After-School Program For At-Risk Students Finds Permanent Home

Picture courtesy of http://www.theleapfrogprogram.org.

After 25 years of shuffling Leap Frog from building to building, the after-school tutoring and enrichment program will have a permanent home at Oxford’s central campus building. 

The program’s executive director, Teresa Adams, said the news is “…really such a relief.”

Leap Frog has been operating out of five different locations, and on July 1st the program will move into a central classroom. Adams believes the big move will be positive for the children.

“Even little things like, we can hang up educational material on the walls,” said Adams. “We were never able to do that before.”

Helping at-risk youth

The after-school program tutors and mentors at-risk 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade students in the 
Oxford city and Lafayette county schools. Children from Oxford come in every Monday and Wednesday, while children from Lafayette come in every Tuesday and Thursday during the school year. The program helps about 140 kids. 

“We want them to exit on grade level and be doing good in fourth grade,” said Adams. “A lot of our students come from home lives that are stressful, and they really need this extra support so that they can be successful.”

Oxford’s school district superintendent, Brian Harvey, is glad to welcome the program to Oxford’s central campus. 

“It will certainly be more convenient for them,” said Harvey. “Knowing that there are certain things that they can leave out, they don’t have to pack up everything, everyday. It will be a tremendous benefit for them, and we’re just glad that we could help.”

Picture courtesy of http://www.theleapfrogprogram.org.

Help leap frog students succeed

You can help too. Leap Frog is hosting their annual Fire Cracker Bash fundraiser Friday, July 1st at The Lyric. All of the proceeds from the event will benefit the after-school program. The couple that donates the most money to Leap Frog will be crowned Mr. and Mrs. America. 

Adams says she’s seen great results over the years. “They can actually go to school to learn, not go to school and learn to read.”

Fire Cracker Bash tickets are  $25 and can be purchased at St. Peters Episcopal Church or at the event’s door.