Art, Cooking & Photography makes after school even MORE fun

MORE After School, Inc., a non-profit, hands-on after school program, kicked off the year on Thursday September 19 with its first three classes of the fall session: Cooking Adventures, Acrylic Painting and Introduction to Portraiture.

MORE, having offered classes solely at McKinley Elementary School for its first two operational years, is now also offering courses at the Westfield Community Center located on 558 West Broad St. The center, which has a gymnasium, a computer room, a recreational room and a commercial kitchen, provides ample space for the program’s first ever Cooking Adventures class as well as studio arts classes.

According to McKinley parent and MORE co-founder Ms. Melissa Colten, this is also the first year that MORE classes at the Community Center will be open to any and all Westfield elementary schoolers, not just those who reside in the McKinley district. Colten stated that since the program was established three years ago, many parents from various schools have approached her about bringing MORE around the entire district, a goal that is finally being realized.

MORE parents Ms. Carole Ronget and Ms. Galit Aronson both stated that their children are enjoying Cooking Adventures. Said Aronson: “I’m very excited about [the program] and my daughter is excited about it, too. She comes home and tells me [what she’s learned.] I think it’s great!”

Aside from MORE’s hands-on approach, it also values low-cost classes so that everyone has the opportunity to participate. The classes, ranging from about 4–12 kids, emphasize intergenerational, integrated learning. Each class aims to have a main teacher, as well as a high school and a senior mentor who encourage the students to give back to their community using their newly-acquired knowledge: a concept known as service learning. Additionally, integrated curriculum, such as combining cooking with the study of cultures from around the world, is a core goal of the program.

Fall registration is still open, and classes at the Community Center include: Acrylic Painting, Cooking Adventures, Digital Photography and Introduction to Portraiture.

For more information about MORE After School, Inc. visit www.moreafterschool.org or to register, visit https://reg.abcsignup.com/view/view_month.aspx?as=49&wp=310&aid=MAS.