April 2008
Vol. 1, Issue 1
In This Issue:
Network to Host Middle School Conference
Network Offers Tuition Reimbursement Program
Grant Opportunity from the Women's Sports Foundation
Calendar of Local & Regional Events
4/29/08 - Family Literacy Institute Training. Call Kaitlyn O'Leary at 860-509-3629 for details.
5/12/08 - Network Sponsored Strategic Planning Workshop; Blackstone Memorial Library, Branford, CT. Details here.
5/13 - 5/14 - Let your representatives in Congress know how important After School is to you! Join Michelle Doucette Cunningham, Executive Director of the CT After School Network, in Washington, DC at the 7th Annual After School Challenge, sponsored by the Afterschool Alliance. Details here.
6/13/08 - SAVE THE DATE! State Department of Education After School Conference at the Hartford Convention Center. Details coming soon!
7/15 - 7/17 - NIOST 2008 Summer Seminars; Boston, Massachusetts. Details here.
Calendar of National Events
4/17- 4/18 - Center for Summer Learning National Conference; Albuquerque, New Mexico. Details here.
4/30 - 5/3 - Best of Out-of-School Time Conference; Palm Springs, California. Details here.
5/12 - 5/14 - National City After School Summit, Washington, DC. Contact Bela Shah at 202-626-3057 or email shah@nlc.org
Articles of Interest...
New Brief Reviews Key Research, Looks Forward. A new issue brief from the Harvard Family Research Project highlights ten years of research demonstrating the value of after school programs, and poses a series of forward looking questions for program providers...Read More
We're Hiring...
The Connecticut After School Network is taking applications for the position of Director of Professional Development. Visit www.ctafterschoolnetwork.org for full job description and details.
Can you help?
The Connecticut After School Network is compiling a list of enrichment providers that after school programs have used and would like to recommend to others. Please send the name and contact information of the enrichment provider to: skrampitz@ctafterschoolnetwork.org
Greetings and welcome to the first electronic issue of the After School News brought to you by the Connecticut After School Network! We’re very excited to bring you this newsletter and hope that it serves as an informational resource for what is happening in Connecticut’s after school community. Let us know what you think. Send your ideas and suggestions to info@ctafterschoolnetwork.org. We look forward to providing this publication to you on a quarterly basis. Happy reading!
Network to Host Middle
School Conference
The Connecticut After School Network will host its first Middle School Conference On May 1, 2008 at the Rocky Hill Marriott in Rocky Hill. The event includes a morning session with Anthony Wolf, best selling author of, Get Out of My Life, But First Could You Drive Me and Cheryl to the Mall?
Be sure to bring your business cards, as a speed networking session will
follow Dr. Wolf’s talk. Speed networking is a great opportunity to meet with a
variety of middle school professionals. Participants will make their way around
the room to converse on a variety of provided topics. An afternoon panel
discussion with a Q & A session on successful middle school after school
strategies will conclude the day. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.
Network
Offers Tuition Reimbursement Program
The Connecticut After School Network is pleased to offer stipends of up
to $600 toward tuition reimbursement to after school
professionals currently working in after school programs in Connecticut who wish to take college
credit-based courses that are relevant to their work with children and youth.
Courses must be taken at a regionally accredited institution of higher learning
in Connecticut. Deadlines for applications will correspond with semester start dates, typically three to four weeks after a class starts. For more information and a downloadable application visit www.ctafterschoolnetwork.org/College_Courses.htm
A New Source for Job Posting...
Attention programs in the Fairfield and New Haven County areas. There is a new, economical
way to post your open job positions on the Web. Cumulus Jobs is a new on-line
job bank that advertises positions in New Haven
and Fairfield County. The rate for the first ad is
$99.95 for the first 30 days. Subsequent ads are only $29.95 for 30 days. The
Cumulus Jobs Web site is frequently advertised on WEBE 108 and WICC 600 AM.
Contact Tammy Welch at 203-337-8314 or email her at tammy.welch@cumulus.com for more
information. www.cumulusjobs.com
New Faces at the Connecticut After School Network
21st Century Community Learning Centers and State Department of Education funded After School programs are required to use Cayen Systems database software (APlus) to track their student records. We’ve hired two
full-time Software Support and Training Specialists to assist those programs with training and technical assistance related to using the APlus system.
Marla Berrios
brings five years of technical work experience with the APlus Cayen Systems. She previously was employed
with the New Haven Board of Education, and served as a program coordinator for
one of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers at the Columbus Family
Academy. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Business
Management. mberrios@ctafterschoolnetwork.org
Gardy Theodore,
M. Ed., brings over 10 years of Information Technology consulting experience to
the Network. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Human Services from Springfield College,
and a Master of Education degree from Cambridge College.
Gardy is the co-founder of Technology
Leader LLC, located in Newington, CT and currently provides on-line/on-site and
one to one technology training and consultation services. gtheodore@ctafterschoolnetwork.org
Grant Offers Cash to Girls' Programs
The Women's Sports Foundation's GoGirlGo! National Grant Program will award $430,000 total in grants to organizations seeking to add new or expand participation opportunities for under-served populations of girls aged 8-13. Organizations must implement the GoGirlGo! curriculum and deliver a minimum eight-week sports/physical activity program. Grants can be put toward expenses such as equipment, facility rental or travel. The deadline for submissions is May 9, 2008! Review the application and apply today! For information on more great grant opportunities for after school programs visit www.ctafterschoolnetwork.org/Funding_Grants.html
How Art Can Help Run a Smooth After School Program and Foster Academic Success
The pressure on children to succeed in the classroom is greater than ever. It is important that after school professionals examine unique ways to help kids have an enjoyable yet productive school year. There are many simple yet effective things we can do to enhance the children’s confidence level, attitude and academic performance. Here are some suggestions for creating an atmosphere for artistic and academic success:
Reduce the stress factor. Provide a quiet area where the children can go to decompress from the school day. Have art materials such as colored pencils and markers, paper and scissors, available in an area away from the noise so the children can relax.
Balance academics by introducing a “right brain” activity. Let the children exercise their right-brain after a day of left-brain school academics. Right-brain activities are stimulated by working with different colors, shapes and sizes, as well as listening to music and participating in new and different activities.
Allow children to make mistakes. The fear of ridicule often inhibits creativity and problem-solving. Allowing children to experiment with art will allow them to take risks and experience the creative process.
Develop and nurture creativity. Creating art is a productive activity that helps children to improve their cognitive development, strengthen communication and expressive skills and boost reasoning and organization skills.
Utilizing fun, interactive, artistic exercises promotes creativity and builds confidence. Most importantly, it helps children succeed in the classroom as well as in other areas of their lives.
Annie Poulin is the Executive Director of KidzArt