Just For Kids (JFK)
Our 2009-2010 school year work with the students of Raub Middle School saw lower attendance, but a more cooperative group of kids than in past years. We had time for one-on-one contact with the students who showed up and our corps of volunteers enjoyed their time with the youth.
We will set our schedule for the 2010-2011 school year later this summer and will advertise that schedule here when it is available. We coordinate with the church calendar and the school calendar to plan our activities.
Some new events are in the works, including visits from the Wildland Conservancy, the Lehigh County Zoo, the Baum School of Art, Hula Hoop magic and portable mural painting. We have recently purchased a fantastic Wii video and games, which the youth enjoy on Thursdays.
A Scholarship program has also been established as foundations lend their support to create a scholarship for one or more students to the Baum Art School and Civic Theatre Youth Acting program.
We are still seeking volunteers and if you have even one day in any four week session on a Tuesday or Thursday between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. that you can give to the youth from Raub Middle School, please contact George Miller at 610-434-0155 to ask questions or to volunteer, or reach him at geobmiller@aol.com. JFK is Mediator's primary outreach program and is a very important outreach ministry to our neighbors. Without volunteers, we will not survive! We need you!
P.S. If you have, or know anyone with, used or new LEGO's to
contribute to JFK, we'd all be in a wonderful mood to build something
anew.
VISION STATEMENT: Just For Kids at the Church of the Mediator creates a partnership with Raub Middle School and the community providing an after-school program for Raub Middle School 6th-8th grade youth. This program provides a welcoming and safe place that offers wholesome recreational and life skills activities.
Just For Kids (JFK) is a free after school program for 6th-8th grade Raub Middle School Students. In partnership with Raub Middle School and the community, JFK is an important outreach ministry of the Episcopal Church of the Mediator where the program is held. It is administered by a part-time paid Director and is dependent on volunteers, donations and grants to make it possible.
Begun in 1992 this after-school program has evolved as the student population has changed. The program is offered two afternoons a week for approximately twenty weeks over the course of the school year in an effort to serve the children and families of downtown Allentown.
Many of the students who attend are at-risk youth. Our structure and attendance has varied since its inception in an attempt to keep current with the needs of those we serve. Currently we offer five four-week sessions with an average attendance in 2007-2008 of about 30 students.
Activities are offered in a "club" setting around the primary interest areas of basketball, cooking, arts & crafts and games. Other activities have been added when deemed appropriate.
There is a JFK Advisory Council made up of volunteers and members of the parish, Raub Middle School and the community, which meets regularly to oversee the JFK program and support the work of the Director, who serves as an ex-officio member.
REVISED & ADOPTED 2/17/08