CASA students and teacher Brittany Wetherill

One of the goals of Rangeley Friends of the Art’s Creative After School Arts (CASA) Program is to encourage responsible citizenship. At the root of that lesson are good deeds in action. Students that attend the CASA program are participating in an initiative called Get “WOKE” Rangeley, which is designed to promote good citizenship and social awareness in students.

This school season, CASA students asked to partner with United Way of the Tri-Valley Area to raise funds for Western Maine Homeless Outreach and Safe Voices. Students initiated an effort to raise money by making jewelry, slime, gingerbread houses, greeting cards, and refrigerator magnets. They raised $330.00 selling handmade crafts at Rangeley’s Annual Mountain Holly Days.

The students at Rangeley Lakes Regional School enjoy the CASA after school program for a variety of reasons, student comments include:

This is “a place where we can be creative, have fun, rampage but have a level voice. A non-judgmental space.”

This is “a place to get homework done., be yourself and learn new stuff.”

This is “where we learn how to communicate better.”

“I get to dance and sing and make funny voices.”

“Get homework done. CASA has fruit and good snacks.”

“I like that we play games, talk to friends. I love Chess.”

“We make stuff, play with sculpting clay, have chess matches.”

“Because I went to CASA I went to Drama Camp in the summer.”

“Felt good to help people and it was fun while we were doing it.”

“We can be loud and obnoxious but it’s OK to just feel at home. No one gets annoyed with me.”

At CASA, latch key kids, artistic kids, ambitious kids, quiet kids, all kids, will find a relaxed healthy home-away-from-home where they can thrive. CASA offers students the opportunity to participate in instrument and dance lessons, live theater, community service, a public art project, newspaper reporting, jewelry and craft making, creative imaginings and generally fun times. The program is free and is offered every day after school to students grades 5-12. CASA is a nonprofit student enrichment program provided by the Rangeley Friends of the Arts. It is funded entirely by donation and grant money. CASA is supported in part by the United Way of the Tri-Valley Area.

For more information about Rangeley Friends of the Arts, visit https://rangeleyarts.org/ or check them out on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RangeleyFriendsOfTheArts/.

For more information about United Way of the Tri-Valley Area, please call 778-5048, visit them at 218 Fairbanks Road, Farmington, visit www.uwtva.org or them check out on Facebook, www.facebook.com/uwtva