Weekly Media Roundup: October 13, 2021

Gwinnett Celebrating Importance of Afterschool Programs, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Georgia) 

On October 28, Gwinnett County, Georgia, will celebrate Lights On Afterschool with an event titled “Walk Among the Stars.” At the Hollywood-themed event, children and their families will take part in crafts, games, and science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) activities facilitated by more than 12 out-of-school time providers and community partners. Tina Fleming, director of the Gwinnett County Department of Community Services and an Afterschool Alliance Afterschool Ambassador, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Walk Among the Stars “is a powerful reminder that afterschool programs offer important support to children and families. Unfortunately, there are not always enough accessible afterschool programs, and too many kids are home alone in the afternoons, where they can be exposed to at-risk behaviors. Afterschool programs can be life-changing for many of these children.” 

Rantoul City Schools Expands Afterschool Program, WCIA-TV (Illinois) 

Thanks to a $450,000 federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant, Rantoul City Schools (RCS) in Rantoul, Illinois, is expanding its afterschool program to serve students at five elementary schools instead of the current two. The new expanded program, ExPLORES (Experimental Playing and Learning of Rantoul Elementary Students), will feature hands-on STEAM activities, virtual field trips, and more.  “I think the biggest thing is making it different from what happens during the school day, getting students exposed to things that maybe they normally wouldn’t,” RCS Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Frerichs told WCIA-TV.  “We’re hoping to do things like cooking classes and even just silly things like crocheting. We’re hoping that by doing that, it’ll really draw students to come and participate on a regular basis.” 

After-School Program Hopes to Provide a Safe Path for Student Success, WFDD (North Carolina) 

To help prevent youth violence, the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and Winston Lake Family YMCA are working together to provide an afterschool program that focuses on the whole family. The afterschool program will provide tutoring, mentoring programs and meals for students as well as GED and job skills programs for parents. “There is a plethora of things that are cranking up and starting up over there and I think those are going to be game changers,” Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough told WFDD. 

Smoking Prevention Program Reaching KCS Students During Afterschool Hours, WATE-TV (Tennessee)  

Through a unique partnership, Metro Drug Coalition of Knoxville, Tennessee is teaming up with local afterschool programs to warn preteens and teens about the dangers of smoking and vaping. “A huge part of prevention is filling in… the gaps in the time when they are outside of the classroom,” Asheton Casey, an instructor with Metro Drug Coalition, explained to WATE-TV. Metro Drug Coalition plans to introduce the four-part prevention program to 15 afterschool programs this year.