Weekly Media Roundup: February 11, 2026

After School Program Seeks to Nurture Young Talent in Urban Arts, W Journal (Puerto Rico)

At the San Juan Urbano afterschool program, high school students learn about music production, sound engineering, graphic design, choreography, filmmaking, event production and much more. “We’re talking about purposeful training, mentorship, discipline, and real-world experiences that will shape these young people’s lives,” San Juan Mayor Miguel Romero Lugo told W Journal. “We want them to leave here with concrete tools, confidence in their talents, and a clear vision that they can aspire to more.” The newly established afterschool program received more than $2.2 million from the city and is committed to providing educational opportunities to underserved and special needs communities.

WPS Receives $300K To Support Handley Newcomers, Winchester Star (Virginia)

Thanks to a $300,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Education, John Handley High School in Winchester, Virginia will offer the WELCOME 2.0 afterschool program to high schoolers new to the United States. “This grant allows us to intentionally design learning experiences that support both language development and a sense of belonging,” Winchester Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Buckley told the Winchester Star. “WELCOME 2.0 is about more than academic growth — it's about helping students feel connected, confident, and supported as they build their future in Winchester.” The afterschool program will also offer Saturday field trips to local community organizations and businesses.

Afterschool Program at Sun Prairie's Creekside Elementary Ties Together Gardening, Social-Emotional Learning, The Star (Wisconsin)

Students in Coyote Club, a free, federally funded afterschool program in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, are learning mindfulness, teamwork, and other key social-emotional skills while growing fresh fruits and vegetables through a new initiative called Grady’s Garden. Founded by Michael Wheeler, Grady’s Garden includes an animated series and accompanying educational modules. With support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wheeler hopes to expand the model to other schools to support students’ physical and emotional health. Students “were really excited about the purple carrots,” Emily Veselsky, community schools site coordinator, told The Star. “They had answers, and they were talking about how they got to try things and what color the inside of purple carrots are. So, for me, that was really cool to see that it’s working, and to see that they’re retaining this information because it’s a really special way to present it. It’s not just sitting at your desk in front of worksheets.”

Hamilton Middle School Students Creating 100 Handmade Blankets for Kids in Need, KWCH-TV (Kansas)

Following the recent severe winter storm, students in a YMCA afterschool program in Wichita, Kansas, are teaming up to make 100 blankets to give back to their community. Program leaders say many of the students’ own families have faced challenging circumstances and the service learning project is an important opportunity to practice empathy. Students are also learning new skills, including sewing. “I enjoyed and liked it, and I’m happy to show that I care for people and have love for people,” eighth grader Sa’briyah Theus told KWCH-TV.