After-school cartooning, creative writing, snack, tutoring and more: the Renzi Education and Art Center, 435 Egan St, Shreveport

The Renzi Education and Art Center is accepting new K-12 students for the Fall I Session of its free, high-quality, academic and art After School Program, says Jennifer Hill. It will begin Tues, Sept 2, and go until Oct 16, 2014. Space is limited, enrollment is on a first-come basis.

Renzi Center, located in the heart of Highland, offers classes Mon through Thurs in a safe, nurturing environment. Families can sign their children up for all four days or fewer, depending on their needs. Each afternoon, from 3:45 to 5:30PM, students take two 25-minute academic classes and one 50-minute art class. Students typically begin arriving at Renzi at 3 pm. They receive a free snack and either play outside in Renzi’s fenced-in, supervised front yard or do homework until classes begin. When classes end at 5:30PM, parents must pick up their children. Unfortunately, the Renzi Center cannot provide transportation.

Academic classes are held in Renzi’s Academic House, where students receive lessons and one-on-one tutoring from certified teachers in core subjects, such as Language Arts and Math and other classes, such as Spanish, Nutrition, and Computer Lab. Students take their art class in Renzi’s Art House, learning techniques and creative processes from professional artists in a variety of artistic media, such as Wire Sculpture, Cartooning, Photography, Creative Writing, and Pottery.

The Renzi Education and Art Center was founded by the Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows of Shreveport in 1997 after they received a house in Highland as a donation. After seeing that many children in the area did not have a safe place to go to after school and often needed assistance with their homework, the Sisters and a local artist, Donna Service, created Renzi’s free After School Program. Since 1998, the Renzi Center has served hundreds of area youth, helping them excel in school and explore and discover their creative talents. The Renzi Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and accepts youth from all backgrounds. More info: Christy at 318-222-1414, or visit www.renzicenter.org.