As students prepare to head back to class, Standard School District is using a \u201cBack to the Future\u201d-inspired event to spotlight the role after-school programs can play in shaping students\u2019 lives.<\/p>\n
The district held its seventh annual Expanded Learning Conference, a two-day event that drew nearly 400 students this year and involved more than eight districts. The theme for this year\u2019s conference was \u201cGreat Scott. The future starts after school,\u201d a nod to the \u201cBack to the Future\u201d films.<\/p>\n
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Kelsey De Leon, an administrative assistant with the district, said planning for the theme begins early each school year as organizers look for ways to motivate program leaders and site managers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe brainstorm every year as soon as the new school year starts,\u201d De Leon said. \u201cWell, how do we build a better future? And we kind of just played off of the Back to the Future movie.\u201d<\/p>\n
De Leon pointed to a quote associated with the movie\u2019s Doc Brown: \u201cYour future hasn\u2019t been written yet, so make it a good one.\u201d She said the message connects to the work after-school staff do to support students.<\/p>\n
De Leon said after-school programs can provide opportunities students may not otherwise have access to at home. <\/p>\n
\u201cLike instead of just staying home and not getting enrichment, like why not just be in a free after-school program where you get to do all of the different things: drones, fencing, you get homework help,\u201d De Leon said. She added that the program also provides supper and snack.<\/p>\n
Part of the conference included demonstrations and activities such as the \u201cdrum bus,\u201d which De Leon described as a way to connect students to music through social-emotional learning. Karina Oropeza, the district\u2019s ELOP secretary, said the drum bus focuses on percussion and vocal noise.<\/p>\n
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Oropeza said ELOP stands for Expanded Learning Opportunities Program and oversees after-school programs, including sports clubs and art classes. She said the program extends the school day.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe make a normal seven-hour day into a nine-hour day,\u201d Oropeza said.<\/p>\n
Oropeza said staff attending the conference received training and materials to help run after-school programming, including classroom management, technology and coding. She said this year\u2019s event ran smoothly and that after-school programs provide students with a safe place to go after the school day ends.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s so important because it helps build more community for the students and a place for them to be after school instead of being out in the streets or doing different things,\u201d Karina said.<\/p>\n
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The conference also featured vendors and presenters offering enrichment options for districts and after-school sites.<\/p>\n
Ali Martin, who works with Professor Egghead, said the program focuses on hands-on learning without screens.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do everything hands-on, and so the kids are active the whole time,\u201d Martin said. \u201cSo we keep them busy, but without screens.\u201d<\/p>\n
Martin said Professor Egghead offers hands-on science for TK through sixth grade, as well as robotics and engineering, and sends instructors to schools. She said the goal is to get students excited about science early.<\/p>\n
Franklin Covey consultant identified as Dionne Imke said she presented \u201cLeader in Me,\u201d which she described as a program designed to strengthen after-school staff and emphasize the importance of relationships with students.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the things that we\u2019re really doing and trying to help educate our staff on is teacher believed in me, and how important those relationships are with with our staff and our students,\u201d Imke said.<\/p>\n
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Aalayah Gandy, a site manager attending the conference for the first time, said she came to learn about new opportunities and partnerships to bring back to students at Standard Middle School. <\/p>\n
Gandy said she planned to return next year and encouraged first-time attendees to try sessions outside their comfort zone.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe advice I would give to anyone who\u2019s coming in would be to just speak up,\u201d Gandy said. \u201cDon\u2019t be afraid to join different classes that you you think you would you wouldn\u2019t normally do.\u201d<\/p>\n