About 90 Lakewood Elementary School students got a chance to perform for their parents and fellow students in the school's auditorium. The youngsters performed in traditional ethnic clothing, with vibrant colors blending together and weaving on and off the stage at the end-of-the-school-year production.

These students were part of the Kids Learning After School program, which takes about 100 students each year and helps them with academics while also providing extracurricular activities.

The unique state-funded program at Lakewood and Bishop Elementary schools and Columbia Middle School targets children who are at risk academically. The program is offered first to at-risk students and then gives remaining spaces to children whose parents work full time or who cannot help their children academically.

"Many of these students come from families where English is a second language. Due to the economic restraints of many families, many of these students would never have the opportunity to participate in such a wide variety of enrichment and recreational activities," Casey says.

At Lakewood there are three homework teachers, two recreational teachers from the YMCA, one enrichment teacher and a site leader. The homework and enrichment teachers are trained district aides who work with various schools during the day and come to Lakewood after school is out.

Jackie Casey, who leads the program at Lakewood, says the homework teachers are bilingual and cater to the large Hispanic population at the school. "We try to enhance their learning skills so that they will want to come to school. We want them to enjoy learning," Casey says.

The program hires instructors from the YMCA and the city's parks and recreation department to teach students different skills, including martial arts, hula dancing and baton twirling, as well as sports and art skills.

The $90,000 program is funded by the state as well as local corporations such as Advanced Micro Devices and Yahoo!, who donate time, labor, toys and money.

In turn, the Lakewood program pays the YMCA $16,000 and the city $23,000 for their services.

This past year families paid $25 a quarter, or $75 a year, for about 17 hours a week of after-school activities. But due to budget cuts, the fees have doubled and will cost parents $50 a quarter, or $150 a year.

Casey says the program is more than just a place for kids to learn or have fun. "We're a place to keep kids safe and off the streets. Statistics show that there is less crime with more after-school programs," Casey says.

The theme of the end-of-the-year production, "It's a Beautiful Day in Our Neighborhood," was chosen because of the diversity in Lakewood Village, says Casey.

"Our students are very diverse, and we wanted to show the parents all the things their children have learned this past year in a very diverse way," Casey says.

The students performed hip-hop, hula and cha cha dances. They played a mock all-American baseball game, demonstrated tae kwon do and played piano. Mr. Rogers made his appearance as well, in the person of Paul Schaefer, a teacher with the program and a resident of the Lakewood Village neighborhood for the past 35 years.

To sign up for the fall session, to donate money or for more information on the Kids Learning After School program, call 408.379.2316.