By Emily Enfinger | The Selma Times-Journal

After school education is being made fun thanks to Selma Community Learning Center at Meadowview Elementary School.

Selma Community Learning Center is an after school program for students Kindergarten through fifth grade every Monday through Friday from 3:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. during the school year.

Program director Angie Thomas said Selma Community Learning Center is funded by a federal grant through 21st Century. She said the program has six goals, which include incorporating engaging activities to improve academic progress in reading and math, to promote awareness to healthy eating and exercise, service learning, family involvement, improving attendance and exposing students to the arts such as music, theater and dance.

“Yes, academics is a huge part because we do want to see our growth … but it’s so much more,” Thomas said. “It’s getting these children in that aren’t coming to school regularly. It’s exposing them to the arts, exposing them to things we find an area of need.”

Thomas said students with a history of tardies or absences are a focus group of the program.

“We’re targeting them because we know if they have fun in the after school program they’re going to want to come to school and then they get to stay for this fun program in the afternoon,” Thomas said.

She said the program currently provides to 148 students.

“It’s always a fun activity on top of academics, but the thing is they’re learning, but they’re having a great time too,” Thomas said.

Students have designated time every day during the program to work on homework. It is then followed by various activities such as twirling, music, art, book club, Students Who Assist Teachers (S.W.A.T.), learning about nutrition and more.

Thomas said they occasionally they go on field trips to expand on learning experiences outside the classroom.

She said some of the places they have visited include the Birmingham Zoo, Children’s Hands on Museum in Tuscaloosa and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival.

Ashley Walker Hale, second grade teacher at Meadowview Elementary, said it is great for children whose parents work late because the children get to spend more time with their peers while in a learning environment.

For more information about Selma Community Learning Center at Meadowview Elementary, call (334) 874-1655.