MARYSVILLE – An after-school program at Liberty Elementary School is giving students something positive and fun to do – and also improving their academic success.

Christa Dinuis is the site coordinator. She said they try to make the 21st Century grant program fun, like a club, instead of just added school time. The up-to-60 kids in grades three to five are there for more than 2 1/2 hours, after going to regular school for six hours.

The club isn’t for students who are struggling in school or who are low-income. It’s for everyone.

Lexah Meredith, 9, who is in the fourth grade, is in the club for her second year. She said getting better grades isn’t her reason for going.

“I already get good grades,” she said.

But she does like the fun activities, such as spelling bees and watching movies.

“It’s a great way to make new friends,” she added.

Brea Hernandez, 10, a fifth-grader, has been attending for three years. She goes for something to do. “I usually just sit around at my house,” she said.

Brea said some of her friends don’t want to join because it “takes up all my playtime.” But Brea likes it so much she said she can’t pick a favorite thing to do.

“It’s hard to choose because it’s really great here,” she said.

Both students said they would recommend others to join. Brea said the student homework time has helped her especially.

“There’s no distractions to get off task,” she said.

The program starts off with dinner, which used to be later in the day, but was moved up because it was hard to get cooks that late. The students then have recess. “They have to get the wiggles out,” Dinuis said.

The students work with four teachers each day, to give them a sense of what middle school will be like. They have classes in things like cooking, drawing, art, student leadership and science. “It’s enrichment more than school work,” Dinuis said. “The kids don’t even know they’re learning.”

On this evening, they were making cards for a teacher who is sick and in science making Gooey Gak, which is something like PlayDough.

Dinuis would like more students to attend. “Try it out,” she said, adding it’s OK if “it’s not for them.”

Principal Gloria Henderson said parents love it, because it helps their kids academically and gives them something positive to do after school.

“Some of their parents work two jobs or work opposite shifts,” she said. “It’s enrichment and doesn’t replicate school work.”