21st Century Grant Extravaganza
Thursday, May 8, 2008

Central Middle School was the place to be as over 1,500 students, teachers, and parents converged for the 4th annual Extravaganza for the Morgan County After-School Program. This year the gym and surrounding areas were transformed into a carnival complete with clowns, rock climbing, spin art, and popcorn.

Beginning at 3 p.m. and continuing at half-hour intervals, students from schools across the county arrived via school buses with their teachers and chaperones. Students first entered the cafeteria area to enjoy refreshments of fresh fruit, bananas dipped in chocolate, nachos, carrot strips, and corn dogs. Juice boxes and water completed the fun, nutritious snack.

Exhibits were set up by each grant site. Student artwork, scrapbooking, creative writing, crafts, and science experiments filled the tables. Completing each school's exhibit was a large display board that contained a montage of photographs and narratives showing students actively engaged in the many after-school activities available. Groups of interested parents, grandparents, and community members took time to browse through the items and talk with many of the teachers and community volunteers that participated in the activities.

However, the main focus of the evening was on the activities in the gym area! Children were enjoying rock climbing, the tunnel run, spin art, and a jumping area. Clowns and face painters transformed children into angels and scary creatures complete with colored hair and intricate designs. Parents and grandparents watched and waited patiently as the children ran from one activity to another. Despite the rainy weather outside, the dunking booth was a popular spot to try one's hand at making someone take the plunge!

Icee's and popcorn were available in the concession stand area and were a welcome respite from the excitement in the gym. The allotted time of two hours passed quickly for the children. Tired, but happy, students picked up their MC21stCCLC grant t-shirts and boarded the buses for the trip back to their home schools.

Kathy Carroll, director of the grant, reflected that the response to the after-school programs continues to be overwhelming. Teachers, parents, and community members at each of the county sites have continued to offer enjoyable and enriching activities for the students in the after-school program.

She continued by saying that the grant activities concentrated on enrichment that is not usually available during a regular school day. We appreciate the parents and families that allowed the children to participate in this wonderful program. This year's extravaganza was a reward to the students for their participation in another successful year of activities.

Photo Albums of the Extravaganza

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Page Created By: Judy Cross
Updated By: Daniel Thomas
Last Updated: May 2008