WEST AFTER SCHOOL CENTER
NEWS & OPINION

January 2009

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

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

620 Garfield Avenue, Lancaster, OH 43130     

 740-653-5678   740-653-2402 FAX

Email:pyoung@westafterschoolcenter.org

Visit us at www.westafterschoolcenter.org

Holiday Safety Tips  (Remember—Emergency 9-1-1)

Candle Safety:

·     Do not leave burning candles unattended.

·     Do not place candles on tablecloths, as they can be pulled off easily.

·     Never use lighted candles on a tree and keep candles away from decorations and wrapping paper.

Tree Safety:

·     Only buy an artificial tree that is fire resistant and UL approved.

·     For a live tree, check the water level daily to make sure the water covers the base of the trunk.

·     Don't place the tree (live or artificial) next to a heat source (radiator, space heater, etc.).

Decoration Safety:

·     Don't put metallic tinsel on the tree - it could cause a short or fire.  It is also a choking hazard.

·     Avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable.

·     Keep ornaments with small removable parts out of the reach of children so that they do not eat   them.

Lights Safety:

·     Use only UL approved lights.

·     Remember to turn off all lights before you go to bed or before leaving the house.

·     Throw away lights with broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections.

·     Only use lights outdoors that are approved for outdoor use.

·      Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord.

·      Don't overload outlets/wall plugs.

Other Safety:

·      Make sure you have working smoke detectors throughout the home.

·      Artificial snow sprays can irritate lungs.  Do not use artificial snow if someone in your house has asthma or other breathing problems.

·      Do not smoke near flammable decorations (wreaths, presents, tree, etc.).

·       Keep mistletoe, holly and poinsettias away from children. If eaten, they can cause mouth irritation, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

·       Do not burn evergreens/wreaths in the fireplace or wood stove - they can quickly flare out of control.

·       Do not burn wrapping paper - it can give off toxic fumes.   

(Courtesy D.C. Action for  Children)

Dr. Paul G. Young

Executive Director

Mrs. Chris Kuttler

Office Manager

Mrs. Julie Bibler

WASC Site Administrator

Mr. Moses Garcia

Cedar CLC Site Administrator

Mrs. Jane Hart

Tallmadge CLC Site Administrator

West After School Center Conferences Coming in January

                 At the mid-year point, we think it is important to spend time with each child’s parent/s to assess progress, discuss and develop future goals and learning objectives, review procedures and expectations, and listen to and address any questions or concerns that parents might have. We view these short conferences as a two-way learning and information sharing opportunity. We want our parents to be informed and knowledgeable about the use of the LeapTrack program and other activities at our center. We also ask parents to complete a short computer survey. These conferences will be scheduled the week of January 26, 2009, as parents pick up children at all our centers.

Time Again to Make Your Resolutions

As the calendar turns over into 2009, people everywhere make resolutions for changes that they hope to initiate in the coming months. We hope you have a list and that you achieve the change you desire.            

Likewise, at the West After School Center, in 2009 we resolve to:

· Further engage students and families and strengthen relationships that will result in improved achievement in school.

· Extend our vision of programming to include additional schools where staff and parental interest is strong.

· Increase and expand the volunteer base at both the Cedar and Tallmadge Community Learning Centers.

· Work with school administrators to identify additional summer lunch program serving sites and expand our program.

· Extend our outreach into the community via our television show Healthy Living for Kids to lead the community conversation about practices and habits that will reverse the incidence of childhood obesity.

· Provide learning opportunities for students and adults in the summer that result in an increased use of technology, new job capabilities and opportunities, and higher quality of life.

· Develop communication and business via our website and showcase the positive experiences that occur in our centers via increased use of videography.

· Create a tipping point effect which results in a contagious, positive perception about how afterschool programming is viewed in our community and elsewhere.

 Sound ambitious? Perhaps, but these resolutions create a vision for the new year and goals that we can attain, just like each of you.

 Do you have your list of resolutions? If not, join us and take the bold step of writing some down and keeping the list close. Change is a complex process and requires continuous visioning, reflection, and adapting to achieve long-term, desirable effects.

Most importantly in 2009, with a global recession likely to extend throughout much of the year, let’s resolve to assure that our children’s needs are met despite whatever turns the economy may take.  Children’s needs must be our highest priority. Let’s resolve to not allow others to benefit at their expense.

Watch our Television Show on  the LSN

Channel 6 Time Warner Cable

New episodes air at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays.

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

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 at any of our sites. 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 programs. 

We Thank Our Partners

The Ohio State University Extension   (Master Gardeners)

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

Art & Clay on Main (Summer Art Classes)

Eastside Center for Success (Summer Art Classes)

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

New Horizons Youth and Family Center (Conflict Management Training)

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

Fairfield County Jobs and Family Services (custodial workers)

The Recovery Center (Family Nights)

Red Barn Productions

Sixth Avenue United Methodist Church

Eastland-Fairfield Career Center

Fairfield Foundation (Kitchen)

United Way of Fairfield County

MEAL PROGRAMS at the WASC, Cedar CLC and Tallmadge CLC

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 must provide documentation for reimbursement as a sponsor in this program. As a result, family income documentation must be on file at our center.

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.

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 our community

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

Cedar & Tallmadge Community

Learning Centers

Learn all about the Cedar and Tallmadge Community Learning Center(CedarCLC and Tallmadge CLC), the West After School Center’s newest 21st CCLC programs by visiting their websites at:

www.cedarclc.org

www.tallmadgeclc.org

Adult Learning Opportunities Available at the WASC

Want to improve your reading, writing, math, and problem-solving skills? Do you want to improve your skills so you can be promoted at work? Would you like to obtain training so that you can be successful in another career or attend college? Do you want to obtain your G.E.D.?  FREE classes for adults are now being offered at a variety of Lancaster locations, including the West After School Center on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:00 - 11:30 a.m.

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 New Year from Everyone at the West After School Center