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Bronaugh programs help students, parents
Nevada Daily Mail
Children in Bronaugh will have a safe place to learn and play after school thanks to the 21st Century Community Learning Center $86,000 grant.
In its second year under the grant, Bronaugh's after- school program runs an hour before the school day starts and until 5 p.m. after school. Cost is $10 per month, $5 per month for children receiving reduced price lunches, and free for children receiving free lunches.
"This program is a tremendous help to parents," program executive director Julie Forkner said at the advisory meeting Wednesday.
The program focuses on activities to improve literacy, health and Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM).
"We're going to write letters, learn about iPads and computers, make straw rockets and balloon powered cars, do community service and take field trips," Forkner said.
The program also helps students with their homework and offers a daily snack.
"We provide family nights once a month and parent education classes every six weeks," she said. "Our first one will be on technology."
Phyllis Sprenkle acts as the after-school program evaluator and measures the program's goals in progress of classroom grades, state testing and behavioral improvements.
"One asset you have is the regular teachers that work in the program. You have continuity there; the teachers know what students need to be there for help," Sprenkle said. "The problem you always have is reaching academic achievement goals. Populations in small schools make it hard to get consistent growth. You do see improvements in class grades and behavior."
State Representative Randy Pike attended the meeting and praised the program.
Sherry Brown presided over the Parents as Teachers meeting which followed the after school program meeting.
"We've served 40 children in the program this year and have just added two new families," Brown said.
Parents as Teachers provides information, support and encouragement to parents during the child's first five years and screens children as young as 4 months through Ages and Stages Questionnaire.
Sarah Morris said her son has amblyopia, lazy eye, which was discovered through a screening before he turned 2 years old.
"Because of that, because it was caught so early, James will never have to have surgery for lazy eye," Morris said. "I will always be grateful for that."
Brown presented Ella Morris with a onesie printed with the words read to me.
"All the new babies are going to get one this year just to reinforce the importance of reading with your children," Brown said. "I tell parents up until the day they start kindergarten read to those kids every single day, and you just can't go wrong."