The After-school Programs (ASP) in Hodgdon and Houlton are off to a spectacular start. These programs are funded by the 21st Century Grants, which are directed and managed by Maine Family Resource Center (MFRC), a non-profit organization, based in Danforth.
“The difference between after-school care and our after-school program is huge. I am new to my job, but already I can see that the status quo of cut and paste activities is a thing of the past with After-school Programming,” said Carolyn Fickett, director of special projects at MFRC. “This is not to say that the choice to play kick ball or soccer is no longer an option, but the 21st Century Grants have been pushing for several years to tie the common activities and past practices into ‘STEM.’ Students need to acquire or practice skills and knowledge associated with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in practical yet fun ways that cross regular course boundaries.”
MFRC believes all academics, arts, field trips, and activities should be interrelated.
“Children learn best when they understand that math is important to their daily living, useful in cooking or sewing, beneficial to creative arts, and fun when applied to Legos or Snap Circuit construction,” Fickett explained.
The driving force behind 21st Century funding and programming has always been to support and enhance the education of students. Improving performance in school, raising scores on standardized tests, watching youth grow socially and emotionally are the expected results of the After-school Program. Each site has a coordinator, who is responsible for developing activities for their students. These individuals are not alone though. MFRC actively participates in this process, offering suggestions, making connections with people in the communities and around the state in an effort to provide depth of experience for students.
Taking action on expanding the resources for activities, MFRC has endeavored to bring outside organizations to the sites through contracted individuals and/or programs like Children’s Stage Adventures (CSA). This energetic drama program will be working with Mill Pond (Hodgdon) and Southside (Houlton) schools this year, giving children a hands-on theater production.
Cindy Peterson, principal at Southside, has had previous experience with CSA.
“CSA offers our students an opportunity to ‘step out of the box’ or classroom so to speak and shine as stars,” she said. “Children that normally don’t get that chance, step out of their comfort zone. It is amazing what the CSA team and the students are able to accomplish in such little time during the school week. It takes a tremendous amount of work, support, and cooperation from everyone involved, but a worthwhile theatrical learning experience for our kids.”
ASP sites are presently surveying students to allow youth a voice in how they perceive the programming, its value, and what they would like to see happening at their school site. Within a month, MFRC will begin observing activities and sites, gathering information to be used by coordinators and staff in writing goals designed to improve the quality of programming.
“A safe, structured environment with healthy peer and adult interactions in conjunction with opportunities for youth to lead and direct their own programming will hopefully develop a generation prepared to meet the challenges when they enter tomorrow’s work force,” Fickett said.
Mill Pond School
Mill Pond School in Hodgdon has a kindergarten to grade eight After-school Program (ASP), coordinated by Karen Sattler. She has managed this ASP site for years, all under the funding of the 21st Century Grants. Girl Scouts, Bible Clubs, and robotics continue to be choice activities here, along with these new offerings: horsemanship and sewing. Students are transported to Lower Place Farm Equestrian Center where Jessica Bosse teaches the students to groom and ride horses.
As Sattler stated in her program’s newsletter, “the sewing group has the ASP on pins and needles.” A generous gift of material was given to Mill Pond, and six sewing machines were donated by Donors Choose, an online charity.
“To think the idea all started with a fellow colleague mentioning her desire to share her love of sewing with a group of students and now it is going to happen. I can’t wait to see what beauty they are going to create,” Sattler said. The fun learning is not stopping there. MFRC and Sattler are also working to put together an Outdoor Ed Program and Geo Caching, among other activities.
All of the sites will be participating in the national recognition of After-school programming during October and November.
“We’ll be ‘glowing’ on the 23rd as we celebrate National Lights on After-school Day,” Sattler said. “Our glow party will include a display of student light bulb art and will have special activities like glow-bowling and a scavenger hunt. We have glow sticks and black lights to enhance the theme.”
Hodgdon High School
Jessica Stubbs is coordinating the Hodgdon High School Site. This After-school Program is new to this school, and as a result is experiencing some of the difficulties attached to engaging teens. Principal Mary Harbison remains optimistic about the program.
“I am pleased with the ASP,” she said. “Attendance has grown already to the point where Jess is averaging nine students per day. Regular offerings include homework help, tutoring and physical activities, involving strength and conditioning. Special events have included quilting, cooking, Zumba, and Hunter Safety. There has been a community component with the Hunter Safety Course, which is wonderful. I know she has many more activities and community involvement sessions planned in the near future. She is doing an awesome job and brings a lot of energy to the program.”
Fickett, director of special projects at MFRC, has a vision for the Hodgdon High School ASP.
“What is being offered is just the tip of the iceberg,” she said. “A horsemanship class, Outdoor Ed Program, music and related production skills, photography, scrap booking, cooking, career exploration and college visits are in the planning stages. The field is open for suggestions from students or parents.”
MRFC is also looking for community members who might be available to instruct a four- to six-week course in small engine repair, other safety classes such as snowmobile safety, and technology beyond the classroom. Interested persons should contact Jessica Stubbs (207) 532-2413 or MFRC at (207) 448-2383.
Houlton Southside School
The site with the largest number of participating students is at Southside School. This After-school Program has been active since 2005. Its seasoned coordinator, Suzann Lawlor, chose to kick her year off with a fall theme. The students have visited a corn maze and are working on pumpkin and leaf projects with expanded activities addressing seasonal healthy foods and cultural aspects related to harvest and Halloween traditions.
This ASP is also connected to a horsemanship program through Horseplay Farm. Other activities include geocaching, robotics, and a Couch to 5K, which has students on their feet walking.
Lawlor hopes to work with the Native American Education Program through Title 7 in the month of November, which is Native American Heritage Month. Shelly Beals, working with the Maliseet Band, will be bringing drummers, dancers and storytellers. Beals is also forming a student group from Houlton Middle and High School to mentor Southside students in civil rights.
Southside has faced its own challenges this year. Kris Wittine, administrative assistant at MFRC, explained the transition this school has undergone with the closing of Wellington Elementary in Monticello.
“The Houlton School system moved the sixth grade from Southside to the Middle School,” she said. “This resulted in the third grade moving from Houlton Elementary to Southside. These changes, although necessary to accommodate an influx of students, are stretching the ASP. Staff have had to adjust to having younger students in their program and ‘ice breaker’ activities have been increased to help students become familiar and comfortable with new faces.”
