New after-school program begins today at Berg
Comments (...)Video games, Twitter, Facebook, TV and iPods can keep teens busy but the Newton YMCA and Berg Middle School staff know that teenagers need more than electronics and entertainment to keep them occupied and out of trouble. To help fill the void after school, staff from the Newton YMCA and Berg have worked together to develop a new after-school program for all middle school students in Newton.
“Our goal is to involve kids who have free time after school, in particular, kids who are not involved in other activities,” said Colette Hill, who will be the facilitator of the new program.
The kick-off party for the after-school program will be from 2:25 to 4 p.m. today or 3:25 to 5 p.m. Thursday at the Berg Elementary School cafeteria. Students in seventh and eighth grades at Berg are welcome to attend and are welcome to bring their parents and grandparents to participate in activities and learn more about the program.
“We’ll have pizza, kids can make their own pop and parfaits,” Hill said. “It’s going to be a party to celebrate a new after -school ‘experience.’”
The program was developed when the Newton YMCA staff put together a Teen Task Force to see how the non-profit could better meet the needs of teenagers in the community.
“The Teen Task Force realized it is necessary to have a program like this to reach students who aren’t being served,” said Tom Vanderlaan, YMCA Executive Director. “Colette and Staci (Bird) have done a great job making a program that is not only educational but fun. We’re excited to see the program grow during the rest of the school year.”
Hill, along with co-facilitator Staci Bird, has been researching national programs to create the best possible experience for Newton students.
“This program is a bit of one program and a bit of another,” Hill said. “It is based on choice, passion and ownership. We want kids to choose opportunities, pursue their passions and take ownership in the program.”
During either of the kick off parties, today and Thursday, students will choose areas of interest about which they’d like to learn, volunteer projects they may want to help, hobbies they want to pursue and more. They’ll also learn about incentives for having good attendance and being a regular participant in the program including a possible trip to Chicago.
Students and their families also will learn about the goals for the programs which include helping students develop work skills, communication skills and more. Also during the program students will have “chill out time,” snacks, a chance to get help with school work, recreational games, field trips, service projects and pursue hobbies.
“They’ll learn that each week we will focus on a different goal in a fun, fresh meaningful way,” Hill said.
The program begins everyday after school until 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 23, at Berg Middle School. The program is free as it is funded by the Newton YMCA, United Way of Jasper County and additional grant money. Students must check in and attendance will be kept daily.
“We want students to come and realize that after-school does not equal more school,” Hill said. “It’s going to be a fun program. We hope students will come and learn more about it.”
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