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| Aroostook Republican Photo/Lisa Wilcox School Union 122’s after-school care provider Laurie Molton shares a laugh with students Landon Spooner and Rachel Wilson, both 4. |
Union 122’s after-school care well received
By Lisa Wilcox
Staff Writer
NEW SWEDEN — Day care can be a struggle for any working parent, especially if the family lives in a rural community where day-care centers are few and far between, if not non-existent altogether. This year School Union 122 took the initiative to address the child care problem for the community’s citizens by opening an after school care program at New Sweden School.
The program began at the beginning of the school year and has been very successful, according to New Sweden Principal Laurie Spooner. The school union was fortunate to find someone with a great deal of experience in education to head the program in longtime New Sweden resident Laurie Molton.
Molton is originally from Kirkland, Wash. She and her husband, also a teacher, moved to New Sweden several years ago to be closer to her husband’s parents. Molton’s two children were educated in the New Sweden school system. Currently her son is a fisheries biologist and her daughter is attending University of Maine in Farmington to acquire her bachelor’s degree in anthropology and creative writing.
Sixteen of Molton’s 34 years’ teaching experience were in Presque Isle where she taught quilting, nutrition, folk art, and other life-skills subjects at the high school. She also has experience working in day care and preschool settings. The program Molton taught in Presque Isle was eliminated last year, opening up her availability to head the School Union 122 after-school care program, which she thoroughly enjoys.
“It’s a real give-back,” Molton says of the experience. “To be here is great.”
While housed in the New Sweden School, the after-school care program is available to any toilet-trained child 3 and up in all surrounding communities such as Woodland, Westmanland and Stockholm.
The number of students participating in the program varies from day to day, but averages around six students per day.
Molton boasts that the program is community-driven and self-sufficient in that, so far, it has paid for itself. The room was decorated by Molton with help from Lukas Legasse, a Caribou High School student who took part in painting the room to work toward his community service goal. Molton is pleased that citizens have really embraced the service and have donated a great deal of articles for the room, including toys, dress-up clothes, books, and educational items.
The students are taken outside for physical activities and Molton makes her own version of Play-Dough. The room also contains an aquarium and terrarium and serves as a place where older students are able to get help with their homework. Healthy snacks are provided daily.
In addition to the weekly fees paid by parents, which are believed to be average day care costs, and the items donated from the community, Molton has also listed requests for grant money on Donorschoose.com, which is an educational grant clearinghouse set up by Bill and Melinda Gates. She has requested grants for several items, including science, reading and nutritional educational materials, dress-up items, and basic needs like resting mats and art supplies.
Anyone can make a tax-deductible donation toward a grant by logging in on the site and looking up “Mrs. Molton.” For security purposes, the location of the school is not divulged.
Molton is also collecting Coke Rewards to earn free games and supplies. Coke caps and codes from Coke products can be brought to the school or dropped off at Northstar Variety to be donated to the program.
School Union 122’s after-school care program hours are from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday while school is in session. Students may attend daily or on a drop-in basis with prior registration. Anyone interested may call the school at 896-5541 for more information.
