[Word version] Saturday, May 17, 2008
Letters-to-the-Editor
Rivertowne Enquirer
312 Elm Street
Rivertowne, OH 45202
To the Editor:
Just in time for the new school year, Stevens Middle School has answered the pleas of local families by providing an affordable, quality afterschool program for students in grades six to eight. On September 26, Mayor Stephanie Millstone officially opened Stevens Middle School's afterschool program, Just For Kids. The demand for supervised afterschool programs is great. More than 28 million school-age children have either their only parent or both parents working outside the home. As many as 15 million "latchkey children" go home after school each day to a house with no adult supervision, and without the opportunities to learn that afterschool programs can provide.
The juvenile crime rate triples between the hours of 3 PM and 8 PM, with violent crimes by juveniles peaking between 3 PM and 4 PM - the hour at the end of the school day. Why? In part because an increasing number of our children are unsupervised during these late afternoon hours, while parents are at work. What these children need is supervision that will keep them safe and out of trouble.
Afterschool programs provide that needed alternative, while helping children with their studies and providing a range of enrichment activities. Just For Kids provides three hours of supervised afterschool activities, including homework assistance, arts and crafts, and recreation. It is the tenth afterschool program established through Rivertowne Student Success program in the past two years. Rivertowne Student Success program is a collaborative effort of the Mayor's office and the Rivertowne School District with the goal of making afterschool programs available to every public elementary and middle school student in the city. Studies show that programs like Just For Kids reduce dropout rates, improve attendance and boost academic achievement. Rivertowne Student Success is proud to take a leadership role in the burgeoning afterschool movement, and excited about the chance to provide our children with a positive afternoon alternative to the streets. Sincerely,
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Michael Koss
Principal, Stevens Middle School
513/555-2345
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Jennifer Greene
Director, Rivertowne Student Success
513/555-4567
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