Busy time for After School Program

(submitted by Joan Draus, Program Coordinator)

Early in December, students sold their hand-made crafts at
Fonda-Fultonville schools Craft Fair held on December 2nd. Students spent countless hours to make beautiful vases of all sizes and many learned to crochet to create hair ties! Since we love to bake and cook, many helped develop our first Advantage After-School Recipes Galore! Cookbook. Additionally, we offered baked goods at the Craft Fair which we had prepared. Then, several staff, students and parents put in time on the Saturday to sell the items! All proceeds were donated to a family whose four-year old has cancer.

Students in the Middle School After-School Program were engaged in numerous activities this autumn. Our students and families had the opportunity to hear several speakers from Fulton County’s Judge Richard Giardino’s Drug Court. They each told their individual story of how they began smoking and doing illegal drugs and alcohol. Their stories really highlighted the negative effects of starting to smoke, drink or take drugs. Our sincere thanks to each speaker who shared their personal experiences that brought home the message “Say No to Drugs!”

During December, several students were preparing for our first dramatic play, complete with student-made props! Titled “The Same, but Different,” was performed at our Holiday Family Day, on Wednesday, December 20th All program participants and their families were invited to attend this family event and included making a family gingerbread house, crafting holiday ornaments and a sub and pizza supper for every family member in attendance!

This winter, we will try our “hand” at snowshoeing! We had only four outings last season, but this year promises more snowy days! Students will need to wear jackets, hats, mittens/gloves, boots and have an extra pair of pants or snow pants to wear over their school slacks. On mild winter days, we will try to venture outdoors.

January promises several new activities for our students. These include the Eckerd Drug Quiz competition for Grades 6 thru 8 and Junior Achievement’s “Dollars and $ense” for 5th graders. We also hope to begin swimming at the end of February and need a certified lifeguard. We are always interested in having students and parents bring new activities and ideas to our program!