THE ZONE
ZONE FAMILY EVENTS
ZONE
-After School Program
Where
can you find a fun and safe place to go everyday after school where you get
snacks, games, recreation, and can get help with your homework too? It’s the
Zone!!
The
Morris TREC Program, sponsored by University of Minnesota,
Morris Area Community Education, Morris Area Elementary School
and Stevens County Family Services Collaborative, which began in
1997, has become a part of the newly, expanded free after school
program—the ZONE. The ZONE provides homework, wellness,
games and fun opportunities for Kindergarten through twelve
grade students. The program runs Monday through Friday from
3:15 pm till 5:30 pm at the Morris Area elementary. These
programs will resume Fall 2008.
The
Zone is a free program that is funded by the Minnesota
Department of Education by a $200,000 grant. The Zone is
coordinated by Andrea Hoogendoorn with the assistance of Jen
Kill and Steven Sterud. There are also over 60 college tutors
who help with the Zone.
Homework help for students of all ages is of great importance
at the Zone. Tutors work with students on study skills,
journaling, computer time, reading, wellness activities and
homework.
Each
day we provide a healthy and nutritious snack for the kids, they
write in their journals and then have homework time. They also
have 30 minutes of wellness activities each day. They range from
a walking club, jump ropes, yoga, Pilates, dance aerobics,
silent ball, gym, or playground time. Three days a week a pro
from the RFC leads a wellness activity.
One
day a week we do something special with the students. We have
“Bonus Time Tuesday’s.” This is a day where the students can go
into the community or community members can come to us. We try
to learn about something new and exciting that we don’t have the
opportunity to do during the regular day. We have made clay
pottery, went rock climbing, watched a movie at the Morris
Theatre, learned about bones from the UMM Science club, had a
bingo day, went bowling, and more. The students really look
forward to coming on Tuesdays! Our final Tuesday will be taking
place in St. Cloud at the Planetarium.
One
of the most important things we try to emphasize in the Zone is
that don’t provide more school after school. We want to enrich
the student’s lives with caring people, safe environments, and
opportunities to help and learn. We are building relationships
with each of the kids that come through our door.
If
you would like to learn more about the Zone, please contact
Andrea Hoogendoorn at
ahoogen@morris.k12.mn.us or 589-4394.
Our Grant
coordinator is Andrea Hoogendoorn. Andrea was raised in Akron, IA., and went to
college at SDSU in Brookings, SD. She graduated with a degree in Ag. Systems
Technology, with an emphasis in 4-H and Youth Extension. Since moving to the
Morris area, she has worked as a 7-12 choir teacher and Jr. High volleyball
coach at Chokio-Alberta. She has also been a substitute teacher in the Chokio-Alberta,
Wheaton, Hancock and Morris Area schools. She and her husband have 3 children.
She enjoys scrapbooking, singing, playing piano, and spending time on walks with
her family. She is very excited about the possibilities this grant will bring
to the youth in our community and expanding on the wonderful programs that are
already in place through Community Education.
