Mrs. Jane Hart

Tallmadge CLC Site Administrator

 Email:  pyoung@westafterschoolcenter.org

Visit us at www.westafterschoolcenter.org

After School Programs See Student Gains with LEAPTRACK Learning Programs 

The curriculum focus for our 21^st CCLC afterschool programs utilizes the LeapTrack Grade-Level Classroom and Resource Room Kits from LeapFrog Schoolhouse. Students enjoy the integrated assessment and interactive instruction and progress at their own rate through multiple learning levels in Reading, Math, and Language Arts. LeapTrack delivers hundreds of engaging learning activities specially designed to promote student desire to learn with audio assistance, immediate feedback, and the option to repeat instruction as often as needed. Best of all, LeapTrack provides opportunities for student learning that are directly related to specific skills students need to learn. Visit any center and observe our students learning!

Imagine?

Imagine the difference in this community and others if universal afterschool opportunities were made available for children everywhere. With an average extension of the learning day by 2.5 hours, young learners could gain up to 450 additional hours of learning time, which could equate to more than 60 additional days—or more than three additional months of structured learning and growth! What could we expect to see?

• Reduced gaps in children’s reading and math performance
• Improved self esteem and confidence
• Increased participation in supervised extra-curriculum activities
• Increased motivation and less incidence of loneliness.         
• Increased time for creative learning, exploration, and enrichment
• More time for structured physical activity which can help reduce incidence of childhood obesity.
• More time for character education and development of social skills.

It is unlikely that the pressure on schools to complete multiple formal assessments and high-stakes testing will go away. But in partnership with schools, afterschool programs can extend learning time and help create a new day of learning for all children—a proven need in the 21st century. Imagine? It can happen.

LeapTrack Resource Kits

A Time for Giving

You can’t miss it when you visit any mall. The department store shelves are stocked signaling that the holiday season is fast approaching. While changing the calendar to November, we are reminded that less than eight weeks remain for shopping for those special items we plan to give our loved ones during the holiday season. Despite all that people give and share throughout the year, Thanksgiving and Christmas are the special times that we all think more about giving. But this year may be different. The worst economic climate in decades may drastically limit how much people spend and on whom.

So let’s make the best out of what potentially may be one of the worst holiday seasons - financially. Let’s provide for and give to our children, but in ways that are priceless.

What might you put your gift list? The gift of service, perhaps the best gift of all.

There are many ways that the West After School Center and its affiliate programs can help facilitate your gift of service so that many children will benefit. Foremost, people are always welcome to join our experienced corps of volunteers. Giving one hour of your time one afternoon each week to help a child develop a love of reading, boost self-confidence, and form a special bond with an adult mentor is worth more than any materialistic, short-lived holiday gift. And there are many others ways to volunteer. Share your musical or artistic talent, a craft, talk about your professional work, or teach a child how to throw a ball. Help with the upkeep of our facilities. Help with our food programs. Help a child learn to type. Join committees. Donate your children’s used toys, games, hats, gloves, and coats. You can help us distribute items to those in need. You will gain new meaning in your life — and a growing body of research is showing that finding and doing ‘something more’ in your life (as well as for others) can produce a big boost in your health.

And if you are fortunate to have extra cash this holiday season, gifts to the West After School Center are tax deductable.

The season for giving is upon us. When you give to others, you get something special back for yourself. Don’t miss out on wonderful ways to give this holiday season – and throughout the months ahead.

Watch our Television Show on  the LSN

Channel 6 Time Warner Cable

New episodes air at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, right after Jack Greathouse's "STUFF"

CHILDCARE at the WASC, Cedar CLC, and Tallmadge CLC

The West After School Center is accepting applications for its before and afterschool childcare programs  (safe, clean, convenient, and affordable). The centers will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. to accommodate the needs of working parents (based on adequate participation levels during those hours). Meals and snacks will be included in the weekly cost of the care. Families that are eligible for Title XX benefits may have a portion or all of their weekly costs reduced. This program service will operate everyday except legal holidays. The WASC can be a back-up, drop-in childcare location for working parents from anywhere in the city if children are pre-enrolled.

MEAL PROGRAMS

at the WASC

Busy parents can take advantage of the availability of supper at the WASC, Cedar Heights, and Tallmadge Monday-Friday, throughout the year.  The snacks we serve are free, and the supper  program (5:30-6:00 pm) is open to any child in our programs or others that would sign up for supper, based on qualification requirements similar to the school lunch program. The WASC is a sponsor of after school meals for the centers serving children at East, West, Tallmadge, and Cedar Heights Schools.

We Thank Our Partners

The Ohio State University Extension   (Master Gardeners)

The Robert K Fox Family Y (Summer Lunch Program)

Eastside Center for Success (Summer Lunch Program)

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

New Horizons Youth and Family Center

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

Lancaster City Schools

Ohio Department of Education

Governor's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives

Fairfield County Jobs and Family Services (custodial workers)

Red Barn Productions

Sixth Avenue United Methodist Church

Sherman Rotary

First Presbyterian Church

Eastland-Fairfield Career Center

Fairfield Foundation (Kitchen)

United Way of Fairfield County

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 the scope of our services are expanding to other schools. If you’d like to know more about us, phone 740-653-5678 for answers to your questions.

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.

This newsletter is from the office of Dr. Paul Young, Executive Director

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

November 26, 27, 28