AST: End of Year Party
/CFNA After School Tutoring (AST)
“…community, mentoring, joy, and growth among New American children…”
“Here they are!” Was the announcement that rang out at our new 5515 Peace Center building as our AST End of Year Party officially began on the evening of Tuesday, May 12th. With the end of the school year here, it was time for our AST children, tutors and volunteers to celebrate a year of learning, friendship and growth together.
Around 45 children and nearly 30 volunteers attended the celebration, marking the conclusion of another meaningful year for CFNA’s tutoring program, which served more than 75 students during the 2025–26 academic year.
Upon entering the Peace Center, children immediately headed downstairs to the ESL room where they were able to choose five books for summer reading. These books were gifted to CFNA by a student from Christ Community Lutheran School (CCLS) and were intended for the students’ summer reading. We were thankful for the many story options the children had as well as all the various reading levels available!
Next, students progressed to the recreation room where they selected goggles, a swimsuit, a towel, and then also participated in a craft. At times this area was a flurry of activity and swirling fabric as girls and boys determined which suit was just right for them among the many style and print options available.
As the children concluded their time in the recreation room, they joined the other children celebrating outside with raspberry and cherry snow cones, salted popcorn, five foot tall 9-square, sidewalk chalk, and volunteer constructed cornhole. This closed their time with us whereupon they knew they would be joining us for swimming, the Muny, bird house construction, library visits, Ninja Warrior days, or other activities throughout the summer.
This year brought exciting growth to the tutoring program as activities transitioned from CFNA’s former 4019 building into the larger 5515 Peace Center with an expanded play space, and the addition of a Futsal court installed through the support of Faith Lutheran Church in Oakville. More than 50 volunteers from schools like CCLS, St. Paul’s Des Peres, Green Park Lutheran, Lutheran South, & Saint Louis University (SLU), and various Lutheran churches served faithfully throughout the year by tutoring, mentoring, and encouraging New American students.
Jennifer Janssen, CFNA’s volunteer tutoring coordinator for Tuesday sessions summed it up well - “I love watching both volunteers and New American students interacting with each other and being blessed in the process,”
God gifted us with a beautiful and warm day and plenty of smiling faces! We thank all of you who either participated or donated to support the tutoring program and make the ‘year-end’ celebration a memorable afternoon for our friends. In many ways, you enable us to follow Jesus’ call – “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt. 19:14)
By Stefanie Rabe
CFNA Youth Enrichment Coordinator
