Making Strides After-School Program Enjoys Great Start

Southside Elementary School’s after-school program started the new year with a lot of enthusiasm and interest last week.

Principal Tara Thomas said that 67 students attended for the first day on Monday, Jan. 8, and the number increased to 75 on the second day on Tuesday, Jan. 9. The after-school program is conducted at Southside on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Thomas said a positive change is stressing literacy this year. A book club takes place for students under the direction of teacher Dori Talks Different in the school’s library. Talks Different’s kindergarten class recently tested above the average grade level. She reads books to the book club students in 30-minute sessions.

Visiting instruction for the after- school program will include introduction to the library, gymnastics, tribal culture and HPDP’s health education.

Wolf Point native Shelica Deserly is excited about teaching gymnastics to the students. She is a former member of the gymnastics team in Circle.

“It’s fun, it’s awesome,” Deserly said of the experience.

On Tuesday, she was instructing the first-third graders how to do splits and cartwheels.

“I want to teach them what they want to learn and see if they want to pursue it,” Deserly said of gymnastics. “I love gymnastics personally.”

Thomas noted that officials are researching how to obtain a 21st century grant in order to afford a year-long program.

The after-school program begins with each of the students enjoying a healthy snack.

The principal said the main purpose of the program is to help students reach their class learning level and maintain that standard.