HOULTON, Maine — RSU 29 and the Maine Family Resource Center (MFRC) have received a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant renewal for Houlton Southside’s After School Program for the new school year.
This grant will allow the program, which just completed a five-year grant cycle, to continue to operate for another three years.
“The relationship between the district and MFRC is longstanding,” said Carolyn Fickett, MFRC Director for the program. “We began writing grants for after school programming at RSU 29 back in 2009. Since that time, we have worked together to provide 10 years of hands-on, engaging and relevant extended school-day programming.”
Summer school programming was and continues to be provided through the district and the federal funds of Title I and the 21st Century Community Learning Center.
Cindy Peterson, principal at Southside School, expressed her pleasure at about the program continuing. “We at Southside are ecstatic with being able to continue to offer the opportunities and benefits that the 21st Century grant will bestow upon our students,” she said. “Our After School Program allows our students to not only grow academically, but emotionally and socially as well. We are just thankful that we can continue to be a support system for our kids above and beyond their regular school day.”
The district’s After School Program opened its doors for the first time under this grant renewal on Sept 23. The program started with team building activities, including minute-to-win-it games using Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math skills to complete the tasks. The combination of all of these skills is very important in meeting the goals of a 21st CCLC grant.
Sam Hiscoe, coordinator for the program, explained some of the additional upcoming activities, “We are looking forward to a field trip to Goughan’s Berry Farm for a corn maze experience,” he said. “If possible, we will take our younger students apple picking. It is great to see the enjoyment on the kids faces when they take these field trips for the first time and when they sign up for activities they have never done.”
October will be a busy month for the students as the work on health and safety presentations for the school’s annual Health, Wellness, and Safety Fair, scheduled for Oct. 24. This event is open to all students, parents, guardians, and the community in general. Organizations will come in and set up booths, providing information on fire and outdoor safety, nutrition, and more.
“We hold this fair every year in conjunction with the National Lights On For After School events all across the nation,” Fickett said. “We try to highlight the importance of after school programs in providing a safe place where students can work on their homework, learn through fun and engaging activities, and socially and emotionally grow in relationships with peers and adults.”
On Sept. 17, Kris Braga, the 21 st Century CLC state consultant for the northern region, addressed the Southside principal, ASP coordinator, district guidance counselor, the program director, and ASP staff regarding the grant renewal. She stressed the importance of working towards sustainability. The purpose of the 21stCCLC funding is to help schools launch quality academic and enrichment support during out-of school hours. By the time the grant money has been spent, schools and communities should be able to sustain the program.
Although Southside received a three renewal, Braga was clear there is no guarantee that any site will be granted a renewal. Maine DOE wants these community learning centers to help at-risk students improve their in-school performance. These learning centers are run by school districts, non-profit organizations or universities, focusing primarily on schools where more than 40 percent of students qualify for free or reduced lunches. Southside School is well above that percent, qualifying for Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). This means every student at Southside receives a free, nutritious meal. The district also provides a healthy snack to the ASP.
