'Lights on' at Semmes club

On Oct. 22, Semmes Boys & Girls Club took part in the 10th annual "Lights on After School," an event created by the Afterschool Alliance to showcase programs that keep children safe, inspire them to learn and help working families (see www.afterschoolalliance.org).

Blake DeWitt , director at the Semmes club, gave some basic facts about the Semmes program, which has about 150 in daily attendance.

Housed in the old Semmes Middle School on Wulff Road, Semmes Boys & Girls Club provides after-school and summer programs for children ages 6-18; the unit is open from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. during the school year and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the summer.

DeWitt said programs focus on five core areas: character and leadership development; education and career development; health and life skills; the arts; and sports, fitness and recreation.

The Semmes unit provides transportation from six area schools — Allentown, Semmes, Wilmer and J.E. Turner elementary schools, Semmes Middle School and Mary G. Montgomery High School. Students were eager to show guests around the campus during the open house. Among those guides were Bailey Wheeler, Cole Howard and Tristan Lewis of Semmes Middle School. Tynisha Howard and Brantley McKinion from MGM said they helped out with the younger children.

And included among the visitors were Karen McDuffie and Diane Moore of the Semmes Woman's Club; Ken Megginson, president of the Mobile County Public School Board; and Holly Smith, parent manager from MGM.

For information on the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Alabama, visit www.bgcsouthal.org. To learn about the Semmes club, call DeWitt at 251-645-9027.

Each month, Lee Primary School in Satsuma honors outstanding individual students and one classroom in each grade level, K-2. Students selected by their teachers are recognized as "Key Students" because they have found the "keys" to a good education at Lee School. The winner is leader of the class for the next month.

Sonya Bryant, first-grade teacher and spokesperson for the school, said that actions needed for each child to become a "greater me" is to study hard, respect the rights of others, follow directions, listen carefully, obey the rules, take pride in the school, use time wisely, do their best, do their homework and complete all assignments.

Classes collect keys for "key" behaviors and at the end of the month when all the keys are counted, the class with the highest total wins a popcorn party for the students and $25 for their teacher to spend in the classroom.

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