Weekly Media Roundup: March 23, 2022

From Painting to Soccer to 3-D Modeling, After-School Programs a 'Big Hit' with Students, Herald News (Massachusetts)

While some students at Westport, Massachusetts’ Start ‘Em Young afterschool program are busy playing soccer, volleyball, and running track, others are participating in theater, video game design classes, and time management programs. “Social emotional (learning) has been difficult for kids at the younger grades to take part in much other than regular school activities,” Mike Fernandes, a coordinator at Start ‘Em Young, told the Herald News. “The school community and the school spirit — it is such an integral part of kids’ success at school. A lot of memories are things that happen outside of the classroom.”  Thanks to additional funding through the Elementary and Secondary School Early Relief Fund, the afterschool program is able to offer students academic support as well as a wide variety of engaging activities for free during the afterschool hours.

Ignite Yoga, Schools Partner for Mindfulness, West Valley View (Arizona)

At the Spark Adventure After School Program in West Valley, Arizona, students of all ages are learning the techniques and appreciating the benefits of yoga. Program leaders report improvements in elementary through high school students’ grades and their ability to focus and deal with conflict. “Bringing the program to schools for free makes the benefits of yoga and mindfulness accessible to so many students who might otherwise do without,” Mandi Lutha, headmaster of the program, told West Valley View. “Providing this program after school gives students something positive to look forward to in this uncertain world that they are navigating. Yoga and mindfulness give them the tools to face challenges with positivity and resilience.”

Understaffing Leaves After-School Programs with Unmet Demand, The Associated Press

Across the country, many afterschool programs are struggling to hire enough to staff, forcing them to reduce enrollment. “We came into the pandemic with tremendous unmet demand for after-school and summer programs and of course, like almost every other challenge out there, the pandemic only made that challenge worse,” Afterschool Alliance Vice President Jen Rinehart told the Associated Press. “There’s no doubt really that these after-school programs — the lack of after-school programs at this stage — are limiting women in particular being able to reenter the workforce.” A survey commissioned by the Afterschool Alliance found that about 7 out of 10 programs have taken action to increase hiring and retain staff, including raising salaries and providing new benefits.

GCHS Students Take Hands-On Approach to STEM with the Teen Science Café, The Gadsden Times (Alabama)

The Gadsden City High School 21st Century Community Learning Centers program in Alabama was one of nine afterschool programs selected for the Teen Science Café Rural Fellowship Program this year. Through the program, local scientists, doctors, and other science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) professionals visit the high school to facilitate hands-on, interactive STEM activities. For example, Dr. William Haller, an orthopedist, recently visited the program to demonstrate three simulated surgical procedures. “We want to inspire youth to explore STEM careers and positively influence teens’ understanding of science issues in the news. We also want them to have the ability to use facts to support scientific points of view, and consider multiple sides of an issue before making a decision,” Administrative Assistant Janie Browning told the Gadsden Times.