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Last modified: Tuesday, November 3, 2009 3:15 PM CST
Fairmount keeping kids’ minds active
by Kathleen Leinen • Daily News
The Fairmount After School program has provided an educational experience and safe environment for children the past eight years.
To celebrate the beginning of its ninth year, the After School program sponsored a “Lights On” night Oct. 20 for students in grades kindergarten through sixth. The program is funded through a 21st Century grant, Fairmount School funds and monthly fees paid by participants. This program is free to any student who qualifies for free meals.
Karen Alm, After School coordinator, was on hand for the evening. She coordinates eight schools, including Fairmount. The curriculum of After School highlights important subjects.
“Sixty percent of After School time focuses on academics,” Alm said.
Yolanda Luick and Teri Bertelsen-Church provide hands-on activities in language arts, math, science, social studies and technology to keep students actively involved while learning something new. Power Hour begins at 5 p.m. each evening, Luick said. “During this time, students work on homework or individualized instruction," she added.
During the Lights On night she showed how students work with an active board. Students and their families helped create cards with photos captured as they prepared for the night.
“Lights On is a nationally recognized event during which students in the after school program demonstrate their education doesn’t end at 3:30 p.m.,” Luick said.
Students and their families enjoyed a meal during Lights On night and showed their pictoral map of Fairmount’s Main Street, while demonstrating how they use Microsoft Publisher to scrapbook their monthly activities.
Students took home their jack-o-lantern pinatas made of paper mache on Fabulous Friday. Fabulous Fridays are used for field trips, game days, chances to cook and more because they are fabulously fun, Luick said.
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