The 2008-2009 school year started off with a bang for West Clay’s ESE program. Starting at around 118 kids a day and going steadily up, we have had to think fast and creatively on our feet.

Dodgeball is always a classic favorite, but other clubs are not far behind. The arts, including fuse beads, making site celebration decorations, paint by number, and creating your own pals out of found art materials, have been a huge hit with our creative kids. Whether it is drawing, coloring, painting, or gluing, these kids are excited to put their stamp of originality on everything they do.

Our only challenge with these wonderful clubs has been encouraging the students to create while sticking to the “no toys” rule. How do you tell a child that just spent an hour making her very first homemade friend to “put it in your bag until program is over?”

With the awesome assembly of both veteran West Clay ESE-ers and new recruits, we have a terrific opportunity to make this the best year ever. Kids are excited to be involved in everything this year, from remaking the Jr. Counselor program, suggesting new books for our bookshelves, and coming up with their own clubs.

One of the traditional elements of the West Clay ESE program is that the kids have always had a big voice in what we do here. This year is no exception. Young leaders are already filling the Journey club, where they will learn if they have what it takes to become a deciding factor in various aspects of the program.

Some new club ideas have already been unveiled, including a chess club for the younger kids, more homework time options, magazine subscriptions, a return to track and field, and putting Friday Flicks back on the calendar. We are also going to use the Jr. Counselors this year to create a newsletter from the point of view of the kids. Go team!