Menomonie (WQOW)- With all the budget cuts in
education federal grants have become increasingly important to schools.
Students in 51 different sites around the state are benefiting from one federal
grant designated to support after school activities.
Research shows programs for students
before and after school can significantly improve academic achievement and
attendance and also reduce behavioral problems.
"The after-school support that
we provide them is key in helping children be successful, reach their
potential," says Principal Peg Kolden, River Heights
Elementary School.
River Heights Elementary
School in Menomonie recently received the 21st Century Community
Learning Center grant.
"It's difficult, time consuming, to write grants but the potential funding that you can get and the programming
you can do. We couldn't offer this without the 21 Century Grant and we see it
as very beneficial," says Kolden.
The money will be used to help pay
for materials and staffing for before and after school activities.
"We have an early risers
program which is a program for children before school. It starts at 6:30 and
goes until 8:15. And then at the end of the day we have three programs,"
says Kolden.
Those programs include a program for
beginning readers and after school tutoring programs.
"We also have an after school
club program which are a variety of fun clubs that kids can take part in; Spanish
and scrapbooking and Harry Potter," adds Kolden.
Principal Kolden says the grant is a
must, but the community also plays a big role in these programs.
"We have many students from UW-Stout
that come in and work in our after school program. We have professors that come
in and make it a part of their curriculum requiring students to come and help
here. We've worked with the Dunn County Extension office and they provide
programs for us, so it really is bigger than River Heights,
it takes a community collaboration to have a successful 21 Century Grant,"
says Kolden.
