Middle School After School Enrichment Program

For many students, parents are working more than one job to make ends meet, and time at home is scarce. Thanks to a grant from the Comal County United Way, Communities In Schools started an after school program at New Braunfels Middle School in the latter part of the 2010 school year. The program provided more than 100 middle school students living in challenging situations, many of whom were participants in other CIS programs, with a productive, safe, and free alternative to being home alone or out on the streets. In this structured, productive environment, staff and volunteers provided positive opportunities, both in one-on-one and group settings, for the students to engage. Most of the activities provided the opportunity for these youth to interact with caring adults and develop positive relationships that resulted in their feeling better about themselves and their future. 65% of the students who participated regularly demonstrated improvement in their grades coinciding with their attendance in the program.

The San Antonio Food Bank partnered with CIS through a Kids Café which is a direct feeding partnership between an area food bank and an after school program. The cost of food from the San Antonio Food Bank was underwritten by a donor, making it an affordable alternative for CIS to provide this evening meal to students who benefitted tremendously from it. Students had the opportunity to learn cooking skills as they helped prepare the evening meal that was provided nightly before the students went home for the day.

Another CIS partner, the City of New Braunfels Parks and Recreation Department, generously provided both recreational staff and planning of many of the student activities. Among the academic and enrichment activities made available were homework and TAKS tutoring, arts and crafts, athletics, and guitar lessons. The students were also able to take field trips to stimulating and interesting places that would pique their interest in future careers. The students benefited from the range of unique experiences and talents offered by volunteers and partners, and CIS welcomed the variety.

The program staff included a CIS Site Coordinator, a homework liaison who gathered daily assignments from teachers and assisted students in completing their work, a cook who planned and prepared the meals, and a bus driver who provided the students with transportation home. Only students who were identified as at-risk qualified for the program through nominations from teachers and staff as well as from CIS.

The after school program has continued into the 2010-2011 school year and continues to provide stimulating and beneficial activities for many middle school aged youth.