<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2Oqxh5_1FDjXKla00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2Oqxh5_1FDjXKla00" width="1600" height="900" ><figcaption>Without childcare available in town and the loss of the town’s rec department, families in Limestone are getting a little help. (WAGM)</figcaption></figure>LIMESTONE, Maine (WAGM) - Without childcare available in town and the loss of the town’s rec department, families in Limestone are getting a little help. Childcare has been hard to find across all of Aroostook County, but one Limestone school program is stepping up to fill the gap. Last year Limestone Community School started an after-school program for kids in pre-K through 4th grade to help address the lack of childcare in town. Now, the program has taken off. The program’s director, Lisa Burress said: “Since day 1 it’s really taken off. We actually looked at the numbers today and between the grades of pre-k and 4 we only have about 75-76 students and 40 something of them like I said come to the after-school program. So, there’s quite a big chunk of them that come here.”Now, parents in town say they no longer have to worry about who’s picking up their kid when the school day ends. “It was a huge help this last year. So, I just finished my master’s degree. So, I’d work here at the school all day and then have to go do clinicals in the afternoon. That would have been almost impossible without the help of the ASP program,” said parent, Marissa Keiser.The program not only has fun activities for the kids but also teaches some skills. “We have basketball. We have all kinds of hands-on activities. We do crafting. We try to be outside a lot with them. We have younger kids upstairs. We focus on hand eye coordination, puzzles, drawing, art, working on our friendship skills,” said Burress.“He comes home all the time talking about all the fun he had. Last year in particular they allowed the after-school kiddos to go swimming a couple days a week. Loved that and that really also helped build his swimming skills as he went into kindergarten. So, it was amazing,” added Keiser.Kids in the program say they enjoy staying after school. “I think it’s really good for parents who have to work a lot. My favorite part is playing with friends,” said one student, Paisley Goodine.“I think it’s really good because we get to play together with more friends and we get to have fun,” added Olivia Jaimeson another A.S.P. student.This year the program split up kids by age. A change not all of them loved. “Well, honestly I liked having the little ones around because then we actually had to be more careful,” said A.S.P. student Oaklee Elliott.The program is also looking at allowing middle school students to join. “I would like to eventually be able to include an after-school program for our middle school students. Hopefully, we can find space and staff and be able to accommodate them as well but that’s still something we’re working on,” said Burress.Now, parents in Limestone can rest a little easier and the kids in the program get a little more after-school fun. To enroll your child in the program or to learn more call 496-9165.</div></body>

Block Source: wagmtv.com

Misinformation

Clickbait

Old or repetitive news

Explicit content

Location not relevant

LIMESTONE, Maine (WAGM) - Without childcare available in town and the loss of the town’s rec department, families in Limestone are getting a little help. Childcare has been hard to find across all of Aroostook County, but one Limestone school program is stepping up to fill the gap. Last...

Limestone’s After-School Program Takes Off

NewsBreak

LIMESTONE, Maine (WAGM) - Without childcare available in town and the loss of the town’s rec department, families in Limestone are getting a little help. C

Limestone’s After-School Program Takes Off

Comments