21st Century After-school Program Update
This month’s student services update was submitted by Deborah Barkhurst, Family Engagement Coordinator for the district’s 21st Century After-school Program, and highlights the program’s family engagement activities taking place January and February.
On January 19th The Bucyrus City Schools’ After School Program is again sponsoring a family activity for all students in the program and their family members. The January meeting topic will be Nutrition and Healthy Cooking. Guest speakers for the event will include: Liz Smith from the Ohio State University Extension office and several 4-H students demonstrating easy after-school recipes for kids, Kristin Pullin from the Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio sharing information about the local food bank resources and demonstrating quick dinner recipes, Lori Pennington, director of BCS food services, sharing information about the school food service, the local backpack program, and the Future Chef program, Tami Baumberger, a Family and Consumer Science instructor in Shelby, discussing the “My Plate” government guide to healthy eating portions, and Joyce Weaver from the Infection Control office at the Bucyrus Community Hospital, discussing safe hand washing in the kitchen. There will be cooking demonstrations, tastings, and each family will receive a recipe, a baking dish, and ingredients for one of the evening’s featured recipes. This program is open to all After School Program students and their families and will take place at BHS from 6-8pm.
The next scheduled program will be February 16th when the After School Program will be partnering with the local Red Cross office. This 
February program will be open to all families in the Bucyrus City School district and the topic will be disaster preparedness. As part of the evening program, the families will be organizing a disaster kit to take home after the event. Parents attending the February event are asked to bring a picture ID, a utility bill with their address, and a list of family medications. There will be free Xeroxing available for these items so that information can be added to the family disaster kit.
For more information regarding the after-school program’s family engagement activities, contact Deb Barkhurst at 419.569.1892 or Debbarkhurst@hotmail.com. Additional information regarding the program can be found on our website.
