After school Arrow Academy returning to Du Quoin schools

After-school programming is returning to Du Quoin District 300 schools.

Du Quoin Elementary School Principal Diana Rea announced to parents this week that the school has been awarded a federal 21st Century grant to continue the program for another five years.

As a result, enrollment is now open for Arrow Academy, which is set to begin Oct. 2. Rea said she expects the after-school care and enrichment program to include around 200 students.

Enrollment at first will be limited to students who have participated in past years. Enrollment applications are accepted at the school.

Rea said she first received a $1.5 million 21st Century grant in 2012 to launch the program on a five-year basis. When spring 2017 rolled around, she knew the time was almost up.

"We knew it was ending," Rea said.

However, Rea learned over the summer that the district again was in line to receive more funds, and in the end, Du Quoin received a grant identical to the first one that will keep the program going for another five years.

Rea said faculty and staff are still in the planning stages ahead of this year's start, but the reaction from parents has been overwhelmingly positive.

"I heard from several parents, 'This is a godsend,'" Rea said.