After School Explorers Fund
TYPE OF FUND: Field of Interest/ Temporarily endowed.
DATE ESTABLISHED: Initiated September 27, 2014 with proceeds from Run For It. Approved by the Board of Directors May 20, 2015.
PURPOSE:
To provide support for Preston County primarily for after school programs for parents and students. Secondary consideration for school day programs involving students and parents.
DISTRIBUTION:
Upon the recommendation by the Grants Committee and approval by the full Board of Directors of TCF.
VARIANCE POWER:
If, in the judgment of the TCF Board of Directors, the restrictions and conditions of the fund become unnecessary, incapable of fulfillment or inconsistent with the charitable needs of the community, the TCF Board of Directors maintains the right to modify the terms of this fund.
FUNDING:
Proceeds from Team After School Explorers – Run For It 2014 initiated the fund under the direction and leadership of Susie Huggins, Project Coordinator.
BACKGROUND:
After School Explorers is a dynamic educational program currently funded in part by two 5-year 21st Century Community Learning Center grants and in-kind support from Preston County Schools. The program focuses on student and parent achievement. Proceeds from this endowed fund will enhance existing programs and provide sustainable solutions for future needs in Preston County.
After school programming strives to have students on grade level by 3rd grade and helps to develop critical thinking skills. Project based learning and STREAM (science, technology, reading, engineering, art and math) activities are also core elements of the program.
The After School Explorers meet at the end of the regular school day. The program consists of homework help; a healthy snack; and an enrichment activity. Summer programming includes STEAM explorers for grades K-4; a focus on robotics for 5-9 grade students and a Zero Robotics competition that involves writing computer code for the International Space Station.
Parent achievement includes the Little Learners program where they learn to work with their child on social skills needed for school and educational components such as the alphabet, numbers, colors, and shapes. Parents have access to the school library to help check out books for their child, prepare for a READ ALOUD activity or to improve their own personal reading skills. They also have access to the school computer labs two hours a week to help with online classes and to seek employment opportunities.
Eight sites in Preston County are currently benefiting from the After School Explorers program: Aurora School, Bruceton School, Fellowsville Elementary, Kingwood Elementary, Rowlesburg School, South Preston School, Terra Alta East Preston School and Valley Elementary.
“Funding for this 21st Century Community Learning Center is provided wholly or in part by a grant from the United States Department of Education under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Title IV Part B, with grant administration carried out by the West Virginia Department of Education.”