Keeping minds sharp
By Staff
Melissa Cason, Franklin County Times
PHIL CAMPBELL – Although school has been out for about a month, kids throughout the county are still learning and having fun through the Community Education's summer camp programs.
The programs offer an educational atmosphere for students in grades K through six, Tori Bendall, coordinator for the Phil Campbell site, said.
"We try to give the kids fun activities to breakup the day," Bendall said.
The program is an extension of Community Education's after-school program, and offers educational activities for students during the summer months. Program activities include math and reading exercises, arts and crafts, and water games.
"Kids lose so much over the summer," Bendall said. "We hate to see students lose the knowledge they gained over the summer so we try to keep their brain stimulated with educational activities."
This summer's theme is Shape it up: Getting mind and body physically fit. The students attended an aerobics class each Friday morning taught by instructor Ginger Jolly, and have nutrition classes each week as well.
The summer program is geared toward teaching students, parents and community members at large how to make appropriate meal choices and the importance of regular exercise, Bendall said.
The nutrition and aerobic classes are open to the parents and the community at large with the cost of only $5 per class, Bendall said.
"We would like parents and community members to join us during these classes," Bendall said.
The aerobics class is every Friday at 9:30 a.m. for adults, and the nutrition classes will vary from week to week. Anyone interested in attending either the nutrition class or aerobics can contact Community Education for more information at 331-0005.
While the summer program at Phil Campbell is in full swing, there is room for additions to the class. Anyone wishing to enroll his or her child in the summer program can do so by contacting Community Education.
"Every staff member at the Phil Campbell site is in the education field, and the site coordinators are certified teachers," Bendall said.
Community Education has four summer program sites in the county. The summer program sites are located at Red Bay, Russellville, Belgreen and Phil Campbell.
