Announcing Community Connections

Imagine the communities of Montpelier and the surrounding towns working together with community members, organizations, and the schools to make afterschool programs available to all community children and adults! Imagine being able to send your child or grandchild to a program where they will have opportunities for activities like ceramics, pet care, weird science or bread making after school; where they will have a nutritious snack; and be supervised. Imagine being able to volunteer as a mentor or homework helper, or to teach a class. Imagine being able to take a class in computer graphics, painting, or yoga in your local school in the evening. All of these are possible thanks to a new program called Community Connections .

In the summer of 2001, a group of concerned school and community members from the U-32 and Montpelier school districts got together to discuss how to tackle the issues of unsupervised children and risky behavior in our community. With most parents working at least 9 to 5 , few moms or dads have time to supervise their kids after school – to plan educational and social activities, help their children with homework, and provide creative outlets to keep their kids out of trouble.

After a series of community meetings, a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant was written with the goals of: increasing academic achievement through expanded learning opportunities, increasing healthy behaviors, and increasing school/community collaboration. Two community-based organizations, Washington Central Friends of Education and the Montpelier Downtown Community Organization collaborated with Washington Central Supervisory Union and Montpelier Public Schools on this project.

In June 2001 we were notified that we won the highly competitive grant from the US Department of Education! With this grant, Community Connections has established nine Community Learning Centers, one in each of the six elementary schools – Berlin , Calais , Doty, East Montpelier , Rumney and Union , two middle schools – Main Street Middle School and U-32, and two high schools – Montpelier High School and U-32. (Middle and high schools are combined under one roof at U-32).

These Centers will build on existing programs to offer our students a balance of educational, enrichment, and life-skill building opportunities. Each Learning Center is locally operated, with a community council and three half-time staff paid for by the grant. Each Learning Center is responsible for developing a program – including after-school and adult learning opportunities – that operate 5 or more days a week, 3 hours a day with additional time on weekends, school vacations and summer. Programs will be integrated with the school day curriculum and include regular activities that support the sense of community in our 6 towns and promote collaboration among our towns and schools.

Afterschool activities pay enormous benefits. They improve children’s grades and attitudes about learning. They give kids a chance to make new friends and learn from caring mentors and adults. They bring entire communities together to help kids. And they encourage parents to help improve their children’s education and development.

Our children are our future. Helping our children succeed is everyone’s job. Our community is making children a priority by setting up afterschool programs. Join us, and be part of this exciting new initiative!

If you are interested of if you know anyone who would like to be involved in helping shape our Community Learning Centers please contact one of the Site Coordinators or Director, Ginny Burley at 223-3456.

home