Communities Together Can! After School Program

An After-School Program for youth now being offered in the Columbus Community.

This is a pilot project sponsored by the University of Nebraska Lincoln Extension and community partners. It is the hope of the project partners to expand this program to all area public schools in the coming years.

Today more than 28 million school age children have parents who work oustide the home. An estimated five to seven million, and up to as many 15 million "latch-key children" return to an empty home after school. When the school bell rings, the anxiety for parents often begins. In response to this pressing concern, many communities are creating after school programs to keep children and youth engages in activities that help them to learn and succeed. After-school programming can provide a wide array of benefits to children, their families, schools and the community as a whole. Children especially receive benefits in the areas of increased safety, reduced risk-taking behavior, and improved learning. We hope you will find that our program will be beneficial to your families unique needs.

Benefits of Communities Together Can! After School Program in Columbus:

Convenience - Offered in your child's school - reducing transportation issues.
Affordability - The cost is less than most child care centers and sliding fee scales are available.
Safety - Less worry about your child during the after school hours when children are more likely to engage in risky behavior.
Reduced Home Work Hassles - After school tutoring can ease the stress of families during the evening hours and allow for more quality family time.
Enhanced School Performance - Studies show children who participate in after school programs perform better in school.

Proposed Program Schedule: Monday-Friday (during the school year) 3:15-3:30 Healthy Snack; 3:30-4:00 Homework/Study Time; 4:00-5:00 Planned Program Time; 5:00-5:30 Recreation; 5:30-6:00 Clean Up/Individual Time

Fee Schedule: $5.00 per day with a minimum of three days per week.

Billing: Parents will be billed every two weeks.

Out of School/Early Dismissal: The program will operate on early dismissal days and on no school days. There is an additional $5.00 fee for early dismissal days and a $10.00 fee for the child to attend on no school days.

Discipline: The After-School Program will follow the same discipline guidelines referred to in your students school handbook.

Snacks: The After School Program participates in the USDA child and adult care food program. Nutritious snacks are served within the guidelines set forth by USDA.

Host Sites: Emerson Elementary School, Centennial Elementary School, North Park Elementary School, West Park Elementary School, Lost Creek Elementary School and Sunrise Elementary School.

Brochure: Click on the following link to open a printable .pdf file of the Communities Together Can! After School Program brochure with interest form. Brochure (419KB, 2 pages)

Enrollment Form: Pick up an enrollment form either at the UNL Extension Office located in the basement of the courthouse or at one of the Columbus Public Elementary School sites.

After-School Coordinator: Marla Kurtenbach, UNL Extension - Platte County; 2610 14th Street; Columbus NE 68601-4992; Phone: (402) 563-4901; Email: mkurtenbach2@unl.edu

Please contact Marla if you are interested in having your child/children participate in the Communities Together Can! After-School Program.

Community Partners:

University of Nebraska Lincoln Extension

Columbus AEYC

Platte Valley Early Childhood Training Coalition

Educational Service Unit #7

Planning Region 7

NE Department of Health and Human Services

Columbus YMCA

4-H Youth Development

Columbus Collaborative Team