NEWS
from the West After School Center, Inc.

620 Garfield Avenue        Lancaster, OH  43130
740-653-5678  740-653-2402 FAX   Email:  westafterschool@westafterschoolcenter.org
Visit us at www.westafterschoolcenter.org

January 16, 2009

A 21st CENTURY COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER
Our mission to is provide programs and services that enrich the educational, social, and cultural opportunities of students in our community

 Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Monday, January 19, 2009

Click HERE to learn more about Dr. King's life.

This year’s Martin Luther King Holiday is one day before the Inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama. The President-elect will participate in community service on MLK Day and is asking Americans to serve on the holiday and make an ongoing commitment to service. Organizers hope the President-elect’s call to service will lead to millions of Americans honoring Dr. King through community service. Here some radio PSAs that promote Dr. King's birthday and call to service.

• What Are You Doing for Others?  (60 sec. MP3)

• What Are You Doing for Others?  (30 sec. MP3)

• Beloved Community (60 sec. MP3)

• I Have a Dream (30 sec. MP3)

We appreciate those who serve faithfully as volunteers for the afterschool programs of the West After School Center.

January is National Mentoring Month

Share What You Know. Become a Mentor.

National Mentoring Month (NMM) highlights mentoring and the positive impact it can have on young lives. Throughout January, a month-long outreach campaign which is spearheaded by the Harvard Mentoring Project, MENTOR, and the Corporation for National and Community Service will focus national attention on the need for mentors, as well as how individuals, businesses, government agencies, schools, faith communities and nonprofits can work together to increase the number of mentors and assure brighter futures for young children and youth.

"Thank Your Mentor Day™" – January 22, 2009 marks the sixth annual "Thank Your Mentor Day™.  The messages of this special day are:

• Too many young people do not have a caring adult mentor to provide encouragement and support;
• Mentoring programs can provide the link to this support; but
• Programs need volunteers to close the gap.

Our WASC Weekly NewsUpdate readers are encouraged to think of the mentors in your life—a team coach, teacher, concerned neighbor, or another caring adult—and take a few minutes to thank them and then consider becoming a mentor yourself. With MENTOR's ZIP code search tool, you can find profiles of local mentoring programs—one-to-one, group, or e-mentoring—and choose the program that works best for you. Type in “43130” and you will find us!

WE WELCOME VISITORS!!

IT IS AFTER SCHOOL CONFERENCE TIME
Parents!!  We want to meet with each of you.  We will be conducting mid-year conferences with parents at each of our afterschool program sites the week of January 26. Simply schedule a brief meeting time before you pick up your child or whenever it may be more convenient, learn about his or her progress in the LeapTrack program, complete a short on-line survey, tell us your needs, and learn more about what happens afterschool in Lancaster. Scheduling for conferences is now underway at the Cedar CLC, Tallmadge CLC, and WASC.

Working together, we can effectively extend children's learning opportunities - after school!

West After School Center

Board of Directors

Committee Meetings

Healthy Living for Kids Committee, Monday, January 26 - at WASC

WASC Tutor Committee Meeting, Tuesday, February 3, 9:30 a.m.

WASC Board of Directors Meeting, Thursday, February 19, 9:30 a.m.

AHA for Kids

Children's Museum

Cedar Community Learning Center

A single, working mom who also attends a local college recently mentioned that she is grateful for our after school program. She has seen improvements in her son's behavior wanted to thank us for the services of the Cedar CLC, the positive atmosphere, and the role models her son.

Tallmadge Community Learning Center

West After School Center

CLICK HERE or on the picture

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 afterschool meals for the centers serving children at East, West, Cedar Heights, and Tallmadge.

CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION

Don't miss out!  Register and Book your travel to New Orleans - NOW!

General Session Speakers Announced

                Ian Jukes           General Colin Powell     Animal Planet's Jeff Corwin

Our Goals:

1.  Create and sustain a community dialogue and awareness campaign that helps every individual learn to make healthy choices about what and how much they eat as well as how much daily exercise they get. 

2.  Encourage children to engage in healthy and productive extra curricular activities at home and at school.

3.  Teach families how to prepare meals and economical family meals and snacks.

4.  Showcase the wealth of community resources and personnel that can help kids and families develop healthy lifestyles.

5.  Demonstrate the positive impact and benefits that participation in before and after school programs can have on children's mental health and social development.

CALENDAR of EVENTS

Martin Luther King Day

WASC is Closed

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

ELI Classes, Rm. 1 & 2 - 8:30-3:15

Dr. Young at appointment in Columbus, 8:30

ELI Classes, Rm. 1 & 2 - 8:30-3:15

ELD Planning Mtg. - OAESA - Dr. Young, Westerville

 ELI Classes, Rm.1 &  2 - 8:30-3:15

President Barack Obama's Inauguration

Watch for the OSU Marching Band in the Inauguration Parade

Center closes

ELI Winter Program , 6-9 p.m.

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

ELI Classes, Rm. 1 & 2 - 8:30-3:15

WASC Leadership Staff Team Meeting, WASC, 9:30

ELI Classes, Rm. 1 & 2 - 8:30-3:15

Dr. Young attending and speaking at Summer Lunch Program meeting in Columbus

ELI Classes, Rm. 1 & 2 - 8:30-3:15

 ELI Classes, Rm.1 &  2 - 8:30-3:15

Healthy Living for Kids Committee Mtg.

Happy Chinese New Year

The Year of the Ox

ODE 21sst CCLC Continuing Grantee Mandatory Overview Session - Elluminate - CLICK HERE for access

AfterSchool/Childcare Program 

Friday Fun Day Activity

Chad Reed, Lancaster Fairfield Community Action Recycling

Center closes

Center closes

Center closes

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

ELI Classes, Rm. 1 & 2 - 8:30-3:15

WASC Leadership Staff Team Meeting, WASC, 9:30

ELI Classes, Rm. 1 & 2 - 8:30-3:15

WASC Tutor Committee Mtg. - 9:30

ELI Classes, Rm. 1 & 2 - 8:30-3:15

 ELI Classes, Rm.1 &  2 - 8:30-3:15

Lifetouch Studios at WASC for ELI pictures

Safe Routes to School Planning Mtg. - ESC

Healthy Living for Kids Committee Mtg.

AfterSchool/Childcare Program 

Center closes

Center closes

Center closes

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

ELI Classes, Rm. 1 & 2 - 8:30-3:15

WASC Leadership Staff Team Meeting, WASC, 9:30

ELI Classes, Rm. 1 & 2 - 8:30-3:15

ELI Classes, Rm. 1 & 2 - 8:30-3:15

 ELI Classes, Rm.1 &  2 - 8:30-3:15

OAN Mtg. Westerville

Menu of Hope - Children's Hunger Alliance - Cols. Dr. Young, 11:30-1:00

Healthy Living for Kids Committee Mtg.

AfterSchool/Childcare Program 

Center closes

Center closes

Center closes

740-653-5678

WE RECYCLE

740-653-2402 (FAX)