After school program designed with all in mind

TROUT CREEK - The Trout Creek after school program celebrated its last day Thursday with pizza and bingo.

Starting at 4:00pm students who participate in the program met in the school’s cafeteria in the basement, where they meet every day, and picked out bingo boards. Gabriele Ohning who runs the program sat in front of the group of students at two large tables and read out the bingo letters and numbers. Next to her was large assortment of prizes that ranged from cookies, stuffed animals, model jets or coloring supplies.

Eventually, a large group of students echoed every number Ohning called out, reaffirming that they correctly heard her. Ohning thought it was hilarious and started to wait for them to do it.

Halfway through the games, the pizza arrived and an intermission was called. Enough pizza was ordered that the games started up while everyone was still eating away at their slices.

Rounds of blackout were played and at points, it was visible that everyone was intently looking at Ohning for the next number, hoping that they would be the one to call out BINGO!

While still eating a slice of pizza, Tanner Rasmussen, a sixth grader, explained why he likes to come to the after school program. “I usually do because I have sports, we get to come down here and have snacks and then go over to sports,” Rasmussen said. He also said he likes the arts and crafts and really enjoyed making faux stained glass.

Devin Nessel who sat with Rasmussen explained his favorite part of the after school program was the parties that Ohning throws. He then explained how he enjoyed being in the Missoula Children’s Theatre play, “Blackbeard,” playing as a crab.

When everyone had eaten all the pizza, and played more bingo, ice cream was passed out. Other teachers visited and started to play bingo and helped themselves to the pizza and ice cream.

The games went on till 5:30pm and everyone packed up, tossed out their trash and headed for home.

Ohning who was cleaning up, said, “It was a very good year, lot’s of participation.” She then went on to explain her program in more detail. “I know they really like learning about geography and the states... They really like the visitors that came, like the wildlife biologist that came with all the animal pelts,” Ohning said also mentioning the special cultural nights like Chinese night are a big hit.

She then explained how she comes up with her ideas for all the activities. “When I was younger I went to school for therapeutic recreation and... I worked with geriatrics for a while... Then I worked in an early education center, so I had both spectrums. So some some of the geriatric stuff carries over into the younger crowd and some of the younger stuff can be for the older kids,” Ohning said. She then explained how she has always been on the creative side and enjoys finding new activities for the students.

Something that Ohning also appreciates about working the after school program is that due to Trout Creeks size, the older students take care of the younger students. She says that is very helpful for her and the program.

Though the program for the year ended, Ohning said that a Summer program will start June 16th.