Columbus, MT

Thanks to Columbus School District, the Horizons Mentoring Committee had a tremendous response to their afterschool survey. Approximately 160 surveys were turned in at the elementary and middle schools.

Following is a summary of results:

1. 93% of the respondents indicated that an afterschool program would benefit children in the Columbus community.
2. Youths in upcoming grades 4-6 seemed to have the greatest number of youths who would participate in an afterschool program.
3. The highest ranked activities which respondents thought should be a part of the afterschool program included: homework/study help, reading/writing, arts & crafts, fun, playing games/fun activities, sports, learning with fun activities, exercise/physical activity, art/music/acting.
4. 47% indicated that they would need some form of transportation for their child(ren) to get to the afterschool program.
5. Many comments were also submitted with the surveys.

The Horizons Mentoring Committee wishes to thank everyone who responded to the survey. It wishes to thank Superintendent Al Sipes for his support of distributing the survey in the Columbus Schools Newsletter, and the administration from the Columbus Middle School and Columbus Elementary School as well as the teachers and office staff for their assistance in distributing the survey to the classrooms and providing places to turn in the surveys. In addition, thank you to Roxie Holden from Stageline Pizza and the Stillwater Coalition for supplying treats for the kids for doing their part by returning their surveys to the schools. Most of all, thank you to the parents; your community support is greatly appreciated.

http://columbus.communityblogs.us/2008/05/20/after-school-program-interest/

Columbus Schools Superintendent Al Sipes is very supportive of the Horizons Project and the Mentor Committee establishing a community afterschool program. The Mentor Committee has a ‘needs’ survey for the parents in the community that Mr. Sipes has offered to assist in disseminating through the use of the Columbus Schools Newsletters. The Horizons Mentor Committee will be submitting a survey for the Columbus Schools April Newletter mailer that can be returned by the students to their homeroom teacher or the Middle School Office or can be mailed to the Stillwater County Extension Office, PO Box 807, Columbus, MT 59019. A survey will also be attached to the Columbus Elementary School weekly newsletter that will be ready to distribute before the school spring break. Elementary students may return the completed surveys to their homeroom teacher. The Horizons Mentor Committee asks that surveys be returned by April 15, 2008.

If you or anyone you know is interested in assisting the Mentor Committee with the Afterschool Program project or have a desire to see another mentor project started, please don’t hesitate to respond. Co-Chairwomen Juliana Stevens (322-4550) and Katy Matovich (322-5546) would really like to hear your ideas.

http://columbus.communityblogs.us/2008/03/17/afterschool-program-survey/

Horizons is looking into whether an after-school program should be pursued for the Columbus area. During the Horizons study circles on poverty and during the LeadershipPlenty® classes in 2007, this issue arose numerous times.

Studies show that students involved in afterschool programs get better grades, attend school more and have improved behavior. They also express greater hopes for the future and more interest in school.

So Horizons is encouraging parents to indicate whether this is a priority and whether the Horizons Mentoring/Youth Committee should go forward investigating this possibility. Please comment on this blog as to whether you would utilize such a program for your children if we had an afterschool program in Columbus.

Horizons is also seeking people who would interested in working on a committee to pursue such a program.

http://columbus.communityblogs.us/2008/01/13/is-it-time-for-an-afterschool-program-in-columbus/

Welcome, parents! Stillwater Community is a great place to live, and members of the Horizons Project wants you to enjoy it as much as they do. If you are a parent, looking for positive, healthy relationships and family-oriented activities, you are invited to become acquainted with other parents in your community on the first Monday evening of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the United Bank. Babysitting will be provided. Please call Juliana at (406)322-4550 or Tammi at (406)322-5331 with any questions you might have.

http://columbus.communityblogs.us/2007/10/31/welcome-members-of-the-stillwater-community-2/