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Come Join Jefferson’s After School Program

Jefferson Middle School Advantage After School Program students, Joshua Rollinger, Camden Austin and Jaidan Lutgen recently learned more about concepts such as energy, force, and motion and also scientific and engineering practices such as analyzing and interpreting data, all while having fun designing race tracks through a unique program from Hot Wheels called Speedometry.

Speedometry is a new offering in the Jefferson Middle School after school program that encourages inquiry and real-world, problem-based learning through play, hands-on activities and in-depth lesson plans that is mapped to state and national standards. This education curriculum, co-created with researchers at the University of Southern California Rossier School of Education, combines Hot Wheels® fun, imagination, and action, as well as toys and track to accelerate learning. Speedometry is just one of many activities students can enjoy during the Jefferson Advantage After School Program in partnership with the YWCA.

The Jefferson Advantage After School program meets every school day from 2:45-5:45 p.m. Student receive a free snack every day and tutoring help from Chautauqua Striders.  In addition, the program offers many educational activities that are meant to be fun but to also align with what students are learning during the school day. Jefferson’s “Kids Council,” consisting of Jefferson after school participants meets to discuss possible after school activities and give their ideas. Activities offered at the Jefferson Advantage program include: tutoring from Chautauqua Striders, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) activities, NASA activities, access to technology, LEGO Robotics, nutrition education, dance, karate, and swimming.

“We love the cooking class because it’s so much fun,” said Jefferson Advantage students, McKenna Cuifolo, Kenzie Carpenter and Karlee Rock. “It’s so great that there is so many different things to chose from to do and we get to spend time with all our friends. When your parents aren’t home after school because they work, it is really nice to have somewhere to go and have fun and learn new things.”

“After school programming provides a safe place to be after school that is academically enriching,” said Jefferson Advantage Coordinator Shane Monroe. “As well as provides a fun place where students can experience things they wouldn’t be able to otherwise. We still have opening left in our program for this school year and we encourage students to enroll.”

All after school staff receives at least 15 hours of training yearly, including a recent training with JPS ELA Coordinator, Annette Miller and JPS Math Coordinator, Denise Pusateri, to help the staff better align the after school curriculum to the after school program.

For information on the program or if you are interested in enrolling your child in the Jefferson Advantage After School program, you can email Shane Monroe at shane.a.monroe@jamestown.wnyric.org or call at 716-338-3829.

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