Helping House a place for area youths after school
Karen Mansfield
From left, Carmichaels Area Elementary Center students Kenneth Kerley, Kylo Nyland, Waynesburg University student teacher Courtney Ross, and student Hunter Liston play Monopoly at the Helping House, an after-school program that provides homework help, dinners, and activities.
Karen Mansfield
Waynesburg University student teacher Courtney Ross works on phonics flash cards with Carmichaels Area Elementary Center students Kylo Nyland and Cole Little at the Helping House, an after-school program for students in grades kindergarten to 12 in the school district.
Karen Mansfield
Carmichaels Area Elementary School teacher Jeff Donaldson chats with students Cyia and Emma Ritenour at Helping House. The renovated home serves as an after-school homework and more program.
Karen Mansfield
Carmichaels Area Elementary School student Braxton Kerley enjoys some free time playing Nintendo Wii with teacher and Helping House supervisor Traci Dobish. The Helping House provides after-school homework help, dinners and activities for Carmichaels students.
It鈥檚 a Wednesday afternoon, and the Helping House in Cumberland Township is a hub of activity.
Two Waynesburg University student teachers are working on phonics flash cards with Carmichaels Area Elementary Center students, while fourth-grade teacher Jeff Donaldson helps other children complete homework.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen of the recently renovated house, aide Maggie D鈥橝ntonio is preparing a fish dinner for the kids.
Stacked on shelves are board games and educational toys that children can play with after they鈥檝e finished their homework and dinner.
鈥淭his was called the Homework House when we first started it, but after talking to parents and kids, we changed the name to the Helping House because it鈥檚 not just for homework. There鈥檚 so much going on here,鈥� said elementary teacher and Helping House supervisor Traci Dobish.
The Helping House is an off-campus, after-school program launched in October to provide a place for Carmichaels Area students to receive homework help and a nutritious dinner, and to socialize with friends.
The house was donated through the Redevelopment Authority of Greene County, and the school district rents the Helping House from the township for $1 a month. The school district provides the educational supplies and dinners.
Dobish said about 15 to 18 children in grades kindergarten through 10 have been coming regularly to the program, which is open five days a week from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.
鈥淲e have some kids with both parents working, and because of Helping House they aren鈥檛 going home to an empty house,鈥� said Dobish. 鈥淥thers need a safe, quiet place to work.鈥�
The school district has collaborated with Waynesburg University, which provides student teachers to tutor children. Additionally, teachers Roberta Barr and Stephanie Mitchell, along with aide Tammie Dippolito, help with the program.
The first floor contains the kitchen, living room and study areas. Upstairs, there is classroom space, a bathroom and shower stocked with hygiene items, and a washing machine and dryer, which students can use to wash their clothes.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e getting homework help, they鈥檙e studying for tests, they鈥檙e getting to socialize with other kids, and they鈥檙e getting a healthy meal. Some of these kids don鈥檛 have those resources at home,鈥� said Dobish, who ran the elementary school鈥檚 on-site tutoring program before she tackled Helping House. 鈥淎nd they鈥檙e having a good time. It鈥檚 unbelievable to see a group of kids working on homework and having fun doing it. It鈥檚 nice.鈥�
While the Nintendo Wii has been a popular after-study activity, Dobish was surprised at the interest the kids have in board games, particularly Monopoly, which a group enthusiastically asked student teacher Courtney Ross to play with them.
鈥淲ith COVID, they haven鈥檛 been able to play games with other kids,鈥� noted Dobish. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a challenging time. But they鈥檙e loving this, they鈥檙e learning to play chess and checkers, and they鈥檙e enjoying it.鈥�