• Embed Doc
  • Copy Link
  • Readcast
  • Collections
  • CommentGo Back
Download
 
Archived Information
Chapter 3Communities Meeting the Needfor After-School Activities
The following after-school programsincorporate many of the components of effective programs discussed in the previouschapter. They are examples of how localcommunities across the country are meetingthe need for safe and smart after-schoolactivities that serve young people of all ages.These examples are by no means exhaustive;they are intended to illustrate the kinds of after-school programs that are working inschools and communities. The contact listedwith each example has agreed to providemore information upon request.As the number of after-school programscontinues to grow, more and more programsare intentionally linking regular school daylearning with the after-school experience.Examples of linkages include integratingcurriculum, sharing information abouthomework assignments and individualchildren, staffing programs with school dayteachers and community-based providers,and holding special events specifically for  building relationships between school dayand after-school staff. By addressing theneeds of and tapping resources within localcommunities, practices like these are providing broad learning and enrichmentopportunities to children in safe and drug-free environments.
Alum Rock Union Elementary SchoolDistrict21
st
Century Community Learning Center(CLC)San Jose, CaliforniaContact: Frank Castilla, 408-924-2571
The CLC program was developed to providelearning opportunities for middle schoolstudents to develop self-esteem throughacademic achievement. Through acollaboration between Alum Rock SchoolDistrict, San Jose State University, and SanJose Museum of Art, students participate inacademic, enrichment, and motivationalopportunities. The program specificallytargets children who demonstrate a need for additional academic help. English is thesecond language of many participants. Inaddition to the CLC program, a district-wideafter-school program is available to students.The CLC program is in three middle schools(Sheppard, Ocala, and Pala) and available ateach from Monday through Thursday from2:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. During that time,students participate in mathematics andlanguage arts instruction and tutoring from ahighly trained staff. In addition students participate in technology activities, group- problem-solving activities, and acommunity-based arts program provided bythe San Jose Museum of Art. At two of thethree sites, the program also includes a close
Working for Children and Families
53
 
connection to the regular academic daythrough a sixth period CLC class.Each of the three centers is has a highlytrained staff consisting of a site coordinator who is a certified teacher, two other certifiedteachers, a lead intern who is a San JoseState University student, and a tutorial staff of four to six interns who are high schooland college students. All staff participate inan extensive training program provided bythe Collaborative Training Institute (CTI),which operates out of the San Jose StateUniversity Pre-College Programs office.The CTI is certified by the College Readingand Learning Association’s InternationalTutor Training Certification Program. Staff attend 100 hours of training a year.Although it is too early to determine theeffect of the program on students, certainindicators of success have been identified bythis CLC program and include significantgains made in math and language artsachievement, increased enrollment inalgebra and geometry upon entering theninth grade, increased use of expandedlibrary hours, and demonstrated improvedstudy skills.
Boys and Girls Club of Tahlequah, Inc.Tahlequah, OklahomaContact: Bertha Alsenay, 918-456-6888
The mission of the Boys and Girls Club(“The Club”) in rural Tahlequah, Oklahoma,is to help young people acquire the attitudes, behaviors, and skills necessary to succeed asadults. To this end, The Club promoteshealth, social skills, education, character,and leadership development for children.During the school year, The Club operatesafter-school programs at two Tahlequahelementary schools and a junior high schoolfrom the end of the school day until6:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Inaddition, one night a week is family nightwhere parents can work with their childrenon the computers. Every day approximately350 children receive a snack, participate inhomework and tutorial assistance, and thenhave a choice of recreational activities,computer club, or other special activities,including field trips and guest speakers on avariety of topics such as drug abuse, culture,academia, and law enforcement. The after-school and summer programs are staffed bycertified teachers, coordinators, collegestudents who are education majors, andvolunteer high school students.During the eight-week, full-day summer  program, over 550 youth ages 10-15 arriveat 9:00 a.m. at Northeastern State Universityfor the organized sports program. In theafternoon, they participate in a wide varietyof activities run by The Club that include“Smart Moves,” an alcohol prevention program, computer reading labs,environmental education classes, culturalarts and crafts, golfing, field trips, naturewalks, math, reading, science, enrichmentcourses and sports activities ranging from basketball and volleyball to swimming.Opportunities for children and youth to leadare woven throughout all the programs.The most startling “before and after”comparison has been the almost immediate,visible improvement in both academic performance and social skills. According toBillie Jordan, principal of CentralElementary School, “Teachers have reportedthat members have improved attitudestoward school because their improvedgrades led to improved self-esteem.”
Working for Children and Families
54
 
Boys Harbor: The Harbor for Boys andGirlsEast Harlem, New York Contact: Gloria Schwartz, 212-427-2244ext 515
The Harbor is an urban community-based program located in East Harlem. It wasfounded in 1937 as a summer camp for disadvantaged youth. Now it is amultifaceted, education-oriented agency thatoffers over 4,000 children ages 5-21 a rangeof services that combines recreation,education, and guidance through holistic programming. The after-school componentruns 3-6 p.m. every weekday and all day onschool holidays and summer for elementaryand junior high youth and serves on average400 children and youths. The programfocuses on supporting and reinforcingacademic skills introduced in school,developing debating and critical thinkingskills, conflict resolution, and continuedsupport in the process of preparing for thefuture. Activities include explorations inscience and the arts, sports, foreignlanguages, photography, filmmaking,computer workshops, ceramics, and cookingand nutrition.One of the keys to sustaining the Harbor has been ongoing staff development andsupport. In the last five years, a full-timeliteracy specialist and resource developmentspecialist were hired to help teaching staff develop thematic plans for encouraging andincorporating developmentally appropriateliteracy practices into the various after-school activities. Students are often engagedin summer or school-year-long literacy projects, researching and learning suchtopics as world leaders, themes of the 20thcentury, and famous authors. Studentschoose to use forms such as art, poetry,videos, and plays to present their learningsto other students at the Harbor. In addition,a literacy clinic is available to studentsthrough referrals and ongoing formal andinformal assessments by staff and teachers atthe schools. The staff at the Harbor maintains regular contact with the schoolsthrough teachers and parents.
Community Collaboration for EducationEnrichment (CCEE)YMCA of San Antonio & The HillCountry, Hawthorne Elementary SchoolSan Antonio, TexasContact: Sally Luedke, 210-246-9622
The CCEE model blends the resources,expertise, and services of the YMCA,numerous local youth service agencies, the public schools, and the community to deliver services to at-risk youth and their families.The YMCA, the local school districts, theCity of San Antonio, the Texas EducationAgency, numerous local foundations, andfederal funding come together to supportand maintain services. CCEE is in 17 schooldistricts in San Antonio. CCEE is based onthe philosophy that the neighborhood schoolis the focal point of the community,reflecting the community’s values andanswering its needs. Program services are based on consultation with school faculty,collaborative partners, students, parents, andcommunity leaders. Current servicesinclude: child care for pre-k and school-agechildren, care for infants and toddlers of teenage parents/students, tutoring,mentoring, youth service learning, youth andgovernment, youth employment readiness,experiential education, academic enrichmentand support services, fine arts, outdoor education, youth sports, intergenerational
Working for Children and Families
55
of 00

Leave a Comment

You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...
You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...