After-school program
takes youths from the
circus to the dance
halls of Ireland
Some students at Pieter
B. Coeymans Elementary School
are clowning around after
school. Others are doing the
Irish jig.
It’s all part of the
after-school enrichment
program that started Jan. 7 and
continues through Feb.15.
Another session is slated to
begin in March.
Sixty-seven elementary
school students are
taking part in the
program, which offers
seven different classes
and meet at least
weekly.
Organized by the Pieter B.
Coeymans Elementary School
Parent Teacher Organization
(PTO), the Enrichment Program
provides students an opportunity
to learn new skills and have
fun, said Julie Bullard, program
coordinator. It also solves the
sometimes tricky question of how
to fill those all-important
after-school hours with
activities that are healthy and
informative.
Classes currently taking place
include:
-
Circus Theatrics
-
Introduction to Akido
-
Beginning Guitar
-
Ceramics
-
Molecules in Motion
All About Animals
Irish Step Dancing
Classes meet typically
once a week from
3:30-4:30 p.m. and are
open to all students in
the school, though
certain classes have
specific grade-level
requirements.
No tax dollars are used to
subsidize the program – all
funding comes from the
enrollment fee and fundraisers.
The cost for each class is based
on the class and all proceeds go
directly to pay for the cost of
the course.
Scholarships, Bullard said, are
available to families who are
unable to afford the cost of the
classes. Approximately 10
scholarships were awarded for
the current class session, she
said.
