Kennett lab popular after school

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for one hour after school, students at Kennett Middle School can explore the world of computers.

Students are allowed to use the Internet for school work, or they can play games on the Internet or on a CD-ROM. At times, several students can be found huddled around a game of virtual Monopoly. And students can use tutorials focused on scholastic areas such as math and language.

"It is a good opportunity for kids who don't have anywhere else to go to be in a supervised environment with the ability to work on educational or fun stuff," lab supervisor Connie Oldsen said.

Oldsen is in her first year of overseeing the after-school computer lab.

Middle school principal Mike Wallace said he makes his rounds on campus some afternoons and finds the computer lab completely full and kids waiting to get on computers.

"This program is a safe, after-school haven for latch-key kids who have no other after-school activities and would otherwise have to go home to an empty house while Mom and Dad are at work," Wallace said.

There are 30 computers available in the lab for student use. The after-school lab averages 20 students with an increase of students on Friday.

Although the lab is available to all students, Oldsen sees mostly the same faces each day the lab is open.

Students Kendra Lewis and Brandon Bryant are regulars.

"I like to play the games," Lewis, a sixth-grader, said as she hit the command on the keyboard to roll the dice during a game of Monopoly.

Bryant, a seventh-grade student, echoed her interest as he decided to purchase Indiana Avenue on his turn at Monopoly.

Teachers, administrators and parents allow the students to surf away with the assurance that the student can not get into areas of the Web that are inappropriate.

The school uses a program called CyberPatrol, which filters the sites available to students to ensure "a good, clean, positive experience" according to Wallace.