Community service, tolerance and
compassion are key components
of Fort Plain's 21st Century After-School
program
 Participants in Fort Plain's 21st Century Community
Learning Center make positive contributions in their community
while learning to be responsible, caring citizens. They also
learn tolerance and compassion through the experiences they have
each day in after school programs.
Every year in December, for
example, students make cards and hand deliver them to residents
of a local nursing home, while also providing cheer through
singing holiday songs. They also learned more about the Jewish
holiday of Hanukkah, including making potato pancakes and
playing dreidel with spinning tops they made themselves.
Students have also volunteered for the Salvation Army's bell
ringing campaign and have prepared and served weekend dinners
for Manna House, a free community meal program. Their charitable
deeds also include baking dog biscuits and collecting needed
supplies for the local animal shelter, and cleaning the grounds
of the elementary school and donating a tree for Earth Day.
Their educational activities have included learning about
different cultures. Using a calendar of national holidays,
students have learned about religions and customs around the
globe, along with music, crafts and cooking to expand their
experiences.
Representatives of Hispanic Outreach Services have
offered programs at the Fort Plain site, including a cooking
demonstration that featured empanadas and fried plantains.
Students also researched the Mexican holiday of Cinco do Mayo,
celebrated annually on May 5, and then joined in the festivities
by making a pinata, homemade ice cream and authentic Mexican
food, along with learning the Mexican Hat Dance!
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