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Schedule remindersThere is no AfterSchool Program on Wednesdays for Session Three due to the Okemo Ski Program. In addition, there will be no program on Tuesday, 1/9 for the High School Showcase and Thursday, 1/17 for mid-term exams. The New Session Begins on Monday, January 8!Our first session starts soon after the new school year begins. We are still pulling together instructors and activities, and are excited about some of the activities that will be offered. The program runs Monday through Thursday, from 2:15 to 5 p.m. Students get a snack at the beginning of the AfterSchool day, then have Homework Club from 2:45 to 3:45. From 3:45-5, they have their choice of activity to join. Throughout the year, we have a total of five sessions, each one running for six weeks. The first session starts on September 11 and runs until October 26. (Excluding the week of October 16-19 because of the In-Service days.) All forms are now available for download on the website. For more information, or to sign up your son or daughter, please contact Janet Pipkin, Program Director, at pipkinj@brhsms.org or 228-4652. Or stop by her office on the second floor of the high school.SPARKS GrantThe AfterSchool Program won a state Students Play and Active Recreation for Kids (SPARKS) Award in November. The grant includes money to pay a staff member for the rest of the year to run the curriculum, plus it includes $800 worth of sports equipment. Two of our staff members went to training recently up at Vermont College in Montpelier, plus the two students who were chosen to be our SPARKS Ambassadors – Cody Ahonen and Amanda Bortlein. We have decided to use the curriculum as a transition from school to afterschool. Students come to the gym at 2:15 and we spend 15 minutes playing games, then go to snack in the cafeteria at 2:30. We are excited to have been awarded the grant and are looking forward to starting the games. Please feel free to stop by some afternoon and join us with our new play time! Chittenden Community DollarsChittenden's Ludlow branch recently donated $1,250 to the Ludlow AfterSchool Program. By successfully promoting Chittenden's Socially Responsible Banking program, the branch staff received Community Dollars to invest in local non-profit organizations of their choice. Chittenden's Ludlow branch chose the AfterSchool Program to receive its winnings in recognition of their contribution to the community.
Planning For Funding ChangesThe Ludlow AfterSchool Program received funding from the 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant in the 2004. We started with the Pilot Program in the spring of 2005 and have slowly grown and expanded in Ludlow and in Mt. Holly. At the end of this school year 21st CCLC starts decreasing the funding. Next year it drops to 75%, the following year to 25%, and then it is gone after the 5th year. It is our hope that the federal government will continue to support after school initiatives and we will be able to receive additional funding from them, but in the meantime we have started to plan for continued sustainability. We have been applying for grants, plus we will be asking the town Select Board and School Board for support. You can help us by spreading the good word. If you run into a friend or neighbor who is on the Select Board or School Board, please tell them how important the AfterSchool Program is to you and your children. Or if you have any ideas or would like to spearhead a fundraising event, please let us know. Thanks for your help! Looking Ahead to Session 4 in FebruaryIf you have a skill or hobby that you would like to share with students, we would love to talk to you more about it. Especially if it is something in the area of arts or crafts. We are looking for ideas and instructors for activities in the future sessions. It would be a commitment of 1-1/2 hours per week for six weeks. Not a lot of time, but a chance to make a difference in a student’s life. Plus we are always looking for parents and volunteers to help us with the Homework Club. Please contact us if you are interested. If you would like to learn how you can be involved, please contact Janet Pipkin, Program Director, at pipkinj@brhsms.org or 228-4652. We welcome all help! Bus NewsWe are still looking for a bus driver to drive our Mt. Holly students home. Right now the Ludlow bus takes them to Harry’s Restaurant at 5:15 p.m. every day (where students are picked up by parents), and we are looking for someone to complete the route (after picking up students at Mt. Holly Elementary School from their AfterSchool Program). The job is Monday through Thursday from 4:45 to 6:15 p.m. If you or anyone you know is interested, and would like more information, please contact PJ Pollard, our Mt. Holly site coordinator at pjpollard@tds.net or 259-2392. ludlowafterschool.orgThe website has been updated for the year with new forms and information. It is the place for the latest news and announcements, schedules, activity descriptions, downloadable sign-up forms, plus a place to sign up for email announcements about the AfterSchool program, i.e., cancellations, changes. We welcome you to check out the site at www.ludlowafterschool.org and give us your feedback at pipkinj@brhsms.org. Mt. Holly AfterSchool NewsWe are pleased to announce that we got additional funding from the 21st Century Community Learning Center grant this year to expand and improve the Mt. Holly K-3 AfterSchool Program. Mt. Holly now has a K-6 program under the 21st CCLC. For more information, and to learn how you can help out at Mt. Holly, contact PJ Pollard, our Mt. Holly site coordinator at pjpollard@tds.net or 259-2392. Click here to learn how you can be involved!.
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