HES before, after school programs good resource
Staff writer
Hillsboro Elementary School's before and after school programs are "a good resource to have," says HES principal Evan Yoder. The western themed "Catch up Corral" is not only keeping the mornings much more organized, but also allowing for students to get homework done.
Before the program started, students were roaming the hallways in the morning. Classrooms don't open until 8:15 a.m., and there was concern about someone getting hurt horsing around, says Yoder.
Now in the morning before 8 a.m., students go to the library where Judy Prior can help them with school work. The kids can read, work on the computer, play board games, and there are even some private rooms to study in if a student needs it to be absolutely quiet. At 8 a.m., breakfast starts, and students can either go eat or just go to the gym.
"I feel more comfortable with the kids being under our care. It's made the morning much more organized and better supervised," said Yoder.
Sometimes there are more than thirty students in the morning program.
After school, Lois Shope is in charge of supervising the students that want to get extra help. Parents or teachers arrange for the student to stay late to catch up or get help with a subject. Yoder said some students even come of their own accord.
"Some like to get their homework done before they go home."
The afternoon program isn't as well attended.
"We didn't know how it would be utilized," said Yoder, but there are sometimes up to 15 students.
According to Yoder, there has been a lot of positive response from parents and teachers regarding the new programs.
