CatCH You Afterschool
- Details
- Created on Thursday, 20 October 2016 11:40
- Written by Kevin Tufo
Saint Johnsbury— A unique afterschool program is catching the attention of students and members in the community. Catamount Community Hours, also known as CatCH, is an afterschool and summer program for students first to fifth grade, within the Saint Johnsbury community.
The afterschool program is not only open for kids in the Saint Johnsbury School, but is also to students from the town who attend other schools and are homeschooled.
According to Director Sarah Willey, the program is in its second year of operation after beginning in September 2015.
The program is fully funded by a 21st Century Learning Center Grant given to the Saint Johnsbury School District in January 2015. This grant is for five years, and fully funds the program for the first two. Starting next year, Willey says they will need volunteers to make the program sustainable.
“The Lights On event is a national event that afterschool programs across the country are putting on,” described Willey. The event held by CatCH is important because it allows the program to bring knowledge to the community and families about how important these programs. “Our community, first of all, really needs a place for our kids to be after school, a place that’s safe,” emphasized Ilsley.
Willey explains how the program is a way to develop critical thinking skills and provide enrichment development. “I’ve never seen an afterschool program that’s set up this way,” said Melanie Ilsley, a paraeduator at the Saint Johnsbury School. Ilsley believes this program is unique.
CatCH offers five sessions over the year ranging in activities from academic, recreational, and arts. In this session alone, 90 kids are registered and average being at the program anywhere between three and five days per week. Each day, the group consists of roughly 45 kids.
