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, School Staffs, Parents, State and National Afterschool Advocates, Providers, and Community Leaders

WASC Valentine Family Dinner Please join us for a spaghetti dinner, family crafts and activities.       Tuesday, February 12, 2008 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.      All family members welcome!    We have 50+ registered so far  with room for more!  Don't miss this!    Registration Required by Feb. 4th (So we can plan!)
Support Issue 12 Vote to Protect Children and Elderly from abuse and neglect The number of reports of abuse and neglect has doubled in Fairfield County since 2000. 1 in 8 children in Fairfield County are impacted by abuse and neglect. A successful passage of this issue will increase the number of investigations and promote early intervention.
Picture Day for WASC Head Start and E.L.I. Classes Remember your first picture day at school? Our students were excited, all decked out, and looking sharp! After it was all over, they enjoyed their afternoon snack.
February is Black History Month   Learn more about the history behind this designation by watching a short video from  the History Channel   click HERE	Did You Know? As of July 1, 2005, there were an estimated 39.7 million black residents in the United States, including those of more than one race. They made up 13.4 percent of the total U.S. population. This figure represents an increase of half a million residents from one year earlier. The projected single-race black population of the United States as of July 1, 2050 is 61.4 million. On that date, according to the projection, blacks would constitute 15 percent of the nation's total population. The estimated black population of New York on July 1, 2004 was 3.5 million, the highest of any state. Four other states had black populations that surpassed 2 million: Florida, Texas, California and Georgia. About 85,900 blacks were added to Florida's population between July 1, 2003, and July 1, 2004. That is the largest numeric increase of any state in the nation. Georgia and Texas added 61,800 and 45,000, respectively. As of July 1, 2004, 59 percent of the District of Columbia's population was identified as black - the highest rate for this race group of any state or state-equivalent in the nation. The District of Columbia was followed by Mississippi (37 percent), Louisiana (33 percent) and Georgia, Maryland and South Carolina (30 percent each). 1.4 million blacks lived in Cook County, Ill., as of July 1, 2005. Cook led all the nation's counties in the number of people of this racial category. Broward County, Fla., had the largest numerical increase (17,900) between 2003 and 2004. Los Angeles County, CA., also topped the 1 million mark.  31% of the black population was under 18 as of July 1, 2005. At the other end of the spectrum, 8 percent of the black population was 65 or older.                                                                  source: http://www.history.com/minisites/blackhistory/
	Presidents' Day is Coming Monday, February 18, 2008 Do you know more about the Presidents that our students?  You are invited to stop by and take the challenge.
The WASC Youth Media Program		The WASC Youth Media Program is the result of a partnership with The Fuse Factory Electronic and Digital Arts Lab, a new and emerging initiative based in Columbus, OH. The WASC and The Fuse Factory have worked together to develop a curriculum in which WASC students are engaged in weekly hands-on workshops where they are introduced to topics such as keyboarding, word processing, digital image manipulation, digital storytelling, typography, and video. They are also given opportunities to think critically about forms of popular media such as advertising. The current program will run from January 2008 to June 2008. This program is made possible from grants from the Fairfield County Foundation and the Gannett Foundation.
Get to Know a WASC Volunteer	My association with the WASC is: volunteer tutor How Long?  1 year.  I was born in: Lancaster My childhood ambition was to be: a doctor in a mission field My job is: a student (junior) at Lancaster High School & OU-Lancaster. I also work as a caterer and babysitter. May favorite subject in school is: Latin My favorite place I have visited (outside Lancaster) is: South America My favorite restaurant is: Applebee's My favorite style of music is: Christian If I could watch only one television show, it would be: Gilmore Girls My favorite movie is:  Phantom of the Opera I relax by: running My tip for good health is: eat right and exercise My tip for doing well in school is: don't give up, try your hardest!.
Kristen Hall