Boys and Girls Club

An increasing number of students are participating in the Boys and Girls Club of Cape Girardeau. This school year 172 students are enrolled in the club and participate in its after-school activities and academic support efforts.

Student participation in the program is up by 70 since last year, despite the closing of one of its facilities. Last summer the Family Resource Center closed its doors because of financial problems. This meant that 25 children living in South Cape Girardeau neighborhoods would not have a nearby Boys and Girls Club facility. However, a partnership between the club and city was struck, and the students from South Cape Girardeau, along with 50 other children, are now participating in the Rising Stars program at the Shawnee Park Center.

The club's statistics show that students who participate in the Boys and Girls Club improve or maintain their grades in math and communication arts. Students also benefit socially from the program, which in many cases translates to better behavior in the classroom.

Hats off to the Boys and Girls Club and city leaders for working together on behalf of local children. By providing a nurturing environment for academic support and improved behavior, these students, some of whom come from at-risk homes, are better prepared to excel in the classroom and be productive members of the community now and in the years to come.