For Kids Only Afterschool, in Partnership with Peabody Public Schools, Submits 21st CCLC Grant Application for Welch School

This coming week, For Kids Only Afterschool (FKO) will be submitting a grant proposal to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) for continued support of its 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) at the Welch School.

In 2015, FKO received a three-year 21st CCLC grant, which has allowed 40 additional students to be enrolled in afterschool and summer programming at the Welch School. With this grant coming to an end, FKO hopes to receive an additional three years of funding (FY2018 to FY2020) through DESE’s 21st CCLC Promising Practice grant program. The purpose of this federally-funded grant is to support additional learning time for students through engaging enrichment opportunities and to expand and enhance a statewide network of high quality out of school time programs.

A typical day at the 21st CCLC afterschool program at the Welch School begins with a healthy snack and drink. After some free time to enjoy the school-day’s end, children complete their homework wth the support of afterschool educators and Peabody Public School certified teachers. At 4:30pm, children choose from a variety of project based learning activities and enrichment classes, such as dramatic or creative arts, science or technology, or sports and fitness. Through participating in the 21st CCLC program, students learn to understand how content covered in the classroom connects to everyday life (connection between math and sports or science and art).

FKO and Peabody Public Schools look forward to a continued partnership at the Welch School and providing Peabody youth with the opportunity to participate in afterschool enrichment activities. The announcement of grant awardees will be made by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education during the Summer, 2017.