Tillicum's After-School Program

Communities in School launched an after-school program at this past year. The nonprofit organization stretched a few dollars to help 30 students and now the pilot program has developed into a full-fledged outreach learning and recreation center for third through fifth graders.

With a $68,000 grant from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction in October, the CIS has helped the local communities’ outreach by bringing in nearly one-third of the school’s student body in an attempt to improve math, reading and performing arts skills. The program runs Monday through Thursday from 2:30-4:30 p.m.

Fourth grader Georgina Soliai was working on her long multiplication with the help of Omar Vera, a senior at who volunteers three times a week for two hours.

Another fourth grader, Jessica Thomas, was at the table working on division. The program has a math and reading emphasis, because those are the two subjects that must show sustainability, said Leah Livingston, CIS coordinator.

Tillicum Elementary School Principal Taj Jensen said the program offers students two more hours to learn and play than normal.

The Tillicum and Woodbrook neighborhoods—where the school's student body resides—are isolated from the rest of Lakewood, making it hard for young students to visit other recreation centers like the Boys & Girls Club and the YMCA. And with an already limited number of after-school programs within walking distance, the elementary school’s extended education and recreation program gives kids a place to go before many parents come home from work.

“It’s an all-around support system,” Jensen said.

The 21st Century Grant is to extend for another four years, providing CIS with $340,000 of funding. In addition, Livingston said they have received a few smaller grants from The City of Lakewood, Clover Park Foundation, Discuren Foundation, Lakewood Kiwanis and other private donations.

And because of the Clover Park School District's shrunken budget, the grant makes it possible to provide educational and recreational opportunities that would otherwise not exist.

“CIS fills in the gaps and identifies where help is needed,” Livingston said.

The CIS has two full-time staff members, but many of the volunteers that help are parents and teachers of the school. Fifth-grade instructor Tara Longfellow was working on a special project with a group of about 15 kids in her classroom. Split into small groups, they were tasked to build their own city using Google Earth.

Fifth grader Leslie McIntre enjoyed the assignment.

“It’s like we’re building a city of our own,” she said.

In addition to the help students receive on math and reading skills, the program allows for a creative function. For the first time in recent history, fourth graders will performa play, “Folk Tales of the Forest,” at 6 p.m. on June 14 at the elementary school. They began rehearsing for the three-act production in January.

Becki Turner, a Tillicum elementary para-educator, helped the students with their roles and costumes. She said the experience for the students has been awesome.

“They have talents that were never exposed,” Turner said.

The production, based on the idea of conservation and saving the environment, will feature singing, dancing and cultural performances from mythological characters like Johnny Appleseed and Paul Bunyan.