Local Best Practices - Doing Our Best
Here are several amazing examples of great programs doing great work in afterschool. If you have a best practice story to share, please submit the form above.
Propel Schools Creating "Magic" Afterschool
Propel Schools is a western Pennsylvania success story. It is the largest, fastest-expanding set of charter schools in Pennsylvania with the highest levels of student achievement among Pennsylvania public school districts serving high poverty areas. This not-for-profit school organization has had a significant impact on the predominantly high poverty population that it serves. Beginning with 108 students in 2003, Propel now has seven school buildings with more than 2000 students with Braddock Hills housing both an elementary and a high school. But, Propel is constantly looking for ways to build on this strong foundation. The hours after school have been targeted as another time for serving children and families, always with student success at the forefront of the effort.
One of the goals of the afterschool program is to involve the community. An advisory council is being formed with representatives from local businesses, non-profits, government agencies and other community stakeholders. Propel Afterschool currently has formal partnerships with 12 entities including WQED, the Girl Scouts and the Boy Scouts, the city of McKeesport, the city of Braddock Hills, CMU, Wheeling Jesuit University, Parents Against Violence, Carnegie Library of Homestead and McKeesport, the Hill Dance Academy Theatre and an IUP/CCAC collaborative. Propel afterschool is also working to bring programs from Giant Eagle, the YMCA, and CMU's School of Computer Science. Afterschool has hired high school students and college interns, giving these students a special chance to help and learn.
Propel Afterschool is definitely MAGIC. It’s help with homework, snacks, art, music, dance, science, badminton, Girl and Cub Scouts, camps…it’s Afterschool in Propel’s diverse afterschool programs. From Karate at Propel Northside to Poetry and Music at Propel Homestead, there is always excitement. Propel has launched three new 36 week programs this year at Propel McKeesport, Propel Homestead and Propel Braddock Hills Elementary that offer a sustained program after school with the arts, physical education, technology, literacy and Scout programs. Educators from the regular day stay a little longer to offer extended learning and mentoring. Area artists spend 12 weeks at each site, becoming part of the school community. The afterschool effort is now extending into the greater community with parent celebrations like that at the Homestead Holidays Around the World program and the McKeesport Afterschool visit to the Riverside Care Center. Plans to connect with each community through art are being formulated. Parents are already involved, participating in a mandatory orientation before registering their children.
Afterschool programs are also bringing extra learning and fun at four additional Propel sites. At Montour, Turtle Creek, and the Northside Propel schools, students can choose from a club format. Propel Braddock Hills High School is offering a 21st Century Community Learning Center complete with supper through a collaboration with the Neighborhood Learning Alliance.
The results are phenomenal. At a time when many school systems are cutting afterschool programming, Propel is investing in afterschool models and choices that provide the extra time and support that parents want for their children and students need. It’s Propel MAGICCC-Making an Investment in Children, Communities and City.
Currently, Propel Afterschool is pursuing APOST (Allegheny Partnership for Out of School Time) Quality Campaign status through an intensive evaluation process. Plans are being made to continue to expand afterschool offerings and to look for support from the communities where Propel is already making a difference. Propel truly believes in MAGIC--Making a Great Commitment to Children, Communities and City.
Please click here for the brochure.
For Information about Propel Schools and Afterschool, Please Contact Propel Schools:
Superintendent-Dr. Carol Wooten
Email: Rosemary Anderson at Randerson@propelschools.org (Afterschool)
PSVP Kids - The Next Generation of Engaged Philanthropists!
Can you imagine 6th graders leading a meeting with nonprofit leaders about a fundraiser or drive that they want to do? No need to imagine, check out this great group of kids doing just that!
In 2008-09, Pittsburgh Social Venture Partners (PSVP), Pittsburgh’s leading venture philanthropy organization, launched a new program in partnership with Pittsburgh Cares. The program is called PSVP Kids, which is aimed at the area’s next generation of engaged philanthropists.
Today, the PSVP Kids program in going into its fourth year of implementation. The PSVP Kids program creates awareness among young people of the responsibilities and rewards of giving both time and money to the non-profit organizations in their communities.
All youth participants, along with a parent will commit to five service projects volunteering their time to regional nonprofits in the areas of poverty, hunger, animal support, the environment, and senior care. The youth in 6th grade will also meet with the non-profit leaders of the December and April projects to gain a better understanding of the organization and its needs. The youth will then plan and organize a fundraising event to take place prior to the project. Upon completion of the fundraiser, the youth will provide the collected funds or goods to the organization during their project.
Pittsburgh Young Leaders Academy Video: A Leadership through Service Program at Pittsburgh Cares
PYLA Youth in this video document their experiences during the Make A Difference Day Service Crawl in South Side.
Hip-Hop On L.O.C.K. uses technology to help transform youth
As we move deeper and deeper into the 21st century our world is getting smaller and smaller. Through the technology we have today you can be face-to-face video chatting with someone in China with a few clicks of a mouse. These technologies are the ones that our youth are growing up with and are using practically from birth.
With that being said, youth today do not typically learn through the traditional methods of reading and writing but rather through hands on experiences and engagement through the technology they already are so enthralled with. By bringing programming to the Pittsburgh community such as Hip-Hop On L.O.C.K., we are providing the opportunities to supplement what is being taught in school with quality, meaningful hands-on experiences that the youth, and the community for that matter, will remember and will surely learn from. Thus, we begin to make the vital connections that are necessary to ensure not only our community but also our country’s continued success.
Through the programming that Hip-Hop On L.O.C.K. provides, we are amazed at the transformation you see in not only youth, but also adults through engagement in this hands-on form of education. Having served over 700 youth since our inception in 2007, we have experienced seeing some of you might describe as the most rhythmically challenged person transform into a whole different being that can design some of the most intelligent, thought provoking rhymes some may have ever heard. By giving our communities these tools and allowing them to make the decision on how they want to utilize that knowledge to form a mock record label in which they each hold an executive position and can make real-life decisions to ultimately make an end product that is meaningful and fulfilling to them we are instilling the 4 values that Hip-Hop On L.O.C.K. holds most important, including Leadership development, Organizational skills, Cooperative economics and Knowledge of the music business.
For more information on Hip-Hop On L.O.C.K. and the programming we offer, please visit www.hiphoponlock.org, or you can find us on Facebook at The Hip Hop On L.O.C.K. Project or on Twitter at HHOLProject.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Western PA and Schools Collaborate on OST Professional Development
In Pittsburgh, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania (BGCWPA) collaborates with local school districts to offer afterschool standards-aligned academic skill improvement tutoring for youth ages 5-18. Students have the opportunity to explore career pathways, develop portfolios and acquire workplace skills through internships and on-the-job training in retail settings. School district employees are hired as instructors for the OST BGCWPA programs and they participate in professional development seminars in partnership with: the Pennsylvania Department of Education (21stCCLC); Three Rivers Best Practices & Strategies; Workforce Investment Board; Pittsburgh Partnership; YouthWorks, Inc.; United Way of Allegheny County;
Duquesne University; and Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy. The BGCWPA trainings are held four to five times a year. A professional staff of 22 Pennsylvania certified teachers along with the 35 BGCWPA staff members offer 7,500 youth in Allegheny County opportunities to excel in academics and life skill development. The diverse partnership infrastructure and training maximize opportunities for all stakeholders.
Emanuel Christian Afterschool Program
Bethany Patton is one of our success stories. She began in the Emanuel Christian Afterschool program as a volunteer from the Langley High School National Honor Society. Later, she conducted observations and volunteer hours in our preschool and afterschool program while attending Carlow University. In December 2009, Bethany graduated Cum Laude from Carlow with a Bachelor of Arts in Education. She is certified in Elementary, Special, and Early Childhood education. She received the Leadership in Education Award, one of three outstanding education awards from Carlow.
While attending Carlow, she served as the President of the Resident Student Association and Kappa Delta Epsilon, and was a member of SPiRiT. While student teaching at Stevens Elementary, in the third grade, Autistic Support, and Life Skills classroom, she still managed to work in our after-school program full-time. This year she is a substitute teacher for the Pittsburgh Public Schools at Schaeffer Primary, K-3. She is now our assistant director involved in the planning and implementation of our program.
Our afterschool program is located in the Elliott Community in the west end of Pittsburgh. We work with students from Stevens K-8, Propel Montour, Phillips K-5, and Carmalt K-5. We are now a licensed center that collaborates with the Kiwanis K-Kids Club, Creative Arts and Renewal Effort under the Pittsburgh Weed and Seed program, Pittsburgh Public School Partnership, and Keystone Stars. Bethany does a great job of coordinating all of those efforts. Welcome to the after-school field, Bethany!
Rankin Christian Center
So What! Sew What ….about Sewing
The Rankin Christian Center has a program in its third year that has ignited creative interest and by surprise exploded into a huge success. Who would have imagined that in today’s world of computers and technology that our kids would want to learn how to sew? Sounds like a program from the 50’s.
On a whim, one of the senior citizens from our “Seniors on the Move” program offered to come out for a few afternoons with her sewing machine to give the kids a sewing presentation. Little did she know how this would snowball into a major part of the Next Level Learning plus Adventures after-school program. After seeing the reaction of such excitement in the children, program coordinator Mrs. Donna Thomas, found she was stealing every free moment in her day practicing her newfound talent on her new sewing machine. As her skills grew, enthusiasm spread to other staff members and best of all to the kids. Faced with a challenge of equipment and supply needs, Mrs. Thomas somehow found a way to meet those challenges through donated machines and fabrics.
There’s never a loss for project ideas, one of the favorites being the Pittsburgh Steelers pillows. Drawstring beach bags and denim purses made from the students old blue jeans are some other favorites. Steelers headbands will be a new item this year.
It’s amazing how this somewhat accidental program has sparked interest, promoted learning, skill development, collaboration and allowed the youth to feel a real sense of ownership while working to literally build it from the ground up.
Sew What…..Our Children’s Minds….That’s What!!!
Children's Museum of Pittsburgh's YouthALIVE! Summer VolunTEENS
This past summer, Children's Museum of Pittsburgh's teenage volunteer program, VolunTEENS, along with additional teenagers from the Pittsburgh region, had the opportunity to participate in a program called theoneminutesjr, sponsored by UNICEF and The OneMinutesJr. Foundation and funded by the The Pittsburgh Foundation. In five days, each teenager is taught the basics of filmmaking, and is given support in brainstorming, planning, directing, filming and editing a one-minute film. The topic this year was "Identity". The mix of teenagers represented a diversity of backgrounds, families, ages (12-18), and neighborhoods, and thus brought greatly varied concepts of how they understood their own identities.
At first many of the teens were intimidated. They were shown other oneminute films from around the world- Malaysia, Sudan, Ireland. Many didn't believe that they could make anything "that good". But after a lot of encouragement and brainstorming, and a little inherent, healthy peer pressure, the kids pushed themselves to create unique and amazing pieces.
One participant had been transplanted to Pittsburgh just recently. For most of the week he was reserved and minimally responsive. However, when he learned how to edit his film, he became so excited about the process it was all he wanted to work on. Another participant knew little of her ethnic origins until she was stumped on developing a plot line. She decided to explore her distinct family history, and her film became a narrative, tracing her ancestors back seven generations.
The program required a tireless commitment to encouraging those youth who did not yet believe they were capable of creating anything noteworthy. Yet, upon providing them with the tools, the means, a directive, and an expectation, we saw each of them flourish.
You can watch the Pittsburgh 2010 oneminutesjr.videos here: