Speak Out for Military Kids
Lock-in training will be offered for youth ages 13 to 17 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 13 and 14 at the School Age Services Building. Youth will participate in intensive skill-building activities including public speaking, understanding the deployment cycle, military culture, team building and effective communication. After the training, youth will have the skills and knowledge necessary to serve as advocates for military children and will be encouraged to become part of speakers' bureaus and develop public speaking announcements, videos and other materials to raise public awareness and support military youth. Space is limited to 20 military and civilian youth. Applications can be picked up at the Middle School and Teen Center, Bldg. 195, Chaffee Road, or at the School Liaison Office, ACS, Bldg. 2494, Ricker Road.
Super Awesome Saturdays
"Super Awesome Saturdays" at Logan School-Age Services will run on a trial basis through Dec. 15. This free initiative is open to school-aged children with an active SAS pass and requires reservations to hold down costs associated with staffing. Programming will focus on community service and long-term projects, but some field trips will be offered to engage and explore children's interests from 6 p.m. to midnight. Call 569-5779 or 568-7187 for SAS reservations.
Sports activites
Fort Bliss Child and Youth Services will be offering sports programs led by NYCSA-certified coaches. Basketball: Registration is Nov. 1 through 30. Season runs January through March. Age 5 to 15. Cost is $40 All youth must be registered CYS members and have a current sports physical on file before they can participate. For information, call 568-5437.
Battle Cry
"Battle Cry" Home School edition is from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m every Friday at the Youth Center, Bldg. 195. It's open for all home school students on post. For information, call Rick Mendoza at 568-2157 or visit www.BlissYouth.org. "Battle Cry" Girls-only Bible study is from 4 to 5 p.m. every Friday at the Youth Center, Bldg. 195. For information, call Rick Mendoza at 568-2157 or visit www.BlissYouth.org.
"Battle Cry" is held from 4 to 6 p.m. every Sunday at the Youth Center, Bldg. 195. The event is free to all children in grades six through 12 to enjoy live music, inspiring message, friends, food and games. For more information, call 568-2157 or visit www.BlissYouth.org.
Youth for Christ
"Youth for Christ" will be held during lunch every Friday in the Chapin High School library. For information, visit www.YouthforChristEP.org.
SKIES classes
SKIES offers a variety of programs of interest to children and teens. Classes include dance, martial arts, fashion modeling, academic tutoring, SAT/ACT prep, automotive maintenance and more. Participants must register with Central Registration and payment is due at registration in order to ensure placement in the class. Registration opens from the 20th of the month prior to the 7th of the month you are enrolling for. For information, call 569-7732.
After-school program
The middle school and teen after-school program includes Youth Sponsorship, Tech Lab, Keystone, Torch, Sewing, Photography, Journalism, Career Launch, Teen Cuisine, and other character-enhancing and fun clubs for youth enrolled in middle and high school and is free of charge. The program offers pick up at 3 p.m. from the Ross and Bassett middle schools, and at 3:45 p.m. from Chapin and Austin high schools. For information, call 569-5041.
Story time
Mickelsen Community Library hosts "Read Me a Story" every Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. for children ages 2 to 5 in the Children's Room of the library. The library also hosts "Family Story Time" for children ages 2 to 6 at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Each session lasts 30 to 45 minutes, and parents or guardians must stay with their child throughout the duration. Mickelsen Community Library is located in the basement of E-wing, Hinman Hall, Bldg. 2. For information, call 568-6156.
Deployed discounts
CYS is offering discounts on services to families of deployed Soldiers. Families can receive fee waivers, 16 hours of free child care a month, a 20 percent reduction in the cost of full/part time care and camp and other benefits. Copy of Soldier's deployment orders should be given to Central Enrollment and Registration, Bldg. 1743.
Family discounts
Fee reductions for family members of deceased or severely disabled Soldiers who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and other mission-related contingencies are available. A copy of enrollment in the Army Disabled Soldier Support System should be provided to CER, Bldg. 1743. Eligibility for Army Child and Youth Services under this program terminates when Soldier is medically discharged from the Army.
Pre-K programs
Fort Bliss Child and Youth Services offers Pre-K programs at both the Main Child Development Center and the Logan CDC. The curriculum encompasses all of the Texas Education Agency Pre-K guidelines, as well as specific objectives and benchmarks given by the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. Families with 4-year-old children already enrolled in full-time CYS care can participate in this program without any additional cost.
Rhinos hockey
The El Paso Rhinos Hockey team is offering military discounts for youths registered with Child and Youth Services. The Rhinos offer a variety of ice activities from learning to skate, figure skating and ice hockey leagues for different ages. CYS leagues will start soon. For information, call 568-2908 or 568-2617. For more information on the Rhinos and the hockey program, call 479-7825.