SAD 1 finds early success with Champions after-school program

5 years ago

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Since beginning the new Champions after-school program in fall 2018, elementary students in SAD 1 have gained more opportunities to interact together while also taking part in fun, educational activities. 

There are currently 19 students from the Pine Street and Zippel Elementary schools in Presque Isle and Mapleton Elementary School who regularly attend Champions sessions, which are held Monday through Friday from 2:30 to 6 p.m. in the Zippel cafeteria.

Champions, a subsidiary of the KinderCare Learning Centers company, provides curriculum focused on chosen themes, and learning stations based on “interest areas,” such as math, construction, creative arts, and puzzles and games. Students also have the option to work on homework or participate in free time, as long as they’re being creative and utilizing the learning resources available.

“We give the students a lot of choice in what they want to do when they’re here,” said Kelly Carter, site director for the SAD 1 Champions program. “It allows them to have fun and sometimes not even realize that they’re learning at the same time.”

Every two weeks, Carter and her two assistant teachers select a different learning theme based on the curriculum offered through Champions. Past themes have included the solar system, maps, the art of improv performance, advertising and holiday traditions. Starting the week of March 11 to 15, students took part in activities to learn about health and wellness. Every day, students have the choice of working individually or in groups.

Kelly Carter, site director for the SAD 1 Champions after-school program helps students Teagan Brice, standing, Madison McCartney, sitting right, and Samantha Argraves pick out vocabulary books during a recent session of Champions in the Zippel Elementary School cafeteria. (Melissa Lizotte)

Staff members also help facilitate large group activities and meetings to let students provide input on what special activities they might want. Recently the students have begun writing letters to pen pals at another Champions site in Point Pleasant, New Jersey.

Carter noted that Champions also aims to be a convenient childcare option for parents who work full time or are unable to access other forms of childcare. Parents can pick up their children at whatever time is easiest for them during the 2:30 to 6 p.m. time slot.

“The response from parents has been great,” Carter said. “They like having the site centrally located here at Zippel and the 6 o-clock end time has been especially convenient for parents who work until 5 or have to travel from another town.”

Parents also have access to an online portal that allows them to choose which days their children attend the Champions program. Many students, Carter said, come for only a few days in the week because of other after-school activities or personal commitments.

The cost for the program is $80 per child per week but Champions has recently been approved to offer stipends to families whose total household income falls below guidelines set by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. Through that option, Carter hopes to increase the Champions enrollment and continue educating parents and teachers about the benefits of after-school programming.

On Wednesday, March 13, Zippel student Breanna Royer, 9, said she has most enjoyed creative arts activities such as drawing and painting that are related to the chosen themes.

“I like the different interest areas. It gives us a little bit of everything and we can do different things together,” Royer said.

Ten-year-old Austin Saucier, also a Zippel student, took advantage of the extra downtime at Champions to complete homework assignments. He said that being part of Champions has allowed him to make new friends and try new activities.

“I liked the space theme because we learned about the phases of the moon,” Saucier said. “We do some very creative activities here.”

As Champions moves forward, one of Carter’s goals is to keep students engaged with activities that reinforce what they might be learning in the classroom while also unwinding at the end of the day.

“It’s a challenge to find childcare for school-aged children where they’re engaged socially and educationally,” Carter said. “Parents have liked that their children can come here and be creative but still be learning with each other.”