When the bell rings ending classes for the day at Lincoln and Jefferson elementary schools, it is not the end of the school day for many of the students.

Jefferson Junction and Lincoln Station, two after school programs, provide an opportunity for students to expand their academic skills and have fun at the same time.

The Beaver Dam Unified School District received a $199,980 Federal 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant to fund extended-day programs at both of the schools. The competitive grants, which were awarded by the Wisconsin Department of Instruction, target funds to schools with high poverty rates and students who are struggling in math and reading.

Local program coordinator Meg Foerster said the grant has been around for about 10 years.

"We saw a need to extend the opportunities for our kids that they have not received," Jefferson principal Barb Link said.

Principal Tanya Gubin said that the needs were very similar at Lincoln Elementary School.

"The schools are pretty similar with their demographics," Gubin said.

The school year is divided into four, six-week sessions. Currently both schools are in their second session. Students can join the program at the beginning of the sessions. There will also be an interim session in January to help teach parents to better understand how to help their children with math skills.

Currently, 106 of Jefferson's 314 students and 78 of Lincoln's 243 students are participating in the program.

Flyers are sent home to parents introducing the different programs that will be offered.

"We hope the parents and children will work together to pick the programs they want to participate in," Link said.

Students at Jefferson have gender specific reading and math classes, reading and homework help, Partners are Learning volunteer mentoring, martial arts courses through Martial Arts America and time spent with seniors at the Beaver Dam Senior Center.

At Lincoln, students can take math or reading courses (including one that works with the Beaver Dam Community Library), get homework help, PaLs, participate in games and activities and help out the environment.

"One of the purposes of the grant is to get the community involved," Link said.

The YMCA of Dodge County was involved with both schools at the beginning of the year doing a YKidzFit program for the schools.

 Gubin said that some of the classes are chosen by the teacher's request to get students up to speed in certain subject areas.

"It also gives some of the special education teachers time to provide small group time," Gubin said.

One group is children with dyslexia who are working together as part of the program in a small group.

"They wouldn't be able to do that during the school day," Gubin said.

The students meet in the cafeterias and have a snack before they begin their program, which begins at 3:15 p.m. and ends at 4:30.

After that the students go to the programs they have signed up for. Students are expected to follow through with the courses they pursue.

"Every enrichment class has a strong academic component," Link said.

Gubin said so far she has heard good comments about the program.

"For parents who work late, the homework club is a real parent's helper," Gubin said. "Taking the enrichment classes or the remedial classes is better than going home to an empty house."

The children also enjoy the program.

"It's nice," Makanyla Fadness said, about the homework program at Lincoln. "If you don't get your homework done at home, you can get it done here."

Community members who want to share their talents with the students at the school may contact Foerster at 885-7300, ext. 1160.