WEST AFTER SCHOOL CENTER
NEWS & OPINION

November 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

Dr. Paul G. Young, Executive Director

Mrs. Jane Hart, Student & Family Coordinator

Mrs. Julie Bibler, Tutoring Program Administrator

Mrs. Chris Kuttler, Office Manager

Email:  pyoung@westafterschoolcenter.org

Visit us at www.westafterschoolcenter.org

Ohio’s First Lady, Frances Strickland, Visits the West After School Center

October 18 was a special day for the students, staff, parents, volunteers, and board of directors of the West After School Center—and all afterschool programs in Lancaster — a special Lights on After School rally. We were able to showcase our programs for numerous distinguished guests—local and state political leaders, local school leaders, Ohio Department of Education officials, and advocates for afterschool programs from the Ohio Afterschool Network and Action for Children.  We were pleased to host the First Lady of Ohio, Frances Strickland, who toured our center, observed students engaged in various learning activities, spoke with parents and volunteers, and graciously participated in the filming of an episode of Healthy Living for Kids. The highlight of the event came when the First Lady invited the students for a visit to the Governor’s mansion in Bexley—an invitation that we are pursuing as a special trip for our students and staff later this year.

Sputnik at 50 Years – Lessons Learned  

Our senior citizens and the oldest of the baby boomer generation will remember the former Soviet Union’s launch of the Sputnik satellite in October, 1957. For Americans, that feat by the Soviets sparked high levels of anxiety as we evaluated our place in the world as a superpower. Questions about our national security resonated through all levels of society. For educators, assumptions were shattered that America’s technological and educational systems were the best in the world. The Russians had beaten us. The propaganda that followed produced many results – increased federal spending for math and science classes, the creation of an American space program, bomb shelters, an expansion of the Cold War, and an intensification of economic conflicts and world competitiveness. Americans were shocked, but learned an important lesson – to maintain superiority as a world power, the country needed its children to be prepared in a world-class educational system.

Now, 50 years later, the American public continues to experience anxieties about our place in the world, and the discussions about the purpose and role of education sound similar to many of those heard in the late 1950s and 1960s. The Soviet threat, although diminished, has spread to other regions of the world. Today’s threats continue to challenge our technological capabilities. There are homeland security issues and religious, racial, cultural, social, energy, environmental, and economic challenges that threaten the safety and prosperity of the entire world.

In the 1960s, the baby boomers experienced increased expectations and higher educational standards. We understood that we were in race for our survival. There was a feeling of unity on many school issues. Experimentation was widespread. Curriculum was developed to meet the needs of kids. The investments and emphasis on math and science education were celebrated when Americans walked on the moon in 1969.

The most important lessons that we should glean from the Sputnik era must center around our expectations and priorities. Today’s children are just as talented as the baby boomers, if not more so. But their talents must be better identified and they must be provided with increased opportunities to learn in creative new ways. Standards and expectations must be raised. Testing practices must lead to higher levels of learning, not minimal passage rates and mediocre student progress – for all students. Impractical and costly legislative mandates and the political clout of self-serving bureaucracies must be removed from our schools.

And the most obvious lesson we must learn, 50 years later, is this — there simply isn’t enough time during a typical school day (which remains similar to what it was in 1957) to teach ours kids what they must know and be able to do to assure our society’s continuance of superiority in the world. The school day must be extended, especially for those who need extra time and support. Our investments in afterschool programs must reflect this priority, and we must assure that all children have the opportunity to get ahead, and stay ahead of the Russians, the Chinese, the Indians, and children from every other corner of the world.

Watch our Television Show on  the LSN

Channel 6 Time Warner Cable

New episodes air at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, right after Jack Greathouse's "STUFF"

CHILDCARE at the WASC

The West After School Center is accepting applications for its before and afterschool childcare program (safe, clean, affordable, and air-conditioned). The center will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. to accommodate the needs of working parents (based on adequate participation levels during those hours). Meals and snacks will be included in the weekly cost of the care. Families that are eligible for Title XX benefits may have a portion or all of their weekly costs reduced. This program service will operate everyday except legal holidays. The WASC can be a back-up, drop-in childcare location for working parents from anywhere in the city if children are pre-enrolled.

MEAL PROGRAMS

at the WASC

Busy parents can take advantage of the availability of supper at the WASC and Cedar Heights, 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 after school meals for the centers serving children at East, West and Cedar Heights Schools.

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 & Head Start 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

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 the scope of our services are expanding to other schools. If you’d like to know more about us, phone 740-653-5678 for answers to your questions.

Thursday, Friday

November 22, 23