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Claude Rousseau opened the meeting at 7:05pm Domenic Longo, Director of the West Springfield Park and Recreation Department spoke on the programs available to the West Springfield Residents. Along with many sports programs, a highlight of the programs is the Centrum and Tiny tots summer programs. Centrum has 1 director, 2 asst. 5 program specialists, plus the counselors. They have 4 days of swimming and 1 field trip per week. Of note, no child is denied access due to inability to pay. The park and rec. dept. follows federal guidelines set by the school department to offer financial waivers (full tuition or reduced tuition.). Another program, Camp Robinson open to Special needs children referred by the Special Ed. Teachers. 1:5-8 ratio and 55 total campers. Round trip transportation included for the 6 week program. Lastly, any playground facility for the schools needs to be certified. If a PTO is interested in upgrading their schools equipment, the PTO should contact the Park and Rec. first to walk through the steps. Next get permission from the school department, then get permission from the Mayor.
Michael Polansky, Executive director and Jeff Tomaino, Director of Program Operations, from the Boys and Girls club spoke about the programs offered there. There are two separate fees with their programs. The state has an EEC which was original welfare or low income, but now includes single parents going to school. This is a specialized program different from the afterschool program. More information can be found on the website or by contacting Mike or Jeff. The afterschool program at the Boys and Girls club has a $100.00 fee per year, then $25.00/wk for the one way bus transportation from the schools to the club. Currently there are 135 kids in the afterschool program ranging from 5-14 years old (majority from 5-10 yrs.). The club has 4 f/t staff certified in CPR and First aid; and Several p/t staff totaling 20 adults. All are CORI checked. The children choose what activities they would like to participate in. There is basketball, soccer, floor hockey, arts and crafts, a game area, and a kitchen. The program runs until 7:30pm each night. The summer camps run from 7:30am-5:30pm Monday thru Friday. The children are from around the Pioneer Valley. The cost is $100 for first child/$60 for second $40 for each additional. This includes lunch for all children. If you sign up for 6 weeks and pay in full, you receive a 20% discount. The club has a large field in the back, and uses the Park and Rec. Main Street pool for swimming, plus offers one field trip a week with nominal additional costs ($5-9). The summer program is staffed by age and has a much more structured program. Please contact Mike or Jeff for a tour of the facility or to answer any questions or concerns at 413-736-1831 or email at wsbgc7@hotmail.com.
Karen Hardy, a member of the community who has started a family run nonprofit organization to help support education in Malawi, Africa. The name of the organization is Educate Malawi Inc. The children in Malawi have a thirst for learning and are in need of basic supplies. The teacher to student ratio can be as much as 1:150, there are teachers willing to teach, but no housing; therefore building housing is another priority of the non profit organization. The Hardy’s will be traveling back to Africa in June, and will be bringing supplies with them if you would like to donate. Also she will be speaking with the local schools to raise awareness to the children and community. The goal is to start a penny drive or supply drive at each school. This will allow our children to improve education for Malawi children.
Also, Jill Fortier mentioned a community website that is being donated by her company, which may be a great place for Karen to get the information out to the public about Educate Malawi Inc. The website is being designed to encourage local business to hire local residents. There will be a community calendar as well, to aid in reducing conflicts and increasing our ability to support one another in the community. An email will be sent to the West Side Parent Group with the web site address when it is up and running. To submit your information email- Community Network - West Springfield, MA
Final discussion topic
Under the topic of Bus safety, it was brought up that there is a lack of adequate sidewalks. Students are required to walk longer routes home in order to use side walks, or walk on the street. Still many sidewalks are not being cleared. When trying to resolve the situations, individual parents are receiving the run around. It was suggested that a group of parents go to the town meeting to bring the issue up again to show that it is a town wide issue that needs a long term solution not the short term rerouting system that exists currently.
Topics for future discussion include keeping schools closed during elections, grant funding, crowded classrooms
The meeting was adjourned at 8:41pm. Next meeting TBD
Attendance 19
Minutes by Diane Merck
West Springfield Park and Rec. link:
http://www.west-springfield.ma.us
The West Springfield Boys and Girls club link:
http://www.wsbgclub.com/
Educate Malawi Inc link:
http://educate-malawi.org/
Westside Parent group Second annual Meeting 1/22/09
Contact The West Side Parent Group with any comments, suggestions or questions @ West Side Parent Group
Dear Parents,
As we settle in to the new school year the West Side Parent Group will be holding its third annual meeting on Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at the Tatham Elementary School (61 Laurel St.) from 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm. The West Side Parent Group was formed to unify the voices of the parents in order to effectively improve the education and safety of our children.
We will be featuring guest speaker Chris Taggart from the Hampshire Educational Collaborative (HEC) to present a potential expansion of the federally funded program already in existence at the Coburn Elementary School. Dependent on the availability of 21st Century Community Learning Center Funds (21st CCLC), more 21st CCLC after school programs could be added at one or more of the following schools Memorial and Mitteneague Elementary Schools, as well as West Springfield Middle School. With that said, our second speaker is Mary-Anne DiBlasio founder of Be Well Kids, Inc. (BWK), who has received permission to hold afterschool programs at Tatham and Fausey Schools, since the federally funded program does not apply to these two schools due to academic and economic status.
The West Side Parent Group has also invited Peter Dufresne, Principal from the West Springfield High School, and Dr. Suzanne Marrotta, Superintendent of West Springfield schools to give an informational update of the proposed schools changes. There will be a short time available for parents to ask questions they may have.
To learn more about these topics please plan to attend the meeting on Tuesday, October 27, 2009.
The West Side Parent Group only has one meeting per year. Everything else we discuss is via the internet. Please contact us at wspg@ymail.com to provide your email address.
Sincerely,
The West Side Parent Group