Weekly Media Roundup: September 6, 2017

Bluffs Summer School Collaboration Proves a ‘Match Made in Heaven’ (Daily Nonpareil, Iowa)

Thanks to a record number of community partners, funding from multiple grants and new creative programming, the Council Bluffs Community School District reached more than 1,000 students through its summer school program this year. According to the Daily Nonpareil, the district joined with the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program and the Iowa Reading Research Center to assemble a well-rounded program for students of all ages. Through the program, youths had a chance to interact with local businesses, program robots, and visit the zoo to learn about biology.

Mayor Curry Tours After-School Program at Pinedale Elementary (WJXT, Florida)

After committing a total of $13 million of extra funding to afterschool programs several weeks ago, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry took a trip to Pinedale Elementary School last week to see one of the programs in action. Mayor Curry had a chance to speak to several educators who conveyed how important afterschool is for their students. “The students actually receive an extension of the school day in those skills that they are primarily showing some areas of weakness, or concern, so the academic hour is based on their needs,” Pinedale Elementary School Principal Alicia Hinson told WJXT. The extra funding will give more than 8,000 Jacksonville students access to afterschool programs.

Making Afterschool Programs Work (Jackson Free Press, Mississippi)

Afterschool Ambassador Amber May was interviewed by the Jackson Free Press about her afterschool and summer program at Operation Shoestring and how it benefits Jackson’s youths. “It's about making sure the children are safe, first off,” she said. “It's about helping working families (so) they're able to work with the peace of mind of knowing that child is not only safe but that the child is getting the assistance they need on their homework assignments, they're getting any other type of academic help they need, a nutritious snack. And then also it's about inspiring children to learn.” The nonprofit works with pre-kindergarten and elementary school students on a variety of academic subjects, with a special emphasis on literacy.

An After School Program That Offers Structure, Down Time and Karate (Bangor Daily News, Maine)

Stacy Kim’s Kuma Fitness and Leadership program gives students a place to unwind after school, work on homework and get active. Each day at the program, youths enjoy a healthy snack, do some work, draw or participate in other quiet activities, then spend half an hour practicing karate or partaking in another fitness class. The karate classes teach students confidence, discipline and respect, according to Kim. “I truly feel like [Stacy’s] focus is on building better little people who will grow into better adults versus just teaching karate,” parent Anne Thurlow told the Bangor Daily News.