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STEUBENVILLE -- Beginning Monday, 65 after-school classes will begin at the Sycamore Youth Center. The classes will run until May 3.
"This is the largest amount of classes we have ever offered," stated Bobbyjon Bauman, president of the Ohio Valley Youth Network and executive director of the Sycamore Youth Center.
"Some of our classes have already started and other programs such as the Sycamore Volunteer Corps ran throughout the Christmas break," Bauman noted. "After May 3, we will begin to run our weekly summer camps, with the dates to be announced. We have hired a couple of dynamic young people, including Peter Wingerter and Hannah Mergen, who will work with the children in our after-school program this semester. Hannah is a top-notch musician and orchestral instructor who will be re-launching our Sycamore orchestra that she ran a year and a half ago. Peter will run a singing class."
In order to more effectively run the programs and offer more individualized instruction to its students, the center is splitting up Monday's East Garfield Elementary day and Wednesday's Harding Middle School day, Bauman explained. He said both schools were running more than 100 children a week.
Wednesday classes will be for those in fifth and sixth grades only. Thursdays will instruct those in seventh grade through 12th grades. East Garfield Monday classes will be reserved for East Garfield's third and fourth grades and Fridays will be instruction for its first and second grades.
These changes will allow officials to instruct approximately 60 students in the building as opposed to the more than 120 students it previously taught each day.
"We will still be able to reach as many kids as before but now the number of students in the building will be more evenly distributed throughout the week," Bauman commented.
Students who attend East Garfield, Wells Academy, West Pugliese, McKinley STEM Academy and Harding will need to pick up a sign-up and transportation form in their respective school's office. The forms must be returned to the office in order to attend Sycamore classes and to receive a ride from the school to the center, Bauman said. He stated specific instructions about the classes and transportation are included in the forms. The schools require forms to be turned in so officials will know which children have permission to attend Sycamore and are permitted to ride in the Sycamore van after school.
"I would ask that Steubenville City School parents also sign the children up online, which will directly feed into our data system," Bauman said. "Sometimes the hand-written sign-ups we get are difficult to read. As a reminder, the online sign-up will not substitute for the required form that needs to be turned in to the school, but it would be appreciated if you are able to do so to make sure we have the proper information in case we need to get in touch with you."
All students, including those in public, private or homeschool, are welcome to attend Sycamore classes, Bauman concluded. Those who do not attend Steubenville schools are allowed to enroll, and are asked to attend according to the proper grade level for the day the classes are offered.
Grades and times can be found online at sycamorecenter.com/classes.
"We have more than 100 adults -- 40 being college students, that will be working with the children," Bauman noted. We will have our resource officer, Deputy Matt Morgan, back to assist on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and Cookie West will be back on Mondays and Wednesdays, as well."
Officials stated when reviewing the list of classes, to take note the children's folk dancing class is currently full. To be placed on a waiting list, contact Zac Gordon at gordonzag1028@icloud.com.
An alternative class is being offered on Monday nights from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Instructor Bob Tomlinson will teach a recreational folk dance class for those interested.
Officials stated during the summer, Gordon will lead an introductory folk dancing camp for newcomers.
The Sycamore classical choir still has openings, for those interested in music, Bauman said.