Sealy YMCA teaches kids values, sees progress

Students (clockwise, from left) Tyler Oxford, Kobe Aguado, Alexandria Kalina, Trevor Trevino and Caleb Patrick read and do homework Wednesday afternoon as part of the Sealy YMCA’s afterschool program.

Students grab snacks from a cart before settling in to do their homework for the afternoon. Math problems and English lessons will be followed by reading time and games. It’s just another afternoon at the Sealy YMCA afterschool program for students in kindergarten through the sixth grade.

Since starting at the beginning of the school year, the YMCA has seen an enrollment of about 30 students, with more expected to become members in the coming months, according to Shawn Harmon, who oversees childcare programs for the YMCA.

“It’s been a great experience for us out here,” he said. “I can see good things to come.”

And one of those good things is the homework help the program gives to students, according to Sealy YMCA Site Director Sandy Kunard, who also directed the Boys and Girls Club of Sealy.

“I think one of the big draws is we have homework time in place,” Kunard said. “Parents know their child will be able to come here and get their homework done.”

Students can read during homework time, too, if they finish their assignments early or they have no work to do. After that, the learning continues with fun and games time.

Because of community support, the YMCA is able to always provide the materials students need, according to Harmon.

“We’re always going to have the materials we need,” he said. “If students need homework materials, they’re going to get them. If they need board games, they’re going to get them.”

Kunard and Vicki Hensley, also of the Sealy YMCA, help teach students life lessons, too, such as sharing and respect.

“The ladies are teaching them the core values of the YMCA: caring, honesty, respect, responsibility and faith,” Harmon said.

By teaching them those values, Kunard said she has seen changes in how students behave. Along with rules and consequences for not following those rules, students are taught to take pride in what they are involved in, including their YMCA chapter.

“We teach them how to take care of things,” she said.

The system of learning is based on positive reinforcement, Harmon said. If students break a rule or misbehave, “it’s more of let’s discuss what did you do and how you can handle it,” he said.

While the YMCA relies on community support to function, one of its key values is supporting the community it serves and instilling that value in students.

“We also offer service-oriented activities, where students will raise money for organizations,” Harmon said. “Our children are also learning to reach out to the community.”

The YMCA program is open to all students and provides scholarships to those who may not be able to afford its services.

Parents with children in the program have been forthcoming with their praise of the organization’s safe environment and opportunities for students, according to Harmon.

“Parents discuss how much they appreciate the learning materials and activities we offer,” he said. “Some of them can’t afford most childcare facilities, but through scholarships they are able to come here.”

The YMCA youth afterschool program in Sealy meets every weekday until 6:30 p.m. in the Sealy Junior High School Cafeteria. Additionally, the organization is also open during holidays, and will be open Dec. 22-24 and 29-31 and Jan. 2.

The organization will also be open during spring break and will have a summer program, where students will have the opportunity to not only take field trips around Sealy, but also travel to Camp Cinco in Katy to experience activities such as archery and swimming.

One of the goals of the organization is to expand the afterschool program.

“My goal for the childcare program is to build the program to maximum capacity and then open it up to another school,” Harmon said.

Right now, elementary students in the YMCA are bused from Selman Elementary to the junior high every afternoon, but eventually if enough students enroll, they may be able to stay at the elementary, with junior high and intermediate students remaining at the junior high campus.

For more information about the Sealy YMCA afterschool program, call Kunard a 713.205.6515.

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