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Duck, duck, learn 
MATH MUNCHIES: Richard Rangel, left, Devin Carpenter, center, and Adrian Beltran work on graphing with M&Ms during their Totally Tasty Math class, taught by Pat Gola. Gola, who teaches the class at Temple College at Taylor during Kids College during the summer, said the program was so popular there, they were asked to bring it to Duck University. Photo by Heather Allee. |
By Heather Allee Program provides fun, education for kids after school Getting homework help, playing games and having fun are the orders of the day for kids attending Duck University at Taylor Independent School District. The program, now in its second week, caters to kids from kindergarten through eighth grade. Duck University is funded through a 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant from the federal government. Between 110 and 140 kids are involved in the program each day on each campus, said Angela Allen, director of Duck University. She said 580 kids are enrolled throughout the Monday through Thursday program but that's just the tip of the iceberg. "We have a waiting list," she said. "They are just everywhere. To an extent it's good but we need more help." That help will come in the form of volunteers, who help tutor the students in the early afternoon while later volunteers play games with them and teach them skills in their "electives." These include everything from yoga and video production classes at the middle school level to agriculture in the classroom and mad scientist classes at the elementary level. Duck University is also receiving help from the Greater Williamson County YMCA, whose counselors watch the kids and play games with them. "They're kind of providing the structure of the program, serving as counselors," Allen said. Unfortunately, it will be difficult for Duck University to grow much beyond its current size. For financial reasons, the program is limited in the number of children it can serve. But they're still trying to reach out to more kids and families in the community, Allen said. The program may expand to family activities Saturdays in the Taylor housing projects, Allen said, which will help them serve more kids as well as involve more families. Lifesteps, partnering with Duck University, will be giving a class on strengthening families. The six-session class begins Monday at the Taylor Middle School library from 6-8:30 p.m. The sessions will be weekly and open to families with kids ages 10-14, but Allen said families should sign up because of limited space. "The community's been very supportive," Allen said. "The kids are having a blast. We've still got a lot of growing to do but we've survived two weeks." For more information about the program, call 352-6845.
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