About the After School Programs
Research indicates that students' involvement in a good after
school program is linked to improved behavior at school, increased
interest in learning, decreased involvement in crime, better social skills,
and higher aspirations for the future.
--Education Week, February 2, 2000
The Collaborative's network of 21st Century Community Learning Centers supports the academic and developmental needs of elementary and middle school youth.
Adolescents today spend at least 40% of their waking hours out of school. These hours can be filled with productive, supervised activities that promote development, or they may be hours when youth are lonely, bored, or engaged in risky behaviors. The Collaborative's 21st Century Learning Centers are committed to making the most of this time by providing a safe, stimulating environment; a variety of meaningful activities to choose from; and caring adults to guide students' choices.
Goals of the Learning Centers
- To provide a safe, supervised place for youth to engage in constructive activities during out-of-school hours
- To improve academic performance through support on homework, math problem solving, communication skills, and other academic skills
- To increase motivation and engagement in learning
- To provide nurturing relationships with adults
- To increase children's social emotional competence
- To provide increased opportunities for diversified fitness activities and information to support a health enhancing lifestyle
- To link with community agencies to increase support for youth and families
Each program begins when the end-of-day school bell rings. Students gather for a healthy snack and catch up with their friends. Homework Center follows--a 45-minute period in which students do their homework with the support of teachers and staff. Afterward, the kids enjoy hour-long enrichment activities of their choice, such as:
- Robotics
- Critics Corner
- Personal Web page design
- Mountain Biking
- Yoga
- Snow Shoeing
- Drawing Club
- Silver Chair Literary Society
- Cartoon Club
- Students of Color for Excellence
- Action Adventure Fridays
- Kayaking
- Dance
- Sporty Fun
- Bully Busters
- Insane Story Writing
Building Healthy Adolescents
Adolescents need to move their bodies as well as their minds. Our Learning Centers offer group sports, gym time, and outdoor adventure activities which help students develop strength, self-confidence, and interpersonal skills. Students with a broad range of special needs are fully integrated into our Learning Center programs and activities, and experience new levels of independence and skill while interacting with other students from school. Our programs serve nearly two thirds of all students with special needs, as well as the majority of students eligible for free lunch.
Learning Centers also provide a supervised place for youth to develop trusting relationships. Students have the opportunity to work with guidance counselors, social workers, and mentors to talk about the things on their minds: decisions around drugs and alcohol, stresses they face, and choices they make as they grow up. Students also have the opportunity to take a leadership role in their program through Youth Advisory Councils. These councils allow youth and adults to work together, breaking down barriers between age groups and enabling students to have a stronger voice in their schools and communities.
Summer Programs
Individual sites may run summer programs. For more details, contact your local after school program.
Volunteers
Volunteers of all ages can share their time, passion, and talent with our youth, supportiing students in a variety of ways:
- Be a mentor
- Supervise kids' activities in the gym
- Tutor students in an academic subject
- Share your culture
- Teach an enrichment course such as cooking, calligraphy, or poetry
- Give an artistic performance
- Share your life experiences
- Make a presentation about your field of work or study
- Help out wherever you are needed
For more information contact:
Christopher Taggart
21st Century Learning Centers
Collaborative for Educational Services
123B Hawley Street, Northampton, MA 01060
413.586.4998 x106
Fax: 413.586.5135
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The 21st Century Learning Centers are a project of the Collaborative for Educational Services, a nonprofit, multi-service agency dedicated to working with schools and families to deliver best-practice, high-quality programs and services for all learners. The programs are supported through funding by the U.S. Department of Education 21st Century Learning Centers, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and many community partners. ''