June Extra Fun Specialty Camps Dribble, Polish, and Craft Their Way to Success

Dozens of children participated in June Extra Fun Specialty Camps, learning, playing, exploring, and discovering more about their favorite area of interest. 

Basketball camp took place the week of June 13. Sports and Leagues Manager Gavin Sullivan put campers through their paces in dribbling, passing, shooting, defending, and physical endurance. 

During the week of June 20, group exercise instructor Tracy Smith led the Wacky & Fun Creative Art Camp. Children decorated magnets, created paper mache art, made tie-dye t-shirts for themselves, painted on canvas, and made art out of items found in nature.  

Instructor and counselor Priscilla Reny led Bows, Braids, and Beautiful Nails during the final week of June. Campers learned how to make their own hair bows and paint nails using several techniques including flowers, water marbling, and nail stamping. The class began with a basic three strand braid, and then advanced to a braided headband, a fishtail braid, and a five strand braid. 

Pearce will offer one-week ExtraFun Specialty Camps this summer to children going into grades 1-7 in the fall. Pick one, two, or all five week-long Extra Fun Specialty Camps focused on activities children love. Summer Camp enrollment is not required to participate in these specialty camps.

Children will spend time Monday through Friday learning, playing, exploring, and discovering more about their favorite area of interest. Choose:

Basketball:  June 13-17, for grades 1-3 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.; for grades 4-7 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Wacky & Fun Creative Art: June 20-24, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Braids, Bows, & Beautiful Nails: June 27-July 1, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Engineering:  July 11-15, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Cooking:  July 25-29, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

The cost of each camp is $30 for Pearce Foundation members; $30 for Pearce members; and $50 for non-members. 

The Learning Zone Puts Altrusa Donation to Good Use

The Learning Zone at Pearce recently received a donation from Altrusa and used the funds to purchase a new book cart on which to display some of the many children's books used during Learning Zone programs. 

Thank you Altrusa!

Support for The Learning Zone

Mike Ratcliff from the Chillicothe Township presented a check for $1,000 to Pearce Director Ben Alvarez for The Learning Zone, a supplemental education program for area children in grades K-8. 

The Learning Zone was selected to receive support because it meets the Township's mission of providing programs for low-income Chillicothe residents. Financial aid is available to all students who qualify. Pearce membership is not required to be eligible for assistance. 

Extra Fun Specialty Camps at Pearce

Pearce Community Center will offer one week Extra Fun Specialty Camps this summer to children going into grades 1-7 in the fall. Pick one, two, or all six-week-long Extra Fun Specialty Camps focused on activities children love. Summer Camp enrollment is not required to participate in these specialty camps.

Children will spend two hours Monday through Friday learning, playing, exploring, and discovering more about their favorite area of interest. Choose:

Soccer:  June 8-12, 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.

Basketball:  June 15-19, for grades 1-3 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; for grades 4-7 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.

Pottery:  June 22-26, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Engineering:  July 6-10, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Music:  July 20-24, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Cooking:  July 27-31, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

The cost of each camp is $30 for Pearce Summer Camp participants; $36 for Pearce Foundation member; $40 for Pearce members; and $50 for non-members.

For more information, call Pearce Community Center at (309) 274-4209, extension 104.

The Learning Zone Coming to Pearce

We are excited to announce our new program, The Learning Zone, beginning Tuesday, October 7. TLZ is designed to provide K-8 students with a safe, positive environment conducive to the focus and concentration required to learn. 

TLZ offers two programs: Tutoring and Homework Help. Appointments for tutoring must be made in advance. Homework Help is a drop-in program; however, initial registration is required. 

TLZ tutors include local K-8 educators. Morgan Watson, junior high math teacher at Chillicothe Elementary Center is one of TLZ's tutors. She joined the program because she believes it is important to be available to students outside of the classroom. "Forty-two minutes goes so fast," says Morgan. "I want students to know I care and I'm available to them." 

Morgan Watson

Morgan is in her sixth year of teaching math, science, and engineering to middle school-aged children. Her credentials are impressive. She graduated with a 4.0 grade point average, magna cum laude, with both her bachelor and master degree. She also earned certification from Project Lead the Way to teach engineering to middle school students. 

Her devotion to teaching young people manifests itself in her personal crusade to secure grant money for her classroom. In only six years, she has managed to win more than $22,000 in grants for the various classrooms in which she has taught. 

Tutoring will be available by appointment after school on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Working closely with you, the Tutoring Coordinator Sharon Padilla will discuss

Tutoring Coordinator Sharon Padilla

your concerns, and then consult

with your child's teacher to identify areas in need of improvement. Individualized lessons prepared specifically for your child will be presented by one of our highly qualified tutors. Through consistent communication and a common goal between parent, teacher, and TLZ, student learning and confidence will grow. Frequent, informal assessments will be prepared and presented to you and the teacher. 

One hour one-on-one tutoring sessions are available to purchase. Foundation members pay only $18.75; members pay $25; and non-members pay $30.

Homework Help is available from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. A tutor, along with the help of aides, will answer questions and give guidance on any school work your student brings to the Center. Our goal is to help students successfully complete homework assignments. In this quiet, supportive environment, the tutor and aides will also offer suggestions for effective study strategies. 

Homework Help punch cards are available to purchase. A 5-punch punch card is only $7.50 for Foundation members; $10 for members; and $15 for non-members. A 10-punch punch card is only $15 for Foundation members; $20 for members; and $30 for non-members.

Volunteer Tutor Aides Needed!
If you love seeing the light bulb click on in a child's eyes when they get it, volunteer in TLZ. Under the leadership of our highly qualified tutors, volunteers will check students into and out of the Zone; implement Center guidelines for addressing student's questions; monitor students in the Center; offer assistance with work students bring to the Center; suggest effective study strategies; and maintain a positive environment in the Center. 

Sound interesting? If you feel this list of qualifications applies to you, please contact us to see how you can help.

• Previous tutoring and or teaching experience preferred but not required.
• Completed two years of college, preferred but not required. Priority will be given to those in an education related field.
• Work comfortably with people from diverse backgrounds and exhibit patience and a positive attitude.
• Common Core experience or general understanding of Common Core standards preferred but not required.