There’s a new in-house before- and after-school program – Champions – at William Bick Primary School in Bethel, and its not too late to enroll.

By Megan Alley
Sun Reporter

There’s a new in-house before and after school program at William Bick Primary School in Bethel, and it’s not too late to enroll.

The Champions program, which is available in many school districts throughout the region, started up in Bethel at the beginning of the school year.

It serves students in preschool through sixth-grade.

Bethel’s Champions program is headed up by Site Director Theresa Handleton.

The program is intended to provide a safe and convenient place for students to extend their daily learning experience, before and after school.

The Champions program opens its doors to students each day at 6:30 a.m., and it stays open until 6 p.m.; a schedule that’s built around working families’ schedules.

Students who attend Champions at the primary school and attend classes elsewhere in the school district are bused to and from the school.

Handleton is excited to offer the program to the Bethel school community.

“I don’t want people to think it’s preschool, because its not,” she said. “The students are getting extended learning; it’s not just babysitting.”

The Champions program offers students lessons in art, dramatic play, math and science to problem-solving, language, motor skills and more.

Handleton also emphasized the benefits of the Champions program being housed in William Bick Primary School.

“The partnership with the school is more intimate,” she said, adding that the Champions instructors can interface with the students’ teachers to better serve their overall learning needs.

The Champions program instructors are trained educators themselves.

Handleton previously worked as an interpreter for hearing impaired kids. She also taught at the Miami Valley Christian Academy.

The Champions program has a variety of schedule offering for families, and Handleton encourages parents to reach out to her directly for costs and pricing.

She also wants every family to have the opportunity to send their children to the Champions program, and doesn’t want cost to stand in the way. She said that subsidies and sponsorships are available.

“We have part-time and full-time rates; just call me,” she said.

Giving students in Bethel access to educational opportunities is as the heart of the local Champions program.

Handleton and the late Lori Conley, co-founder and executive director of Empower Youth, began talks of starting the program last year.

“Lori and I were talking about the need, and we set up a meeting with [the superintendent] and got the ball rolling and had made real progress by spring and early summer,” Handleton recalls.

Conley died from gallbladder cancer on July 20.

“I was so glad that I was able to tell Lori,” Handleton said. “I feel like it’s one of the last things that were able to do for the kids.”

Looking ahead, Handleton hopes to grow the program.

For now, she wants families to sign up, and take advantage of the program.

“The atmosphere here is so warm and supportive,” Handleton said. “We consider these kids our families, and it’s nice to be able to meet up with the students’ parents each day and talk about their progress.”

She added, “It really good when you can work and see these kids as individuals; we’re honored to be the ones who see them at the start of their school day, and at the end.”

For more information about the Champions program at William Bick Primary School, visit the website.

To talk with Theresa Handleton, call her at 513-615-1945.