Q.C. schools offer new community ed classes

Queen Creek students in first through sixth grades can now take fun, after-school classes at their school, thanks to the district's first community education classes.

Classes are available in a variety of topics, such as chess, scrapbooking, karate and cheer, and various sports, such as basketball, soccer, indoor volleyball and wrestling. Classes vary per school.

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The program was piloted Aug. 6 at Queen Creek Middle School, where 120 students took classes for two hours after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays for a month, said Michelle Bailey, assistant superintendent of support services for the Queen Creek Unified School District.

"It was just a tremendous success for all of the kids," Bailey said. "They just had a great time."

The community education classes started at the four elementary schools and continued at the middle school last Thursday.

"Most districts have community education classes for after school," Bailey said. "As a small district, we felt this was the next step for us."

The $40 per class benefits the school, the people who teach the classes and the district.

Half of the money goes to the school. Queen Creek Middle School earned $1,260 for last month's classes and used the money to buy a document camera, Bailey said.

Since Queen Creek teachers did not get raises this year, they can earn extra money by teaching the classes. All classes are now being taught by Queen Creek teachers, but in the future outside vendors will be allowed to offer classes, Bailey said.

The rest of the money will be saved to eventually hire a district community education director and expand the program, Bailey said.

"We want to do before- and after-school care and adult community education," Bailey said. "All of those things come with a person in charge of it.

"We're just trying to get something started," she said. "We want someone who can devote all of their time to community education. We want to expand the program and allow it to be even more successful."

Molly Jacobs, the director of the Queen Creek Performing Arts Center, is teaching the drama class at Queen Creek Middle School. This month, she has 60 fifth- and sixth-graders practicing to put on a "High School Musical 2" play.

Jacobs' 11-year-old daughter, Ally, took cheerleading last month and thought it was "so fun."

"It was something she had never tried before and never even thought about trying before," said Jacobs, the district liaison for the community education classes. "It opens (students) up to experiences that they might want to pursue."

Queen Creek Middle School fifth-grader Jessica Baggs took an art class last month and "loved it," said her mom, Wendy Baggs, a Queen Creek school board member. Jessica wanted to take another art class and then a karate class this month, but both classes were canceled at the middle school due to lack of participation.

"I think parents just don't realize it's a quality class," Baggs said. "I'm really hoping that we'll be able to continue them because I think it gives kids a nice option.

"It's convenient for kids because they get to stay on campus, and it's only two days a week so it doesn't conflict with other family things and homework," she said. "I hope that everyone will give it a try because it's really a great program, and there's enough options."

For information on Queen Creek's community education classes, call (480) 987-7469 or visit www.qcpac.com.