Gayle Robinson, a grandmother, informed the Town `N Country Family Support and Resource Center’s staff how her granddaughter, Shakale, struggled with her school work and the state of Florida FCAT test. Gayle came to the center seeking academic assistance for her granddaughter.

Gayle registered Shakale in the center’s tutoring program for math at the beginning of this school year. Gayle stated, “The tutoring program is great!” She also added, “The tutor, Randy, has done a wonderful job with my granddaughter to help bring her grade point average up as well as her test scores.”

Due to the great tutoring program at the T&C Family Support and Resource Center and Shakale’s dedication, she is now doing great! Prior to Shakale receiving help in the tutoring program, her practice FCAT test score in the area of math was at the 40th percentile for her grade level. After receiving help at the Center, her practice FCAT test, administered by the school, climbed to the 60th percentile. And now on her most recent FCAT practice test she scored at the 90th percentile.

Gayle is also taking advantage of other programs at the center and recently enrolled Shakale in the FCAT Review program. The T&C FSRC would like to recognize Gayle’s dedication as a grandmother and the proactive way in which she has embraced Shakale by bringing her to the programs at the center as well as keeping her involved in the community. Shakale is an example to all students, showing what hard work, consistency and follow through can produce. Way to go, Shakale!

In addition, the T&C Family Support and Resource Center has other great programs for the whole family. Some of the programs include:

• Music & More for children 3-5 years old. This program will help children develop their large and small motor skills by doing arts and crafts as well as music, which is held on Thursdays from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
• Creative Learning program for children 3-5 years old. This program helps develop children’s imagination skills with story time, arts and crafts, music and creative fun, which is held on Mondays from 3 to 4 p.m.
• St Joseph’s Mobile Clinic. The clinic comes to the center once a month to do free physicals and immunizations for children between the ages of birth to 18 years. Please call the Center at (813) 356-1703 to schedule an appointment for your child if your child has no insurance, has Medicaid or has insurance that does not cover immunizations. If you are in need of insurance for your children, you can apply online at the Center for Florida KidCare insurance or the staff will give you an application.
• The Prosperity Campaign of Hillsborough County. This program is now at the center three days a week to prepare income taxes for FREE to families with income below $40,000. Please call to schedule an appointment.
• St Patrick’s Day Arts and Crafts. This event will be held on March 14th from 3 to 4:30 p.m. for school-age children. Build-a-Easter Basket Event. This activity will be held on March 21st from 2 to 4 p.m.; the children will do activities such as egg decoration, stuffing your own Easter basket, and arts and crafts.
• The Voluntary Pre-kindergarten Program. Staff will visit the center once again on April 26th and May 31st from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Families can enroll their children in this program which is designed to prepare four year olds with the school readiness skills needed for kindergarten. The Early Learning Coalition will provide parents the option of enrolling children in a school-year program that consists of 540 instructional hours, or a summer program consisting of 300 instructional hours.

For additional information on these or any other programs, feel free to visit your Town ‘N Country Family Support & Resource Center and take a tour of the facility. Individual and/or group tours are welcome. Please call (813) 356-1703 for information. Additional information may also be obtained online in English and Spanish at www.familysupporthc.org, including a listing of the center’s programs.