Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Lights shine on local after-school programs
 |
| Students react to Rabun County Schools Title I director Tomy Short's answers to questions they wrote for 'Are You Smarter Than an Afterschooler?' at Lights on Afterschool at Rabun County Elementary School. |
By Matt Henderson Staff Writer
Rabun Youth program director Angie Dickerson said the after-school program at the youth center served a specific purpose.
"It keeps the kids out of trouble. If they are not here then they are out on the street or at home alone," she said.
The ninth annual Lights On After-school, a nationwide event organized by Afterschool Alliance, took place Oct. 16 at schools and youth centers around the nation and U.S. military bases around the world.
The event was organized to heighten awareness of the impact of after-school programs on at-risk youth. Both Rabun Youth and Rabun County Schools sponsored Lights On events.
Rabun Youth after-school students spent the afternoon and evening watching and participating in demonstrations by Rabun County emergency medical technicians and firefighters at the program's first Lights On Afterschool.
"If I wasn't here, I would probably be at home," said seventh-grader Eric Bradshaw. "So being here is definitely a good thing for me. I definitely would not be dressed in a fireman's outfit."
Students said the Rabun Youth program gave those who are not active in extracurricular activities at the school a way to socialize with their peers and get their homework done.
"If your grades aren't good, they really push you to bring them up," said seventh-grader Bri'anna English. "You also get to meet interesting people."
Sixth-grader Taylor Mumford said he enjoyed the wide variety of activities Rabun Youth's program offered him. He plays a variety of sports from soccer to basketball after school, and he said those activities taught him the value of working well with others.
Rabun County Elementary School commemorated Lights On Afterschool with "Are You Smarter Than an Afterschooler?," a program modeled after the popular television game show, "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?"
"Administrators are going to be asked questions developed by our after-school students," said Assistant Superintendent Jan Pearce before the event.
The lunchroom was filled nearly to capacity with students and their parents who gathered to watch the program and see what their children had been learning.
"Without after school, I don't know what I would do," said parent Amy Phillips. She added that the program gave her children a safe, structured environment while she and husband Kevin worked every day until 5 p.m.
"After school has helped me work on fractions and division," said her son, Kodie, a RCES fifth-grader.
Second-grader Elijah Brewer said the after-school program also had helped improve his math skills.
"I work all the time, so it helps him with his grades a lot," said Brewer's stepmother, Leanna Gonzalez. "It shifts his focus off of being at home and watching TV to concentration on his studies."
"It keeps the kids out of trouble. If they are not here then they are out on the street or at home alone," she said.
The ninth annual Lights On After-school, a nationwide event organized by Afterschool Alliance, took place Oct. 16 at schools and youth centers around the nation and U.S. military bases around the world.
The event was organized to heighten awareness of the impact of after-school programs on at-risk youth. Both Rabun Youth and Rabun County Schools sponsored Lights On events.
Rabun Youth after-school students spent the afternoon and evening watching and participating in demonstrations by Rabun County emergency medical technicians and firefighters at the program's first Lights On Afterschool.
"If I wasn't here, I would probably be at home," said seventh-grader Eric Bradshaw. "So being here is definitely a good thing for me. I definitely would not be dressed in a fireman's outfit."
Students said the Rabun Youth program gave those who are not active in extracurricular activities at the school a way to socialize with their peers and get their homework done.
"If your grades aren't good, they really push you to bring them up," said seventh-grader Bri'anna English. "You also get to meet interesting people."
Sixth-grader Taylor Mumford said he enjoyed the wide variety of activities Rabun Youth's program offered him. He plays a variety of sports from soccer to basketball after school, and he said those activities taught him the value of working well with others.
Rabun County Elementary School commemorated Lights On Afterschool with "Are You Smarter Than an Afterschooler?," a program modeled after the popular television game show, "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?"
"Administrators are going to be asked questions developed by our after-school students," said Assistant Superintendent Jan Pearce before the event.
The lunchroom was filled nearly to capacity with students and their parents who gathered to watch the program and see what their children had been learning.
"Without after school, I don't know what I would do," said parent Amy Phillips. She added that the program gave her children a safe, structured environment while she and husband Kevin worked every day until 5 p.m.
"After school has helped me work on fractions and division," said her son, Kodie, a RCES fifth-grader.
Second-grader Elijah Brewer said the after-school program also had helped improve his math skills.
"I work all the time, so it helps him with his grades a lot," said Brewer's stepmother, Leanna Gonzalez. "It shifts his focus off of being at home and watching TV to concentration on his studies."
 |
||
| Dillard, Clayton mull police chief changes |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of theclaytontribune.com.
Gapeach wrote on Nov 3, 2008 10:33 PM: