WEST AFTER SCHOOL CENTER
NEWS & OPINION

March 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

The Board of Directors of the West After School Center would like to extend their gratitude to the Lancaster Community for its outstanding show of support and commitment in helping fulfill our vision and mission for children and families in Lancaster. We will proudly celebrate 10 years of afterschool programming and family services in May, 2008.

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

Early Childhood Conference

Presented by the Fairfield County Family, Adult & Children First Council

Friday, March 14, 2008

Crossroads Center—2095 West Fair Avenue

For parents, teachers, after-school personnel, administrators, providers, social workers, nurses, etc.

Student Survey Results

In January, our parents completed a brief on-line survey during conferences. During February, the students had their turn. in the computer lab to respond to the questions below. 51 students participated, Gr. 1-5. This represents nearly all of our students except for kindergarten. The results are below.

Code: SA=Strongly Agree; A=Agree; NA=No Opinion; D=Disagree; SD=Strongly Disagree   - Responses are reported by percentages.

Questions:

SA
Strongly Agree

A

Agree

Do Not Know

Does Not Apply

D

Disagree

SD

Strongly Disagree

2.  I like my volunteer  tutor.

3.  My academic coach cares about me.

4.  I am reading better because I come to the center.

5.  I do better in math because I come to the center.

5.  I do better in math because I come to the center.

7.  I feel safe at the center.

8.  My behavior is good because I come to the center.

9.  I like our Friday activities and other fun things that we do.

10. I like the snacks at the center.

Five Minds for the Future

When he introduced his theory of multiple intelligences in 1983, Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner challenged the practice of measuring human intelligence based solely on I.Q. testing as being far too limited. His multiple intelligences theory grabbed widespread attention and helped many educators understand the value of presenting lessons in a wide variety of ways using music, cooperative learning, art activities, role play, multimedia, field trips, inner reflection, and much more. Unfortunately, however, there are some that still teach in a dull way, through dry lectures, using boring worksheets and textbooks. Old practices are hard to change or abandon.

 In 2006, Gardner moved thinking about his theory to a new level with the release of Five Minds for the Future. In this book, he suggests the kinds of intelligence and capacity for thinking that all people will need to survive is a global society -- particularly our children. To survive, but more importantly to thrive, they must know and be able to use search engines, robots, computational devices and other technologies that have yet to be developed. Worldwide social, political, and economic changes make it imperative that our children are prepared better than their peers in other cultures in order to enjoy a position of prominence and influence in the 21^st century.

Gardner identifies the five minds for the future as:

· a disciplined mind, requiring scholarly accomplishment in an academic area, craft, or profession perfected by at least 10 years of study.

· a synthesizing mind, the ability to review, understand, sort, reclassify, evaluate, and make new meaning from dizzying amounts of up-to-the-minute information and data in an era driven by increasing speed.

· a creating mind, the ability to put forth new ideas, ask unfamiliar questions, think in new ways, provide solutions to problems, possess a clear vision, and remain one step ahead of the latest technological advances.

· a respectful mind, capable of understanding, accepting, welcoming, and working effectively with people throughout the world. Intolerant, discriminate, and disrespectful thinking will no longer be an option in a global society.

· an ethical mind, capable of serving international interests and improving the quality of life for all people.

Before the printing press was invented, it was essential that people had an extensive verbal memory. Now, with tremendous amounts of information available to us with the click of a mouse, it is no longer essential to have the same verbal memory needed centuries ago. It is, however, a premium asset to be able to review and synthesize huge bodies of information in a digital format and make useful meaning of it better than people from any other country. If we are to thrive – and to survive as a nation — we must become the most creative people on the planet. Our kids will not be prepared if we structure schools – and especially afterschool programs – around the practices of paper and pencil worksheets, dull textbooks and curriculum, and drill or kill rudimentary exercises. We have to change. An ethical mind requires it. Our goals and values should be focused less on closing achievement gaps and more on nurturing creativity and attaining discipline and high-level thinking skills that are second to none.

to learn more, read Five Minds for the Future, (2006). Howard Gardner, Harvard Business School Press

Watch our Television Show on  the LSN

Channel 6 Time Warner Cable

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

West After School Center Youth Media Program

Provided by grant support from the Gannett and Fairfield Foundations

Check out the students’ activities and weekly progress by reading the blog at:

http://westafterschoolcenter.wordpress.com/

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 (ELI Classes)

New Horizons Youth and Family Center

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

Fairfield County Jobs and Family Services (custodial workers)

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.

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—and we are open in the summer!

Are the rising prices of food and gas cutting into your wallet?

Plan now to take advantage of the West After School Center’s

SUMMER LUNCH PROGRAM

FREE for anyone ages 2-18

11:30 a.m.—12:30 p.m.  June 2-August 15, 2008

Extended Kindergarten Programming

The West After School Center and the Cedar Community Learning Center are accepting preliminary registrations for extended kindergarten programming for the 2008-2009 school year. No need to worry about babysitting for a half day. Provide your child with the full day learning experience—right at school. Call us to learn more about how this might benefit your child.

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

Monday-Friday

March 10-14; March 17-20

ECOT Testing at the WASC

9:00-1:00

Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow