HUMBOLDT — Sunny Shreeve is busy assembling a staff and outlining a program for Humboldt’s new before- and after-school program which starts on Feb. 27.
As its director, Shreeve’s focus for USD 258 students are activities that “will keep kids interested, give them help if they’re struggling (with academics) and have a fun curriculum.”
The program was made possible when the district won a federal 21st Century Community Learning Center grant of $535,000, administered by the Kansas Department of Education.
In addition to the spring semester, the grant will provide before- and after- school activities through the next five school years, said K.B. Criss, superintendent of schools.
The Humboldt schools previously had a program, funded by a $1 million federal grant that was in place for four years through the spring 2006 semester. Summer sessions, including some as adventuresome as exploring biology of the Neosho River, were a part. The current program with more austere funding has no provision for summer activities.
Shreeve, having just taken the reins and “still learning,” said Humboldt’s program would be similar to what has been done for more than 12 years in USD 257’s SAFE BASE, though features will be tweaked to fit enrollment and specific needs for Humboldt’s kindergarten through high school students.
Before-school activities will deal with tutoring and fitness, with emphasis being placed on preventing and correcting obesity among the young. Afternoon sessions will include nutritious snacks and enrichment classes for sessions that will start immediately after classes dismiss at 3:15 p.m. and run until 5 o’clock, four days a week, Monday through Thursday.
Buses will not carry students home following after-school classes. Parents will be expected to pick up their children no later than 5:15, Shreeve said.
Enrichment classes are not yet in the hopper, she said, but will include art, music and other things that will give students an appreciation of things they may not be exposed to in the course of a normal school day. Shreeve said Humboldt parks and museums would be destinations.
Tutoring will be available at students’ and parents’ discretion and through referrals from classroom teachers, some of whom will be involved in sessions.
The program will use the district’s three schools, elementary, middle and high, as well as the Humboldt Community Fieldhouse.
“We have some ideas for the staff,” said Criss, which in addition to certified teachers will draw on paraprofessionals and volunteers. The only one in place today other than Shreeve is Mindy McCall, a paraprofessional with the district for several years. McCall will be the program’s building coordinator.
SHREEVE grew up in Richardson, Texas, but was well aware of Humboldt from summer visits to grandparents when she was a schoolgirl. Her mother, now deceased, was Carol Thompson, who grew up on a farm east of Humboldt and graduated from Humboldt High School in 1951. Her father was raised in Chanute and now, with new wife the former Peg Griffith, lives in Humboldt.
Shreeve spent much of her adult life in Georgia and moved to Humboldt about four years ago with her family, when they were looking for a less congested area to live.
“We’re all happy to be in Humboldt,” Shreeve observed.
She thinks her experience for nearly four years as program director for Thrive Allen County will be valuable as a precursor in her new position.
