The Columbus Horizons Mentoring Committee Has Come a Long Way
Now that the Horizons Mentoring Committee is working hard to get an afterschool program started hopefully this fall, who has collaborated with the committee to help them get to the point where they are?
Juliana Stevens and Katy Matovich were the initial co-chairs of the mentoring committee and met early on with Gail Richardson, Park City School Principal, and Mary Jo Engel, coordinator for an afterschool program in Big Timber to do an informal needs assessment and to determine possible expectations for the Columbus community.
Juliana Stevens attended the Eighth Annual Montana Afterschool Conference, sponsored by the Montana Afterschool Network (http://www.mtafterschool.org/) where she gained insight into establishing an afterschool program and shared with the committee.
Mr. Al Sipes, Columbus School Superintendent, and the administration from the Columbus Middle School and Columbus Elementary School worked with the Horizons Mentoring Committee to distribute afterschool program surveys. Approximately 160 surveys were returned to the teachers and elementary and middle school office staff. Roxie Holden from Stageline Pizza and the Stillwater Coalition supplied treats for the kids who returned their surveys to the schools.
Also, the Greater Gallatin United Way provided sample afterschool program handbooks for parents and for staff. Their website is www.greatergallatinunitedway.org.
Meetings were also held with the Stillwater Youth Center Board to explore the possibility of using its facility for the Horizons Afterschool Program.
Currently, Joey Hegstrum, the Executive Director of the Stillwater Community Coalition and Sharon Diane, Prevention Specialist with the Stillwater Tobacco Use Prevention Program, have agreed to serve as co-coordinators with the Stillwater Community Coalition serving as the fiscal program using their 501(C)3 status.
As the Columbus Horizons Project sunsets on June 30, 2008, plans proceed to establish an afterschool program for the Columbus community hopefully this fall.