http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/15505/
Monday, June 05, 2006
Bass Pro Commits to Helping School Plus
School PLUS students and teachers will have one more thing to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.
Olathe, Kan. -
infoZine - The opening of Bass Pro Shops' first Kansas store in Olathe in November brings new opportunities for the School PLUS program. Bass Pro Shops has committed to provide educational and financial support for students in the before- and after-school program.
School PLUS students make handprints in concrete.Twenty-nine School PLUS students, their teachers and program director joined representatives from Bass Pro Shops, the City of Olathe and school district May 24 for a "foundation laying" event on the construction site that will become Bass Pro Shops at 119th Street and Renner Road. They gathered for the announcement that Bass Pro Shops will provide $1,000 scholarships for each of the current School PLUS sites: Central, Fairview, Westview elementary schools, and for Washington Elementary, which begins hosting a program in August.
The outdoor retailer also plans to provide educational programs for School PLUS students, as well as offer field trips and other activities throughout the school year.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for students, staff and the School PLUS community," said School PLUS Director Kathy Mangino. "This partnership will provide students with hands-on experiences in conservation and ecology. It will also allow students who normally could not afford to attend School PLUS the opportunity to attend."
Students attend School PLUS from 7-8 a.m. and after school until 6 p.m. They enjoy quiet reading time, a school breakfast, an after-school snack, help with homework, extra tutoring in reading and math, and some enrichment classes that range from cooking to sports.
School PLUS began in 2001 with funding from a 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant. When the grant expired, the district and City of Olathe partnered to continue funding the program.
Posted 6/8/06
