Two JA After School programs earned airtime this fall on WJTV-12’s “Cool Schools” segment.
Beaker Buddies, led by Middle School science teacher Beth Williams, and Mahjong Club, led by Kindergarten assistant teacher Meredith Culpepper, are among the options that let students pick up new skills, unwind after classwork, and make friends across grade levels.
Offering these programs on campus helps parents and students alike, said Hope Burford, director of JA’s After School Program.
“Our programs, offered by qualified teachers and vendors, give students a chance for enrichment while they are on campus. After pick-up, families can go straight home without another activity and have more family time because the student has already had his or her outside activity. So many parents have thanked us for this,” said Burford.
Trying new things also pays off for young learners. “These classes expose students to a variety of activities so they can see what they like and may want to pursue as they grow older,” says Burford. “Some of our students have, in later years, developed advanced skills, such as in dance or Taekwondo, after starting an activity in our After School program.”
