Helping House a place for area youths after school
Karen Mansfield
From left, Carmichaels Area Elementary Center students Kenneth Kerley, Kylo Nyland, Waynesburg University student teacher Courtney Ross, and student Hunter Liston play Monopoly at the Helping House, an after-school program that provides homework help, dinners, and activities.
Karen Mansfield
Waynesburg University student teacher Courtney Ross works on phonics flash cards with Carmichaels Area Elementary Center students Kylo Nyland and Cole Little at the Helping House, an after-school program for students in grades kindergarten to 12 in the school district.
Karen Mansfield
Carmichaels Area Elementary School teacher Jeff Donaldson chats with students Cyia and Emma Ritenour at Helping House. The renovated home serves as an after-school homework and more program.
Karen Mansfield
Carmichaels Area Elementary School student Braxton Kerley enjoys some free time playing Nintendo Wii with teacher and Helping House supervisor Traci Dobish. The Helping House provides after-school homework help, dinners and activities for Carmichaels students.
It无毛视频檚 a Wednesday afternoon, and the Helping House in Cumberland Township is a hub of activity.
Two Waynesburg University student teachers are working on phonics flash cards with Carmichaels Area Elementary Center students, while fourth-grade teacher Jeff Donaldson helps other children complete homework.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen of the recently renovated house, aide Maggie D无毛视频橝ntonio is preparing a fish dinner for the kids.
Stacked on shelves are board games and educational toys that children can play with after they无毛视频檝e finished their homework and dinner.
无毛视频淭his was called the Homework House when we first started it, but after talking to parents and kids, we changed the name to the Helping House because it无毛视频檚 not just for homework. There无毛视频檚 so much going on here,无毛视频� said elementary teacher and Helping House supervisor Traci Dobish.
The Helping House is an off-campus, after-school program launched in October to provide a place for Carmichaels Area students to receive homework help and a nutritious dinner, and to socialize with friends.
The house was donated through the Redevelopment Authority of Greene County, and the school district rents the Helping House from the township for $1 a month. The school district provides the educational supplies and dinners.
Dobish said about 15 to 18 children in grades kindergarten through 10 have been coming regularly to the program, which is open five days a week from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.
无毛视频淲e have some kids with both parents working, and because of Helping House they aren无毛视频檛 going home to an empty house,无毛视频� said Dobish. 无毛视频淥thers need a safe, quiet place to work.无毛视频�
The school district has collaborated with Waynesburg University, which provides student teachers to tutor children. Additionally, teachers Roberta Barr and Stephanie Mitchell, along with aide Tammie Dippolito, help with the program.
The first floor contains the kitchen, living room and study areas. Upstairs, there is classroom space, a bathroom and shower stocked with hygiene items, and a washing machine and dryer, which students can use to wash their clothes.
无毛视频淭hey无毛视频檙e getting homework help, they无毛视频檙e studying for tests, they无毛视频檙e getting to socialize with other kids, and they无毛视频檙e getting a healthy meal. Some of these kids don无毛视频檛 have those resources at home,无毛视频� said Dobish, who ran the elementary school无毛视频檚 on-site tutoring program before she tackled Helping House. 无毛视频淎nd they无毛视频檙e having a good time. It无毛视频檚 unbelievable to see a group of kids working on homework and having fun doing it. It无毛视频檚 nice.无毛视频�
While the Nintendo Wii has been a popular after-study activity, Dobish was surprised at the interest the kids have in board games, particularly Monopoly, which a group enthusiastically asked student teacher Courtney Ross to play with them.
无毛视频淲ith COVID, they haven无毛视频檛 been able to play games with other kids,无毛视频� noted Dobish. 无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 been a challenging time. But they无毛视频檙e loving this, they无毛视频檙e learning to play chess and checkers, and they无毛视频檙e enjoying it.无毛视频�