A look at the no-cost before and after care program at Empower Language Academy
Families have a lot to think about when it comes to deciding where their child will go to school. Important factors like programming, proximity to home, and class size are all pretty common priorities when looking for schools. Another important consideration is what kind of additional support systems are available, especially for working parents who may need a little more flexibility when it comes to drop off and pick up.
Empower Language Academy saw a need in the community for reliable and enriching before and after-school care that went beyond the usual. The school then made it even easier for families by offering the program for free. What started as a partnership with the YMCA has now turned into a fully in-house operated model with teachers and staff that students interact with during the day and additional support staff for the after-school program, creating a consistent and compassionate place for Empower students.
If you were to walk into the Empower campus after school, you would know that fun was being had. There would be sounds of kids having fun on the playground, a group playing an organized game in one area, and maybe a group of students doing an outdoor science activity in another area. Because it is also a place to learn a new language and get practice when possible, it’s also likely that you would hear Spanish and English being spoken with staff members supporting students with additional help or just growing their vocabulary and love of language.
Operations Coordinator Brenda Arenas actually first interacted with Empower students as a group leader through the YMCA. She was soon hired to be on staff and was charged with creating expanded learning opportunities through an independent extended day program for the school.
“I come from a background of playing sports and being involved with activities and we thought it was important to bring those types of activities and experiences to our students during after school programs,” said Arenas. “A lot of our students are part of the after school program so we really want to make it fun and engaging for them!”
That engagement takes the form of different clubs, activities around STEM, music, athletics, and of course academics and enrichment. Before school, students can arrive an hour early to take part in academic activities and get ready for the school day. The afterschool program runs either four or five hours after school depending on the day, and that is where things get really exciting.
Students are able to move around the campus a bit, play different sports or participate in activities together, and they even get a meal each day. All of this comes at no charge to families thanks to grant funding and the Community School model used at Empower. The goal is to never turn a student away from the program or start a waitlist.
“If we have more students than we have staff for, we will hire staff,” said Arenas. “By running our own program, students get to see staff all day during school and into the after school program so they develop really close and meaningful relationships between staff and students. We have come a long way in just three years and you can really see the culture of our school community getting stronger.”
It’s not uncommon to hear students asking “what are we doing in after school today?” when they see staff members throughout the school day. With one staff member per ten students at the TK and K level, and one to 20 at the higher grades, students and staff are getting to know each other, learning together, and creating strong bonds. Thanks to participation from teachers and a rotating schedule, there are opportunities for kids to get an extra crossfit session in, spend more time in the garden, or create an additional masterpiece in art.
A partnership with nearby Francis Parker School also occasionally brings in high school students who do an outreach program that has included sports activities, dance, and more. There are also fun events and festivals throughout the year where families can join to celebrate, connect with each other, and see what their child has been up to.
“We hear a lot of gratitude and appreciation from families for making this program as engaging as we can for kids,” said Arenas. “We are a community school that proudly serves our families any way we can. Prices and costs are rising and we know our parents are working hard, so being able to offer a free, safe and fun place for their child to be is really important to us.”
There are plans to work with a community engagement initiative through the state to travel to other areas, meet with other school representatives and learn new ways to grow the program. All with the goal of giving Empower students as many opportunities as possible.
“Our school is a special place,” said Arenas. “I have been here for so long and I really see the care and impact that our staff have on students. These before and after school programs just build further on our commitment to being a tight-knit community and we will never stop making it better and better for our students!”