Friendsville Elementary School - Friends
Center in Friendsville, TN 37737
The Extended School Program of the Blount County Elementary School was initiated by the Blount County Board of Education in recognition of the fact that, in todays economic environment with many families finding that both parents need to work in order to meet the costs associated with raising a family, those families served by Blount County Elementary Schools require a support system. This system must allow for adequate care and supervision of children beyond the hours which have traditionally been set aside for public education. The school building and grounds, having been uniquely designed for children and being available before and after scheduled school hours, provide a suitable and safe environment, in addition, offer an environment where enrichment activities and homework supervision can be provided to enhance the development and growth of children. The Board of Education, therefore, endorsed the concept of the Extended School and began operating the Extended School Program during the 1990-91 school year. Since this time the program has expanded into all Blount County Elementary and two Middle Schools.
The purpose of the Extended School Program is to provide an environment in which children can be safe and educationally stimulated during the hours when there is no adult supervision in their home. By using available school facilities and the support system of trained school personnel who can assist in planning, we provide a program that benefits emotionally, socially, physically, and educationally.
This is a program designed with the families of working parents in mind. It is not baby-sitting, however. Any parents, working or non-working, may enroll their children in the Extended School Program.
- Child Ages:
- 5 years - 12 years
- Rates:
- $
- Licenses & Accreditations:
- Tennessee Department of Human Services
- Vouchers:
- This provider accepts vouchers
- Special Needs:
- Please contact us for more information.
- Hours of Operation:
- Monday-Friday 2:45 PM - 6:00 PM
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The program is planned and conducted by staff who is trained to meet the developmental needs of children and who will provide positive adult models. The staff has the responsibility to provide an educationally rich environment that offers a variety of opportunities for a child to learn. The staff must also provide a safe, supportive, nurturing environment where a child can feel secure, loved, and at ease with adults and peers. The program is designed to supplement and support the childs experiences at home and at school by offering a well-balanced program planned with the input of the children, childs parents, the childs teachers, and professionals in the school-age child care field. Supervised homework sessions will be provided at the request of students, parents, or teachers.
The primary activity will be play, meaning that, within reason, students will be given optimum opportunity to make choices and to pursue their own activities and ideas at their own pace. Through play, each child will be exposed to and will be able to explore new areas of interest. They will develop creativity, will learn problem-solving skills, will grow in independence, will make plans and implement them, and will grow in skills by learning to cooperate with and to provide support to others. Every effort will be made to have each child feel accepted and, in turn, to accept others. Through active, outdoor motor skills and play, children will have the opportunity to relieve stress, develop coordination, and improve the neurological functions that impact perceptual skills.
Recognizing that each child is unique, and each child and each childs family may have special aspirations for the individual participants time in the program, the staff will seek student and parent input into total program planning as well as make themselves available for conferences with students and parents, upon request.
