By Lisa Baldwin
BATTLE MOUNTAIN - Students in Lander County will once again reap the many benefits that come from attending their school district's after-school program. With the beginning of the new school year, the 21st Century After-School Program will once again be accepting students. The program has already begun, but not to worry. There is still plenty of room for those students that wish to participate.
According to Jimi Newkirk, program director of the 21st After-School program for Lander County, the program had over 200 registered participants last year. Attendance had dwindled by the end of the school year, with Mary S. Black Elementary School (MSB) having an estimated 45 students attending; Eleanor Lemaire Elementary (ELES) usually had about 20 students showing up, while Battle Mountain Junior High School (BMJHS) only had around 10 kids that regularly attended. Program organizers are hoping to boost those numbers in both student enrollment as well as parent involvement.
In addition to receiving extra help completing school work and subjects they are having trouble with, the students also get to take part in many interesting extracurricular activities such as crafts, cooking, computers, sports and field trips.
The after-school students were able to attend a fun and educational workshop presented by a well-known Las Vegas DJ team last year. Erin Krentz, former co-director of the 21st Century After-School Program, first learned of the Music & Art Society when she attended an After-School Conference in Las Vegas in October 2009. Krentz, along with BMES Principal Lorrie Sparks, and Bonny Schultz, BMES secretary who was also serving as 1st vice president for the Battle Mountain PTA (Parent Teacher Association), attended the conference, where they sat in on one of the sessions presented by DJ Jesse Saunders and his partner Evelyn Thompson. Krentz contacted the two and asked if they would be willing to come to Battle Mountain. The duo traveled to Battle Mountain to share their knowledge and insight into the music industry with
the students during a three-day workshop that was held at ELES in May.
The program has also hosted fundraising family movie nights that are held in the multi-purpose room at ELES. Newly released movies are always featured. For example, "Despicable Me" was shown on Dec. 16, 2010, to approximately 180 people. On Feb. 25, they showed the very popular "Megamind" to a once again packed house. For the low price of $5 per person, the ticketholder receives a bag of popcorn, a soda and entry into the movie. There was also a variety of other snacks available for purchase, such as nachos, candy and water.
According to Krentz and Newkirk, it is very important for the Lander County School District to keep the 21st Century After-School program running. Students receive additional help with schoolwork and homework when attending the after-school program. They also go on field trips and take part in special extracurricular activities. This is critical, because in today's times of many families having both parents working, the youngsters are often left at home alone while their parents work. The 21st Century After-School Program gives these kids a safe place to be while making sure they get their homework finished. The kids are also provided with snacks while attending the program that will hold them over until they go home and eat dinner with their families.
The 21st Century After-School Program is fortunate to have a multitude of volunteers that make it possible to keep this extremely beneficial asset available to the students of Lander County.
MSB:
Bonny Schultz, the secretary for MSB is the head aide for first-third grade. She works directly with the second graders Monday through Thursday, which is the same age group she worked with last year. Schultz also helps out for Friday School each week.
Newkirk had this to say about Schultz's dedication: "The MSB program wouldn't run so smoothly without her efforts. Bonny does such a great job each and every day. We would be lost without her and owe her a great big thank-you!"
Tom Brannon is working with the after-school program at MSB this year and also makes himself available at the other two schools if necessary. He retired in 2009 with a total of 25 years to his credit. Brannon has an extensive history as not only a teacher for the Lander County School District, but also as the principal for Eliza Pierce, Mary S. Black and Eleanor Lemaire elementary schools.
Julie Holland, a high school senior, volunteered last year and is back again this year to help out.
Jill Chambliss is also back for another year at both MSB and ELES.
Colleen Book spends a couple days per month working with the third-graders.
Gloria Powell also comes in and works with Schultz for Friday School. Together, they put on a "Fun Filled Friday" each week for the kids.
And Krissi Tucker helps with the breakfast program every morning in the Art room.
ELES
Lety Caro is the head aide for grades four through six. She can be found every morning in the Breakfast Program, and also after school. She works with all the kids and does an awesome job of keeping things organized and working smoothly at ELES.
Julie Baird is back again working on Tuesdays.
Kelly Douglas, BMHS teacher, is also back working with the students on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
BMJH
Holly Preece, Carrie Jo Stewart and Keesha Averette are all back again ready for a new year! Between the three of them, they make sure after-school time is covered during the week. They also take care of Friday School.
Heather Francom is also helping out again this year in the mornings from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. in the school's library. Kids are encouraged to come in before school starts to get help with their homework before the day starts.
Friday School
At MSB, first- through sixth-grade students can take part in a fun-filled day from 8 a.m. to noon every Friday. The focus is on enrichment activities for the four hours.
At BMJH, students are given the extra time to make sure all their work is completed and turned in, and they have passing grades. This year, the first and eighth Friday of the quarter will be their Fun Fridays, where they will be focusing on enrichment activities.
The second Tuesday of each month, BMJH will be having a fun-filled day after school.
Newkirk stated that she would like to stress that the program is in need of parents, community members, business owners, etc. to help make these Fun Fridays a huge success at both MSB and BMJH. They would like to encourage anyone with a hobby or specific talent to consider lending a helping hand to the program by sharing those interests with the students.
"Any amount of time they would be willing to spend with the kids would be fantastic," said Newkirk. "To bring in new experiences and information to the students is invaluable."
For more information contact Newkirk at MSB at 635-2889.
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