After School & Summer Enrichment
Welcome to our wonderful world of learning and growth! PCYC’s After School and Summer Enrichment Program intentionally integrates academics and holistic youth development in an effort to improve academic achievement, reduce the achievement gap, and engage young people in learning. This combined focus has led to the development of a rigorous curriculum and assessment process that has resulted in significant student growth in reading levels during the school year.
PCYC’s After School Enrichment Program currently meets from 2 to 5:30 p.m. every school day. In the summer, the program runs for ten weeks, Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Our comprehensive year-round program has five components: academics (reading, writing & math), health & wellness, leadership, arts integration, and parent involvement.
Academics
Reading
Our students engage in daily independent reading at their instructional reading level (the level at which they can read with at least 96% accuracy and comprehend at least 75% of what they read). Our staff and volunteers use research-based strategies to coach students during independent reading, focusing on word recognition and comprehension strategies. We have a leveled library for students to select books, which include a rich variety of fiction and non-fiction text. Our Academic Coordinator also teaches small reading groups with K-3 students who test below grade level, using the Early Intervention in Reading format.
Writing
We use the Collins Writing format to engage our students in journal writing. Writing topics can be student or teacher-selected and are either connected to monthly workshop themes, classroom lessons or books.
Math
We use cooperative math games from the Everyday Mathematics Curriculum and First in Math, a computer-based math games program.
Health & Wellness
Teaching our children about a healthy lifestyle, and giving them chances to really experience that is a significant and growing element in PCYC’s After School & Summer Enrichment Program. It includes good nutrition, fitness, hygiene, and personal self-image. We focus on each of these as monthly workshop themes and integrate these themes in our activities throughout the year. Students participate in organized, large group games and exercises every day. They receive information about healthy food choices and then experience them daily through the snacks we serve. Our menu includes a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and natural foods free of any artificial ingredients or chemical preservatives.
Leadership
Children enrolled in school year and summer programs are given opportunities to develop and practice skills in leadership and social interactions through intentional and structured activities, including Youth Council, Peer Court, and Peer Mediation. Youth Council members hold bi-weekly meetings to develop their own leadership skills and address ways to improve our program, help out with special events and serve as role-models for younger students. Peer Court and Peer Mediation groups help other students work through conflict in a positive way, take responsibility for their actions, learn from mistakes and make things right with the people their actions affected. Staff integrate leadership and social skills into lessons and activities during the school year.
Arts Integration
Our staff includes several accomplished professional artists. We integrate both visual and performing arts into many aspects of our curriculum, especially during Workshops. Our arts offerings include participating in our youth choir CitySongs (new to PCYC in the Fall of 2009), taking spoken word classes, dance classes featuring live drumming, having story tellers in from the community, and other creative projects such as learning and acting out definitions of political terms during election months. Students present their creative products and areas of learning to family and the community on stage at the Capri Theater each month during Family Night.
Parent Involvement
Formal and informal strategies are incorporated to involve parents and families in the program and to keep their voices active in our program activities. In addition to our monthly family nights mentioned above, staff have daily contact with parents and other family members when they pick up their children. The Academic Coordinator meets individually with parents after each reading assessment. Together, they discuss the child’s abilities and hoped-for progress. The Academic Coordinator also communicates with school day teachers whenever possible, and helps parents understand how they can support their child’s reading improvement, and offers suggestions for additional community resources to support academic growth.
