The Poughkeepsie City School District’s variety of extended learning time after-school programs begins Oct. 20. This year, the programs are expanding to five days a week with more ages included.
In addition, the Mindful Mornings program for pre-K students is returning Oct. 20.
The after-school programs, held in each elementary school and Poughkeepsie Middle School, are led by teachers and provide added academic support and skill building, with a focus on ELA, math and STEAM, to accelerate the closure of learning gaps and encourage student achievement. Each session is two hours. Parents can register with their student’s school; spaces are limited.
“Our academic intervention will be targeted and specific to skills and standards in which we see, in the data, kids need further development,” Superintendent of Schools Gregory Mott said.
The Rising Pioneers (grades K-2) and Mindful Afternoons program (pre-K) at Truth and Krieger schools provide students with additional practice and support in New York State ELA and math standards in fun and engaging ways. Students will engage in reading practice, vocabulary development, letter and sound recognition, counting, shape identification and other exercises.
The Extended Learning Time program, in schools that teach grades 3-8, is an enrichment learning experience that supports students’ academic growth along with developing social-emotional skills, collaborative learning, problem-solving skills and creative thinking. The students also engage in STEAM-focused enrichment activities. The middle school program will begin Oct. 21.
Mindful Mornings, meanwhile, is a program designed to support students’ early literacy skills and social-emotional development. Students will engage in mindful meditations, friendship building, emotion management and feelings vocabulary exercises, while also enjoying read alouds, vocabulary development, high-frequency word practice and exercises in letter recognition and print structure.
“The extended learning time programs are so much more than extra help; they provide students with opportunities to learn and grow from one another through activities and experiences beyond the classroom,” said Dr. Janet Bisti, Director of Curriculum and Instruction. “Students have the chance to apply their knowledge and skills in hands-on and real-world scenarios with peers they may not see during the day.”