By Bethany Bray
Saturday's rain could not dampen the party to celebrate the Shawsheen Extended Day program's 25th anniversary.
Sydney Bialo, executive director and founder of SHED Inc., estimates 400 families, alumni and staff attended to reconnect on Oct. 24.
"It was a wonderful time, a great success," said Bialo. "We had a lot of people who we hadn't seen in years, and kids that are now young adults come back ... It was a very rewarding day."
There were games and activities for children, and plenty of laughs and stories shared between program staff and alumni. State Sen. Sue Tucker stopped by to issue the program a citation from the senate.
Twenty-five years ago, SHED was started as a Department of Community Services program for half-day kindergartners at Shawsheen School. But the program quickly grew. Before online registration, parents used to camp out overnight to ensure their children could get into the program.
Now, SHED and its related "Kid's Club" program serve about 300 children every day, kindergarten through eighth-grade. Besides out-of-school programs for half-day kindergarten and older students, SHED has a springboard to kindergarten program that serves children who are beyond preschool, but not quite ready for kindergarten. After 25 years, Bialo estimates the program has 3,000 alumni.
Bialo's favorite part of Saturday's bash?
"Hearing the stories from some of the young adults and parents of how we've made a difference in their lives," she said. "That was the most rewarding part. That's what we're here for."
