Growing Minds After School
Students get the opportunity to learn new skills with grant-funded programs Written by Megan Middleton
Crowley ISD ’ s ACE afterschool program goes beyond simply offering students help with homework , but provides opportunities for them to learn about subjects such as piano , robotics and even gardening .
Seven CISD campuses offer the Texas Afterschool Centers on Education ( ACE ) program , which is funded with federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers ( CCLC ) grant dollars and available for students who qualify based on academic need . Those campuses include Parkway , Jackie Carden , Oakmont , J . A . Hargrave and Sidney H . Poynter elementary schools , as well as David L . Walker and Mary Harris intermediate schools .
“ We ’ re not truly an afterschool program — we are a co-curricular program ,” said Crystel Polk , 21st Century Afterschool Program Project director . “ That means we are taking the school day elements and we are aligning those to the afterschool program . It ’ s giving the kids medicine and they don ’ t even know it . They are having so much fun and they are learning at the same time .”
The program runs about three hours after school four to five days a week , with the first hour offering small group tutorials and homework help and the rest of the time spent in enrichment classes .
“ Parents love that it ’ s a free program , but they also love that they ’ re getting the help here at school before they come home ,” Polk said . “ Many parents have told us that they have a hard time helping their children with their homework . They can come to our program and get help from a certified teacher . That makes a world of difference to that student .”
Parent Tawanna Davis said her daughter loves getting her homework done before coming home , enjoys the enrichment activities the program offers and likes the chance to be around other kids .
“ I think the program is absolutely wonderful . It ’ s a blessing ,” Davis said . “ Homework time is sort of a struggle at our house , so it ’ s really a blessing having that time here .”
Ally Craig , a fifth-grader , was excited when her parents told her she would get to be in an afterschool program .
“ This is the first afterschool program I ’ ve been in , and I can see my friends ,” Craig said . “ It helps expand your brain and knowledge . It will help you know a lot more stuff that you can also tell your friends .”
One of her enrichment classes is piano , and she ’ s learning from her music teacher at Mary Harris Intermediate School .
“ You can show your friends what you learned because not many people know how to play the piano ,” she said .
6 CROWLEY ISD CONNECTIONS | Spring 2017