Saugus.net: Oaklandvale AfterSchool

Here's an assortment of pictures taken during the various afterschool programs held at the Oaklandvale Elementary School. Photographs, description, and captions are all courtesy of Vincenza Sullivan.

The Oaklandvale Afterschool program has expanded it's classes this year to include Theater and Performing Arts, Arts and Crafts, Homework Helper, MCAS Math, Creative Writing, and a very popular Jr. Chef's cooking class. With both the academics and the cultural arts covered in the program, 173 students registered for these classes this year. The program runs 2 twelve week sessions per school year. Different classes can be offered for both sessions, depending on the needs of the students and the availability of instructors and also grant money needed to run a successful program. This program this year is supported in part by a grant from the Saugus Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. All grants awarded to the program are utilized for financial aid, supplies, and awards / certificates for the students in the program.

Mrs. Lombard, the program's Creative Writing instructor, had students used their imagination and creativity as they learned the writing process.

They tried their hand at writing poems, paragraphs, letters, book reviews, travel brochures, and compositions.

It's exciting when you've written something that you know is good!

As their reward for all their hard work, our future authors were given hard covered journals and pencils and were encouraged to continue with their writing.

Our Jr. Chefs session this year used cooking as an interactive program to help children learn how to plan, make, and serve meals for the entire family.

Children who participated in this program experienced the fun and the educational aspects of cooking. They read recipes, measured the ingredients and had fun!

Mrs. Demenski, the class instructor, did an excellent job teaching the students.

The after school Math Club focused on math vocabulary, current math in the classrooms, and MCAS questions. They examined Open Response, and short answer questions, so that students became more confident in their solutions.

All students participating in this class received a combination calculator/ruler and a pencil. Mrs. Ward did a fabulous job and kept the students focused while having fun!

This year's Oaklandvale Elementary after school program wrapped up with a production performed by the Theater and Performing Arts class. After meeting for 12 weeks, our future stars sang and danced as well as acted in a variety of skits. Students K-5 showed off their talents with their renditions of Candy Man, Spoon Full Of Sugar, and many other tunes.

They topped it off with a Chorus Line Finale. Instructor Tom Rosa, accompanied by his daughter Nicole and stage mom Carol Johnson, did a fabulous job with the 26 students enrolled in this class.