The Garden City Telegram

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YMCA program helps kids succeed

Published 11/15/2008 in News

By BRETT RIGGS

riggs@gctelegram.com

Griselda Mendoza sharpened a pencil for one student while patiently talking with another, Dawnye Haynes, about a writing assignment for school.

At the next table in the Georgia Matthews Elementary School gym, Dawnye's brother, Tyrel, joined Austin Waetzig and Zach Morgan. The three were reading books.

Cippy Garcia was busy coloring, and another table over, Jasmine Ortiz worked diligently on a math assignment.

It was Thursday afternoon, and the students were attending one of the Garden City Family YMCA's four after-school enrichment sites, which operate every day after school until 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. In addition to Georgia Matthews, the program also operates at Alta Brown, Buffalo Jones and Garfield elementary schools. A fifth site, at Victor Ornelas Elementary School, is set to start up in January 2009.

The program gives students in grades kindergarten through fourth grade a place where they can focus on their homework and receive some tutoring. It also provides a place where, once the work is done, the students can have some fun, get some exercise and burn off some energy after a long school day.

But perhaps most importantly, it provides a place for the students to go after school -- a place to keep them out of trouble, give them some structure and have some fun in a social setting.

Chad Knight, executive director of the YMCA, can't emphasize enough how important that is. He remembers hearing a law enforcement presentation once where the official spoke about how the hours right after school each day are when the most crimes committed by youths occur.

"There's more illegal acts happening during that time than on Friday and Saturday nights," Knight said. "People don't realize the value of after-school programs."

The United Way of Finney County does, and that's why the agency provides funds annually to keep the YMCA's after-school program running. In 2008, the YMCA received $32,000 for the program.

Knight said the YMCA is asking for $35,000 in 2009. The funds help pay for snacks and supplies at the sites, as well as wages for the 28 staff members who help run the sites. The Georgia Matthews program won't be designated as a United Way site until 2009.

"No way we could survive and offer these services without United Way funding," Knight said.

For $5 a week, or $1 a day, elementary school students have a place to go after school from when the bell rings until 6 p.m. During that time, each of the sites provides time for the students to do homework and receive tutoring, eat a snack, participate in games, or maybe just sit down and work on an arts and crafts project.

"We're not in this to make money; we're in this to provide a service to the community," Knight said.

Mendoza, who is a paraprofessional at Abe Hubert Middle School, is in it to help make sure the children are getting their school work done. She said she thinks that her role as tutor after school may be particularly helpful for those students who might not be receiving the help at home.

"That's my main thing," Mendoza said about making sure homework gets done and the kids concentrate on work. "I don't let them play until the assignment is done."

But there is time for play. Mendoza's group was set to play dodge ball Thursday, as soon as they were done with their work and had their snacks.

The YMCA also treats the children at the Victor Ornelas and and Georgia Matthews sites to a free swimming session at the YMCA one day a week. The program's students attend free activities at the YMCA from 9 a.m. to noon the third Saturday of each month as well.

Knight said what he likes most about the program, which serves about 100 students combined at the four sites, is it provides children with the social interaction they need outside the classroom, and also helps teach them life-long skills.

The kids at Georgia Matthews seem to appreciate it, Mendoza said.

"When the parents show up, a lot of them don't want to leave," she said with a smile.

The Finney County United Way is in the midst of its 2009 fundraising campaign. The fundraising goal is $500,000.

Other agencies that will receive funds from United Way in 2009 are Big Brothers Big Sisters of Finney and Kearny counties, Community Day Care, Emmaus House, Santa Fe Trail Council Boy Scouts, Russell Child Development Center, Smart Start, Kansas Children's Service League Head Start, Miles of Smiles, United Cerebral Palsy of Kansas, American Red Cross, Catholic Social Service, Family Crisis Services Inc., Meals on Wheels, United Mexican-American Ministries Clinic, Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Association, Finney County RSVP, Salvation Army, Garden City Recreation Commission, Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland and Spirit of the Plains CASA.

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