Date: Fri 21-Feb-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: DOTTIE

Quick Words:

schools-after-activities-HOM

Full Text:

From Bugs To Batons: Head O'Meadow After-School Activities Keep Kids Busy

(with photos)

BY DOROTHY EVANS

Head O' Meadow School recently completed its month-long After-School

Activities program, and parents, teachers and students are still remembering

the fun.

"We've been offering this for quite a few years. We wanted to give kids

something to look forward to after 2:15 pm when the buses come, especially

during the winter afternoons when it's too cold to play outside," PTA member

Kathy Belmont said recently.

Mrs Belmont said the two PTA members responsible for organizing the program

this year were Jane Maher and Leah Attanasio.

"Most of our instructors are volunteer parents - and there are some teachers

who participate as well. We always can find some way for a parent to help,

even if he or she isn't sure they could actually run a class for an hour and a

half," Mrs Belmont said.

"Cooking is always popular, so is pottery," she added.

"We sent out the course selections in October, and the children were asked to

select three. We tried to give everyone what they wanted. No one is turned

away," she said.

The January program attracted 200 students and involved two dozen parent

volunteers and HOM teachers as instructors.

The course offerings seemed to suit every interest and whim. Winter Bugs,

Baton Twirling, Basketball, Storytelling, Kids Can Cook, and Sign Language

were some of the many courses offered.

Art classes included Pottery, Folk Art, Jewelry Making, Multicultural Art, and

Tunes and Tykes.