PAGE 6 - WESTSIDE MESSENGER - <strong>March</strong> 21, <strong>2021</strong> By Dedra Cordle Staff Writer The South-Western City Schools District will offer extended learning opportunities to hundreds of students this summer. In lieu of its traditional summer school programming, which primarily focuses on improving literacy skills for third graders and course credit assistance for high schoolers, the district will expand and broaden its reach to provide academic assistance for all learning levels. “We are excited about this opportunity to provide these extended learning opportunities for our students,” said Superintendent Dr. Bill Wise at the <strong>March</strong> 8 board of education meeting. According to Brian Bowser, the executive director of elementary schools, the programming will take place throughout the summer but will be broken up into different “buckets” for each grade level. For instance, the June and July bucket will consist of expanded educational opportunities for kindergarteners through sixth graders, and high school students. The high school students will begin their virtual programming on June 7 and their course of study will run until July 30. Bowser said this programming, which will allow students to recover credits or receive a limited first time credit for physical education, health, or government, will be delivered asynchronously. “This will free up our high school students to do other things they want to do this summer,” he said. Students can take up to two credits and it is free to seniors. Underclassmen will likely be charged $75 for the first time credit courses, but that fee has to be approved by the board of education. They are scheduled to vote on it at the <strong>March</strong> 22 meeting. Board member Anthony Caldwell asked whether that fee would be waived for those who qualify for free or reduced lunch program. Wise indicated that it would be. Grades K-6 will begin their extended learning opportunity on June 14. It will run through June 30 and there will be no fees attached. Bowser said the programming, which Blood drive at Doctors Hospital The American Red Cross will host a blood drive from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. <strong>March</strong> 22 at OhioHealth Doctors Hospital, The Heritage Center for Osteopathic Medical Education, located at 5131 Beacon Hill Road on the westside. To schedule an appointment, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-733-2767. Spring cleanup at Westgate Park Friends of Westgate Park will host a spring cleanup event from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. <strong>March</strong> 27 at Westgate Park, 3237 Wicklow Road in Columbus. This is the first cleanup event of the year. Participants will pick up litter and clean out the flower beds. Tools and materials will be provided. Volunteers should meet at the enclosed shelter house and follow the state’s social distance and mask guidelines. For more information, view the Friends of Westgate Park page on Facebook. Free produce market The Mid-Ohio Foodbank and the Knights of Columbus Santa Maria Council #2898 will host a free produce market the fourth Friday of each month beginning on <strong>March</strong> 26 and continuing through the end of October at St. Agnes Church, 2364 West Mound St. in Columbus. The food pantry will be open from 3 to 5 p.m. For additional information, email Kevin Miller at km8007@att.net. www.columbusmessenger.com In Education School district to offer more summer programming Barbara Gene Humphrey was called home unexpectedly 5/17/1939-3/10/<strong>2021</strong> Preceded in death by husband, Robert Humphrey; son, Harold Humphrey. Barbara is survived by daughter, Margaret Kessler, grandkids Andrew, Shannon, Chris, Michel & 5 great-grandkids. Services will be held on 3/22/21 from 10-12 followed by a luncheon. For more info contact Drew @ 740-248-8865 JEFFREY P. COMPTON ATTORNEY AT LAW General Practice Personal Injury • Domestic Probate • Wills Power of Attorney Healthcare Documents FREE CONSULT & PARKING 614-875-7233 Fax: 929-474-9475 1665 London-Groveport Rd., Grove City www.jeffreypcompton.com Email: jcompton@jeffreypcompton.com DELIVERY PROBLEMS WITH YOUR WESTSIDE MESSENGER? We are delivered by The Bag. If you don’t receive your <strong>Westside</strong> <strong>Messenger</strong> Please send email to: nopaper007@gmail.com We pay The Bag to deliver our papers just like Kroger, Meijer, Aldi, Walmart, Menards, etc. around the westside will be delivered virtually, will primarily focus on literacy skills for the lower grades and mathematics for the upper grades. “But that is not set in stone,” he said during a follow-up interview. “There will be a lot of flexibility with the subjects and some of the instruction will even be personalized to fit the needs of the student.” The programming will be held 2.5 hours each day and will include large groups, small groups, and independent study. There will be a 16:1 teacher-student ratio. Bowser said the district hopes to have as many as 900 students participate in this specific June bucket. “We want to get as many students as possible to take advantage of these opportunities,” he said. In August, students in grades K-8 will be targeted but at a smaller scale than those in the June session. “We are looking at very small groups, possibly a 1:5 ratio depending on how many educators we can get to sign up,” said Bowser. The August session, which runs from Aug. 9-20, is slated to take place for two hours each day at each building. “Our hope for the August bucket is that it will take place in person so students, particularly those who have been attending school virtually the entire year, become reacclimated with the everyday presence inside a building,” said Bowser. “However, our plan to hold these educational opportunities in person is dependent on what the (COVID-19) conditions are at that time.” Though hundreds of students will be invited to participate in these extended learning opportunities, those invitations will be based on a number of criteria that includes, but is not limited to, teacher recommendations and data pulled from assessment programs such as iReady. “We really want to target those students who need that additional help,” said Bowser. Invitations for students to participate in the extended learning opportunities will be sent to parents in the coming weeks. Bowser said participation is not mandatory. The district will continue to offer summer opportunities for its English learner students in grades K-4 and there will be extended school year opportunities for the special education population, as determined by the individualized education program team. Bowser said more information will be forthcoming. The district will also provide resources for each of its buildings for the <strong>2021</strong>-22 school year to facilitate after-school tutoring programs. Bowser said each program will be shaped by the administrators and educators within the buildings as they can better assess the needs of their students. “Each building will be given the opportunity to dream big and fly,” he said. Utility assistance available through AEP Ohio program The AEP Ohio Neighbor to Neighbor Program is accepting applications for utility assistance grants for the winter heating season. Through a partnership between AEP Ohio and Dollar Energy Fund, the Neighbor to Neighbor Program supports families in need with a grant applied directly to their AEP Ohio account to prevent disconnection of, or to restore their electric service. Heating assistance is available once per program year on a firstcome, first-served basis. Eligible account holders may apply through April 30, <strong>2021</strong>, while funds are available. “The COVID-19 pandemic has left many families and individuals in the communities we serve facing very difficult economic challenges due to job loss or unexpected expenses,” said Katie Grayem, director of customer experience for AEP Ohio. “Being a good community partner and neighbor, we are committed to providing those who may be struggling to make ends meet, a helping hand to ensure their electric service stays connected.” To apply, customers may contact one of the AEP Ohio Neighbor to Neighbor Program’s network of more than 120 Ohio community-based organizations. To qualify, an applicant’s total gross household income must be at or below 250 percent of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines. For example, a family of four earning up to $65,500 per year is income-eligible for the program. Households must have made payments to AEP Ohio totaling at least $75 in the three months prior to applying for a grant and owe a minimum of $50 on their AEP Ohio bill. Full eligibility guidelines and application instructions can be found at www.AEPOhio.com/N2N.
www.columbusmessenger.com <strong>March</strong> 21, <strong>2021</strong> - WESTSIDE MESSENGER - PAGE 7
Change language