By Laurie Hanson
The Youth Center and Rossmoor Community Services District (RCSD) are once again partnering to bring a new after school program location to Rush Park in Rossmoor beginning next school year. Enrollment is now open and the program will serve 30 children in 1st through 5th grades with “Walking Bus” offered from Hopkinson Elementary School. A ribbon cutting ceremony for the new program took place May 29.
“It is incredible to be able to open our new after school program at Rush Park,” said Youth Center Executive Director Lina Lumme. “We have been partnering with RCSD for the past 28 years, and together, we have served over 7,000 families.”
She continued to say that because of the partnership, The Youth Center is able to offer a low-cost and high quality after school care with homework help to the Rossmoor community. “We need to continue investing in our kids to secure their success in the future,” added Lumme.
RCSD Director Michael Maynard commented, “We want kids to have a place to go after school that is safe, secure and supervised. It’s all about the kids. That’s why we’re here.”
Similar sentiments were also expressed by RCSD Director Bill Kahlert who expressed the RCSD is there to help with anything they can do for the community as a whole, and that they want the kids to feel comfortable at the new location.
Similar to the R.A.S.C.A.L.S. program currently offered out of Rossmoor Park, children will receive on-going individualized care in a small group setting, and The Youth Center will continue to promote their literacy reading program at the new location. Both science and reading will be a part of the kids’ daily activities.
Each day children will be walked to the Rush Park location from Hopkinson Elementary by Youth Center staff and have daily homework help, reading time, games, crafts and outdoor play at the park’s playground. Tuition is $150 a month for full-time attendance Monday through Friday, but a part-time option is available. Space is limited.
For more information about the new Youth Center program at Rush Park, please visit online at www.theyouthcenter.org or call their office at 562-493-4043.
A ribbon cutting ceremony for the new program took place May 29. Photo by Arnie Fine