BASE Quality After School Programs for the 2019-2020 School Year
School is back in session for the School District of Fort Atkinson for the 2019-2020 school year. With each new school year comes a need for quality after school programming and care. When elementary school students finished their first day of school on Tuesday, September 3rd at 3:00pm, BASE staff were waiting with anticipation and excitement at Barrie, Luther, Purdy and Rockwell to welcome registered BASE kids for an afternoon of quality programs and activities.
Welcome greetings, smiles and stories of summer as well as the first day of school filled the cafeterias at all 4 of our BASE sites while BASE kids enjoyed a healthy afternoon snack provided by the School District of Fort Atkinson Student Nutrition Team. The weather was perfect to then move outside for our Recreation Program which included choices of free play or organized group games and sports. Our bags of recreation equipment filled with footballs, kick balls, frisbees and more were a welcome sight for the BASE kids. Registered Junior Staff members had joined in the fun outside upon their arrival from the Fort Atkinson Middle School to spend the afternoon assisting the BASE staff and engaging in programs and fun with the BASE kids. 45 minutes of time outside hardly seemed like enough time to fully enjoy the weather and playing with friends, but they were looking forward to taking a look at the daily schedule inside the school building again to prepare for the next activity.
BASE kids were provided with the opportunity to begin work on their class reading logs or quietly relax with a good book from their backpack or the BASE book cart during the BASE Star Reading Program. Individual reading, reading with a friend, staff read alouds, and small group reading are great choice options for the BASE kids this year. The BASE Hour Program followed and time was allowed for BASE kids to review and complete homework individually or to ask for help from a BASE Staff or Junior Staff member. They also participated in planned, rotating activities in the areas of technology, creative writing, academics, trivia or chit-chat, and STEM.
BASE Staff trained together the week after the BASE Summer Program ended on August 23rd and before school began on Tuesday, September 3rd. Team building activities and diverse training topics provided the BASE Staff with opportunities to focus on our BASE culture and bring quality, enrichment and positivity to the out of school care that they provide every day at BASE. BASE Programs that will be implemented at the sites September-December are The Arts, STEM, Healthy Lifestyles and Mindfulness, Diversity and Foreign Language, and Friday Fun Day.
While BASE Staff have gone to work keeping BASE kids engaged in quality programs and having new, fun experiences this school year, it’s so amazing how community members, businesses and organizations reach out to us and share something special with BASE. The Jefferson County Humane Society has already made a visit BASE Rockwell and will visit the other 3 BASE sites with some furry, or not so furry friends to present on fun and educational topics relating to animals.
While BASE receives incredible support from the community, we are planning our BASE Lend a Hand Community Service Projects for the school year to give back in a variety of ways. BASE also takes every opportunity to support others like Farm to School month by participating in the Great Lakes Apple Crunch in October and national after school program advocacy through the Lights on After School event also in October. BASE programs will continue to celebrate important topics, themes, holidays and more through the school year.
BASE sites are looking to expand and extend membership offers to elementary school children at 3 of our sites Luther, Purdy, Rockwell and soon to our 4th site Barrie. Flexible fee options and scholarships are available to families who inquire about membership for the 2019-2020 after school program at BASE. www.basefortatkinson.org/registration This is a great school year to get involved with BASE - inquire about membership, volunteer your time, apply for an open employment opportunity, attend a BASE event, look for BASE out in the community, ask if your employer supports BASE or consider making an individual or family donation, or inquire about bringing your time and talents to share with the BASE kids at our sites. The list of ways that YOU can get involved and help us make a difference in the lives of children is endless and the rewards are priceless. We look forward to sharing more with you soon through our website, Facebook page and Instagram page.
Respectfully,
Melissa Willkomm, BASE Director of Operations