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, West School Staff, Parents, Afterschool Advocates,, Providers, and Community Leaders

	All WASC FAMILIES are invited to our next Strengthening Families Program Monday, February 26, 2007 5:00 - Program with Jane Hart - "Helping Children Become Responsible" 5:45 - Pizza from Fat Cat or Christy's Pizza 6:15 - Family Craft Activity	Take advantage of this learning and sharing opportunity and enjoy pizza with your family. Sponsored in conjunction with the Recovery Center.
Help your students prepare for the Ohio Achievement Tests!  Practice tests for grades 3-8 are on-line. Click HERE
16th Annual Early Childhood Spring Conference presented by FAMILY, ADULT & CHILDREN FIRST COUNCIL & THE CHILDREN’S COMMITTEE In partnership with the Central Ohio Special Education Regional Resource Center Friday, MARCH 23, 2007 AT OHIO UNIVERSITY-- LANCASTER CAMPUS--1570 GRANVILLE PIKE--LANCASTER, OHIO 43130		Fairfield County Family, Adult and Children First Council WASC staff will be compensated for the cost of registration. See Jane Hart to register. A full conference schedule is available in the WASC Office.
It's Survey Time! Our parents completed a survey several weeks ago, and this week we have been seeking feedback via on-line surveys from the students and their volunteer tutors. If you'd like to view the survey questions or complete a survey if you were unable to be at the center this week, please CLICK HERE. Results are being tallied and will be posted next week. We thank volunteer Bob Arthur for his good work and assistance setting up these on-line surveys.
	We are never too young to learn! These are a couple of our senior volunteers completing a survey and learning how to use the computer! - Congratulations!	A second grader enjoys her independence when completing her survey.
Parent Advisory Committee Meets at the WASC	The Parent Advisory Committee met at the WASC on February 20 after being postponed due to snowy weather. Six parents and two staff members were present. The group reviewed purpose of meeting with primary importance being placed on input from parents regarding goals, policies and operation of both WASC Tutoring Program and Child Care. Summary of Topics Discussed 1. Discussion was held regarding how program can help with the transition of 5th graders to Jr. High next year and what the program may be able to offer them. 2. In an attempt to promote Latchkey, it was suggested that a new brochure be designed to better explain what we do at the Center and all the benefits children receive. The upcoming video-taping and creation of a television show were explained. Also, consider advertising in the newspaper, the Advertiser, and the Ad Bag. 3. Ideas for summer programming included sessions on: computers, art, music, drama, math, reading, puppets, and gardening. 4. WASC staff will investigate whether or not 4-H can be offered to students in our center.
Doug Craiglow, Dan Swing, Michele Moose, Janet Haislett, Roy Haislett, Christine Simmons, Jane Hart, WASC, Julie Bibler, WASC Staff
YOU TOO CAN BE A STAR! We want your comments and participation in recording what you do each week at the WASC. The week of March 5, we will be videotaping each tutoring session to allow the outside world to see just what happens so well at our center each afternoon. This videotape will be used as an informational and advocacy tool as well as for educational and marketing purposes. We hope you'll dress for this TV recording in a manner you'd want others to see you and come prepared to share your experiences at our center. We hope to capture footage of all our students and volunteers and comments, testimonials, etc. from those who will share.
	On Monday, March 26, the Columbus Children’s Theatre Touring Company will present “The Reluctant Dragon” at 4:00 p.m. to the students attending the WASC tutoring program. This presentation is made possible through the Strengthening Families Program sponsored by The Recovery Center of Lancaster. "Dragons are a pest and must be got rid of" – that’s what all the villagers say. It doesn’t seem to matter that this particular dragon wouldn’t hurt a fly. But this dragon has a friend with a great deal of good sense. She must convince St. George that violence is not the answer and there are other options than fighting. Family members are welcome to attend this heartwarming and funny tale!
	Mom’s Craft Morning!  Spring is coming! Please join us on Monday, March 12, at 10:00 when we will make some sparkling and colorful eggs for your Easter basket. Call Jane Hart for more information. RSVP on the Family Bulletin Board as you sign your child out of tutoring.
	Dr. Young and Mr. Libbee, Executive Director of the Eastside Center for Success, will be attending the National After School Association Conference in Phoenix, March 20-23. This is the largest conference of its kind in the nation for afterschool providers and advocates. Dr. Young will present the story of the development of the West After School Center at a special session on Wednesday morning, March 21 and participate with Judy Nee, NAA Board President, in a session focused on professional development for principals and after school providers, also on Wednesday. A full conference overview can be seen by clicking HERE
Please read this report -- click HERE downloadable in PDF format.	Readers of our WASC Weekly Updates are encouraged to become familiar with this newly released national report, A New Day for Learning, funded by the C. S. Mott Foundation, designed to initiate conversations about restructuring the learning day for American children. "We have always believed that each generation will be better off than the one before it. However, it is the children in our schools today—this generation—who could begin a slide that will bring down the standard of living for all Americans. Future generations will live in a nation that no longer has control over its economic destiny and cannot assure prosperity for its citizens. This is a stark truth borne out by relentless studies and statistics. Quite simply, unless we profoundly change our thinking and policies about when, where and how children learn and develop, our steady progress as an economy and as a society will end. The Time, Learning, and Afterschool Task Force doubts that current incremental reforms in our public education system can meet the incredible challenges facing our country.  Moreover, this is not just a crisis for our schools. Every institution, stakeholder group and community, as well as every citizen, must understand the critical need to do much more for all our children." to view a 12-minute video, click HERE "No one believes that when the bell rings at the end of the school day, children stop learning. Curiosity bubbles inside the minds of children from the moment they wake in the morning until they go to bed at night. Our challenge is to encourage, connect, and foster learning throughout a child’s day. How do we help children make sense of all the information and experiences in their lives? Policymakers face a challenge: How do we ensure that all children have opportunities to reach their full potential in a competitive world where thinking skills are the most important asset of a society?"