4C
COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL
•
SN for OCTOBER 2019
Damien Sherwood/Cottage Grove Sentinel
While services are currently exclusive to Harrison Elementary, the plan is to expand the program to Bohemia Elementary in January.
YMCA
from 1B
passion for working with chil-
dren.
If the YMCA can reach its goal
of three staff members, up to
around 40 children may be en-
rolled in the program.
Brown is hopeful the program
will fi nd the staffi ng it needs.
“I love seeing the kids en-
gaged in hands-on activities aft er
school,” said Brown. “I think so
oft en young people fi ll their time
with screen time.”
Th e addition of the program to
Cottage Grove serves a common-
ly-voiced need in the community
as well.
“Th ere’s been a huge void to fi ll
– that need for aft erschool care
for our working parents,” said
Brown. “Especially if they work
in Eugene.”
While the YMCA’s presence
in Cottage Grove will do its part
to fi ll a need for aft erschool care,
some in the community are eager
to see a more organized approach
to the issue. Many of Cottage
Grove’s youth programs are run
as insular operations.
“I think what’s needed is a very
consistent information stream
and consistent participation”
said Samantha Duncan, owner
of local business Health Hub. “In
a small community, it’s almost
more important than anywhere
else for people who want a ser-
vice to really commit to utilizing
it once it’s in place.”
Health Hub won the Vision
Keepers’ Community Health
Award this year for creating fi t-
ness opportunities for people of
all ages.
Duncan has included sever-
al youth-oriented classes in her
business model.
“Little Movers,” an obstacle
course, tumbling and motor skills
class lets little ones aged up to
four years old practice social in-
tegration, balance and muscle
memory.
Family Capoeira serves ages
four and up with Afro-Brazilian
movements which combine ele-
ments of dance, music and acro-
batics.
For ages three to fi ve, “Ants
and Firefl ies” teaches basic motor
skills and balance with rolling,
cartwheel and handstand lessons.
Lastly, ages four and up may
also participate in a tumbling and
gymnastics class for beginning
to intermediate levels, which in-
cludes lessons on beam and bar
mounts as well as rolls and hand-
springs.
Prices for kids start at $35
per month for the youngest age
groups and go up to $55.
“I’d love to expand it, but my
space is limited,” Duncan said.
Other programs for youth in
the community do exist, such
as gaming store Delight’s own
aft erschool enrichment pro-
gram, Rogers Family ATA Mar-
tial Arts programs for beginners
and South Valley Athletics many
sports options.
However, the relative obscu-
rity of some of these programs
has been a barrier to some and
Brown confi rmed requests for
such aft erschool care are all too
common.
Some more respite may be on
the horizon, though, as the YM-
CA’s program in Cottage Grove
does not end with Harrison.
Current plans are to expand to
Bohemia Elementary School in
January as well as long as staffi ng
can be secured.
Jackson anticipates the expan-
sion to fi nd favor in the commu-
nity considering recent respons-
es.
“Th e support the community
has shown us has been phenome-
nal,” Jackson said. “Th e adminis-
tration, the school staff , the kids
and families — even the folks
from Dutch Bros. Th ey’re so ex-
cited that we’re out in Cottage
Grove, so it’s just such an amaz-
ing feeling for us.”
Brown was also optimistic that
YMCA programs could make lat-
eral movements across the com-
munity.
“I hope that this is just the be-
ginning of our partnership with
YMCA,” she said. “I’d love to see
some summer camps in Cottage
Grove that YMCA could run.
I know that they do some pre-
school options.
“We’re not quite there yet, but I
know that that is a big need in our
community.”
October Students of the Month
YONCALLA
HIGH SCHOOL
GINO MARTINEZ-
GRAY
Gino has been nominated for
SOTM due to his positive atti-
tude, hard work in the classroom
and all around fun demeanor.
During homecoming competi-
tion Gino displayed tremendous
teamwork and sportsmanship
putting on full display the core
values we practice here at Yon-
calla HS. Hobbies: Sports, video
games, Brisk tea, chillin with the
boys. Future Goals: Maintain a
good GPA through high school,
try new sports and opportunities
in high school, give college a try,
own Brisk beverage company.
Parent, Aaron Carlson-Gray
North Douglas Fire & Rescue
531 South Cedar St.
Drain, OR 97435
ACE
CHLOE HINKLE
Congratulations, Chloe Hinkle
of The Academy for Character
Education in being nominated
Student of the Month! Chloe be-
gins her Junior year at ACE keep-
ing up with a full academic load,
serving others students well at
school, all while playing guitar
in a local band and being tre-
mendously involved in the local
4H community as a Lane County
4H Ambassador. Recently, Chloe
was nominated by the OSU Ex-
tension offi ce to represent 4H of
Lane County in Washington, DC.,
at the National 4H Conference.
This is just one more civic en-
gagement where Chloe will shine
and we wish her the best of luck!
541-746-1583
epud.org
BOHEMIA
ELEMENTARY
NORTH DOUGLAS
ELEMENTARY
Jemma Toedtemeier is
a fi rst grade student in
Mrs. McClean’s class-
room. She is an all-
around great student! She
is a good listener, a hard
worker, always does her
best work, and is a great
help to her teacher in the
class! Mrs. Mcclean is
super proud of her!
VICTOR JOHNSON
The North Douglas El-
ementary School would
JEMMA
TOEDTEMEIER
like to nominate Kin-
dergarten student Victor
Johnson for Student of
the Month. Victor does
a wonderful job work-
ing independently and
staying on task. He is
a joy to have in class!
Victor is kind and help-
ful to his peers and staff.
He aspires to do great
adventurous things with
his life including being a
monster truck driver.
2775 Row River Rd • 541-942-4415
bradschevy.com
KENNEDY HIGH
SCHOOL
ELKTON
HIGH SCHOOL
She has worked ex-
tremely hard this year
and goes the extra mile
to make sure her work
is completed well. She
shows extraordinary
diligence and respon-
sibility towards her
academics.
Josh has integrated him-
self fully into our school
as a leader and an
advocate. He is working
hard toward reaching
his educational goals of
catching up on credits so
he can graduate on time.
REBEKAH
MARTINEZ
JOSH COX
Sherry Duerst-Higgins
Remax Advantage Plus
541-953-6689
SHERRY@DUERST.HIGGINS.COM
Cottage Grove Sentinel
116 N. 6th . PO Box 35, Cottage Grove, OR
541-942-3325 • cgsentinel.com