Mansfield
Middle School students carefully measure a board before cutting it in Carpentry
Club. One hundred
and twenty-two Mansfield Middle School students are exploring new after-school
learning opportunities in 14 Tyger Clubs that range from carpentry and
cosmetology to art, science and mathematics.
The clubs
are staffed by district teachers, who also provide homework help on a
Monday-through-Friday schedule from 2:45 to 4:45 p.m. District buses take
students home.
Superintendent
Stan Jefferson said after-school participation helps students improve their
academic performance while exploring new interests in a fun environment.
“I am excited about the Tyger Clubs because they offer middle school students a unique hands-on experience in areas where they want to learn more,” Jefferson said. “I believe many students will carry those interests into high school and beyond.”
It’s all made possible by a five-year 21st Century Community Learning Centers federal grant, now in its second year.
“We are very pleased to have 120 students enrolled,” Dr. Holly Christie, director of student support programs, told the board of education this week. “We have 12 classroom teachers and Senior High Career Technical Education instructors working in the program, as well as 14 high school and college student volunteers.”
Christina Drain, director of the after-school program reminded the board that last year’s middle school Flagway math competition club placed fourth in May at national competition in Washington, D.C.
There was more good news at Tuesday’s board meeting.
Dr. Howard
Walters of Ashland University, hired to be the external evaluator of how the
grant is administered, reported that after-school tutoring had improved reading
scores, based on assessments at the start and end of the school year.
“This is a very solid report. These seventh- and eighth-graders improved their reading scores,” he said.
The clubs
meet on varying schedules during the week and homework help is offered all five
days. Students are encouraged to participate in at least three days of
activities.
Clubs are divided
into three categories: academic, social and career.
The academic
grouping includes Books and Beyond, Math, Flagway Math and Science.
Career clubs
are designed to stimulate interest in the high school Career Technical
Education programs. Clubs include Minecraft Coding and More, Carpentry,
Cosmetology, Art and Performing Arts/Technical Theatre Experience/Filmmaking.
The
twice-weekly Carpentry Club allows students to learn how to use basic woodshop
tools to create a birdhouse, window planter, treasure box or their own ideas.
The description for the Performing Arts/Technical Theatre Experience/Filmmaking Club says, “Students will be introduced to all facets of live theatre performance, culminating in the performance of a play. Students may also work in front of cameras as media and behind the camera in filmmaking.”
In the social clubs category, Dream Teams students “participate in exciting challenges and energizing games designed to bring out leadership skills.”
Social clubs also include Fit Tygers, which offers learning yoga, exercising and competing in events, and Junior Achievement, which will begin in November.
The R Rules Club is directed by a representative of the North End Community Improvement Collaborative, Mansfield City Schools’ grant partner. The club’s description says it will offer “tools and activities to create and manage individual academic and career plans, identify strategies and resources to build resilience, and empower students to develop their voices as they contribute and work together to make a difference.”
The NECIC
also conducts a summer manufacturing institute for students and provides
professional development for teachers on building bridges out of poverty.
The 21st
Century Community Learning Centers grant is administered by the Ohio Department
of Education, which licensed the after-school program.
The grant
provides $200,000 in each of the first three years, $150,000 in the fourth and
$100,000 in the final year.