WEST AFTER SCHOOL CENTER
 NEWS & OPINION

February 2008

Our mission is to provide opportunities that enrich the educational, social, and cultural experiences of students and families in our community.
 

620 Garfield Avenue, Lancaster, OH  43130     

740-653-5678                 

740-653-2402 FAX

President Bush Signs Bill Increasing Federal 21st CCLC Funding

Afterschool providers and advocates have reason to celebrate the start of a new year! The U.S. Congress had to make some very difficult spending decisions as 2007 came to an end and despite cuts to some critical programs for kids – including level funding the Child Care and Development Block Grant – after months of receiving calls, emails and letters from the afterschool community, Congress and President Bush are giving the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) Program a badly needed and well deserved funding increase. On December 26th, the President signed an omnibus spending bill that provides a $100 million increase for 21st CCLC for Fiscal Year 2008, putting the total funding at an all time high of $1.1 billion.  For Ohio, this means an increase of $3,360,655 for 21st CCLC programs in Fiscal Year 2008 that can potentially help 3,361 additional children and youth be served in quality afterschool programs.


 Thanks to all the hard work of countless individuals, particularly the efforts coordinated by the Afterschool Alliance, an additional 100,000 kids in the United States will have access to high quality afterschool programs.

Email:  pyoung@westafterschoolcenter.org

Visit us at www.westafterschoolcenter.org

Dr. Paul G. Young, Executive Director

Mrs. Jane Hart, Student & Family Coordinator

Mrs. Julie Bibler, Tutoring Program Administrator

Mrs. Chris Kuttler, Office Manager

Friday Fun Days at the WASC

Once a month, more than half of our students and their peers from the Cedar Community Learning Center enjoy the opportunity to learn swimming skills and water safety procedures at the Robert K. Fox Family Y. It is great fun and exercise for all participants. Students experience other interesting topics and lessons on other Friday afternoons each month. Ask about our special "Spanish Lessons" held earlier in January.

Results are reported in percentages

SA

A

D

SD

DK

1.  My child benefits from this program.

 87.5

 10

0 

 0

 2

2.  The tutoring has helped improve my child’s reading skills.

 75

21 

 0

 0

 4

3.  The tutoring has helped improve my child’s math skills.

 73

21 

 2

 0

 4

4.  My child enjoys the program and looks forward to attending

     each day.

 69

27 

4 

0 

0 

5.  My child tries harder in school since attending the program.

 

 63

31 

4 

0 

2 

6.  My child is safe while attending the After School Program.

 92

8 

0 

0 

0 

7.  The After School Staff members care about my child and encourage him/her to do well in school and in the program

 100

 0

 0

 0

0 

8.  The After School Staff communicates with me.

 85

15 

0 

0 

0 

9.  My child has improved in the ability to follow directions and

     complete school tasks.

 58.3

33.3

 2

 0

6

10. My child’s behavior has improved  A)  At School

                                                             B)  At the Center

54

67

40 

25

4

2 

0 

0

2 

6

ATTENTION !

Moms, Dads, & Kids

Free to all WASC families!

WASC

Valentines Family Dinner

Tuesday, Feb. 12

5:30-7:00 p.m.

Spaghetti—family crafts—and fun activities

FREE

Please sign up in advance

 

An Apple a Day            

There is an old adage goes like this— “ An apple a day keep the doctor away.” Wouldn’t it be great if, in reality, things were really that simple? Unfortunately, parents, caregivers, and mentors of children know that achieving and maintaining good health is much more complicated than that. However, as numerous initiatives that are elevating health awareness in the public media affirm, adding an apple or other fruits and vegetables to one’s daily diet is extremely important and beneficial to overall good health, especially for growing children. And most doctors will agree with this statement— fruits and vegetables are a key part of good daily nutrition, and they help develop children’s bright sparkling eyes, keen minds, healthy skin, muscles, bones, and positive attitudes. 

In the short-term, there are many things that we wish for our children. We want them to be happy, safe, and successful learners in school. We want them to make good friends, to learn to play, and to enjoy their childhood years. But in the long-term, one of the best gifts we might give our children is, literally, an apple—and all that goes along with it as it affects feeding and caring for one’s body. Enhancing good health—and teaching the good choices that develop it—must become as important a passion for parents, day school, and afterschool educators, just as much as teaching children to learn to read. Moreover, we must not only teach children to make good choices, we must model “smart” choices for them when it comes to eating and exercising. For many adults, sharing an apple a day with a child would be a positive way to demonstrate those smart choices.

At the West After School Center, we model those smart choices by serving balanced snacks and meals, all aligned with government standards and portion sizes for a balanced daily diet. We are Lancaster’s only sponsor of the summer lunch program, our collaborative community effort to assure all children have enough to eat when schools are not in session. For the past two years, we have been engaging our community in a continuing dialogue about making good choices and eating in moderation as demonstrated in our cable-access TV show, Healthy Living for Kids.  Key parts of the shows in that series focus on fitness and encouraging kids and adults to exercise, together, at home every day.

Children who are healthy and maintain appropriate body weight over time are much more likely to be healthy learners in the classroom and healthy contributors to society. Share your health tips with a child, help them make good choices, model good habits, and help them keep their doctors away—for a lifetime.

 

Did You Know?

Broccoli is loaded with twice the amount of vitamin C as an orange, loads of beta-carotene or pro-vitamin A, and tons of fiber. For years, scientists have known that people who eat broccoli and other vegetables from the Brassica family are less likely to get colon, stomach, breast, and certain other cancers.

Poor eating habits and lack of physical activity are root causes of overweight and obesity.

· Only 2% of school-aged children consume the recommended daily number of servings from all five major food groups, and only 30% consume the suggested amount of milk.

· More than 80% of children and adolescents eat too much fat (more than 30% of total calories from fat). More than 90% eat too much saturated fat.

· Ninety-eight percent of 6-18 year olds report eating at least 3 snacks per day, and more than 50% report eating 5 or more snacks each day.

· More than 38% of students watch television three or more hours per average per school day.

· Fewer than 25% of American children get at least 30 minutes of any type of physical activity every day.

Source: Action for Healthy Kids—2005

Did You Know?

Research shows that people who exercise on a daily basis can handle stress more readily than people who do not exercise. Known as a mood booster, exercise has also been shown to alleviate anxiety and depression.

Did You Know?

Walking is the number one form of exercise in the United States.

 

West After School Center Parent Survey Results, January 2008
63 students enrolled at time of survey, Gr. 1-5 - 59 families responded to survey = 94% return rate Results are reported by percentages
The Questions

Strongly Agree

 Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree Do Not Know
1.  My child benefits from this program.  73 24 0 0 3
2.  The tutoring has helped improve my child’s reading skills. 75 19 1 0 5
3.  The tutoring has helped improve my child’s math skills. 61 29 3 0 7

4.  My child enjoys the program and looks forward to attending each day.

 69.5 25.5 5 0 0

5.  My child tries harder in school since attending the program.

 63 27 8 0 2
6.  My child is safe while attending the After School Program. 92 8 0 0 0

7.  The After School Staff members care about my child and encourage him/her to do well in school and in the program

 86.5 11.5 0 0 2
8.  The After School Staff communicates with me. 79.5 18.5 2 0 0

9.  My child has improved in the ability to follow directions and complete school tasks.

 63 29 5 0 3

10. My child’s behavior has improved at School

 63 20 5 0 12
Additional Unsolicited Written Comments:          
This is a wonderful program and the staff is great. I think the center has done a fair job - there is room for improvement. [ name ] needs help in reading. His reading grade is not good.
The West After School Program is so wonderful in so many ways. It has truly helped her not only in school but also her confidence.  School teachers need to communicate more with tutors and could let parents know what has been discussed between school and after school program. The staff is very polite, helpful, and great all around.
We love it here! Everyone is very nice. It's a really nice program. I am very satisfied with the after school center.
I believe the West After School Center is a fun and safe place for my child and if I have concerns, the staff is always open to discussing them with me. [ name ] and I enjoy the staff very much! [ name ] just loves it here and has gone up a whole grade level.
I liked the program better when my son was involved. We are so blessed to be part of the WASC. I love the fact that I can go to work and not worry about [ name ]. We love the center and the teachers.
 

Watch our Television Show on  the LSN

Channel 6 and 9 - Time Warner Cable

New episodes air at 8:00 p.m. on Thursdays.

Coming in January to

Healthy Living for Kids

"STUDENTS MAKING Art R TOPS"

S.M.A.R.T.  ART

 

Encourage your child to draw!  Submit your child's or grandchildren's art creations in JPEG form via email to: pictures@westafterschoolcenter.org

Include the artist's name and age. Copies will be made and added to the West After School Center Student Art Gallery, posted on the WASC Website (www.westafterschoolcenter.org), and featured on subsequent episodes of Healthy Living for Kids.

Good health involves the mind, body, and soul!

S.M.A.R.T.  ART

     

WASC Awarded New Mini-Grants for Student Staff Computer Training

The West After School Center was recently awarded two mini-grants (from the Gannett Foundation and the Fairfield County Foundation )to provide support the development of information technology and multimedia literacy of our students. Dr. Alison Colman, formerly an art education professor at Ohio University, has extensive experience conducting multimedia workshops for students and began working with our students on Fridays in January. This learning opportunity for students and adults continues through the rest of the year on Friday afternoons. Come learn with our students.

Friday Fun Day Swimming

Robert K. Fox Family Y

Friday, February 22, 2008

4:00-5:30 p.m.—busing provided

Children do not need to know how to swim.

Encourage your child to learn while enjoying the fun and recreation!
   

We Thank Our Partners

Ohio University-Lancaster (Reading Academy)

 

The Ohio State University Extension   (Master Gardeners)

 

The Robert K Fox Family Y (Summer Lunch Program and Recreational Opportunities)

 

Eastside Center for Success (Summer Art Classes)

 

Lancaster-Fairfield County Community Action Head Start (Preschool Classes)

 

New Horizons Youth and Family Center (Counseling Services)

 

Fairfield County Family, Adult, and Children First Council (21st CCLC Program Support)

 

Fairfield County Jobs and Family Services (WEP workers)

 

Red Barn Productions

 

Sixth Avenue United Methodist Church

 

Eastland-Fairfield Career Center

 

Fairfield Foundation (Kitchen & computer training grant)

 

United Way of Fairfield County

MEAL PROGRAM at the WASC

 

The West After School Center is registered with the Ohio Department of Education as a meal sponsor with the Child and Adult Care Food Program.

 

We can provide 1 free daily snack for all program enrollees, 2 meals (breakfast and supper) based on income verification. We can also serve supper to those students under age 18 for $3.00.  Parents, staff, and adult visitors are welcome to eat supper with the students, 5:30 each day, for the fee of $3.00.

 

We thank you for your cooperation and understanding with the paperwork requirements for this program as we provide a valuable service  to the community.

The flagship program of the West After School Center is the After School Tutoring Program which targets those students needing additional help in reading and math.  But most other programs and services are open to all students and families of

West Elementary School. 

Phone 740-653-5678 for answers to your questions.

 

CHILDCARE OPENINGS AVAILABLE

Looking for a safe, quality program for your child’s care before or after school?  Check us out, stop by for a visit, or call and speak to one of our staff members. We open at 6:00 a.m. and close at 6:00 p.m. Childcare students receive many of the same benefits as those enrolled in the after school tutoring program. 

 

The West After School Center is an independent, non-profit, community-based before and after school child care center licensed by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services

This newsletter is from the office of Dr. Paul Young, Executive Director
 

Happy Valentine's Day from Everyone at the West After School Center
 
Mark Your Calendars    
Wednesday, February 6 Ohio Afterschool Network Meeting 10:30 a.m. -2:30 p.m. Vineyard Comm. Church - Westerville
Tuesday, February 12 Cedar Community Learning Center License Review/21st CCLC Bidders Conference 8:00 a.m.  
Tuesday, February 12 WASC Valentines Family Spaghetti Dinner  - FREE 5:30-7:00 p.m. Please register in advance.
Monday, February 18 Presidents' Day WASC is closed  
Thursday, February 21 WASC Board of Directors Meeting 9:30 a.m. The meeting should last ninety minutes
Friday, February 22 Friday Fun Day Swimming 4:00-5:30 p.m. Robert K. Fox Family Pool