Monday, May 31, 2010

Summer Kids Club at Page Elementary sports new supervisor

Summer Kids Club at Page Elementary sports new supervisor

Summer Kids Club at Page Elementary sports new supervisor

Posted: 31 May 2010 06:14 AM PDT

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"They just call me Nick."

Precisely. Walking into the Page Elementary School office at lunch time Wednesday a half dozen youngsters recognized the brand new supervisor of the Kids Club Summer Program at the school walking down the hall and rang out: "Hi Nick!"

"Hi!" he said, calling out a few of their names.

Meet Nick Delagardelle - 23, hometown Jesup, Iowa State University graduate and new kid on the block at Page. Just two weeks ago, he took over the helm of the Kids Club Summer Program, just one of many programs provided by Youth & Shelter Services, which is based in Ames.

"We're on a first name basis so we can become friends," Delagardelle said. "We're building friendly relationships with adults. I'm their supervisor and friend as well. They just call me Nick."

The Kids Club – the first one started in Boone in 1995 – is just that: a place for elementary school children to go before and after school to play games, dabble in arts and crafts, and be with their friends. When the school year ends June 4 the club won't miss a beat and roll right into the Kids Club Summer Program on June 7.

"The club is for children who are looking for something to do in the summer or need a place to go while their parents are out," he said. "And it's a place to meet new kids in the community. It's not just for low income, but it's open to everyone. We'll have a variety of different activities."

Delagardelle will be at Page bright and early at 6:45 a.m. the first day of the summer program, June 7, waiting for the children and their parents to show up at the school's gymnasium door, a stone's throw from the intersection at Union and S. Boone streets.

"I like to meet the parents at the door when they drop their kids off so they can meet me," he said.

The new supervisor and his four assistants – they have yet to be selected - will spend the rest of the day, and the coming summer days until mid August, with the children until 6 p.m.

"I hope to have about 20 to 25 kids this summer," Delagardelle said.

Aside from the daily activities in the school gym, such as playing Dr. Dodgeball, painting with watercolors, playing board games or practicing spelling with magnetic letters, a host of summer field trips are planned. How does an Iowa Cubs game sound? How about a visit to the Des Moines Art Center? Or a trip to Boone Speedway? They're all on the field trips list.

"We'll try to take a field trip every week," Delagardelle said. "We'll go to a variety of different places so the kids are not cooped up in the gym all day. We'll also be going to the (city) pool," he said.

Parents are welcome on the field trips and any time at the Kids Club, he said.

Also, every week has a different "theme," including Field of Dreams, June 21-25; Boone Railroad, July 6-9, and RAGBRAI, July 26-30.

The YSS sponsors four other Kids Clubs, one at Ballard West Elementary in Slater and another at Gilbert Elementary in Gilbert. Also, there is the Roland Kids Club at Roland-Story Elementary in Story City and in State Center there's a club at West Marshall Elementary.

Delagardelle was recently on a downtown Boone radio station, KFFF, The Faith and Freedom Network, "to get the word out," he said. "I'm hoping to get 20 to 25 kids."

Graduating from Don Bosco High School, Delagardelle went to Iowa State University and graduated last year with a bachelor's of science degree in Health and Human Performance. For several years he worked as a Recreation Assistant for Ames Park & Recreation Department.

He said that he saw the job opening and thought that he was a good fit for it.

"I like working with youth," he said. "They're fun to be around. There's always something fun to do and laugh about."

It's not too late to register for the Boone Kids Club and parents can register children any time during the summer. The $25 fee, plus $5 for each additional child in the same family, is based on a sliding scale according to income and the family size. Send your child with a sack lunch; morning and afternoon snacks are provided.

"It's for those who can afford it and also for those who are low income," he said. "The sliding fee gives them the opportunity that they might not have had."

First-year Page Principal Chris Myers, who's been in the Boone Community School District for 16 years and is also the Logan Elementary principal, said he was "impressed with what the (Club) staff has provided for the kids."

The club, he said, "is a place to go. The kids can come all summer. They take field trips, go to the pool. And it's great for latch-key kids, from a safety standpoint. Those are long days in the summer."

The new supervisor has a few goals he'd like to achieve this summer.

"I'd like to get more participants," he said. "Educate the youth. Have fun and meet new people. Keep learning through the summer."

"I've been learning a lot the first two weeks," he added. "I'm getting the hang of it, and I'm really enjoying it."

No doubt, so are the kids.


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