Since the inception of Ashe County Middle School (ACMS), Ashe County 4-H has been a collaborative partner in providing an afterschool program to create a “seamless” day for the students. This “seamless” day provides ACMS students a special kind of learning. 4-H targets whole development for those students from ACMS that participate in 4-H programs during school and in the 4-H LINK Afterschool program.

Ashe County 4-H Afterschool has long been recognized across North Carolina as a unique and high quality program. The 4-H program at Ashe County Middle School chose to participate in an environmental rating scale assessment as they strive for high quality programming and to be recognized for their efforts. The Department of Health and Human Resources, Division of Child Development is the entity that accesses program quality and issues licenses based on the assessment. 4-H received notification that the 4-H Afterschool LINK Program would receive a 5 STAR rated license, the highest rating available. The quality of the program was assessed in two difference categories, the quality of the program and the quality of the staff providing care.

Any group that meets at ACMS after the school day is required to participate in the 4-H Afterschool LINK program. This offers students a large variety of activities including but not limited to sports at the Middle School. There is also a strong tutoring program and homework help available for participants each day. The 4-H Afterschool LINK program provides snack for each participant and the opportunity to have time outside for physical activity. There is also an opportunity to ride a bus back to their community, closer to home.

Ashe County Middle School 4-H Afterschool LINK staff that have worked hard to provide the highest quality care possible are Jennifer Ball, Kim Campbell, Terrence Kepple and Aaron Simms.

For additional information regarding this or any programs and services offered by North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Ashe County Center, call 846-5850.