Keys Summer Program Provides a Fun Environment for Youngsters

During the summer months one may find a different scene outside the high school. Instead of teens walking along the grounds there is a group of young children fast at play as a group of teachers closely look after them.

This is the Keys program for students in grades K to 5 at Euclid and Lincoln Schools. Bridgette Cavanagh, a teacher at Euclid School who has been leading the program for the past 11 years, said the program runs all year as an after school program during the school year. During the summer months it’s offered from 7:30 a.m. to either 4:30 or 6:30 p.m. and is an ideal program for parents who work all day. Parents can pay weekly and can also choose to pick their children up anytime that works for them or at either dismissal time.

The program really keeps the kids entertained as they do all sorts of activities day in and day out from arts and crafts indoors to outdoor play and day trips, Cavanagh explained. They do talent shows and have a movie day each week.

Thursdays and Fridays they bring the kids out to the front lawn, run the sprinklers and let the kids have a ball running through the water stream. Since some of the kids may want to play outside and others inside they split the day up to include a variety of activities for both environments, Cavanagh explained.  Some of the upcoming trips will be to a bowling alley and to see Glassworks in Madison.

There are always two teachers, one aid and two student counselors on hand at all times, she explained. In fact some of the student counselors were once formerly in the program as youngsters, Cavanagh said.

The summer Keys program runs for seven weeks which began June 27 and will run until Aug. 12.