Celebration of afterschool programs and Halloween planned

The All-4-One afterschool program for Springfield schools will be celebrating Lights On Afterschool with a rally for afterschool programs and a special Trunk or Treat event on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 5:30 to 8 p.m., at Riverside Middle School in Springfield. The event is free and open to the public.


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2016-10-26 / Front Page Celebration of afterschool programs and Halloween planned By NEIL P. ALLEN SPRINGFIELD — The All-4-One afterschool program for Springfield schools will be celebrating Lights On Afterschool with a rally for afterschool programs and a special Trunk or Treat event on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 5:30 to 8 p.m., at Riverside Middle School in Springfield. The event is free and open to the public. “New this year is going to be a haunted hallway maze,” said Tami Stagner, All-4-One program director. “We’ll have Deejay Alex playing music and the Springfield Town Library will be sharing stories and will be doing a book swap. “The fifth-grade class at Union Street School are going to be making and selling food to raise money for their class trip to Plymouth,” she continued. “They should have goodies, coffee and cocoa.” Along with the fun inside the school, there are currently nearly 40 trunks registered that will be decorated for children to get treats from. “There’s a variety of things in the trunks including candy, trinkets and pencils,” Stagner said. “It is a pretty cool event. People are very excited about it.” The event is also a chance for the All-4-One program to show parents and the community the work they do. “We will have activities in the classrooms across from the cafeteria,” said Stagner. “And, our AmeriCorp VISTA member Michael Wanigasekera will be handing out Zap the Gap cards that will be sent to the state government.” Zap the Gap cards are being used to familiarize stakeholders on the state level to create funds for afterschool programs similar to early education funds, according to Stagner. “They list facts like 88 percent of Vermont families support public funding for afterschool programs. And that for every dollar spent on afterschool programs, $2.18 is saved with the reduction of crime,” she said. “There is also room for the person to add their own comments about why afterschool programs are important.” The cards will be sent to Vermont Afterschool who will combine them with others collected then send to the legislature. The rally for Lights On Afterschool, a nationwide celebration of afterschool programs held throughout October, will be held during the Trunk or Treat event. Stagner is hoping to have legislative guest speakers share about why afterschool programs are important as well as parents and the public in general. “We want to call on the legislature to expand afterschool opportunities so that every child who needs a program has access to one and discuss the benefits of afterschool programs,” said Stagner. Currently in its 19th year, the All-4-One program is available to students before and after school and the summer for Springfield students K-8. It is funded with a 21st Century grant, state subsidies and parental fees, which are on a sliding scale. It also involves the high school by providing a place for students to earn community service hours when they volunteer at the program, with nearly 20 students taking advantage of the opportunity on a regular basis, according to Stagner. The grammar school students are focused more on socialization and structured clubs. The middle school students focus more on homework but also can participate in clubs. They serve all participants a hot breakfast in the morning and a full hot supper after school, which is prepared by Chef Bonnie Duquette. Of the nearly 600 students in the Springfield schools, nearly 475 of them have accessed the All-4-One program. Every day they average about 80 kids in the K-5 program and 50 kids in the middle school program. To make it all work, they have 60 to 75 staff and volunteers working every day, said Stagner. For more information about the event or the All-4-One program, please call (802) 885-2531. If you would like to register to have a decorated trunk at the event, please register at www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0e4ca5ae29aafd0-trunk.