The Children's After School Achievement (CASA) Program at Hope College has received support through grants from two local community organizations.
The Children's After School Achievement (CASA) Program at Hope College has received support through grants from two local community organizations.
The Youth Advisory Committee of The Community
Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area has awarded CASA
$8,500 for the "Science for Every Child" program. The
Holland Junior Welfare League has awarded CASA $935 for
"Bursting With Books."
The contributions will benefit CASA's elementary-
age students during the school year and summer alike,
bolstering current activities and adding new ones.
"These two grants completely open the door for us
to enrich our program by meeting areas of need that are
always present but can't be addressed until we have
funding," said Fonda Green, who is CASA's executive
director.
Through "Science for Every Child," CASA will
explore science principles as a complement to the students'
work in school. The program will include field trips to the
Children's Museum and a gypsum mine in Grand Rapids; a
summer-time "scientist-in-residence"; and hands-on
instruction in chemistry, sound, light, machines, flight and
magnets.
Through "Bursting With Books," CASA will restock
its supply of old, worn and outdated books and educational
materials. The books range from science-oriented stories,
to an atlas, to fables; the materials include educational
games. CASA's students use the items daily in one-on-one
tutoring sessions.
CASA runs year-round, providing substance abuse
prevention, cultural
awareness, academic and career experiences to at-risk
kindergarten through fifth grade students. The program is
intended to improve the students' academic performance and
help them develop healthy, productive lifestyles. CASA's
students meet after school twice per week for two hours per
session throughout the school year, and in the mornings
during the six-week summer session.
Approximately 100 students participate during the
school-year session, and 90 during the summer. This
semester, 100 volunteers--including Hope students and
members of the community--have been serving as tutors for
the program.
Established by Marge Rivera in 1987, CASA was
originally administered by Latin Americans United for
Progress (LAUP) and housed at First United Methodist Church.
The program moved to the college in 1989, and is housed on
the ground level of Graves Hall.