WEST AFTER SCHOOL CENTER
NEWS & OPINION

March 2007

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

Columbus Children’s Theatre to Visit the WASC

On Monday, March 26^th, the Columbus Children’s Theatre Touring Company will present “The Reluctant Dragon” at 4:00 p.m. to the students attending the WASC tutoring program. This presentation is made possible through the Strengthening Families Program sponsored by The Recovery Center of Lancaster.

“Dragons are a pest and must be got rid of” – at least that’s what all the villagers say. It doesn’t seem to matter that this particular dragon wouldn’t hurt a fly. But this dragon has a friend with a great deal of good sense. She must convince St. George that violence is not the answer and there are other options than fighting.

Family members are welcome to attend this heartwarming and funny tale!

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

Mom’s Craft Morning!  Spring is coming! Please join us on Monday, March 12^th at 10:00 when we will make some sparkling and colorful eggs for your Easter basket. Call Jane Hart, Student & Family Coordinator, for more information. RSVP on the Family Bulletin Board.

Walk for Your Life!

If you saw objects falling from the sky and knew you and others were facing imminent danger and harm, you’d likely yell, “Run for your life!” Well, things aren’t falling from the sky (at least not yet!), but serious potential danger lurks for those who fail to hear the mantra  “walk for your life!” 

For nearly 20 years, research has shown that walking can reduce the risks of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Walking is one of the best methods for controlling weight. It has even been shown to have a positive impact on cognitive ability. And the list of positive benefits keeps growing.

But in our fast-paced, hurry-up-to-get-there society, we often hop in the car for a destination that might just as easily have been walked. We commonly ride elevators or escalators instead of taking the stairs. Even though walking has been shown to improve our quality of life in many ways, many people ignore the research and never adopt this simple exercise routine that can produce huge payoffs later in life. Researchers at the Erasmus Medical Center in the Netherlands, studying over 4,000 people in the Boston area, have found that walkers live longer. Walking vigorously for 30 minutes, five times a week, can add three years to life expectancy. That is a pretty good investment of time with huge returns! And it doesn’t cost anything.

Walking with a friend or a group of people can be fun and therapeutic. The time spent together can reduce stress, be a time for sharing events of the day, provide an opportunity for support and mentoring, and lead to lifelong friendships. The aerobic benefits have a great impact on how individuals view the aesthetic beauty of the environment around them. It’s simple — Walk for your life!

At the West After School Center, we have encouraged our students to become involved in the Feelin’ Good Mileage Club. Each afternoon during the time between school dismissal and the start of our tutoring program, students are encouraged to walk on a marked walking path on the school playground. They can earn rewards for their efforts, and many have begun collecting the prestigious trinkets that are part of the program. When weather is inclement, students engage in physical activities in the school gym. Please congratulate and encourage their continued efforts. We are also very appreciative of West School Principal Terri Garrett for devoting time with our students as part of the Wednesday Walk Program. On that day, we encourage all of our students to walk with their principal and their academic coaches 2-3 times around the school—about  one mile in all. We’ve noticed a difference in the student’s performance and concentration levels after these walks. And the time they are able to spend with their principal engaged in a positive activity is priceless.

An overarching goal is that adults become good role models of exercise and fitness habits for all our students, and particularly help instill in each a love of walking. Additionally, we feature a variety of exercise and fitness ideas that can be performed in the comfort of your own home, alone or in groups, in each Healthy Living for Kids Show.  Many of our students enjoy the monthly swimming  opportunity at the Robert K. Fox Family Y. Lancaster has many parks and recreational activities available in our neighborhoods. We just have to schedule and prioritize our lives to take advantage of them.

Spring weather will soon arrive with warmer days. Walk for your life! Start at a comfortable pace and distance and build up your strength each day. Eventually, we hope you’ll be able to walk at a pace where you’ll begin to sweat, get a little out of breath, but still be able to talk. That’s the goal. We hope you’ll take it. Walk for your life and for those you love!

Watch our Television Show on  the LSN

Channel 6 Time Warner Cable

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

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

OU-L Reading Academy at the WASC

The Winter Quarter reading academy has been quite successful, with more than 30 students receiving support. The winter class was purposefully designed for students in grades 3-6 to better meet the needs of the college students enrolled so they could obtain their certification. For the Spring Quarter, the class will be open to all ages. It is a great way for students to receive one-on-one attention and assessment of their reading skills and progress. Classes are also being arranged for June and July. If you would like your child to participate, or know of children from other schools that would benefit, please visit our website, complete, and return an application.  www.westafterschoolcenter.org

Friday Fun Day Swimming

Robert K. Fox Family Y

Friday, March 16, 2007

3:40-5:00 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)

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 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 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 support of this program as we provide 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.

Plan Now to Attend the

2007 Strengthening Families Programs

 March 26, April 30 — 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Free Dinner & Programs for Adults and Kids

The WASC is helping West School purchase a license to Study Island, a leading provider of web-based state assessment preparation programs and standards based learning programs. Students and tutors will be able to access sample test questions from any computer. It is used by 2 million students in over 6000 schools.  More to come later.

LATCHKEY 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. Latchkey 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 St. Patrick's Day from everyone at the West After School Center