Weekly Media Roundup: June 8, 2022

After-School Programs Band Together to Build Bots, Shoshone News-Press (Idaho)

The Pinehurst Elementary After-School Solution program and the Kellogg Middle School WISE afterschool program joined together to celebrate last month’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) night in Pinehurst, Idaho, and participants transformed recycled materials into robots. The event featured Pinehurst Elementary’s new Think, Make, Create Lab, a mobile lab that can be transported to various sites and programs. “We had a really great turnout and it was really nice to collaborate with the middle school afterschool program,” Pinehurst After-School Solution Director Deanne Fitzgerald told the Shoshone News-Press. The afterschool programs offer STEM activities as well as community service projects, educational support and social-emotional learning activities throughout the school year and will offer additional programs this summer.

Brixner MESA Team Wins State, Will Compete at National Level – Three KCSD Schools Offered MESA This Year as an After School Program, Klamath Alerts (Oregon)

Within its first year, the Brixner MESA (Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement) afterschool program not only encouraged students’ creativity but is sending a team of eighth graders to the National MESA junior high engineering and design competition. The two eighth-grade Oregon winners were tasked with developing an innovation to support the food industry. The students worked with Sweet Union Farm to construct a mechanical lift to extend the growing season. “They had so many great ideas that could really help out small-scale farmers who are growing food for their community,” Katie Swanson of Sweet Union Farm told Klamath Alerts. “This type of technology is not readily available for small-scale farmers, so their hard work and creativity gave me so much hope.”

Summer Camp for Kids Who Suffered COVID Learning Loss Opens, ABC 15 (Arizona)

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey has directed $100 million in federal COVID relief funds to summer learning programs, which will serve 114,000 students at 890 sites across the state this summer. The AZ On Track Summer Camp programs will provide on hands-on activities to help students recover academically and emotionally from the pandemic, while developing skills such as teamwork, problem solving and critical thinking. "I think it's important for [my granddaughter]. More opportunities and activities for the kids," grandmother Maria Monarvin told ABC 15.

Summer-Learning Program Demand Rises; Counselors on Hand for Social-Emotional Learning, Local 12 (Kentucky)

During the pandemic, demand for out-of-school time programs in Covington, Kentucky has risen sharply as students and their families seek support to cope with the stresses of COVID. This summer, school counselors will work with students one-on-one and in small groups to address mental health challenges as part of Covington Schools’ summer learning program. Students will also stay engaged academically while exploring new interests. “Afterschool and summer-learning programs give kids that safe space to try something new. Maybe they don’t think they can be an artist, but maybe they dropped into an art club,” Director of Kentucky Out-of-School Alliance and Afterschool Ambassador Tom Haggard told Local 12