A new Boys and Girls Club in Galeton brings smiles to children's faces.
On Tuesday, Galeton Elementary School began hosting the new after-school club each day from 3:30-7:30 p.m.
Hundreds of students are bused to and from school every day, and the elementary school is the last pickup stop in the afternoons.
"The (elementary) students sit and wait for the buses after school," said Ed Fickes, chief professional officer of Boys and Girls Clubs of Weld County. "Some of them are taken home to empty houses."
At a cost of $25 per year, students enjoy after-school care, which focuses on education, career, character and leadership development. Students can also participate in board games, crafts, pool, foosball, and indoor and outdoor recreation. Payment arrangements can be made.
"It's a pretty good price for what you get for it," said Paula Pierot, mother of 6-year-old Dominic Pierot, who is part of the Club. "(Dominic) gets to spend time with kids outside of school."
Funding is available to operate the program for the first three years, Fickes said.
"The school district does not have enough money to send the students into town," Fickes said. "So we brought the program to the school."
The first 30 minutes of the program must be spent on homework, and if the students do not have homework, they practice their skills in a subject such as reading or spelling, Fickes said.
The number of students in attendance has increased each day.
On Tuesday, eight students showed up, on Wednesday 16 and on Thursday 21. At this point, only elementary students have attended. Middle school and high school students are welcome as well, once they turn in permission slips to get off the buses.
"It's expected that we'll reach our membership goal of 300 at the end of the year," said Tiffanie Becher, unit director.
Traditionally, membership is 45 percent elementary students, 45 percent middle school students, and 10 percent high school students, with a nearly equal ratio of boys to girls, Fickes said.
The club is for students in areas surrounding Galeton, not just for the Eaton district, Fickes said.
The students interact with the staff, which includes Becher, a part-time staff member; Alicia Norris, 24, who has worked with Boys and Girls Clubs since she was 18; and four Eaton High School students: Jarrod Fouts, 17, Dustin Humphrey, 16, and Jenifer Denney, 15, are junior staff members, and Sharlene Hart, 17, is a volunteer. Becher also hopes to get some work-study staff from the University of Northern Colorado.
Call Tiffanie Becher, unit director, at (970)396-9265.