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 23, 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

A New Era of Responsibility

Do after school programs fit into the President's vision of a new era of responsibility?  They must. And this is why.

After school programs, in partnership with schools, teach children the values upon which our nation's success depends — hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism. Whole communities must accept, recognize, and value these responsibilities at the local level, particularly the care and nurturing of our children. As a nation, we must come together to create a new day for learning (children learn every minute throughout the day both in and out of school) in which this new era of responsibility will be realized.  Schools, alone, cannot adequately educate every child in the short time they have. Community social services can't address problems alone. Programs and services that can't prove their worth must be stopped. The continuous development of high quality after school programs must be a priority and become a key part of each community's plan for responsible care for its children.
 

From the President's agenda related to the Family

• Expand High-Quality Afterschool Opportunities: Barack Obama and Joe Biden will double funding for the main federal support for afterschool programs, the 21st Century Learning Centers program, to serve one million more children. They will include measures to maximize performance and effectiveness across grantees nationwide.

President Obama delivering his inaugural speech, January 20, 2009.

"...[A]t the dawn of the 21st century we also have a collective responsibility to recommit ourselves to the dream; to strengthen that safety net, put the rungs back on that ladder to the middle-class, and give every family the chance that so many of our parents and grandparents had. This responsibility is one that's been missing from Washington for far too long -- a responsibility I intend to take very seriously as President."

-- Barack Obama, Spartanburg, SC, June 15, 2007

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

(filming at 12:30)

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

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

Cedar Community Learning Center

Cedar CLC students make gains in math in the after school program using the ALEKS computer program. A special feature of the program is that the students can log on from any computer and work on their Pie to increase their progress. The program is designed to help the students master skills they have not mastered and does more than pose answers in multiple choice -- it positions the students to think critically.

To watch, click HERE.

What is ALEKS? ALEKS is a Web-based, artificially intelligent assessment and learning system. ALEKS uses adaptive questioning to quickly and accurately determine exactly what a student knows or doesn't know in a course. ALEKS then instructs the student on the topics she is most ready to learn.

Watch Homework Help Time at the Cedar CLC

Click HERE

Tallmadge Community Learning Center

West After School Center

Early Learning Initiative Class

Click HERE

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

Childcare Program 

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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.

Taping 12:30-1:30 at WASC

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 

Center closes

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OSU Extension Advisory Committee Mtg - Dr. Young, 7-9 p.m.

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.

Extended Learning Opportunities Planning Mtg. 12:30-3:00 at OAESA - Dr. Young

AfterSchool/Childcare Program 

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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

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

Healthy Living for Kids Committee Mtg.

AfterSchool/Childcare Program 

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Presidents' Day

WASC is Closed

Childcare Program 

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Childcare Program 

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Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

Childcare Program 

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

WASC Board of Directors Meeting, 9:30

AfterSchool/Childcare Program 

Friday Fun Day Activity

Chad Reed, Lancaster Fairfield Community Action Recycling

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E.L.I. 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

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

 ELI Classes, Rm.1 &  2 - 8:30-3:15

AFTERSCHOOL PRINCIPALS INSTITUTE

Healthy Living for Kids Committee Mtg.

AfterSchool/Childcare Program 

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740-653-5678

WE RECYCLE

740-653-2402 (FAX)