Editor’s Note: story is continuation from last week’s “Kutztown Strong, committed to making a difference” article.
By Lisa Mitchelllmitchell@21st-centurymedia.com @kutztownpatriot on Twitter
Kutztown Middle Schoolers now have a place to hangout after school, and Kutztown School District students have their own publication Cougar Chronicle.
“Oasis is simply an after school program for kids,” said Nate Herrlin, Lead Pastor at Cornerstone Community Church in Kutztown. “It’s hangout time.”
Open Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 to 5 p.m., Kutztown Middle Schoolers can go to he Kutztown Community Library’s Community Room for games, snacks, arts & crafts, projects for charity, free wi-fi, hangout space, and more.
“A team of screened, dedicated and caring volunteers will be on hand to serve those who come. There is no charge for this program as all supplies and expenses have been provided by generous donors. Simply come with friends and have fun together. Students may come and go as they please,” according to the Oasis flyer.
“There are adults there. Sometimes there’s helping with homework… they’re cooking desserts together. You never know from day to day. One of the kids loves to play Risk so there’s people playing Risk. There are computers set up,” said Herrlin. “It’s kind of a miniature of what we’d envision a youth center being. It’s just a place to be.”
Started in September, Herrlin said about six to a dozen students visit Oasis on average.
“How Oasis got started is a pretty cool story,” he said. “It initially started after our church leaders had a lunch meeting with Judge Gail Greth, Chief Craig Summers, Mayor Sandy Green, Principle Jim Brown, Anton Allsop (juvenile probation officer), and Bob Watrous (KU Dean), asking what they saw as primary needs in our community. Oasis was part of our response to that meeting.”
Oasis is sponsored by Cornerstone and a couple other churches. There are volunteers from Church on the Hill, formerly called Evangel Assembly of God; Grace EC Church; Trinity Lutheran; Kutztown Bible Fellowship and Faith Bible Fellowship in Fleetwood.
About 30 people signed up wanting to help, giving money, providing snacks and volunteering, he said.
“Since Kutztown Strong is a community initiative, and it started at the same time as our response to the community’s desire for a place for kids after school, our efforts naturally flowed into the greater efforts of Kutztown Strong, and the sub-group I joined in Kutztown Strong decided to do what they could to help Oasis succeed,” said Herrlin.
Kutztown Strong, concerned citizens who united to make a difference in the community, has six action groups: Community Resources, Inventory & Growth, Funding Resources, Education, Community Options & Activities, Public Relations, and Policy Review & Change.
Oasis came out of the sub-committee Community Options and Activities, who also presented Movie Night and in November country line dancing.
Another way Kutztown Strong works with students is through the student publication Cougar Chronicle.
“Kutztown Strong was created in response to identified needs in our community. Hugh Smith, member of the education sub-committee wanted to create a newsmagazine,” said KMS art teacher Kris Tuerk. “Cougar Chronicle was an entity of that need to educate the youth and their parents. Hugh’s dedication, push and concern for this community is what allowed this publication to take place.”
“Merry Schlegel, also on the committee, informed Hugh that I was the person to contact to do something of this nature,” said Tuerk, who facilitates Cougar Chronicle with Hugh Smith, Josh Chambers and Adam Berrigan. “Josh and Adam were the next recruits.”
Tuerk offers an elective at KMS.
“I had 13 kids sign up on their own to come once a cycle,” said Tuerk. “I presented them the first copy (of Cougar Chronicle) and I said to them, ‘You all need to be working for this newspaper.”
Students want to write movie reviews, photo essays, art work and there is even talk of creating a comic strip, said Tuerk.
“What we’re seeing in the Chronicle now is just blowing my mind,” said Tuerk.
The first issue was eight pages and increased to 12 pages for the second issue. At this stage, they are unsure how often it will publish. Content includes student submissions and helpful articles for parents and students, such as a Pinwheel Contest for Red Ribbon Week, asking students to design their own pinwheel using the them “Love Yourself, Be Drug Free!” The grand prize winner receives four tickets to The Strand Theater courtesy of the Festival of the Arts.
An example of a submission includes “Stay True to You,” by Emily Reiss, writing “In all that you do step out of your comfort zone try something new… Don’t worry about what all the others think your aspirations will grow and their opinions will shrink…”
“The more it gets out, the more kids say ‘Yes!'” said Tuerk. “As we continue to educate the public and educate the kids, the kids are submitting.”
Students are asked to respond to the theme “Be a Star, Say No to Drugs.” Tuerk seemed more than pleased by the number of submissions.
“The initial goal was for Cougar Chronicle to be written by middle school and high school students and to be read by elementary,” said Tuerk. “It seems to have reached a larger audience, especially when it goes into the community and is read online.”
“The first issue was us trying to kick start it,” said Chambers, Kutztown High School teacher. “Now it’s turning to our kids and saying, ‘Celebrate yourself. Tell us what makes you a good person. Why do you care?’ From that we’ve gotten great articles.”
High School and Middle School students submit much of the articles but elementary students are also involved, many submitting their art work.
Check out Cougar Chronicle at http://www.kasd.org/files/1647187/chronicle%20issue%202.pdf.
For more information about Oasis, contact Cornerstone Community Church at 610-894-9520 or kutztownchurch.com.
Cornerstone Community Church, Kutztown, also sponsors Ju Jitsu Classes on Wednesdays 4:30-5:30pm at the Kutztown Middle School Auxiliary Gym. Instructor is Tom Deangelo with 20 years Ju Jitsu experience and Coach Eric Robuck with 23 years military experience. There is a cost for the semi-annual insurance fee, scholarships available upon request. Register online at kutztownchurch.com or call 610-894-9520.
