Weekly Media Roundup: November 17, 2021

‘Worst-Case Scenario’: VB Parks & Rec Closing 14 Before/Afterschool Childcare Programs Due to Staffing Shortage, WAVY-TV (Virginia)

Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation announced it will close three before-school and 11 afterschool programs starting January 3 due to ongoing staffing constraints. They will also combine 19 afterschool programs into ten because staffing continues to be down by a third. “We know that this will put many parents in a very difficult position trying to secure alternative childcare, but we have done everything in our power to avoid this and we are sorry that it’s come to this point,” Michael Kirschman, director of Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation, told WAVY-TV.

Welcome Center’s After-School Program Provides Safe Place for Kids to Learn, Play, Valley Journals (Utah)

Each day at the Hser Ner Moo Community and Welcome Center afterschool program in South Salt Lake, Utah, students eat a warm meal before getting help with their homework and exploring their interests through fun, hands-on activities such as science projects, art and sports. One of 14 afterschool programs facilitated by Promise South Salt Lake, Hser Ner Moo also connects students’ families with resources such as food assistance. The program is named after a young girl who was murdered while home alone. “Our focus is to keep the kids safe,” Chelsea Francom, center coordinator, told the Valley Journals. “Here, they can hang out, get help and make new friends.”

Afterschool Program to Provide Free Books for SISD Students at COVID-19 vaccine Clinics, KTSM (Texas)

On November 16, the Socorro American Federation of Teachers (AFT) afterschool program provided free books to children and their families receiving COVID-19 vaccines at Robert R. Rojas Elementary School in El Paso, Texas. “We know the safest way to have everyone in a classroom is to ensure that every student, teacher, and family member is vaccinated, so we are excited about now offering vaccinations to the younger kids, while also giving them the gift of new books,” Veronica Hernandez, Socorro AFT president, told KTSM. “Our clinics are a great way to get the whole family motivated for vaccinations.” First Book provided funding for the book giveaway at the vaccine clinic.

Baltimore Nonprofit Uses Dirt Bike Culture To Spark STEM Interest In Children, CBS Baltimore (Maryland)

Since 2017, more than 7,000 students have participated in afterschool and summer learning programs from B-360, a Baltimore nonprofit that uses dirt bike culture to spark students’ interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). In the program, students practice dirt bike skills while exploring the physics and engineering concepts behind the sport. “Some of our past students have been able to secure jobs with Red Bull and NASA, so the tools that they’re learning here and the skills that they’re learning here are transferring into very lucrative careers,” Ebony Larry, programming manager and instructor, told CBS Baltimore.