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http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Obituaries Weather Archive Hot Topics Forum Photo Gallery Past Readers Polls Revels Etcetera Backpage O-Zone Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Online Games Movie Preview October 6, 2006 Kids care spreads out to schools By Alan Panebaker Ashland Daily Tidings ABOVE: Walker Elementary School students play with YMCA staffer Ben Petetit. FRONT: Students at Walker Elementary School from left to right Cedar, Marcus and Thomas along with many other students who require care from The Ashland Family YMCA will be cared for on site by the YMCA Photos by Orville Hector | Daily Tidings More YMCA Kids Club students are spending extra time at school this year. After piloting a program at Bellview Elementary School during the 2005-2006 school year, YMCA after school programs moved into Walker Elementary this year also. Laurie Loutzenhiser, associate director for the Ashland Family YMCA said increases in student enrollment in the after-school programs and the simplicity of having kids in one place all day long prompted the expansion into Walker this year. Fifty-three students enrolled in the program at Bellview and 43 enrolled at Walker. One hundred thirty-two students enrolled across the district. "Generally, parents are happy about having kids in one neighborhood place," Loutzenhiser said. "We didn't have to put a maximum number on programs, which is good because child care is so important." The YMCA still picks up students from Helman Elementary, Ashland Middle School, the John Muir School and Willow Wind Community Learning Center where numbers are fewer. Pushing capacity at the YMCA last year prompted a move to Bellview for the Kids Club and Kinder Club after-school programs, and success in that area and more kids at Walker prompted another move. However, Loutzenhiser said, holding child care programs at school sites is nothing new. She has worked at the YMCA since 1991 and said, "we have been at all of the schools over the years." The YMCA also has an activity bus for kids who are enrolled in specific lessons like swimming or karate. With numbers growing daily, Loutzenhiser said holding programs at school has turned into a good choice both for Bellview and Walker. Serena Robinson, parent-teacher organization president at Bellview, said most parents accept holding the program at school while paying the same price as they would at the YMCA. "My feeling is I haven't heard anything negative about it," Robinson said. "So far as I've heard, the parents like it." Some parents like the idea of not having their children transported to different parts of town during the day. For Tye Burgess, Bellview site director for the program, the location presents its challenges, but they let kids play outside more and avoid space conflicts that happen at the popular YMCA. "I feel like it's taking off," Burgess said. "The school's been absolutely unbelievable." Besides playing games in the school's small gymnasium and utilizing the playgrounds and fields, Burgess said they incorporate reading and homework into the up to three hours extra students spend at school. Staff writer Alan Panebaker can be reached at 482-3456 x 227 or [email protected] . Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising Inkjet Printers Student Loans Water Filter Helzberg Diamonds Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Advertisement: Copyright © 2006 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved.