September 16, 1998

Lunch NAP scores high with staff & students

By Jacquie Thomas
Herald Editor
     
      After lunch, a NAP is in order!
      It's not sleep they're talking about, but the Noon Activity Program (N. A. P.) at Traverse City West Senior High School. (The program also operates at TC Central, but due to space contraints during construction, was halted and has just been restarted.) It is designed to provide a variety of healthy activities during the lunch hour.
      The basketball courts are open for play, and a game room is set up with backgammon, chess, Jenga, Scrabble, euchre, Boggle, Sorry, Battle ship, foosball and table tennis. For those wanting a more cerebrial work out, the computer lab in the library is open.
      "It gives the kids a chance to mingle, to make new friends," explained Sue Elenbaas , who keeps the program organized and staffed with volunteers. "The volunteers enjoy it as much as the students. We have several retired teachers, senior citizens, and several youth directors of area churches."
      The volunteers give Sue the credit. "I come here because I believe in the concept of the program," said Tim Manzur, Youth Pastor of Bible Baptist Church and a volunteer since the beginning of the program.
      "But it is Sue that makes it easy. She keeps every thing very organized, with enough volunteers and all the bases covered. That makes is easy, when you know there are no surprises."
      "West is a great place to be," added Manzur. "The attitude is right. There is a closed campus, so all the kids are open for some positive options, Tibaldi(West Principal, Joe Tibaldi) is so enthusiastic, the staff is very supportive, and with the gym teaching staff behind us, embracing the program, it just all fits."
      Brian Jones, Bayview Wesleyan Youth Pastor, mans the gym 1-2 days per week and agrees. "We just communicate with the gym teachers," he explained. "At the beginning of the day, we find out what the classroom needs for gym class are so we know how much space will be available."
      "We pull the partition curtains for the remaining sections and we may have as many as 120 kids playing basketball. The full skill range from current varsity players to those who have never been on a court before is out here plus the volunteers, who play with the kids."
      " There have been no problems with the kids, they respect that there are classes going on, and we get quiet during the teacher's instruction time."
      Diane Shelton, who volunteers to supervise the game room every Friday, concurs. "The kids need a place to go and something to do," she explained.
      "They enjoy this and I love being a part of something that's important. We're (volunteers) here because we care about them, and they know that."
      Ken Alexander retired from his mail carrier route after 32 years and now volunteers at TC West on a regular basis. "This is great," he said. "There is enough supervision and structure to make it comfortable for kids and volunteers-there are no problems."
      "The kids are very respectful and seem happy to be here. They are such great kids that I just love to out here and be around them."
      Volunteers work 3-3 1/2 hours per week, with two staffing the game room, two to four in the gym and one in the library, where the computer lab is open. There are three lunches, starting at 10:00 a.m. with the last one ending just before 1:00 p.m. and the N. A. P. has anywhere from 300 to 600 kids participating.
      "It's wild," added Rob Neu, 12th grade wing principal, varsity basketball coach, and student enthusiast. "We have no lunch hour problems anymore. The kids like having a positive option, healthy activities and healthy socialization-why would they want to sneak out and smoke when all this fun stuff is going on?"
      "The N. A. P. has definately contributed to the positive atmosphere around school," reflected Joe Tibladi, TC West Principal. "It helps create the type of culture that we like, where students are working together, not only academically, but socially interacting in a positive, healthy way."
      "Sue Elenbaas and her staff have done a wonderful job. They are excellent role models for our students. The program has enjoyed a huge success, with more and more kids participating all the time. In fact, one of the few problems with the program is figuring out a way to give them more space."