photo by Stefan Rogenmoser

From left: Madalin Ballew plays with figurines, Lily Reece sets up Connect Four at the FES/NES Extended Day.

photo by Stefan Rogenmoser

Ethan Cole sports a police costume at the Newington and Flowertown elementary Extended Day program.

photo by Stefan Rogenmoser

Jailexy Hobal and Abbie Hassell look over instructions while setting up Mouse Trap.

photo by Stefan Rogenmoser

Jacob Hamilton builds with Lincoln Logs.

photo by Stefan Rogenmoser

Jordan Kenney and Emily Goyette get excited about a game.

photo by Stefan Rogenmoser

Jacob Mercier sports a post office uniform while sweeping the stage.

photo by Stefan Rogenmoser

Front from left: Lily Reece pushed a bunny in a shopping, Brandon Powell and Madison Britt shoot Hot Hoops as (back, from left) Luke Wesley, Ethan Cole, Jacob Mercier make music and Madalin Reece babies a doll.

After school program keeps growing

It’s no surprise that elementary students can’t seem to wait until the end of the school day, or 2 p.m. That’s when Extended Day begins. Students learn, have fun and follow a schedule allowing time for academic, social and physical development.

Extended Day is an after school program housed at all 11 Dorchester District 2 elementary schools. The program lasts until 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, following the school calendar.

Extended Day received a $106,570 grant in July, meaning each school received about $10,000 - $12,000 for supplies and computers that allow site coordinators to do their bookkeeping digitally for the first time this year.

“I had each school apply for the grant,” Extended Day Coordinator Kathy Bishop said. “It wasn’t a very hard process. We lucked out.”

All school received grants from the Department of Social Services/ABC Child Care and ICARE software.

“ICARE will alleviate all this paper we have,” Bishop said.

Flowertown and Newington elementary received a combined total of $11,695. Extended Day is unified at FES and NES, which are side-by-side and share a cafeteria where participating students converge. Coordinators and students from both schools work together. There are 110 to 115 students on any given day at FES/NES, about 40 or 50 more than last year.

“The kids are our best advertisement,” NES Site Coordinator Renee Ketchel said, adding that students tell their parents how much fun they have, which helps recruit friends.

“The only complaint we get is that we’re not open year-round,” Bishop said. “The kids aren’t just sitting around goofing off. Parents love it.”

Across the district the program has grown about 200 students from last year, putting the total at 1,200, according to Bishop.

“The music center is the big hit,” Ketchel said. Shakers, maracas, tambourines, bells, triangles, little bongos, drums, electric drums, keyboards, rhythm sticks, cymbals worn on fingers . . . just a small part of kids having more ways to make music thanks to grants.

Other items purchased with grants are children’s books, a miniature kitchen, furniture, toys, a cash register, board games and mock police and navy uniforms.

“The kids are having a blast with it,” FES Site Coordinator Andrea Bryson said.

Students are grouped by grade, not school, and rotate throughout the day for snacks, recess, physical education, homework, arts and crafts, computer lab and science center time.

Tuesday’s snack was “ants on a log,” or celery with peanut butter and raisins as Ketchel explained. Kindergarten through second-graders snacked while third through fifth-graders had recess on the playground. Students go to classrooms at each school for homework time and computer labs, where they play math games.

Tuesdays and Thursdays are science days. Students conduct their own experiments, which sometimes includes making slime, Ketchel said. During PE students play non-competitive volleyball, kickball and badminton.

“This is crazy time,” Ketchel joked as students played games. Tick-tack-toe, dominos, Uno, Connect Four, Monopoly Jr., Scrabble Jr., Candy Land, Mouse Trap, Chutes and Ladders, Lincoln Logs, My Little Pony, Charades For Kids . . . .

Fun Fridays call for dancing and have themes such as sock hops and disco days. Kids dance to the “Macarena” and “Electric Slide.”

“That’s our let your hair down day,” Ketchel said.

Rates are $60 per week for the first child and $50 for the second, with registration fees of $25 per child or $35 per family. For more information contact Bishop at 873-7372.

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