Weekly Media Roundup: September 28, 2022

Project S.T.I.N.G. Unveiled at Goodyear School, West Valley View (Arizona)

Thanks to a 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant, students at Desert Star School in Goodyear, Arizona now have access to a free afterschool program that offers science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) activities, yoga, a knitting club, a craft club, and a book club. The program is open to students in preschool through eighth grade. “We have waited a long time for this opportunity to run a comprehensive and engaging after-school program and look forward to the results that it will yield for our entire school community,” principal Jessica Worthington told the West Valley View. “It is already so rewarding to see our staff teaching one of their hobbies or passions and students gaining new perspectives with enrichment and growing within their academics.”

Beyond the Bell Offers After-School Safe Haven, Wallkill Valley Times (New York)

During the pandemic, Montgomery, New York psychotherapist Amy Frisch created It’s a Girl Thing!+ to support girls’ mental health with art therapy, retreats, family therapy and professional development for school groups. This year, It’s a Girl Thing+ is expanding to include Beyond the Bell, an afterschool program for middle schoolers of all genders focused on tutoring, time in nature, art, cooking, and social and emotional learning. “I think when a child moves on to middle school, there are so many changes at that time in their life and it’s often hard to stay anchored. With Beyond the Bell, we’re offering kids an opportunity to socialize and connect. It’s an extension beyond the school day that’s also restful and supportive to their emotional needs,” Frisch told the Wallkill Valley Times.

Westside Community Gym Kicks Off New After School Program, WBNG (New York)

With a $35,000 grant from Broome County, the Westside Community Gym in Binghamton, New York will open a free afterschool program for students ages eight to 16. The program, based out of Tabernacle United Methodist Church, will offer tutoring, snacks, arts and crafts and a variety of sports. “These programs are vital for our community. They’re amazing programs,” Sarina Barrera, program supervisor at Westside Community Gym, told WBNG. “But there’s just not enough. We need more and more of these programs in order to enrich the lives of our children in this community.”

Pilot After-School Program Helps Muskegon Students ‘Tune Up,’ Grand Rapids Business Journal (Michigan)

Through new partnership with West Michigan Symphony, students at Impact afterschool programs in Muskegon, Michigan will receive free string instrument classes and instrument rentals. The Tune Up pilot program will be offered twice a week at Impact afterschool programs in Marquette and Oakview elementary schools. “Because of the Tune Up program, students will receive several years of instrumental string music instruction while still in elementary school, which will encourage them to progress more quickly and help them prepare for middle and high school orchestra,” Muskegon Public Schools Director of Orchestra Nick Voyt told Grand Rapids Business Journal. “The Tune Up program is the first step to offering instrumental string music in our elementary schools and provides an exceptionally valuable opportunity for students where there currently is none.” Impact afterschool programs receive funding through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers initiative.