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Youngstown After School Alliance sponsors ‘Family Fun Day’ cookout to thank students
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Eighth Graders Charisse Brown (right), and Kiana Bell (center) put catsup on their hamburgers as fellow eighth grader Trayionna Walker watches during a cookout held by the After School Alliance at Volney Rogers Junior High on Thursday afternoon.
Volney Rogers Family Night
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One student received a new computer for success in the program, in its eighth year.
YOUNGSTOWN — The cafeteria, courtyards and gymnasium at Volney Rogers Junior High School became a place for fun and family Thursday for students participating in an after-school program.
The rain was pouring outside, but a large grill in a courtyard between buildings was loaded with hot dogs and hamburgers in the afternoon. The inside gymnasium was decorated in party fashion.
Food lined tables in the cafeteria, and a large cake offered students an icing-encrusted “thank you” for a wonderful year.
The food, drinks and games were for the dozens of students who take part in the Youngstown After School Alliance Program at the school. The “Family Fun Day,” sponsored by the alliance, is designed to reward students who have done well in the program throughout the school year.
Artis Henderson, program site coordinator, said the ultimate goal of the program is to build upon academic lessons students are learning in class. Other valuable skills are also incorporated into the program.
“This affords middle-school students the opportunity to get additional help in math and reading,” he said. “We also offer enrichment skills such as karate, basketball, cooking and computer skills. There are agencies that come in and teach kids about positive attitudes and [avoiding] substance abuse.”
The program is in its eighth year and includes Hayes, Volney, Alpha and P. Ross Berry schools.
The cookout is a way to incorporate families into the program and reward the participants.
Parents and other family members are invited to come out to the program, enjoy some food off the grill and play some games.
“We really want the families to come in and see what the kids are doing and participate. The focus of this program is to tie in students, families and partner agencies,” Henderson said.
The students, and any family members who wanted to participate, took part in an Olympic competition complete with running, hoop-shooting and distance jumping.
Even the fun and games have an academic foundation, as program directors incorporate math in each facet of the family program.
Many students received awards for excelling in the program and school. One student received a new computer for her achievements throughout the school year.
Wanda Durkin has a 13-year-old daughter participating and has seen the benefits.
Her daughter, she said, now gets her school work in on time and has improved scores in math.
“Math was one of her weak spots, but if she didn’t understand something, there was always a tutor here to help her, and I appreciate that,” she said.
Volney Rogers Principal Diana Walton also sees the program and incentives such as the “Family Fun Night” as a big benefit to students.
“I think it’s a huge benefit to them. They get tutoring, help with homework and keep in close contact with parents. They also get to go out and do things in the community,” she said.
jgoodwin@vindy.com