After School Action

Guadalupe School

After School Action

(from Guadalupe School's Spring Newsletter, The Chalkboard)

ROSE PARK — The 2011-2012 school year has been an exciting time for Guadalupe School! This year we expanded our afterschool program to include enrichment activities and academic support. Thanks to some great volunteers we’ve introduced our students to swimming lessons, chess club, hip hop dance and homework tutoring. 

Swimming lessons are provided through a wonderful collaboration with Race Swami. Our students learn this critical skill while having fun at a low cost or no cost to their families. The swim teachers have helped them feel comfortable in the pool. And the kids love having their own goggles! This has been a particularly rewarding experience for some of our most at-risk student. They have found a place to shine! 

Paul, a high school student from Rowland Hall, is teaching a group of twelve 3rd and 4th graders the classic game of chess. Chess is proven to make kids smarter. The benefits we’ve seen are students focusing, thinking more abstractly and planning ahead. 

Hip Hop hits Guadalupe! Jessica, a volunteer from the Williams Company, convinced her company to support this fun activity and then rearranged her work schedule so that she could teach the class to Guadalupe students. Our students relish the chance to be creative and express themselves through movement. This is
a great way to encourage our children to exercise and work together. 

Most importantly, students who are not at grade level in reading and math receive additional academic support afterschool with the help of community volunteers. Special thanks to Mike McGinley for creating a math computer game that teaches and motivates!