Afterschool News June 2013
|
|
Two More Sites Achieve National Quality Standards
| |
Dallas AfterSchool Network congratulates Trinity River Mission (TRM) and Jubilee Park and Community Center on reaching the highest levels of DASN's Program Quality Initiative! TRM and Jubilee demonstrated proficiency in all ten elements of high quality afterschool programming, including Safety, Programming and Relationships, and Administration. Read about all ten elements of high quality here. After much hard work and dedication, Jubilee Park reached "Tier 3" status, officially making them a nationally-defined, high quality afterschool program, and one of just 3 programs in Dallas to reach this achievement. Similarly, Trinity River Mission, which already held the "Tier 3" status, chose to go a step further and have its program audited by a third-party evaluator, making them Dallas AfterSchool Network's second Certified site alongside Salesmanship Club Youth and Family Center. Dallas AfterSchool Network is extremely proud of both sites for their dedication to the children and communities they serve, and for their exemplary leadership in the Dallas afterschool field. View a complete list of all DASN-supported afterschool sites and their quality levels, here.  | |
DASN Quality Advisor, Lauren Jones, DASN Vice President of Programs, Terri Marini,
and TRM Executive Director, Dolores Sosa-Green celebrate TRM receiving DASN's Certificate of Quality
|
"We are really humbled by this achievement. Our entire team works diligently to achieve great standards of service for our kids, our families and our community at large. Knowing that the work we do is effective, measurable, impactful and of quality makes us proud to represent TRM and to be part of DASN's mission of making afterschool better." -Gloria Lopez, Program Director, Trinity River Mission
|
|
Dallas AfterSchool Network Receives Accolades
|
Dallas AfterSchool Network is honored to announce the recent recognition of our staff and board of directors' accomplishments and impact on the community by The Dallas Business Journal and The Center for Nonprofit Management.
On May 30th, The Dallas Business Journal recognized the DASN Board of Directors at the 2013 Outstanding Directors Awards! The DASN Board was one of just three boards (profit or nonprofit) to be recognized for its achievements. All honorees from the awards dinner were spotlighted in a special publication in the May 31st issue of The Dallas Business Journal.
 | DASN Board Members, from left to right: Jeff Weaver,
Kim Aaron, Ph.D., Jeanne Culver, Janet Mockovciak,
and Terry Conner. |
Additionally, Dallas AfterSchool Network was nominated by the Center for Nonprofit Management as a finalist for Nonprofit of the Year for a second year in a row! The winner of the Nonprofit of the Year award will be announced November 14th at the annual Night of Light celebration. A special thank you to the tireless dedication of our board of directors, our staff, and our clients for making these recognitions possible!
|
|
DASN Hosts Inaugural Fundraiser
| |
Who says recess is just for kids? On Friday, April 19th, Dallas AfterSchool Network recreated a grown-up version of recess for over 200 adults in the Preston Hollow estate of philanthropist Faye Briggs. RECESS! was a fun filled outdoor party complete with music, games, yummy food, field trips, and much more, all for the benefit of Dallas AfterSchool Network.
Perhaps the biggest hit at RECESS! was digging for golden coins in a life-size sandbox. Guests rolled up their sleeves, grabbed a toy shovel, and dug in with the hope that their little buried treasure coins allotted to a real treasure; one of the amazing sandbox prizes, such as an iPad Mini or a $1,000 shopping spree at Highland Park Village!
Guests purchased and donated the event table centerpieces (children's toys, games, and books generously donated by The Toy Maven), to Dallas AfterSchool Network-supported sites.
 A big thank you to all that joined us April 19th, as well as the members of our "Honor Roll" event sponsors who helped make this inaugural event possible. It is because of each of you that RECESS! was fabulous, fun, and raised more than $100,000 to benefit the 11,000 underserved children and 140 afterschool programs supported by Dallas AfterSchool Network.
We hope to see everyone again next year!
|
|
Baird Gives Back at Jubilee
| | With the help of Dallas AfterSchool Network, 25 volunteers from Robert W. Baird & Co.'s Dallas office spent three exciting days teaching the kids at Jubilee Park and Community Center. During Baird's "Week of Giving", a new team of Baird employees assisted the Dallas AfterSchool Network and Jubilee staff each day in delivering an ocean-themed series of hands-on activities for over 60 afterschool students, ranging from Kindergarten to 5th grade. Together they created imaginary creatures, cleaned up oil spills in simulated environments, and built toy boats.
The Baird teams received short trainings from Dallas AfterSchool Network's Director of Program Services, Justin Hensley, and enjoyed adapting activities for older age groups, such as taking a boat building activity with the kindergartners and using more challenging concepts like the scientific method, surface area, and buoyancy to build bigger and more complex boats with the 5th graders.
"My favorite part was seeing the volunteers really get into the activities, because when the adults are excited about it, the kids will be too," Justin said. "We had one volunteer who used to be a high school history teacher before working at Baird, so on the second day I let him take over and lead the activities for the day. Everyone loved it, and the Jubilee staff really appreciated the support. The extra hands give them the opportunity to incorporate new learning experiences, like this week's lessons about the ocean, that are normally a challenge to organize with limited staff capacity."
|
|
Summer VISTAs Ready to Make a Difference
| |
This week 25 Summer VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America) members, recruited by Dallas AfterSchool Network, begin their 10 week service in the Dallas community. Before starting their service in summer programs, Dallas AfterSchool Network provided them with a pre-service training, which included such concepts as fostering a child's self-worth, positive relationships, guidance and discipline, and important safety practices. For ten weeks, these 25 Summer VISTAs will help the staff at DASN-supported sites deliver enrichment programs in such areas as: space science, sports, visual and performing arts, literacy, academics, social emotional learning, and therapeutic support from domestic violence. Congratulations and good luck VISTAs! |
|
Out of School Time Bill Awaiting Governor's Signature
| |
 Exciting things are happening in Austin! Last month the Texas House and Senate both approved Senate Bill 503, which will establish a council to analyze out-of-school-time learning opportunities for Texas families. The bill awaits Governor Perry's signature this week. Congratulations and THANK YOU to Senator Royce West for sponsoring this important legislation!
Senate Bill 503 is the direct result of tireless efforts of the Texas Partnership for Out of School Time (TXPOST), coordinating with Senator West and many other legislators, afterschool and summer providers, and myriad other stakeholders to make this possible. We look forward to watching good things happen with a Texas Expanded Learning Opportunities Council in place. |
The Importance of Quality Summer Programming
|
Many Americans have a wonderful image of summer as a carefree, happy time when "kids can be kids," taking for granted such enriching experiences as summer camps, time with family, and trips to museums, parks, and libraries. Unfortunately, some youth face anything but idyllic summer months.
It's time we dispense with the romantic notion of how we remember summer vacation, and deal with the realities confronting our children today:
- Many children will struggle to access even basic needs such as healthy meals and adult supervision.
Low-income students will lose 2 to 3 months of math and reading achievement during this summer break. - Unequal access to summer learning opportunities during the elementary years is responsible for two-thirds of the achievement gap between lower- and higher-income 9th graders!
Summer should be a fun time for all kids, and quality summer learning programs help make sure it is. But, more importantly, they also make sure our children don't lose ground academically. Every child deserves a chance to experience a rewarding, educational and engaged summer.
Please help Dallas AfterSchool Network to improve the quality of summer learning:
- Volunteer as a mentor, tutor, or curriculum implementer at a program in our Network.
- Follow Dallas AfterSchool Network on Facebook
- Donate online, or send a check to:
Dallas AfterSchool Network
2902 Swiss Avenue
Dallas, TX 75204
 Dallas AfterSchool Network makes afterschool better!
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Dallas AfterSchool Network is the only organization in North Texas improving the quality of afterschool and summer programs. More than 11,000 K - 12th grade students benefit from our Program Quality Initiative which helps local programs to achieve national quality standards.
www.dasn.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
