February 25, 2013

extended day celebrates 25 years

DOSSIER

Year started: 1987

Children served this year: 432

Growth: In 25 years, MLEDP grew from serving 12 to 14 percent of the Mt. Lebanon school population to 18 percent.

Number of centers: Nine (each Mt. Lebanon elementary school, plus Dormont Elementary in Keystone Oaks, and the summer program at Mt. Lebanon Christian Church).

Ages served: K-5 Hours of operation: Summer: 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

School year: Kindergarten: 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Elementary care: 7 a.m. to start of school; end of school to 6:30 p.m.

Executive Director: Diane Doyle, in her 10th year. Assistant director Dawn Chrestay has been there 25 years and kindergarten program director Cindy King has been there 10 years.

Board members: President David Hogg, Vice President Elizabeth Neidle, Treasurer Tim Smith, Secretary Rhonda Magdsick. Directors: Judy Burns, Lisa Einwag, David Karp, Linda King, Dorothy Larotonda, Tobin Nelson, Michael Norrell, Claire Vatz.

Emma Chrestay, an Employee of the Extended Day center at Washington school leads students in games, crafts, creative play and even help with homework.

Doyle answered the following:

Greatest challenge: Time to complete all of the planned activities with the children on a daily basis; homework assistance, arts, drama, music, crafts, science fun, sewing, Legos, sports and snack.

Biggest reward: The best reward about the program is impacting the lives of children with enriching experiences: learning new skills, developing socially, exploring a wide range of activities and discovering interests, and having children say they are not ready to leave when their parent comes for pick up…and having young people, in later years, speak fondly of their experiences with Extended Day.

People really don’t know: MLEDP promotes life skills experiences such as decision-making, leadership, responsibility for themselves and others through regularly held group meetings, child-led activities and children deciding group rules (and whether those rules are achieved). Students plan and carry out service projects to develop an awareness of others in the community, including monthly visits to an elder care facility, preparing care packages for troops, making blankets for dog shelters and doing gardening in the community.

Rates and application at www.mledp.org.

Read the mtl story about Extended Day’s 20th anniversary at ebooks.mtlebanon.org/mtl/mtl-092007/files/50.html.