Beginning on Thursday, January 6, 2011, a new community resource for Camano Island’s children will be available. iPlace is a free after-school program based at Island Baptist Church that will offer academic support to elementary age students.
“iPlace is a fun, safe place for children on Thursday afternoons. We’ll play games, do hands-on learning activities and help kids with their homework,” explained program director Wendy Fitzmaurice. “Our mission statement is to demonstrate care for our community by supporting children with homework help, developing character, establishing friendships and encouraging positive family dynamics.”
The program has no cost to children and their families; volunteer teens and adults who have been cleared by WSP background checks will tutor and work with children. Fitzmaurice says the concept for iPlace is well established in other cities and urban areas, but nothing like it exists on Camano Island. Island Baptist Church is near Camano Plaza, on Woodland Drive.
“After realizing that there were no after-school tutoring programs in our area,” Fitzmaurice said, “we brainstormed various ideas, and iPlace took root.” The structure is based on a national model, the S.A.Y. Yes program, which operates in cities around the U.S. including in Seattle and Tacoma.
Families can register their elementary age children for iPlace via the church’s website, ibccamano.org or email the staff at iPLACE@ibccamano.org.
News contact: Karen Schmidt, 360-387-5151
