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 30, 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

SNOW and ICE 2009

Enjoy this short movie of snow scenes from the west side of Lancaster, Ohio

Click HERE

All in all, we have fared well - our neighbors and colleagues to the south received much worse. And the forecast for next week is looking grim!

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 marked 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!!

AFTER SCHOOL CONFERENCES DELAYED
Parents!!  We still want to meet with each of you.  We began conducting mid-year conferences January 26, but then got the bad weather and power outages that created havoc with our operating schedule. So, hold the same time you had and we'll try to meet you on that same day and time this coming week - barring no more snow or ice. Simply come for 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, February 2, 11:30 a.m.

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

WASC Vision Committee Luncheon with Principals, February 4, 11:30-12:30

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

Department of the Navy

Camp Buehring, Kuwait  09330

Students at the WASC recently received this letter from soldiers in Kuwait.

"On behalf of soldiers here at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, we want to say "thank-you" for thinking of us. We are many thousands of miles away from or family, friends, and loved ones. It really means a lot knowing there are countless others back home who are thinking of us during this holiday season.

I hope you and your family enjoy this special tome of the year. I eagerly look forward to next year when I can be home with my family as well."

Dan Bray, Chaplain, U.S. Army

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 

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, 10:00

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 

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, 10:00

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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Center closes

Center closes

Presidents' 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

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

Center closes

Center closes

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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Center closes

740-653-5678

WE RECYCLE

740-653-2402 (FAX)