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Newsletter
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Pequawket Kids Association (PKA), 21st Century Community Learning Center, offers afterschool care at the three elementary schools in MSAD 72: Brownfield-Denmark, New Suncook and C. A. Snow Schools. Each site is licensed as a Child Care Facility by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. Enriching and engaging programs are offered daily from 2:30 - 5:30 p.m. while school is in session and during the summer.
Children have the opportunity to choose enrichment programs based on their own skills and interests. Programs will involve both active and quiet activities which will give children an opportunity to socialize and work on cooperation and problem-solving skills. At times, children will take home projects they have made in PKA activities. All programs will focus on activities that reinforce children's academic skills.
21 st Century Community Learning Center Goals Pequawket Kids Association strives to provide the best quality program for students and their families. In conjunction with 21 st Century Community Learning Centers, PKA has established three primary goals for children: academic, health and wellness, and cultural and multi-cultural. This year will continue our tradition for successfully meeting each of these goals. ACADEMIC GOAL
Academic support is provided daily. For younger children, much of that time is devoted to literacy and games that promote reading and basic mathematics. For older children, homework help is the focus. HEALTH AND WELLNESS GOAL Each day children are provided with a nutritious snack and engage in physical fitness by playing outside or in the gym in either free-play or small- or large-group activities. Local Chefs often work with students to prepare nutritious, low-cost meals they can make at home with their families. Both University of Maine 4-H Camp and Learning Center at Bryant Pond and Tin Mountain Conservation Center offer enrichment programs that take students outside to explore their environment. Safety, honesty, respect and responsibility will be integrated daily. CULTURAL and MULTI-CULTURAL GOAL Art, music and theatre are offered as enrichment programs throughout the year. Children have the opportunity to look at how children live around the world by exploring stories, traditions, games, crafts, and food from different cultures.
Staff Laura Riggs-Mitchell, Director I have served as Director of Pequawket Kids Association since its creation in August 2008 and today oversee the programs at all three elementary schools. The enthusiastic support PKA has received from the principals of the these schools has helped PKA to reach out to students and their families. I have a Bachelor of Science with a double major in Family and Consumer Science Education and Sociology from the University of Memphis, a Master of Science in Family and Consumer Science Education from the University of Rhode Island and a Master of Education from Providence. I worked in the Cumberland Public Schools in Rhode Island as a Family and Consumer Sciences and English teacher at both the middle school and high school level. I was recognized by Family Circle Magazine as a Home Economics Teacher of the Year. One of my greatest accomplishments was starting the Service-Learning program in my Child Development class: high school students spent one afternoon a week for a year at an elementary school, day care center, or childrens hospital working under the direction of a professional who guided them in understanding how to effectively communicate with children. I eventually became the Service-Learning Coordinator for the entire district. After receiving my M.Ed., I was appointed Assistant Principal of Cumberland High School, which had an enrollment of 1,600 students. I work closely with PKAs 14-member Advisory Board to ensure that we provide quality programs that are sustainable. The Board and the PKA staff recently developed a 5-year Strategic Plan. Grants and donations have been received during the last year from the following:
PKA will offer a raffle during the Fryeburg Fair. Look for us outside the Garden Center! One of my responsibilities is to develop and nurture the support of community organizations that contribute to make Pequawket Kids Association exciting to students and their families. PKA will continue to work with Fryeburg Academy, Fryeburg Fair, Fryeburg Library, Greater Lovell Land Trust, Mount Washington Observatory, Mountain Top Music Center, Poland Spring, Sherman Farm, Tin Mountain Conservation Center, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, and University of Maine 4-H Camp and Learning Center at Bryant Pond. Each PKA Coordinator and Assistant Coordinator brings her unique talents to the job, but all share one thing in common, a commitment to creating a rewarding, exciting and fun program that students will enjoy and parents will appreciate. Brownfield-Denmark School Faith Timberlake-Alves, Coordinator I was born in Cambridge Massachusetts, went to school in Massachusetts, but spent the best part of my childhood in Eaton Center, New Hampshire, where my family has continuously owned property since the 1770's. I attended Massachusetts College of Art, where I majored in art education with concentrations in photography, life drawing, printmaking, fibers and silversmithing. There I earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Art Education with Massachusetts certification to teach Art, kindergarten-12. Following college, I worked for four years as the Arts and Crafts Coordinator at the Ohrenberger Community School in West Roxbury. There I developed and taught arts and crafts classes for children, teens, adults and senior citizens. I am married and the mother of four adult children. My husband, one son and I reside in Eaton Center . When I have time, I particularly enjoy designing and making quilts, working on puzzles and reading science fiction. I spent 30 years as a candy maker and manager for Dorothy Timberlake Candies, a small family-owned business which we closed a year-and-a-half. Thank you to our volunteers who are contributing some interesting classes to our fall line-up! I am also grateful to all the participants who contributed to our STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) curriculum development this summer. I am excited to be presenting the resulting Bog Blog project. I look forward to returning for a new year with the Brownfield-Denmark PKA program. Carol Milia, Assistant Coordinator A New Englander all my life, I was educated in Boston and its suburbs. After graduating from Malden High School, I studied commercial advertising and fine arts at the Boston Museum School of Fine Arts at the Fenway in Back Bay. Being the mother of three lovely daughters. I am privileged they have wanted me to be involved in their lives, both emotionally and socially, since they were children. It has truly been an inspiration to me seeing them grow and develop into the women they are today. I have always felt that encouragement is a key to success. All children deserve to succeed and achieve their goals and dreams. If I can provide the word of encouragement that helps a child, then I have done my job. Since I have lived in Fryeburg, I have been actively involved in MSAD #72 as a substitute teacher, education technician III, and tutor. Having worked as a substitute in the Pequawket Kids Association's afterschool program, I am eager to be the Assistant Coordinator of PKA at Brownfield-Denmark School. New Suncook School Heather Sawin, Coordinator I am returning for my second year as Coordinator of Pequawket Kids Association's afterschool program at New Suncook School. Last year was a wonderful experience. For the past thirteen years I ran the Kreative Kids Preschool, LLC in Lovell. While my children attended New Suncook School, I was a classroom volunteer and PTA member. I was involved from the beginning of the LEAP (Lovell Enrichment Afterschool Program) which began in 1999 and eventually became the director of LEAP. I have volunteered my time as a Girl Scout Leader, Sunday School teacher, Youth Group Advisor, member of the Project Graduation Committee and Raider's Booster Club for Fryeburg Academy. I can't wait to get this year underway with new, exciting opportunities for the children at New Suncook School! Dawn Ferguson, Assistant Coordinator In the many years since earning my BA in art education, I have worked with children and adults in a variety of settings. I was the activities coordinator at the Boys and Girls Club in South Portland. I taught art to grades k-12 in Dixfield, Maine. I worked with people with physical and developmental disabilities in various capacities: as a job coach, in direct care and also did administrative planning and coordination. Prior to staying home with my son, Seth, for 8 years, I worked as an Education Technician in SAD 72 for 4 years. In the spring of this year, I joined PKA as assistant to Heather Sawin at New Suncook School. I am happy to be back for the 2011-2012 school year and excited about the programs we're offering to the students. C. A. Snow School Emily Henriksen, Coordinator Here is a little bit about me, I was born in Pasadena, California and moved throughout my childhood. I went to high school in Connecticut and then to Biddeford, Maine for college at The University of New England. I owned and operated a daycare in South Portland, Maine for two years. After that I moved to Chatham in 2007. I have had a great few years. I recently got married to my wonderful husband and we have been traveling all over the world. In May of 2011, I graduated from the University of New England with a Marine Biology degree and a minor in Environmental. My favorite activity to do is scuba diving. I have been diving off the coast of Costa Rica, Florida and just recently in the Georgia Aquarium shark tank. I love the ocean and all the organisms that live there. I have a passion for ocean conservation and sharks. I love to teach children and anyone who will listen about the ocean. I hope to share my interests and talents with you and your children. Please feel free to come up and talk to me, especially if you have concerns about your child that I may not know about. I look forward to meeting all of you and I am really excited about being the coordinator of PKA at Snow School. Betsy Fitzsimmons, Assistant Coordinator I am a new resident of Denmark, Maine, having moved with my husband and 2 boys, age 15 and 13 from Southeastern Massachusetts last summer. Being back in a rural community like where I grew up in Center Valley, Pennsylvania has been wonderful. I joined the PKA family last January providing Academic Support to the Kindergartners and 1st graders. We had a great time reading a book each day and doing an activity during the academic hour following snack. I am so excited to be joining Mrs. Guptill as the Assistant Coordinator of the Snow School PKA program this year. I have a Bachelor of Science from Purdue University in the College of Consumer and Family Sciences and a Master of Science in Food and Nutrition from Framingham State University in Framingham, MA. My past work with children and families has included 2 years with Pembroke Public Schools as a Special Education Paraprofessional, Secretary to Pembroke Public Schools Special Education Parent Advisory Council, Summer Bible School Teacher, and as a teacher with home-school children. My past work in nutrition services as a registered dietitian at several hospitals and community health centers will be really helpful with PKA's ongoing focus of promoting healthy eating and healthy lifestyles for our children and families During the warm weather, I have been working as a gardener and helping my family develop our farm in Denmark where we are raising cows, pigs and tending a flock of hens. My other interests include running, scrap booking and walking our dog, Mandi. It will be a pleasure to be back working with all the children and families of the Snow School PKA community. We have so many fun activities planned and new books to read every day. ENROLLMENT Pequawket Kids Association had an enrollment of 181 students in 2010-2011 at the three schools. PKA's staff is enthusiastic and well-qualified to work with your children. With daily schedules that include academic support provided by qualified staff, nutritious snacks, time for physical fitness out-of-doors or in the gym, and exciting enrichment programs, I am confident our enrollment will increase this school year. FOR MORE INFORMATION Visit Pequawket Kids Association's website, www.pka.me. Please feel free to contact me with questions or concerns. I may be reached by e-mail or phone (PKA's dedicated phone line is voice mail only. I check it several times daily and will promptly return calls.) E-mail: lriggsmitchell@msad72.k12.me.us
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Fundamental to the success of PKA is helping children succeed academically. In order to accomplish this, PKA staff are highly qualified and attend professional development workshops and conferences throughout the year. Teachers or educational technicians working in each school provide direct academic support for students in their schools. These PKA academic providers regularly communicate with teachers of students in the program to know how best to help each child.