Extended Day students ready to take it to the hill
By Caitlyn Kelleher Journal Reporter

Maeve Bradley works on her homework during Extended Day.

Kolby Beauvais already knows what he is going to lobby state Sen. Stephen Brewer and Rep. Robert Rice for on Wednesday, March 14.

Beauvais and two of his fifth grade classmates, Maeve Bradley and Liz Dugas, are preparing to go to Beacon Hill on Afterschool and Youth Advocacy Day. The three Ashburnham residents are going to ask the legislators to add more money into supplementing the cost of after-school programming.

"It is important to us and to our families," Beauvais said.

The fifth grader has attend- ed the Extended Day program at John R. Briggs Elementary School for the last six years. He said the program, which is funded through tuition, allows his mother to work a day shift instead of having to work overnight.

The Extended Day program operates at Briggs and Westminster Elementary School to provide childcare to students before and after school as well as during school vacations.

The program costs $3.50 per hour, said Director Dorene Francis. But she is afraid the price is going to have to increase for the summer program and next year.

(L. to r.) Maeve Bradley, Liz Dugas and Kolby Beauvais are going up to Beacon Hill on Wednesday to lobby for additional funding for after school programs.

The program employs 37 part- and full-time staff members, who monitor between 85 and 110 children at a time. The students have time for games and sports, computer use, homework and relaxation, during their time after school.

All three admit they probably do better on their homework because of the dedicated homework time.

"I'd get distracted at home," Dugas said.

She added the program also allows her to release some of the pent-up energy in the gym after school but before going home.

Bradley added she feels safer at school.

"It means we don't have to go home to an empty house," she said.

"We're going (to Beacon Hill) to raise money for Extended Day to get new supplies," Beauvais said.

The students know which supplies they would like to see added to the program's options. The supplies run from new games and sports equipment to books and CDs. They also would also like to be able to afford more field trips - which are offered during school break - and the ability to increase the number of walkie-talkies used by the staff to communicate with each other.

The students are ready for their meetings and are getting excited. And they have prepared their points of contention with the state funding.

"I've heard the state donates more money to the men in prison then they do to the elementary kids' programs, that's kind of sad," Dugas said.

Frances believes statements like that and stories like those the students share will make more of an impact than her statements.

"Our legislators know the need, they see the need," she said. "The impact of having the kids tell their stories, maybe they will remember a bit more."

She was excited that the lobbying day was scheduled for one of the school's half- days.

Francis said she would like to see the state money help families that can't afford the program and to allow older students to attend.

Students "age out" at 12 years old, but she said "it is not a good idea for a 12- year-old to be home by themselves."

Advocacy Day will also be a good experience for the students, she noted.

"It's a good opportunity to let them see the Statehouse," Francis said.