WEST AFTER SCHOOL CENTER
NEWS & OPINION

October 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

Annual Rally for Afterschool Will Launch Tenth Anniversary

Celebration of Federal Afterschool Initiative

On October 18, the eighth annual national rally for afterschool, Lights On Afterschool, will bring students, parents, educators, afterschool program directors, and community and business leaders together to show support for afterschool programs. This year’s event will also kick-off a year-long celebration of the 10th anniversary of 21st Century Community Learning Centers, the chief federal funding stream for afterschool programs.

Organized by the Afterschool Alliance, Lights On Afterschool 2007 will include some 7,500 events throughout the nation and at military bases around the world. At these events, a million Americans will urge leaders to support the afterschool programs that keep children safe, inspire them to learn and help working families. More than 14 million children have no place to go after the school day ends.

Lights On Afterschool rallies give youth a chance to showcase the skills they learn and talents they develop at their afterschool programs, and to send the message that millions of kids need afterschool programs. According to Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant, “The federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers have helped keep the lights on for children after school during the last decade. These programs provide myriad benefits to children, families and communities. This year, for the first time in five years we have a real opportunity to grow this funding stream and make quality afterschool programs available to many more children. We urgently need lawmakers at every level, and private funders, to do so.”

Lights On Afterschool was launched in October 2000. Last year, a million people rallied at 7,500 events to show their support for afterschool programs. Organizers expect this year’s event to be even larger. Actress Rhea Perlman is the spokesperson for Lights On Afterschool and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is National Chair, a position he has held since 2001.

The Afterschool Alliance is a nonprofit public awareness and advocacy organization working to ensure that all children and youth have access to quality afterschool programs. More information is available at www.afterschoolalliance.org.

Source:  AfterSchool Alliance:  www.afterschoolalliance.org

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

Welcome Head Start

             The West After School Center and Lancaster Fairfield Community Action Head Start have strengthened their partnership this year. In addition to the Early Learning Initiative (ELI) Class that has been housed at the center since February 2005, this year two Head Start classes have been added to the program offerings. Collectively, especially for working parents in the vicinity of our center, the WASC & Head Start can provide quality care for preschool and school age children five days each week, complete with meals and supportive services for parents. Those parents in need of competing a GED can also enroll for classes Tuesday and Thursday mornings and learn while their children are in school.

This addition further realizes the vision and goals of the West After School Center when it was built in 2003. We are proud to have Head Start as our partner

What Makes Us Different?

Public attitudes and expectations about children’s care during after school hours have changed in the last decade. What was once thought of as time appropriately spent as playtime at the babysitter, after school hours have fast evolved into extensions of students’ learning day, driven by the higher standards imposed on schools by the federal No Child Left Behind Act. As afterschool programs multiply, they also face higher standards. With higher standards come higher expectations and higher costs, but also better results. What makes us different at the West After School Center? The ability to meet the highest standards in afterschool care and programming – and meet the varied, practical needs of our public.

The West After School Center has proven to be a catalyst for change. We have the capacity to extend learning experiences for children and families that they would otherwise not be able to afford. We are committed to leveling the playing field for at risk children and providing opportunities that enable all learners to achieve at state and national grade level standards. Our intent is to surprise the public by what our students can do. With equitable and adequate educational conditions, we believe that all kids can learn and contribute to the common good of their school and community.

We work to minimize the disappointments, hardships, and injustices that children and families in poverty experience. We create opportunities. We create unexpected happenings. We not only keep kids out of trouble when they are with us, we engage them activities that help them learn, help them develop a positive self-esteem, and connect them with influential community role models. We help shape kids’ responses for what happens to them in their real world. We have demonstrated that we can grow and prosper. We work diligently to model that work ethic so that others can prosper as well.

We are different because we can creatively determine our future. We have forged strong partnerships with the public schools, local government, law enforcement, youth and community-based organizations, social and health services, and businesses which have resulted in an outstanding volunteer spirit and opportunities for parents and other adults to share in raising a healthy generation of children.

Watch our Television Show on  the LSN

Channel 6 Time Warner Cable

New episodes air starting September 12 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.

2007-2008 21st CCLC Program at a glance...as of 9.20.07

Enrollment from West at the WASC — 66 (not including kindergarten)

Enrollment at the Cedar CLC—30   (not including kindergarten)

Average number of after school snacks served - 175 (WASC, Cedar CLC, Fox Family Y)

Average number of suppers served—30 (at WASC and Cedar)

Volunteers at WASC—65