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 STEM and Afterschool
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The growing interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) has hit Nebraska's out of school time programs. STEM provides engaging, hands-on content for students to explore at their own pace within flexible out of school time environments. The national Afterschool Alliance has a new webpage dedicated to promoting deeper connections between these two worlds.
Advocates are completing a 3-month study, through a Nebraska Department of Education - NASA Summer of Innovation Capacity Building grant, that explores ways to build capacity to implement STEM in Nebraska's OST programs, specifically serving middle school students. Using the Summer of Innovation work as a launch point, Nebraska CLC Network plans to continue the dialogue over the next few months. Contact us to be part of the continuing conversation around this increasingly important topic.
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| Kearney CLC Spotlight |
New in 2011 is our spotlight on emerging collaborations like Kearney Community Learning Center (KCLC), giving the growing array of community wide partnerships supporting out of school time programs the recognition they deserve.
KCLC is a partnership that provides a variety of clubs, academic programs, homework help, enrichment activities, recreation activities, and field trips. This engaging and energetic program operates in 9 participating elementary and middle schools helping youth succeed academically and socially. This partnership between schools and a host of community organizations, such as 4-H Extension and Kearney Parks and Recreation Department, allows every dollar dedicated to afterschool programming to be highly leveraged. For example, the partnership with UNK's Service Learning program generates 35-45 student assistants each semester to provide important core services like 1:1 mentoring with struggling readers. One hallmark of KCLC is their focus on developing partnerships that combine funding from a variety of sources such as parent fees, grant funds and reimbursement payments to create a stable base for diverse program activities. |
CLC Awareness Week
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Nebraska Afterschool Ambassador, Dayna Krannawitter and Lincoln CLC Co-Director, Lea Ann Johnson with Governor Heineman at proclamation ceremony
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Governor Heineman proclaimed January 17-21 as CLC Awareness Week. His proclamation acknowledges the important role Community Learning Centers play in engaging students, supporting families and strengthening communities; and encourages Nebraskans to get involved in launching or sustaining CLCs in their communities.
During the week, information from 18 national, statewide and local organizations was displayed around the State Capital 2nd floor rotunda. This year's event had a focus on activities related to the intersection of afterschool programs and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Thank you to all who participated.
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Training Opportunities
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Relationship Competency Workshop, Omaha, Nebraska, February 22. Michael Brandwein, who you may remember from the 2008 Hours of Opportunity conference, will be conducting "I've Told You a Thousand Times: How to Teach Respectful Behavior & Replace Undesired Behavior with Good Choices". This workshop addresses the Relationship Competency of the Core Competencies for School Age Youth Development Professionals. Act quickly to sign up - the extended deadline is February 18th. This valuable opportunity is brought to us by the Early Childhood Consortium of the Omaha Area.
Coalition for Community Schools 2011 Learning Lab, Seattle, Washington, March 30-April 1. Learning Lab will explore the reciprocal relationship between practice and policy in the community schools movement. Participants will learn how to plan, organize, and implement their community schools strategy and learn how policies at the state, city, district and school levels can support and sustain this important work. Group registrations receive a discount if received by February 14th. A group who went last year came away with concrete ideas about how we can move this work forward in Nebraska. Let us know if you are interested and we can once again facilitate a Nebraska delegation to attend.
National Afterschool Association Annual Conference, Orlando, Florida, April 15-18. In addition to keynotes by nationally recognized leaders Bill Nye and Richard Louv, the Convention will feature 200 workshops focused on five key themes: 1) STEM Beyond the Classroom, 2) Global Learning in Afterschool, 3) Advancing the Afterschool Profession, 4) Leading Afterschool and 5) Learning in Afterschool.
Attendees include practitioners and leaders from before school, afterschool and summer school programs; youth-serving organizations; parks and recreation departments; administrators from all public, private, faith, school and community-based organizations; and local, state and national policymakers and reform leaders - in short, there seems to be a place for everybody! Click here for more information.
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