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

It's Been Back to Winter... Brrr! Hurry Up, SPRING!
Congratulations to Cameron Crabtree, former West School student, now at General Sherman, on winning the talent contest at Wagnall's Memorial in Lithopolis last weekend. Cam got a lot of encouragement and support from Mrs. Simmons, music teacher at West and the WASC, and many others from the West School Community. Cameron's performance can be heard on YouTube. Click HERE
Congratulations to Moses Garcia and Della Maynard and the staff at the Cedar Community Learning Center for a very good childcare licensing inspection conducted Friday, February 15, by Leisa Benton of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Parents and the staff at Cedar Hts. Elementary School should be pleased to know that their children have the opportunity afterschool to extend learning in a safe and quality afterschool program.
The West After School Center staff enjoyed hosting Vicki Cumberlander and Mark Bradley from CenterEd Afterschool Programs in Columbus. They visited Lancaster on February 14 to gather ideas for the development of 21st CCLC programming with schools their program works with in Columbus.
VALENTINE'S DAY Family Night Dinner & Card Making Thursday, February 14, 2008 Despite two postponements and the cold, snowy weather, the attendance for this event was great and as the pictures show, everyone had an enjoyable evening spending time together as a family, learning about the WASC, meeting new people and gathering creative craft ideas to try at home. Congratulations to Jane Hart, Student and Family Coordinator, who organized the event and to our WASC staff members who helped with its implementation.
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.
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 Follow the progress of this weekly program by reading the blog at: http://westafterschoolcenter.wordpress.com/
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 journalist or work in business finance My job is: a student (senior) at Lancaster High School If I were not living in Lancaster, I'd rather be in: the mountains in a big, log cabin or possibly in New York City My favorite food is: anything and everything. I love Italian, Chinese, Mexican, everything! My favorite style of music is: rock and pop, but  listen to just about everything. If I could watch only one television show, it would be: Hannah Montana My favorite movie is: The Sandlot, Fantastic Four My biggest challenge is: not worrying about what other people think about me I am inspired by: my best friend, Lauren, and my sister, Misty. To me, a perfect day is: when I'm out of school and it's Fairtime.
Kasey Miller